Scooter in the Sticks

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

Living Without a Scooter

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Belgian Sheepdog meditating in gardenDaily Meditation

My dog Junior models the contemplative life for me — moments of quiet reflection coupled with simple acts of focus and pleasure; tennis balls, Milkbones, naps and walks.  As I squirm with desire to be riding he reminds me that peace is a construct of the mind and I can create my own reality.

Even if means scooterless living while waiting for my Vespa GTS to emerge from repair world.

hydrandgea climbing up a postThe Vespa Maintenance List

Each morning I wander through our garden with the dogs, stepping slowly into the day.  The garden has maintenance needs, just like the Vespa scooter.  As a living system I’ll never fully meet its demands or achieve all the things Kim or I would like to accomplish. The hydrangea in the photo will so reach the limits of the locust post its growing on.  Plans are in the works to build a much taller structure for it.

The Vespa is completely different.  It’s usually a fixed list.  Currently a long one.  For those of you wondering what you might have to do with a scooter at 32 thousand miles here’s the list:

  • Voltage regulator
  • Clutch and driven/drive pulley assemblies
  • CVT drive belt, rollers and related parts
  • New Heidenau K61 tires, mounting balancing, etc.
  • Engine and transmission fluid and filter replacement

I had neither the time or inclination to take on the work.  And I trust the technicians at Kissell Motorsports.

dog running through wooded gardenRemain in Motion

Over time we’ve created pathways and trails through our woodland landscape.  After my heart attack last year it was strongly suggested I change my exercise habits including healthy doses of walking.  Led by the dogs I can easily walk a half mile before breakfast doing a four or five circuits around the garden.

Beyond exercise I want to keep my mind in motion.  Riding the Vespa helps as does writing and photography in not abandoning life to the easy chair and television.

In (temporary) scooterless living an easy walk is a blessing.

Two Belgian Sheepdogs in garden

Why Didn’t You Buy a New Vespa?

More than a couple people have focused their attention my way in terms of buying a new scooter.  I refused to believe Junior and Lily are wondering the same thing. But many question the expense of maintenance on a ten year old machine, especially when the expense may reach to more than half its value.

With plenty of evidence of the Vespa engine’s lifespan I’m comfortable I’ll be riding many more miles.  And certainly for less money that buying a new scooter.

Until I get the scooter back I’ll be focused on other things.  Garden renovation, construction or maybe another foray into my darkroom.  The opportunities for non-riding adventures are limitless.

Required Vespa Maintenance

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Kissell Motorsports signKissell Motorsports

Arriving at your local motorcycle and scooter dealership, in my case Kissell Motorsports, I can be in one of two distinctly different frames of mind – the bliss of fantasy or the anxiety of the technician’s verdict. The yin and yan of the two-wheeled life for those of us who are not committed wrench turners.

So begins the story…

Reflection of Steve Williams and his Vespa GTS scooter

Confessions of Vespa Abuse

Reflecting on my poor scooter – nameless, subjected to indecent conditions, ridden hard and put away wet – is it any wonder it doesn’t feel well? I don’t care for machines very well. My friend Paul commented over the weekend that my van is the dirtiest vehicle he’s ever been in. (He must lead a sheltered life – my van seems spotless compared to many vehicles I ridden in.)

Regardless, I confess to abusing the Vespa through neglect and indifference using it only for my own selfish, personal pleasure. In return I offer the minimum of care – fuel, lubricants, and the occasional bath. The Vespa has held up remarkably well considering nearly ten years of hard use.

Still, I approached the service department with a sense of dread.

Sales tag on a brand new Vespa GTS300The Verdict

With the help of the kind community of Vesparados on ModernVespa.com I had tracked down why my engine warning light was coming on under power. A quick voltage test at the battery revealed a failed voltage regulator. Echoing deep in my subconscious was a nasty voice telling me, “there’s more son, you need to spend your money on something…”.

As I thought about the cost of repairing my aging scooter I began to wonder if it would be better to buy a new one.

Madness. I know.

Triumph Street Twin motorcycle
“Imagination is the only weapon in the war against reality.”

As the Cheshire Cat said in Alice in Wonderland, I found imagining life with the Triumph Street Twin helped await the verdict on my scooter.  The funny thing about imagination — it’s fickle.  Before long I was riding a Triumph Scrambler, then a Ducati Scrambler.  I even imagined a few miles on a URAL.  It was about then I heard the call from the service desk.

One thing is for certain.  When I think something needs fixed I’m usually right.  And it’s usually far more than I anticipated.

My 2006 Vespa GTS 250ie is sitting quietly at Kissell Motorsports awaiting required Vespa maintenance. I was right about the voltage regulator.

And then some.  But that’s a story for another day.

Mechanical Satisfaction

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Do you derive joy or satisfaction from working on your scooter or motorcycle?

Vespa GTS scooter in wash bayGrime and Crud

After an evening of wrench turning and and part changing the scooter is back on the road.  A new battery has the scooter firing up strongly and a new sparkplug and air filter has reduced the occurrence of the engine fault light coming on.  To celebrate I went for a test ride and decided to stop and spray the filth off the Vespa.  Being careful to not direct any high powered streams of water into the engine or other delicate places I was able to transform a mud caked, limestone dust coated, salt encrusted scooter into a reasonable handsome machine.

Can’t say the same about my grease stained fingers.  I remember now that I have latex gloves to keep my hands clean.  Sitting here now, tired after a long week and some work on the scooter this evening, I can tell I’m in a glow of mechanical satisfaction.  As much as I hate to admit it there is a tangible feeling of accomplishment from a few simple acts.

Strange.

Vespa GTS scooter along road at night with passing carsRoad Closed Ahead

Before I get lost in the mechanic romantic I still find riding more dazzling and rewarding than crawling around the driveway with a wrench and screwdriver.  Working on the scooter and knowing I can do a few things was fun but can’t hold a candle to the test ride.  Through the dark and on the way home the smile has returned.

You know the one, the big grin fueled by fun.

The mechanical satisfaction isn’t over yet — still have to change the engine and transmission oil and check the head bearings.  Another day, after a nice spring ride.

Trying to be a good Boy Scout I ordered a pair of Heidenau K61 tires today from Kissell Motorsports.  I’ll be needing them in a month or so.

Melting into the chair at the moment and dreaming of sleep.  That’s what Friday nights have become for an old Vespa rider…

Absent-Minded Vespa Mechanic

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Vespa scooter and tools in a drivewayNighttime Wrenching

On Monday morning I was suited up and ready to ride to work only to find the Vespa near death when I pressed the starter button.  Hard to describe the level of disappointment this old man feels when a scooter ride is snatched away.  There’s some consolation in being able to report no curses or expletives emerged from my disappointed brain — just a calm push of the scooter back into the garage.

A long day at work along with evening errands kept me from investigating the problem with the Vespa.  And Tuesday evening had me finishing our taxes before Uncle Sam hauled myself and the scooter away.  Finally this evening I found time to have a look.  Like so many things though, my estimate of available “time” was inaccurate.  Or perhaps more precisely, I didn’t realize how fast I was rushing through time to get the Vespa moving again.

The differential diagnosis which was confirmed by fellow riders on the ModernVespa.com forum was either a dead battery or bad ground wire.  Simple things to investigate and fix.  Found the ground wire — it looked dirty and corroded so I removed it and being in a rush and not paying attention promptly dropped the bolt and washers into an abyss in the engine compartment. Predictable move for an absent-minded Vespa mechanic.

After a trip to the hardware store for replacement parts I pushed the start button and the scooter started right up.  Shut the engine off and tried again and the engine barely turned. Pushed the starter button again and the engine turned over slowly and started.  Barely.  As I rode out of the driveway I’m thinking “bad battery”.

Vespa GTS scooter at nightInto the Night with a Dead Battery

Zipped up the street and the Vespa ran fine.  Didn’t want to breakdown far from home so I stayed in the neighborhood.  Just up the hill from our garage I shut the engine off and let the headlight drain some energy from the battery.  Hit the starter button after a few minutes and I’m back to a hard start.  Once home I hooked the engine up to my AntiGravity battery and the Vespa came to life.

Get your own peace of mind regarding dead batteries — Antigravity XP-5 MINI Micro Start – Personal Battery Jump Starter & Charger – Back Up Power Supply.

So — dead battery. Hopefully.

Vespa GTS batteryI See a Battery in my Future

Despite being less than two years old the battery seems to be dead.  Perhaps running year round in cold weather takes a toll.  Others have suggested constant use of a Battery Tender shortens the life of the battery.  Don’t know, don’t care.  Just want to go for a ride.  So tomorrow I’ll stop by Kissell Motorsports and hopefully find a new battery.  And once installed I expect the engine to start.

Am I asking too much?