Scooter in the Sticks

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

Do I Really Need a Royal Enfield Himalayan?

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I’ve been riding my Vespa GTS scooter on dirt and gravel roads for 15 years. Why do I need a motorcycle for those rides?

During a ride last August on my 2006 Vespa GTS 250ie I finally came to believe two things:

  1. Riding on rough, unpaved roads, the scooter in not the best choice of vehicles.
  2. I want to explore the dirt and gravel tracks that I’ve largely ignored for the past 15 years.

And as a result of the experience that day on my Vespa scooter, I began to think I needed to sell my BMW K75C motorcycle and buy a Royal Enfield Himalayan motorcycle.

A ride on my Vespa led me toward a Royal Enfield Himalayan.

It took a few months before I made a final decision, but the Himalayan was the right fit for how I ride and where I want to take it.

Please subscribe to my YouTube Channel if you want to see more videos of the Vespa and the Himalayan in the coming weeks and months.

Thanks!

Standing on the Pegs

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Paul Ruby standing on the pegs of his Honda CRF250L motorcycle.Standing on the Pegs

I can’t appreciate standing on the pegs. I’ve done it but for the riding I do it’s always seemed pointless. For those peg standers reading this, you’ll have deep insight into the sort of rider I am.

My friend Paul seems to love standing on the pegs. My archives contant many images of this behavior on myriad machines from Harleys to Vespa scooters. I hestitate to apply meaning to it. His Honda CRF250L provides exceptional opportunities for peg standing including the mount and dismount while the machine is on the kickstand. If you’re not really tall, it’s much easier to mount by stepping on the peg and throwing your leg over that way rather than doing it from the ground.

Or so I’m told.

But this day wasn’t about peg standing. It was a sad attempt in finding a challenging route to breakfast at the Inglebean Coffee House in Millheim, Pennsylvania.Continue Reading

Thoughts on Gravel and Paved Roads

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Vespa GTS on gravel roadDirt and Gravel

Maps sate the desire to wander.

Almost.

Do you fantasize with maps?

Pouring over roads and potential places to ride generates ideas and excuses to make trips without need or purpose. As is often the case, routes are weighed against possible places to eat.

A few days ago I found myself puzzling over a road across Stone Mountain leading into Big Valley in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania. A road I had not traveled before and wondered if it was paved. And if not, what condition it was in.

I’ve ridden enough dirt and gravel roads now on the Vespa to discern the differences that present themselves. Packed dirt like encountered by this powerline provides a smooth, easy ride. But that’s not always the case.Continue Reading

Vespa Off Pavement

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Vespa GTS scooter along gravel road in Rothrock State ForestRider, Tires or Vespa?

Last year I could easily ride the scooter along a stretch of gravel road like this at 35 to 45 mph without much trouble.  Now at 25mph I’m backing off the throttle. Have I changed?  After some more focused investigation this past weekend I’ve come to the conclusion the tires I now have on the Vespa aren’t much good when you leave the pavement.  And they may explain why I unexpectedly dropped the scooter recently on some steep, loose shale.

So I headed out into the Rothrock State Forest just a few miles from my front door; nearly a quarter million acres of forests spread across the mountains of three counties — perfect for testing a theory:  Heidenau K61 Racer scooter tires don’t perform well with the Vespa off pavement.

Vespa GTS scooter at overlook on Thickhead MountainOverlooking the World

By the time I arrived at the overlook on Thickhead Mountain I was hot, sweaty and ready for a monkey grip — that’s a banana for those of you not from Altoona. After only a dozen miles on dirt and gravel at a variety of speeds I’ve concluded the tires are exceedingly not well suited off the pavement.  They wander in the loose stuff which is to be expected, but they do the same on well packed gravel and dirt.  So much so that I had to reduce my speed by at least 20 percent to feel safe.

Steve Williams in Rothrock State ForestOld Man on the Mountain

Like a smart dog I seek shade and water on hot days.  But I do so with the knowledge that my tires deman an extra amount of attention when riding off the pavement.  Maybe next time around I’ll finally spring for the Kenda K761 dual sport tires I’ve been talking about for ten years.  Back in 2006 I was talking about them back in 2006 on Gary Charpentier’s Rush Hour Rambling blog — the source of my winter riding disease.

Now that I’m older and wiser I hide from the sun.  This winter we’ll see if I hide from the snow.