Sometimes it’s useful to stop and take a look in the mirror. Even if it’s only a reflection in a bank window. While my wife says I look like a space alien I see something different. Making the picture serves as an way point in the week, a chance to figure out what I’m doing and where I’m going. Work, riding, photography, the dog, Kim, the garden, all things I love . The more I do the more I seem to want to do. And that’s ok.

I have punctuation marks in my blog post title. That’s a bad sign. I’ve worked in academia a long time.

The dearth of blog posts here lately are direct result of the following excuses:

1. I didn’t have anything to ride. My Vespa was in the shop for service — valve adjustment, belt and roller change, fluid and filter changes, sparkplug, that sort of stuff.

2. I was riding too much that I didn’t have any time to write. I still haven’t posted my reviews of the BMW RT1200 or the BMW F800 GS.

3. My dog ate my writing time. Junior is going through a growth spurt and demands more attention. Just when I sit down to the computer he needs to chase a tennis ball.

4. I’ve been doing other stuff. Like watching DVDs with Kim of Project Runway, True Blood, and The Sopranos.

So just a quick update of what’s going on and some promises to post a few items soon.

Picking the Vespa up today at Kissell Motorsports I saw the BMW truck full of demo bikes in their parking lot and couldn’t pass up the big, bright graphics for a picture. If you have some time on Friday or Saturday and want to take a BMW for a ride now’s your chance.

I feel a little guilty that I haven’t posted my review of the BMW RT1200. Just a little though. Things improve with age. It’s been three weeks since I put it through its paces in the sticks. I’m working on it though and will post it soon.

I’ve been riding the BMW F800 GS. Another review to write. And I have so many pictures of the motorcycle. What started out as little blog posts are fast becoming motorcycle manifestos. I need to edit.

Anyways, that’s how things stand right now. The Vespa is still out in the driveway as the midnight hour approaches and part of me just wants to go for a ride.

That’s me examining the Vespa GTS300 Super.

Going through some additional pictures recently it occurred to me (again) that this scooter is an exceptional, all-around vehicle for town and country riding. My own Vespa GTS 250ie is near perfect for daily commuting to work and for weekend rides in the 50 to 200 miles range so it was hard to imagine any real advantages of the newer and bigger scooter. But the extra power makes this Vespa a perfect town and country ride.

Anyone who has piloted a big motorcycle around town, pulling into parking spaces, running a quick errand, and repeating the process half a dozen times knows how tedious it can be to roll a heavy bike into a parking space. They aren’t always as nice and open as the one in the picture above. The Vespa is so easy to maneuver that you can easily get the scooter into any available space with little effort. The only easier mode of transport in town would be a bicycle. Unfortunately I’ve never had as much fun on a bicycle as I do on a scooter.

The 300 isn’t too big and it isn’t too small. It’s just right and easily blends into the urban and town environment. I appreciate the ease of stopping and putting the Vespa on the centerstand for pictures. Pop the seat open, grab a camera and go. That translates easily into a wide range of errands.

I’ve like the way a Vespa looks. The lines and styling almost make the scooter seem like a sculpture rather than something to ride. It makes a fine subject for pictures.

I took the Vespa through local streets and alleys, stopping and starting, parking, moving, U-turns, everything I could think of to try and find a maneuver that was just plain irritating. Verdict– my only complaint was the absence of the rear rack and side bar that is standard with the GTS250. I like having the handle to hold onto when I throw the scooter up on the center stand.

You hear a lot about people noticing motorcycles and scooters. My experience is that those already interested in riding or machines may pause or ask a question. Everyone else, like the woman in the picture, passes by without a glance. Civilians don’t seem much interested in two-wheeled machines. She does provide compositional balance to the picture as the Vespa stands illegally on the sidewalk in Calder Alley.

Out of town, on winding tree lined roads that climb over the mountains of central Pennsylvania this big Vespa goes as fast as any touring rider would want to go. While no road racer it’s power and acceleration are surprising. For weekend rides through the country, rides in the 150 to 250 mile range are no problem on the Vespa 300 (or the 150 or 25o for that matter). My friend Paul shot this picture of me riding up the Unionville Pike.

On the way home I passed a BMW RT1100 sitting at a light as I passed through the intersection. I thought it might be my friend Dan so I pulled off the road and waited. Years ago Dan had a Vespa with a sidecar but now he’s on a more luxurious ride. Sure enough he pulls up and we have a chance to compare notes between his BMW and the Vespa. Most people don’t picture two machines as different as these as possible riding partners. They are completely different with different strengths and weaknesses but for an occasional, rleaxed weekend ride through the country there is no reasons these two can’t play together fine.

The Vespa really isn’t as small as it looks in this picture. Looks can be deceiving. Scooters are functional and useful. They may not be able to rocket you down the road at 100mph but the Vespa 300 will fly along all day on the roads of this region without a complaint — in town or in the country.