Modern Vespa

So I'm back to riding/practicing for the test (eventually) after a block long stretch of bumpy road 2 weeks ago put my hands out of commission. =(

In our little subdivision, around 25-30mph I feel stable on the tires. Like all's right and I'm not going to face-plant.

But when I'm out on the more 'open' road where there's more road noise, I'm feeling really skittery/slippery like I'm going to fall over any moment at 35-45mph.

Does it just take practice/experience? Do people with GT's get that feeling too, or is this an LX 'feature'? =D

Have you checked your tire pressures lately? If their off the scooter doesn't handle as well. Also hows the tread on the rear? I have 27,000 miles on my LX and don't have that feeling. Sometimes when the winds are all over the place at 40mph (winds) i feel it but otherwise i'm fine.

The front was right on, the back was at 30 this morning, could 5 off really make that much of a difference?

I didn't check the tread, it's only got 300ish miles on it (someone bought it, traded it back in to the dealer after 300 miles and it sat there for around a year and a half until I purchased it).

Huh, is it a weight thing maybe? Post-anorexia I've settled into and maintained in the low end of the women's plus size range, so I may be heavier than other LX riders.

Tyre pressures

I'm not skinny so i doubt that's it. Do you have the tires PSI according to what it says on the tires or whats in the manual? If you have what's on the tires you have to much air in them and that would cause the feeling your describing. Over inflation isn't a good thing.

When I checked this morning, the front wheel looks around the 23.3 psi in the manual, the back is at 30 (manual says 34/35).

Tire pressures are ruled out. Have you had an accident lately and could it be a psychological thing? Is there anybody that can ride it for you and see if they are feeling the same thing? Sometimes when i think somethings not right i get one of the guys to ride mine and see if they experience the same thing.

If tires are good and pressure is right. Then it is just the newness of your bike. When you are anew rider everything you feel makes you apprehensive. For you do not know how the bike feels in wind passing traffic road conditions yet. The best advice I got was to relax and feel how the bike wants to behave. Practice and practice. Never go over you ability never. It just takes time. But tire pressure and condition of tires must be spot on

We'll inflate the back tire 5 up to where it should be and try it again soon.

I'm a super cautious new rider, I don't push myself too much too fast. I've been practicing Uturns in cul-de-sacs mostly recently.. =) My husband is happy to check it out for me. He did when I said the bridge I'd gone over was super bumpy feeling and due to the pain issues I have, could he go over it and double check me. He came back, saying yeah, it was super bumpy and he can see why it would have flared my hands up.

No, I haven't had an accident. But in the same vein as someone who *has* I'm trying to figure out precisely what I'm feeling when it's happening. I've narrowed it down to "HOLY @#$ I'm going to go sideways down at any moment" currently.

When the scooters on the center stand do you have a lot of "play" side to side movement with the rear tire? Did you have a new rear tire put on recently? It should move side to side just a little bit but not like it's loose.

No substantial side to side play on the rear tire. It's the original tire, she's only got 300ish miles on her.

You may be gripping the handlebars too tightly, or keeping your arms tense - both common for new riders. Either will make the bike seem 'skitterish', as any little twitch in your arms or hands will be magnified by the bike.

Try a loose grip on the bars, and ensure your elbows are relaxed - your arms should be able to 'chicken wing flap' all by themselves when you go over bumps etc. The bike will want to stay going straight and upright once it's moving - it's the input to the bars that makes it lean or turn, and it does that very easily indeed, so keep that input to a minimum.

Relax and enjoy.

Good point jimc - I do my best to relax and not death-grip as that will make the hand-wonk worse.

It felt chilly to me today once I got moving, I could have been gripping tighter as a result.

I am hesitant to respond to this but here goes. You didn't say that the scooter felt skittery but that you do. One of the long term effects of anorexia is anemia. Some of the symptoms of anemia are lightheadedness and dizziness. Perhaps you are having balance issues that need to be addressed or looked into by your doctor. I wish you the best and hope that you get it figured out.

I probably used an odd choice of words due to being a little rattled by the experience. My perception was a feeling of being unsteady - counting at that point the scooter and I as one unit. When I rode it around the subdivision (smooth roads) I was fine.

I've been recovered (I hate using that word, lets say 'nutrient restored') for about a year (maybe 2). Iron is good, blood pressure runs low but it's been a long-standing issue so I'm used to it.

I always check in with my pain, and current physical/emotional state before I even touch the scooter. But *thank you* for reminding me and others lurking that it can be a thing =)

My husband rode the Vespa down the stretch of road that I was talking about (and beyond, he really likes our Vespa!) and said that the verdict is...

I'm not crazy and it's not the scooter....

It's road fail.

Part of the road is properly crowned at the center, part of the road has a valley/channel in the center. Just enough to mess a bit with scooter tires/steering, especially for someone inexperienced like me.

There were also some cracks all through the pavement side to side, that's what I perceived as the small 'bumps' everywhere (and what was getting my hands).

But I'll keep practicing down that and other stretches of road when pain permits =)

We're bad scientists. We changed two variables - we put more air in the back tire (it was at 30ish) and changed the back shock from 'rider only' #1 to 'rider plus passenger #3'

Along the same badly crowned/cracked stretch of road, it's like a new scooter. Thanks all for helping me troubleshoot!

Forgot about the shock. I don't think the tire pressure made much difference but you can tell when it's a little low. What year is your scooter? The stock shocks wear out quickly on our bad roads. Front and rear shocks were my best upgrades . Have fun with your new shocks. 8)

We have a 2008, 1 owner, 300miles - he bought in 2012, turned back around and traded it in and it sat there until we rescued it

Got her up to maybe around 55 (figuring the speedometer is a bit off with that) Woohoo!!! Checking out low windshields in case the chest-wind starts feeling old

I was shocked at how much of a difference the shock preload adjustment + 8 PSI added to the rear tire made. >.> Felt like a different bike.

(rdk's husband and official test rider.)

8 is a lot considering how little we have n them. So i guess i shouldn't of said what i did about the tire pressure. I was thinking 1 or 2 and yes adjusting the shocks makes it ride like a different bike. Glad you got it sorted.