Scooter in the Sticks

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

Embracing the Risk of Riding a Motorcycle or Scooter

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Morning Fall — An Cinematic Reminder of Risk

I’ve posted this video many times over the years. In part to remind readers of the risk of riding. But mostly as attempt to keep myself honest about it. Especially as I get older. It’s easy to slip into complacency and pretend the risk isn’t really there. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t dwell endlessly on it but I pay attention. Recently I found myself riding more often without the usual protective gear. Plain jeans. A denim jacket. Reading a few interviews with men and women suffering from severe road rash reminded me that as I approach my 72nd birthday I probably won’t heal as quickly as I once would. And it’s easy to mitigate. I’m afraid I’ve leaned too hard towards the irrational wisdom of “Dress for the ride, not for the crash” rather than the original slogan and it’s nod toward risk management — “Dress for the crash, not for the ride.”

A quick visit to Revzilla had me ordering some armored riding jeans. I already have one pair and they look and feel pretty much like regular jeans. Now I will have a choice of two. Just a little thing that hopefully will never been needed. I already have some impact and abrasion protection in jackets with my Merlin Hixon II leather jacket, and for hot weather my KLIM Induction jacket.

For cold weather there’s a gap though. And a few days ago I bit the bullet hard and ordered an Aerostich Darien jacket complete with back armor. I figure it an early birthday present as I prepare to celebrate 72 years around the sun. It will be 10 to 12 weeks before it arrives but in time for the cold weather this fall. All that’s left is a decision on whether to buy the Darien pants as well.

“Morning Fall” is a quiet, elegant, almost lyrical look at what an accident on a motorcycle might be like. I’ve watched YouTube videos of crashes where the feel is catastrophic impact and power. They’re mechanical and disconnected from any feeling of the crash. This video is different. It’s not scary or adapt to have you looking away. But it has a powerful resonance that for me at least, makes me consider not just the risk of riding a motorcycle, but also stimulates me to act.

Embracing the risk of riding a motorcycle or scooter is something I learned while taking my first Motorcycle Safety Foundation riding course. The idea has stuck with me and I actively apply what I learned about being a rider. Be safe on the road. Come home to those who love you.

Can a Video Replicate a Riding Experience?

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My Royal Enfield Himalayan relaxing in the forest.

Virtual Riding Experience

A blog post used to more routinely be the place where I would share my riding experience. Whether on my Vespa scooter or some other two-wheeled machine that riding experience would likely appear here. When I bought the Himalayan in January of 2022 I made a decision to make a more deliberate use of video. I had about 50 subscribers on my YouTube channel then and have seen it increase to 2187 as I write this post.

Making videos unexpectedly piqued my creative interest and I’ve struggled to juggle the blog and a YouTube channel. Not because I don’t have the time but it’s unclear what my focus should be on the blog. Perhaps until it does become clear I will just flounder ahead and hope for the best.

Right now my mind seems focused on the style of video referred to as “silent vlogs” or ASMR videos. Those are the ones where there is no verbal narrative, just pictures and sound that provide the opportunity for the viewer to more easily immerse themselves in whatever experience is being documented. I’ve watched a few that were engaging and I thought I would give it a try. I recently produced my first silent vlog and I have to say it was technically the most difficult video I have yet to produce.

I’m curious if there’s much interest in this style of video. Or if viewers would rather listen to me share my ideas about some riding topic.

For now, I’m just following a path of interest to me. I’m just uncertain where it will lead.

Here’s the first of my ASMR style silent vlogs…

A “silent style” video of my riding experience in the Central Pennsylvania mountains.

Let me know what you think about this style of video. And if you watch it on YouTube and want to see more videos in the future please subscribe to the channel.

Sorry About the Swearing

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I’ve uploaded a new video to my YouTube channel. I found myself engaged in an impolite exclamation. Sorry about that. Shit happens.

I follow the Itchy Boots YouTube channel as she rides around the world in all sorts of challenging situations. And perhaps what surprises me most is that she never swears. Not when she dumps the bike. Not when she gets a flat. Not when a customs agent gets annoying.

I strive for that kind of serenity.

Anyway, here is the latest video. I’m enjoying the creative change videomaking brings. It’s far more difficult for me than shooting still pictures and writing. But the creative challenge is invigorating.

If you like the video or want to see more of them, jog over to YouTube and subscribe.

Riding with Paul and his Triumph used in “Terminator 3.”

1st Ride on My 2022 Royal Enfield Himalayan

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Snow on the Himalayan tires.
What possessed me to ride when there was still snow around?

Common Sense (less)

Since buying the 2022 Royal Enfield Himalayan a few weeks ago it has been sitting in the garage. Cold temperatures, snow , slush, salt, and grit have made it a terrible time to ride. I’ve been visiting the motorcycle in the garage, admiring it, acting like a kid at Christmas who got a new bicycle but can’t ride because of snow.

So despite my better judgment and some patches of snow, I went for a short ride around the neighborhood. Just a few miles. After just a mile or so I knew I would be washing off the salt when I got home.

Still, I was dying to ride.

The tires on the Himalayan look nice and aggressive. But are they good for snow?

Continue Reading

Winter Vespa Riding Video

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I just uploaded a new video to my YouTube channel filmed during the recent ride shared in the last post. I’m uncertain as to how, or if, to share the videos here. They seem so different that the essays I write about rides and riding. Perhaps I’ve not given enough time or thought to the making of videos. At this point in time, they are frustrating projects as I struggle with hardware, editing software, and finding a voice. Oh, and on top of that some sort of content that’s worth watching.

Still, it’s an interesting creative puzzle and I plan to continue for a while.

If you like the video or are interested in having me make more, please subscribe on YouTube.

That will give me some indication if anyone is interested in me further developing videos about riding scooters and motorcycles and all that entails.

So without any further conjecture, here’s the video on winter Vespa riding…

Winter Vespa Riding — my reflections of the madness.