Modern Vespa

cans! i almost slid out into traffic the other day because i happened to try & stop with my front tire (accidently) on a flattened aluminum can. it was like black ice! lucky for me the et4 is small enough that i just physically pulled it back (& was only going about 3 mph) to avoid getting taken out by a fast-moving cager coming around the bend. got my adrenalin pumping for sure!

Lucky escape, thankfully you were only going slow, we have loose stones at the end of the road, my hearts in my mouth every time I turn the corner

Russ

Pulled into a store parking lot and drove right onto asphalt covered with wet oak tree leaves. Wow, what a great slide. Could've been a great utube vid!

lots of traction-reducing debris out there, i guess. just my luck to stop right on top of the ONLY can!

Whew!

So.........the rear brake doesn't work?

Happy you are okay and so is the scooter. Really wish we had ABS!

i checked it afterwards & discovered that, by itself, it's not enough to stop the scooter at ~25+ mph unless a loong stopping distance is acceptable. however, it will do it at lower speeds. my problem was that it all happened so fast, & being so caught by surprise at the 'flat can caused' slide of my front wheel that i guess i just sort of processed that in my mind as 'total brake failure' & i just yanked the bike back.

...btw, should i do something about the back brake? is what i posted above normal?

I have the same issue with my ET2...I could pull an endo with my front it's so strong but braking with only the rear is more like a casual suggestion to slow down rather than a demand to stop. Only 700 miles on it so I'm not sure if mine is normal either.

Someone more knowledgeable may correct me, but I think the ET2 & ET4, like my LX150 only have mechanical brakes on the rear; whereas they have hydraulic brakes on the front. Therefore, you will have a lot more braking power on the front wheel.

That comes in wicked handy...when riding in reverse. "Let's put the good brake on the front...cuz that won't feck anyone up ever."

L It's Italian what can i say. Glad you weren't hurt Bull. We have sand on the road etc etc. Red dirt is like black ice when wet. Be careful out there folks.