Scooter in the Sticks

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

The Joy in Riding with Others

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BMW K75 and KTM390 Adventure motorcycle stopped along a forest road.
On this ride, my BMW K75 and Paul’s KTM390 were called up for action. There’s always coffee.

Coffee and Photographs

It usually begins with a text message or phone call — “Interested in a ride to Inglebean?”

Most of the time, because of conflicts in schedule or circumstance, the answer is no. I assume the day will come when Paul will quit asking the question due to frustration or deciding I just don’t want to ride with him. The truth is, every time he asks if I want to go for a ride my instant, a pre-cognition response is “Yes!” Part of it is that any excuse to ride is welcome, and part being I enjoy riding with him.

There is a joy in riding with others that takes some time for me to describe. Looking back at a ride we did back in the fair weather of early June provides an opportunity to explore the experience.

We stop a lot so I can make photographs. Paul takes the opportunity to sip coffee or espresso he brews at home. There is little talking.

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Mistakes and Lessons on Riding

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Two motorcycles on a gloomy morning parked at a scenic vista
The beginning of a day of mistakes and lessons on riding.

Jo Hays Vista

It’s rare that my first riding mistake comes before I leave the driveway. And humbling to realize after years on two-wheels I’m still capable of making decisions that come back to haunt me. I had just pushed the motorcycle out of the garage, pulled it onto the center stand, and rushed around to make sure the doors were locked and the dogs were content before my departure. With the BMW K75 idling in the driveway I felt hot in my First Gear Kilimanjaro riding jacket despite the thermometer indicating 63F.

The weather forecast indicated it would rise quickly to 70F. And there was no rain in the forecast so I didn’t need the heavier jacket or a rainsuit. Substituting my summer mesh jacket I made my first mistake — I was not prepared for any change or variation in the forecast.

The entire day would be one of mistakes and lessons on riding.

Just nine miles later atop Jo Hays Vista my error was apparent. A t-shirt under a mesh jacket and a bit of mist in the air felt cold. Unlike Paul’s BMW K1300 with full faring, heated grips and seat, and his leather jacket to ward off the moisture and cold, I just hoped for the promised increase in temperature and some of the fabled heat from the K75 fuel tank.

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Riding a BMW K75 Motorcycle

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1992 BMW K75 motorcycle
My “new” 1992 BMW K75 motorcycle. A birthday present from my wife Kim.

A Birthday Present

Every year for the past 15 years when my wife asked me what I want for my birthday I would reply, “A motorcycle.” This year she said, “Okay.” I’m now riding a BMW K75 motorcycle.

The machine will join my beloved Vespa as partners in exploration, adventure and joy as I prowl the landscape of central Pennsylvania. I’m excited to investigate how these two nearly polar opposite vehicles will affect my experience on the road. I know how it will affect the physical aspects of riding, but it’s the mental and psychological effects that are of interest. Will the same serenity I find on the Vespa occur with the BMW?

This post will be short because I don’t have a lot to say.

Yet.

But here are a few ideas and revelations that led to the decision to ACTUALLY buy a motorcycle when I am so happy with the scooter.

As I’ve thought about motorcycles I rejected the idea of big and powerful to instead find something small and nimble. Like the Vespa. But then it occurred to me rather recently I was just trying to duplicate the Vespa experience on a motorcycle. So when it came time to actually buy something, it seemed more experientially interesting to acquire something that was the polar opposite of the scooter — big, heavy, powerful and not so nimble.

So now I will be riding a BMW K75 motorcycle. A 1992 BMW K75 motorcycle is pristine condition with 16K miles on the clock. I’ve only put 100 miles on it so far and won’t be doing a lot of riding until I have Kissell Motorsports do the Pennsylvania Safety Inspection along with a few other service needs in early August.

And then I start sharing the road with my Vespa. I’ll be riding a BMW K75 motorcycle and hopefully have something interesting to share from that experience. Scooter and motorcycle.

New adventures ahead.