Exploring life on a Vespa, Royal Enfield Himalayan, Honda Trail 125, and a Kawasaki W650
Last weekend I took a ride to deliver a Father’s Day card, an excuse to ride 125 miles on a fine Sunday morning, leaving behind Happy Valley as my friend Paul and I took a wandering route to Altoona, Pennsylvania. It’s not often the air is this clear or the view this good from Jo Hays Overlook.Continue Reading
Last Saturday the URAL team rolled into State College, Pennsylvania to demonstrate the sidecar life to a group of interested riders gathered at Kissell Motorsports, the central Pennsylvania dealer.
After some basic instruction two rigs were made available to go on a short 15 to 20 minute ride with a leader and follow bike to help make sure nothing unexpected happened.
I like the looks of the URAL and at some point in my life it may have a role. Just not right now.Continue Reading
For me, the first moments of the day shape the path my mind heads down. A walk with the dog, a hot shower, and a ride on the Vespa makes puts everything in perspective. Especially if I’m alone on the road.
This past Sunday morning I found myself drawn towards the mountains outside of town, up towards the fog and mystery. Time and responsibility kept the Vespa at a distance; we could only look and imagine what secrets were hidden in the mist.
One of my favorite haunts for dog and foot is undergoing a transformation forced by giant machines. I can only watch and hope some space remains for more solitary pursuits. Could be progress pushed me farther afield to find the emptiness I crave.Continue Reading
No, not this guy. That’s Mike with his 2-stroke Yamaha cafe racer. He’s a regular at the Piston and Pints gathering and tells me he’s working on another bike though the details escape me at the moment.
Before I go on, if you want high resolution files of these pictures you can download them from my Flickr site.
Every Moto Hang gathering seems to have some new aspect of motorcycling or riding in play from a member riding around the world to custom sidecar builds to this evening when a truck and a racing motorcycle appeared.
Here’s where I realized I should have taken notes to at least get some specifics on the motorcycle and rider. I’m going to take a clumsy stab at both fully expecting to be corrected later by some of the more observant riders.
John Dershimer rolled his Suzuki motorcycle down the diamond plate ramp and gave a short course on some of the ins and outs of riding a motorcycle at high speeds on a race track.
The Vespa among the motorcycle rabble. John Oppy’s Honda project bike (right) was cool. Love those knobby tires.
Liked those knobbies enough to make a portrait — just one step away from including myself in a selfie…
Another view of the Vespa twinkling in the sunlight. It’s my blog so I’ll post pictures of the scooter until I’m sated.
Someone asked (and I think I failed to answer) if they had to drink beer to be part of the Moto Hang — here’s photographic evidence that you don’t. One out of three has a beer. I drink bottled water heavily at the get togethers but not beer. All are welcome. Even trikes I think.
Meet Ken Hull. He’s the founder of the Moto Hang and related riding and social activities. He’s inviting anyone within riding distance of Boalsburg to join us on the first and third Wednesdays of every month from 5 p.m. until the last rider departs for home.
So mark your calendar and join the group — motorcycles of all kinds, scooters, hacks. No one shown up with an electric motorcycle yet. You can be the first!
At 5:04 p.m. an alert vibrated the iPhone sitting on my desk warning of a severe lightning storm and calling for the evacuation of two athletic stadiums on Penn State’s University Park campus. For once my decision not to ride because of the weather made sense. Three hours later the weather cleared and the Vespa was fully engaged in an important mission. The line of fire across the sky signified the importance of the task at hand.
Swift movement at dusk through the central Pennsylvania landscape inspires a heighten sense of risk; Bambi is lurking just beyond the green fringe, waiting to intercept the feckless rider. As missions can push limits it’s important to remain attentive, focused, and bring all skills and powers to the task at hand.
Fragrance and fluctuation of air temperature seek to move the mind from the eye to the nose like mythological sirens luring the unsuspecting towards the rocks. A few words of silent meditation refocuses concentration on the mission at hand, interrupted by the sharp pierce of a mosquito’s proboscis through my cheek.
On the Vespa goes.
Only minutes left, moving silently across the parking lot, like a special operator in a hostage rescue, hyper-focused, committed, single-minded. Moment by moment the number of possible decisions shrink until I’m face-to-face with the target. Time slows as I move like a shadow with singular intent.
Mission complete, target secure, two pints of fine frozen dessert — Ben and Jerry’s and Talenti — on route to a Friday evening summit with my significant other. It was a productive evening ride.
Even the little trips are fun and full of surprises. Life is always an adventure on two wheels. Life is better with a Vespa scooter.