Modern Vespa

https://youtu.be/oiBbjepO_wk


I just thought I'd give you all my final thoughts before I said farewell to the vespa. It's not a sure thing yet so you can still maybe talk me out of it, but I'm thinking its time to go sadly.[/url]

Wait, wait, wait...

Watched your video, pondered a few things: you bought your Vespa for many of the reasons I (and likely most everyone here at MV) did, and checked off the machine's virtues - and very few vices - quite deftly. You mention the main reason for ditching the Vespa: needing a new four-wheeler to replace the old (and ailing) four-wheeler. As the saying goes, you gotta do what you gotta do.

But...is this the only path forward? What car do you have in mind to replace the current one?

I get what you mean about getting spooked by a close call. I've had a few (plus some direct hits) on both two and four wheels. Bizarre as it sounds, I actually feel more secure on two. But that's just me.

You describe your bike in a way that tells me you just might kick yourself rather hard for giving her up. If you're truly jonesing for that nicer car, go for it, of course. Naturally, there's nothing that says you can't find yourself another nice Vespa should the opportunity arise. But give all this some serious thought before hanging the "for sale" sign over the windscreen.

And, best of luck, whatever your decision turns out to be.

Don't.
Do.
It.

I've been ride-free for 10 months.
It massively sucks.

Man-You scared the piss outta me riding in the street gutter so much. Couldn't make it all the way through. I was worried you were going to hit a parked car!

But don't do it. As DaveLX says- It massively sucks.

Dude wants a "cool car", so dude's gonna get a cool car. Logic doesn't compete with the heart.

Lots of us come back to it later. I learned to ride (ok, didn't learn, just rode) in high school 30 something years ago with a friend. After the transmission on his Honda stopped shifting, neither of us picked up a bike for decades. I rode in 1998-2000, and then got a scooter in 2013. He didn't ride until 2 years ago (when he turned 50).

As for riding right next to the curb, it appears that he's avoiding the speed bumps. Me? I'd rather avoid the curb, cause a speed bump isn't gonna throw me, but a curb will.

Don't do it. Would you get rid of your Westie? I wouldn't and i doubt you would too and i consider my LX part of the family.

Hmm... you all do have me thinking now that maybe I should consider going two wheeled for a while...

My only gripe with this, and one that is fairly considerable, is that my scooter is only my local transportation. My job is about a 2 hour highway drive from the city my girlfriend resides in, and I'm unsure whether or not my scooter would be feasible for that ride every weekend. It's got power, but not 70 miles an hour for 4 hours a week 52 weekends per year kind of power haha. I'd also be concerned about high speed safety with those small wheels.

Also, as far as a "cool" car goes, I didn't mean anything fast and dangerous, but something slightly nicer than what I have such as an Acura TSX, Honda Civic Coupe, or something remotely sporty with a good track record for reliability and decent gas mileage.

I'm going to take a few weeks to consider if this is the choice for me though, as I know I'll miss my scooter.


There is also the option that I could sell this scooter and get a less powerful one or a scooter of another brand for a fraction of the cost and have both... what do you think about that alternative?

Thanks,
Taylor



P.S. Please excuse the profanity in my video! I was speaking carelessly and I assure you I'm generally a very well behaved individual verbally

I have been without a working scooter since Saturday.
Came home and the one scooter I could ride, Razzo, wouldn't start.
Rocket has no rear tire and I have no tools to move Razzo's wheel to Rocket.
Tools and parts coming next week.
Honda making its way home from as far away as Banff.
It is driving me crazy.

I can tell you that no car delivers the joy you feel riding a Vespa. I LOVE cars and I love to drive. However, the freedom of my Vespa is a completely different thing.

If your Vespa is paid for, find some other source for the cash you need for the car. I bet if you go around the house, you can find some stuff to sell on eBay and get the same amount or more!

Welll... I love driving my mini cooper just as much as the vespa.... and it is wonderful to have an option of what to drive. When the weather is crappy then the cage is a wonderful thing to have. when the weather is nice to wonderful then the vespa is a wonderful thing to have to get any where!!

Best to you on your decision.

So glad I am old and don't care if my cages are cool or not--ok, admit to liking that cool air the car has and the truck does not--refuse to fix the lumber hauling, rock hauling, old house jobs truck. Have to have cage transportation for when weather does not allow 2 wheels, or I have cargo to haul that is not easy to haul on my Rebel or Vespa, like 30# bags of dog food.
But I am keeping the rides until I am too crippled up to ride. And it was a Buick that crossed the center line and totaled my much loved little red truck 6+ years ago and almost killed me. No bikes, trikes or scooters involved in that. I feel safer on my 2 wheel rides than in the car or truck.

OT: I see your camera is on your helmet- how are you recording your audio? :)

irieman, I am putting this together now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRQ4OobrCMw

Parts of that ride looked really close to the kerb...but I'm guessing it wasn't so close because the voiceover did not waiver or miss a beat.

Yup. When watching riding videos, I always have to remind myself that action cameras such as GoPros have wide angle lenses and make distances look weird.