Modern Vespa

Ooh! That's nice... must be getting somewhere at last!

Ibuprofen

Drug of champions 8)

(for the knee, NOT the transmission cover)

More like a blade of grass......sack of spuds indeed.

Sorry about your off genie. I low sided once on my Nikes and it was quite a shocker. Happened so fast. What were the road conditions? How much tread left on your trainers? Will you go A.T.G.A.T.T. now?

Tranny cover is beautiful.

The picture doesn't really show it at it's best. It's actually more shiny than that.

I'm pretty certain that Paul's GTS wheels will come out the same.

Alice I'm happy to get your rear wheel done just as long as it's naked and off the scoo......

Genie isn't telling the full story. Her fall was partly due to me slowing for a car driver driving across our respective paths. I pulled up a bit sharpish and she didn't. Our feet connected and she went down. Insert your own joke.
Like a trooper she ran on and just a little bit faster than me. Arse.

Bill X

Oh I saw a Honda Forza in black the other day and I have to say it was very attractive.

Dammit.

Bill X

Yay Is Jack the Master Powdercoater ready for a little stream of scooter parts coming his way?!

Sorry about the dink Genie. Tough it out, won't you

Disassembling the old 2 stroke GTR engine this last week produces little moments of quaint nostalgia. So when it was being made in Pontedera almost 40 years ago, Giuseppe or Vincenzo didn't whack on some of the fittings in use now, oh no, when I opened up the carb box, the fuel pipe is attached to the carb inlet by several twists of simple fine wire, perfected over hundreds of skilful repetitions by hand on the production line. And its worked perfectly ever since, until I opened it up to find it. It's like Vespa archaeology. I've just got to put it all back together again just as perfectly, hoping it runs for another 30 odd years...

Then and now...

That Piaggio employee has a very bad complexion.

Decide when you get your wheels back before you send more stuff eh Paul.

The wheels are in prep as I speak.

Birreh !

Having a browse for some factory pictures, I found this story of the Indian Vespa factory opened April 2012, (may have been posted before)...making the cheaper Indian LX version. Just sharin' for interest...

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/motorbikes/119849-pics-report-piaggios-new-vespa-plant.html

Will have a think about how to transport wheels when they're not attached to the scoot!

I wonder what they call the 'curry hook'?

Trepp, you know, sometimes it's ok not to 'wonder'

No, seriously. We call it a curry hook because that is the exotic foreign take-out of choice among the UK riders. So, what do you suppose fits into that niche in India?

Biryani hook?

legshield tool boxes on PX Vespas were always known as bread bins round our way, i wonder if the LML has a naan bread bin

Latkes holder? (Now that we will be seeing cooler wx, I have this great need to cook some)

Up until the start of this year, when we would "top off" our mobile phones, that gave us 12 months additional service. So we would just throw in 20 or 30 Euros when the balance got low and not worry about expiration.

Now, a top off only gives you 6 months, and we have to stick to 20 Euro increments and also keep track of expiration, as we often will not use 30 Euros in that period of time. At least the credit is carried forward.

We are retired, and shouldn't have to keep track of time.

You need a lift?

That's everso kind! I will investigate how easy it is to get the wheels on and off, and think about it some more. Thank you!

Today's commuting annoyance: a cyclist who shouted "What the hell are you doing? MOVE!" at me as I was cautiously keeping my distance from a huge M&S lorry turning left. It's called staying out of the blind spot, fella, and a skill you would do well to acquire yourself...

Na let then get crushed under the wheels. That'll teach them.

GT300 wheels have now been powder coated in gloss black and tomorrow they'll go on the lathe to get that edge nice and shiney.

Alice if you can bare being scooterless for 4 days I can pick them up and drop them back to you as and when.

Shiney.

Bill X

Well, if you must know

To redress the balance, I should put it on record that this morning I pulled in while filtering to allow a cyclist past me and they gave me a little thank you wave. Road users CAN be nice to each other in London!

Robinsons is from Tenbury Wells (North Worcs, practically Shropshire), and I like it a lot, too. Crisp. "Vintage"-y. Their bottled stuff is, if anything, even better for my money http://www.robinsonscider.com/shop/ My mate Paddy who you've met at his cider shop in Hfds will deliver you cases of the stuff for (IIRC) £8 flat rate postage.

I had a similar nudge from a BMW-er the other day, Alice. Idiot. Damn stupid thing on their part to get so close to another bike, whether stopped or moving. I particularly liked the part where he tried to blame ME for him nudging me (when I was at a total standstill, with both brakes applied). I'm sure you rose above it admirably.

Brilliant!

I always cringe a little bit inside when I see the way many people conduct themselves when dining at 'ethnic' restaurants. They often act like the waitstaff are sub-human dimwits and behave, well, pretty much the way the folks in that video behaved. Spot on!

Maybe a bit naive as I get this sort of experience rarely as I'm outside cities and don't ride into work very often, but if that was me, I'd be very tempted to calmly get off the bike, take out my camera, and take a photo of the car reg plate, in the hope that it'd make the driver think about what they'd done in case you reported them. Assuming they're so close that they can't drive off around you...and not so deranged they'd just run you over too...

I can see why, with helmetcams becoming cheaper, so many city riders mount one and turn it on as they set off, and make it just as much of a routine as turning the key...

Sorry - I wasn't being clear (again! ). My experience was with a BMW bike who wanted to cosy up behind me when stopped at the lights, and couldn't manage to keep his bike still, so nudged frwd and bumped my topbox.

I'd assumed Alice's experience was the same, but quite possibly I've got that wrong. Perhaps it was a car.

I might feel tempted to do what you suggest if a car nudged me, but tbh there are so many nutters out there that I'd rather not incite a fight with one of them. Especially when no one's hurt and there's no damage done.

Re. Helmet cams: I personally dislike the idea of them (when used for anything other than taking in the scenery). Quite strongly. YMMV and all that, but I can't see me going that route any time soon. I'd rather spend the money on a day's training to brush up my idiot-avoidance skills.

Anyone going?

http://www.brightona.net/

i've been stuck on public transport whilst awaiting a warranty replacement for my one non-functioning heated grip very very annoyed ... it's already too cold for me to ride in the mornings without them, and having a frozen, numb throttle hand within 15 minutes of leaving the house isn't exactly safe. it's also particularly painful

this morning's commuter joy was the little berk stood in front of me on the overground, who sneezed three times directly in my face. when i asked him if he wanted a tissue, his response was to sneeze twice more i hope he dies of whatever he's got (and that he hasn't given it to me)

Have you got a 12v outlet on your scoot? I could let you have my heated gloves until your warranty is sorted out?

You are just lovely Ash :lol:

It was indeed a car, and when I did get moving he dropped right back, so he knew he'd flamingoed up. I made a show of looking over my shoulder and carefully scanning his number plate. Hopefully he'll spend the next week awaiting a letter from the law.

Well, my own encounter with road twats was very dangerous indeed. I am crossing the road with Orla in the pram. Second half of the road, I look, and see a bike coming.

He does not stop. Instead he decides to ride his bike inbetween the edge of the pavement and the end of the pram at around 30 mph.

If I ever find this idiot again I will not be responsible for my actions.

ugh that's the sort of idiot i'd have chased down the road. what an utter pillock.

speaking of pillocks ... i've just remembered that I have a lovely set of heated glove liners. it's official: i am a muppet. i've been taking public transport when I could have been using them.

ta for prodding my memory ash

No problem glad to have been of some assistance.

Just got back from Husketeer's who offloaded a computer to me (much thanks btw Alice). Enjoyed talk of Dr Who, Simon and Garfunkel and the joys of receiving parcels-Cheered me up a treat!
Thanks again hun
xxx

well, it turns out that the heated glove liners actually work better than the heated grips i arrived at work this morning with two very cosy comfy hands.

i'm also learning that leaving earlier doesn't necessarily mean getting here any faster the school run, plus the number of people who seem to need to get to work for a 9am start, means that there is actually more traffic on the roads at 7:30 than there is at 8:15. enormous, unwieldy traffic queues with pedestrians running across the road between vehicles. ugh.

i've said it before and i'll say it again: i've got no idea how people manage with cars in London. i'd go mad within a week

I'm glad it's gone to a good home, and it was lovely to have you for coffee. (Plumber never did turn up, BTW.) I love having local Skoks - let's hope their number is not decreased by homicidal biklists

For those thinking about the Group Butt next year how does the weekend of May 10/11 sound ?

Just off Junction 6 of the M20 at Maidstone is a nice hotel, an eatery and two 24 hour petrol stations which sounds like a perfect place to start and finish.

What say you ?

I may well employ The J and Bitza to act as witnesses.

Bill X

Wll, my wn ncntr wth rd twts ws vry dngrs ndd. m crssng th rd wth rl n th prm. Scnd hlf f th rd, lk, nd s bk cmng.

H ds nt stp. nstd h dcds t rd hs bk nbtwn th dg f th pvmnt nd th nd f th prm t rnd 30 mph.

f vr fnd ths dt gn wll nt b rspnsbl fr my ctns.

RRSPNSBL

Stp whnng nd th nxt tm lk bth wys whn y stp ff th pvmnt. Jz sm ppl shld nt hv chldrn !

Just like bad luggage and herpes he keeps coming back.

sad sad sad.

Y'know, for anyone who didn't know us, some of these posts might suggest we were...erm, a different sort of club...?!