Scooter in the Sticks

Exploring life on a Vespa Scooter and Royal Enfield Himalayan motorcycle.

The Eveready Vespa GTS

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2006 Vespa GTS 250 on lift in shop
My 2006 Vespa GTS at Kissell Motorsports getting its annual Pennsylvania Safety Inspection.

Eveready Vespa GTS 250 Keeps on Ticking

Once a year, Pennsylvania requires motor vehicles to undergo a safety inspection. And for some, an exhaust system inspection for emissions. Motorcycles and scooters are exempt from the emissions test. I know a lot of riders that never have their bikes or scooters inspected. When I recently acquired my father-in-law’s Vespa ET4 I noticed it had not been inspected since 2012. So unless you’re stopped by the police, it’s difficult to see those stickers on a motorcycle, unlike a car where their bright colors are visible on the windshield.

I have mine inspected regularly at Kissell Motorsports, not so much for safety since I do those checks routinely myself, but rather because, well, I’m not much of an outlaw when it comes to rules. It’s probably related somehow to my aversion to high speeds and roller coasters.

My friend Andy’s GTS in the Garage of Despair, machines waiting for service.

While at Kissell’s waiting for my GTS I noticed a couple of Vespa scooters in the repair cue. The GTS belongs to my friend Andy and has a mystifying starting issue that has been difficult to resolve. Paul spied the scooter outside over the weekend at a Kissell Motorsports event and it appears it is ready to return home. Good news after losing many weeks of riding.

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Emerging From the Summer Doldrums

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Vespa ET4 scooter in Boalsburg, PA.
A stop with my Vespa ET4 in historic Boalsburg on my way to an early breakfast.

Summer Sloth

I resist writing “I hate summer” but it certainly feels that way as I surface from the summer doldrums of inaction and sloth. When the temperature goes up, I don’t feel like doing anything. Instead, I’ve been making some short morning rides to breakfast and hanging out with my family, friends, and my dogs.

And for many years now, riding in summer was not something I looked forward to. My temperature envelop has narrowed with age. Now my comfort range is 35F to 75F. No wonder much of summer is excluded from riding.

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Bringing Home a Vespa ET4 Scooter

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2004 Vespa ET4 strapped onto the bed of a pickup truck.
From one home to the next, bringing another Vespa into the fold.

Paperwork and Patience

The amount of paperwork necessary to commence a transfer of a motor vehicle in Pennsylvania is daunting enough to make you think the State would really rather it wasn’t done. And that doesn’t even begin to include processing the paperwork through the byzantine system of the Department of Transportation. I have to remind myself that if this represents the sort of problems I have in life, then I’m one lucky man.

Paul and I traveled to Altoona, Pennsylvania to gather up a 2004 Vespa ET4. Simply put — it’s a beauty.

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My Secret to More Relaxed Riding

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Vespa GTS scooter on a quiet road
A quiet moment with the Vespa GTS scooter.

Quiet, Relaxed, Serene

Almost from the beginning I have enjoyed riding my scooters for two reasons. First, they’re fun. And second, it’s relaxing. Fun was no problem. It just came naturally. But it took some time to learn how to find relaxed riding.

And perhaps the biggest step toward that goal, toward relaxed riding, was learning to pull over on the road and let faster traffic move ahead leaving me free to then meander and take in the sights.

I made this video to highlight some of the things I’ve learned in my pursuit of more relaxed riding.

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For the Love of Dogs

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Belgian Sheepdog laying with a Jolly Ball.
Aiden is the newest dog in our family.

Restoring Balance to the Canine Force

After the passing of our dog Junior at the end of March, my wife and I discussed whether or not to get another dog. As we get older, the thought is that a young dog may outlive us. And the work involved in training a puppy seemed more work than either of us wanted to take on. So reluctantly we decided that our remaining dog Lily would be our last.

But after a few weeks of watching Lily grieve over Junior’s absence and become increasingly anxious about being without a canine companion, we reached out to the breeder from which we got Junior and Lily.

And that conversation led to Aiden joining our family.

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