Scooter in the Sticks

Exploring life on a Vespa, Royal Enfield Himalayan, Honda Trail 125, and a Kawasaki W650

Do I Really Need a Garmin InReach Mini 2?

by 3 Comments

Steve Williams with a Garmin InReach Mini 2 device attached to the sleeve of his riding jacket.
Satisfied with a decision for safety and peace of mind.

Puzzling over Risk, Safety, and Economics

After several years of thinking about the wisdom of having a reliable way to reach out in case of emergency I made a purchase. The question turned over in my head for a couple years is do I really need a Garmin InReach Mini 2? While I don’t normally ride alone in places without cell coverage it happens often enough that I kept thinking about the risk I was taking should something bad happen. A crash that left me unable to ride, another heart attack, running off the road and down an embankment where it might be a long time before anyone found me.

There are plenty of reasons why I should have one. Those reasons are piled against the cost of the unit and the ongoing monthly subscription expense. Not long ago I talked with my motorcycle riding cardiologist about the risks and he felt it was a good idea. Not so much for heart attacks but for an unfortunate incident that would take me off the trail and into a place no one would find me.

Still, the cost seemed excessive. And some lingering butch attitude made me seem weak if I bought one. After some honest reflection I determined two things. First, the cost isn’t something that I have to factor into my decision. All I had to think about is whether I wished I had one if I found myself somewhere without cell coverage, alone, injured, or with the bike broken down.

The answer was yes.

Immediately after making the purchase and subscribing to the $8 a month ENABLE plan it felt right.

Now on to the next safety item — a Helite Turtle 2 Airbag…

My Spring Riding Safety Reminders

by 4 Comments

As the weather warms I find myself riding more often. Especially around town for errands. And short jaunts through the countryside in the morning as part of a fine ritual of awakening. So I like to remind myself that however exciting and satisfying these rides can be I must remain vigilant in staying safe on the road.

It’s kind of a tradition for me to share the “Morning Fall” video by Edward McGinty.

A visceral reminder of riding risk. But what seems like impossible events to manage can be affected by our riding choices.

And for a pale, weak video in comparison to McGinty’s masterpiece, I made a quick safety video for new and beginning riders. Just a few ideas to help someone get on a good path in regard to riding safety and risk management whether riding a Vespa scooter, motorcycle, or any other powered two-wheeled machine.

Be well and ride safe!

Risk Assessment When Moving From a Scooter to a Motorcycle

by 44 Comments

BMW K75C motorcycle parked beneath a freeway overpass.
I’ve always known the motorcycle was heavy, but I didn’t consider what that meant in terms of protective gear.

A Heavy Pile of Steel

Reminders that trigger thoughts of risk assessment regarding my scooter or motorcycle are never far away.  A neighbor stopped by today and shared a few stories of riding friends and relatives that had unfortunate encounters with deer and ATVs.  It’s not uncommon to hear such things when someone discovers that I ride.

Risk assessment, training, practice, and appropriate riding gear have always been important to me since I started riding 16 years ago.  Any illusion that I knew “how to ride” based on the time I spent on motorcycles as a teenager was quickly dispelled at my first Motorcycle Safety Foundation Basic Rider Course class. While I could get on a motorcycle and make it go, I was woefully oblivious to how to be a rider in traffic with other human beings.  And decades of successful piloting of cars and trucks did little to inform me of the unique demands faced by being on two wheels.

Moving from a scooter to a motorcycle requires adjustment. A lot of people think the challenge is shifting and a clutch, but I’ve found the biggest challenge to be the difference in weight. My Vespa GTS 250 is around 335 pounds full of fuel, fluids, and gear. My BMW K75C with side cases and windscreen comes in at around 550 pounds. That’s considerably heavier not to mention the weight is higher up giving the motorcycle a distinct feel of being top-heavy. Switching back and forth between machines requires adjustment in my riding behavior and technique.

For several years I test rode motorcycles for Kissell Motorsports and was constantly moving from one machine to another. At each change, I did some basic practice with the new motorcycle to acclimate to its unique characteristics — clutch and throttle, emergency braking, slow speed maneuvers, etc. Those things gave me a good feel for the bike and what I could expect from myself and the machine.

So you would think that I had covered all the bases when it came to the scooter and motorcycle I own. But some recent reading about motorcycle injuries had me realizing I had left something out of my protective gear as it related to the motorcycle. I was set up for the Vespa and it’s comparatively light weight.

The weak link in my gear?

Boots.

Continue Reading

Reminder: Be Safe on Your Scooter or Motorcycle

by 16 Comments

Accepting Risk While Riding a Scooter or Motorcycle

I’ve posted this video titled “Morning Fall” by Edward McGinty before as a reminder as the spring riding season (pandemic allowing) gets underway. It’s always seemed prudent to me to be honest about the realities of the road and the risk I’m willing to assume. What made sense last month, last year or decades ago may have no bearing on reality today. What matters now is to be safe on your scooter or motorcycle.

Every time I watch this video I’m reminder of aspects of riding I hold important — helmets and protective clothing, boots, gloves, and the haunting specter of deer on the highway. And I’m also reminded of the strategies I employ to make the most of the risks I take on.

As a video, this piece is well-produced and delivers an unexpected turn at the end. I hope you find some utility in watching.

https://vimeo.com/bossboyd/morningfall
“Morning Fall”
Cast: Zia Harris
Written & Directed by: Edward McGinty
Produced by: Suzi Yoonessi & Ben Odell
Director of Photography: Adam Silver

Be smart and be safe as you embark on your spring rides. If you’re like me you’re itching to take advantage of the restorative powers riding can bring to the table.

And if you have parked your machines until stay-at-home orders expire or you just feel comfortable on the road again during this COVID-19 pandemic, let’s all hope we can ride again soon, safe from a virus, and with the best skills and strategies to return home in one piece.

Riding Risk: Something Every Rider Should Consider

by 19 Comments


Morning Fall from Boss Boyd on Vimeo.
Morning Fall
by Edward McGinty

Reminders on Riding Risk

Every so often, I post this video as a reminder, not just that riding brings with it risk, but more importantly, that risk is something every rider should, from time to time, think about.

A clear understanding of the risk involved when you head out on the road can help inform the skills developed and applied to a ride that will improve the odds that you’ll return safely. And if your family or significant other has concerns about your scooter or motorcycle you’ll be better equipped to discuss those concerns beyond, “I’m safe.”Continue Reading