Scooter in the Sticks

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

No Riding, No Writing

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My dog enjoys the snow. She’ll happily lie outside until she’s covered in snow. I’m coming up empty though. Neither motivation nor content for any new posts. Other than this picture I made last Sunday during a snow squall I have not been riding.


My Ford Ranger faithfully transports me to work. The Vespa sits in the garage because snow on the ground, snow in the air, the threat of snow, and temperatures in the teens and single digits conspire in my head. A quick check of the weather report this morning shows 16° F and snow for the next five days doesn’t have me pulling on riding gear. While I might have ridden the old scooter on one of these days I don’t trust myself yet with the GTS. And come to think about it I don’t want to ride in snow or when there is the threat of snow. So where does that leave me?


I’ve never been good or overly interested in scouring the Web for interesting material to post here. If I stumble across something I will share it but I would rather ride and write about riding. My riding. It’s unique to me and to you if you’re interested.

The ride on Sunday followed a short nearly snowless ride on Saturday. Sunday found snow in the air and for a while snow everywhere on the road. It didn’t take long for things to melt leaving just a beautiful landscape to ride through.


I tested the GTS as best I could in the snowy areas and it seemed to perform OK. I am comfortable that if I were caught in the snow I could slowly and carefully negotiate my way to safety. But I would not want to routinely venture out knowing there would be snow.


So that’s where I am, waiting like many of you for the weather to improve. Right now if the roads are dry and the temperature is above 15° F I will ride to work. If the temperature rises above 20° F I will consider a trip. For the past few weeks I’ve been looking for clear pavement. No end in sight for snow free forecasts and even though on many days we don’t get the snow I don’t want to chance it. I’m beginning to think the bigger scooter has robbed me of something…

Shiny Scooters and Snow Don’t Mix

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The weather broke, or perhaps my resolve to keep the new Vespa GTS clean, safe and off the road until it was completely dry. Either way I was on the road again yesterday. The temperature was 31° F when I left and had risen 10 degrees by the time I returned home. The roads were clear and damp without ice or slush. I had hoped to see what the GTS was like in snow so I turned off into a shaded parking lot that was still snow covered. It was a gravel lot so traction is much better to begin with but there were a few areas packed smoothly that would simulate snow on the road.

The Vespa GTS feels more stable in the slippery stuff than the LX150 did. The advantage of the smaller scooter is that it’s lighter weight makes it easier to physically wrestle if the wheels should slip out from under you. A foot down on the ground and holding the handlebar can keep the scooter from falling to the ground. I didn’t push the experiment with the new GTS though—I’m not ready to see it fall down yet. Maybe after it gets dirtier. For this experiment I was content riding in circles, stopping, trying to slide, and generally increasing my comfort level with the new handling characteristics.

Still being in the break in period of operation I didn’t push the scooter too hard on the highway and kept my top speed below 65MPH. Acceleration is smooth and positive and the increased weight makes for a more stable ride. Handling on turns and curves is smooth and the GTS feels almost as nimble as the LX150.


More snow is called for today so I’m not sure yet if I will ride or not. Part of my concern is doubt in my familiarity with the new scooter but a big part does not want to get it dirty and covered with salt spray. As I ride more the scooter will become less precious and allow me to use it as I want.

Wind and the Vespa GTS250ie

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Just a quick update.

Wind was coming out of the west at a steady 20 to 30 miles per hour yesterday with gusts to 40. With temperatures hovering around 29° F for most of the day and calls for snow showers I finally left the house around 2PM for a long loop around town and then to Barnes and Noble for hot chocolate. Simple plan, simple ride. Stopped near a local quarry to see if there was anywhere to ride the Vespa that I hadn’t found previously. Enough No Trespassing signs dissuaded me from any of those routes.

The Vespa GTS responds more slowly to the wind. Where the LX150 is jerked around on the road the GTS feels like it has been slowly pushed making it feel more stable in the wind especially crosswinds. Because I can ride faster I end up feeling just as beat up as on the smaller scooter with the wind hitting me squarely in the chest. I suppose the smart person would consider a windshield. I’m not ready for that yet.

The road surface was dry but there seemed to be a lot of salt dust considering we have had no snow. The road crews must be bored enough that they salt each time a snowflake is threatened. My route wound back and forth from one side of town to the other trying a variety of streets and roads. The GTS does everything the LX150 does and more. If I find fault with anything it is the smoothness (or lack of) of the ride. While smoother than the LX150 the front end seems to vibrate as if the tire balance is off. I can’t tell if I am expecting too much, the road surface is rough, or the scooter is actually generating the vibration. I’ll figure this out over time.

Rode past Beaver Stadium, home of the Penn State Nittany Lion football team. The sun was shining down on Happy Valley so I had to take a look.


Eventually arrived at Barnes and Noble along with every other person unwilling to go outside so I scrapped any plans to hang out in that crowded venue. Made my way home and there the scooter has remained. This morning the temperature was 15° F with wind and the threat of snow. I had enough to do today that I never got out to ride before the snow came down. The weather forecast calls for snow and freezing drizzle overnight so I don’t expect to be on the road. I’m getting antsy to go. A long trip. A long winter trip to parts unknown….