Scooter in the Sticks https://scooterinthesticks.com/ Exploring life on a Vespa, Royal Enfield Himalayan, Honda Trail 125, and a Kawasaki W650 Fri, 15 May 2026 15:38:27 +0000 en-US hourly 1 71084491 When Riding Alone Isn’t Enough https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/05/when-riding-alone-isnt-enough/ https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/05/when-riding-alone-isnt-enough/#comments Mon, 18 May 2026 10:00:00 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=11497 Ungracious Awakenings By temperament, I prefer to ride alone. Free to embrace the road at whatever pace I desire. Stopping to look or make photographs without concern for the tempo of others. No need to keep checking the mirrors or adjusting speed. Just the freedom to ride with my tumbling thoughts. And still I ride […]

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]]> https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/05/when-riding-alone-isnt-enough/feed/ 14 11497 Little Juniata Machine and Cycle https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/05/little-juniata-machine-and-cycle/ https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/05/little-juniata-machine-and-cycle/#comments Fri, 15 May 2026 15:38:19 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=11521 Service Completed I dropped the bike off on Saturday. The service was complete of Monday. I was thrilled to get the message. Being able to have the Himalayan worked on locally was something I wished for but firmly believed I only had three choices — haul the bike to the dealer a hundred miles away, […]

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]]> https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/05/little-juniata-machine-and-cycle/feed/ 14 11521 Is It Time to Surrender the Royal Enfield Himalayan? https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/05/is-it-time-to-surrender-the-royal-enfield-himalayan/ https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/05/is-it-time-to-surrender-the-royal-enfield-himalayan/#comments Tue, 12 May 2026 10:00:00 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=11482 A Workhorse Make no mistake, the 411 version of the Himalayan is a unique motorcycle. It looks different, sounds different, and acts differently than any other motorcycle I have ever ridden. Even with a meager 24 horsepower it far exceeds most of my riding abilities. And for the kind of rides I make it’s a […]

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]]> https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/05/is-it-time-to-surrender-the-royal-enfield-himalayan/feed/ 18 11482 Sticker Shock and Other Puzzlements https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/05/sticker-shock-and-other-puzzlements/ https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/05/sticker-shock-and-other-puzzlements/#comments Sun, 10 May 2026 13:38:21 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=11453 Puzzling Economic Thoughts Having a head full of 1980s prices leads to endless shocks when paying for things. Doesn’t matter if it’s a ribeye steak at the grocery store or a new pair of jeans from L.L. Bean. Thankfully I seem to be insulated and unconcerned about the price of gas at the pump. No […]

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]]> https://scooterinthesticks.com/2026/05/sticker-shock-and-other-puzzlements/feed/ 16 11453 Riding-Based Winterization https://scooterinthesticks.com/2025/12/riding-based-winterization/ https://scooterinthesticks.com/2025/12/riding-based-winterization/#comments Tue, 30 Dec 2025 06:22:00 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=11438 Accepting Colder Weather It’s no secret that I ride in cold weather. There may be a growing element of secrecy regarding my feelings about doing it. While the 2006 Vespa GTS 250 scooter is still ready and willing to head out in the coldest weather I cannot make the same claim. Each year as winter […]

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]]> https://scooterinthesticks.com/2025/12/riding-based-winterization/feed/ 9 11438 Frozen in Place https://scooterinthesticks.com/2025/12/frozen-in-place-2/ https://scooterinthesticks.com/2025/12/frozen-in-place-2/#comments Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:08:22 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=11425 Chaos and Procrastination Despite the march of years I continue to ride through the winter. The goal is to ride all five machines in the garage at least once every two weeks for at least 15 miles. Enough time to drive the moisture from the oil, keep the batteries alive, and make room for periodic […]

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]]> https://scooterinthesticks.com/2025/12/frozen-in-place-2/feed/ 24 11425 Remembering Summer Rides https://scooterinthesticks.com/2025/10/remembering-summer-rides/ https://scooterinthesticks.com/2025/10/remembering-summer-rides/#comments Fri, 31 Oct 2025 23:00:36 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=11395 The weather has turned markedly colder and the shortened daylight triggers some biological reaction that doesn’t feel great. Looked back to brighter, warmer, days and rides enters my thoughts more frequently now. Rather than gird and prepare myself for riding in colder weather I’m spending more time remembering summer rides. Like this one with my […]

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]]> https://scooterinthesticks.com/2025/10/remembering-summer-rides/feed/ 23 11395 Summer Doldrums https://scooterinthesticks.com/2025/09/summer-doldrums/ https://scooterinthesticks.com/2025/09/summer-doldrums/#comments Wed, 24 Sep 2025 19:56:07 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=11385 Weird Unlike most scooter and motorcycle riders, summer has always been the season I ride the least. I’ve blamed the heat. Or the laziness I feel whenever the temperature rises into the upper 70s. Whatever it is I seem to come back to life when I can step outside in the morning with the temperature […]

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]]> https://scooterinthesticks.com/2025/09/summer-doldrums/feed/ 13 11385 Riding and Getting Older https://scooterinthesticks.com/2025/06/riding-and-getting-older/ https://scooterinthesticks.com/2025/06/riding-and-getting-older/#comments Sat, 28 Jun 2025 14:40:02 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=11371 Responses from an Aging Population of Riders The 2001 Kawasaki W650 motorcycle continues to prove it’s mettle as I wander the backroads of Pennsylvania. I’ve noticed that riding and getting older have begun to intersect and have raised at times some uncomfortable questions. There’s some truth to the idea that when old men get together […]

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]]> https://scooterinthesticks.com/2025/06/riding-and-getting-older/feed/ 19 11371 Notes from the Sticks https://scooterinthesticks.com/2025/05/motorcycle-maintenance/ https://scooterinthesticks.com/2025/05/motorcycle-maintenance/#comments Thu, 22 May 2025 16:55:36 +0000 https://scooterinthesticks.com/?p=11343 Daily Rituals and Riding Our dogs are demanding of food, attention, and walks. They express those needs in various ways, usually quietly and patiently, but they do not forget. At times I wish I was more like them. Diligent in focus and caring for my needs. Spring brings with it a raft of extra duties […]

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