Modern Vespa

Well I've done it: After 21 years I sold my Harley-Davidson and ordered a new Vespa..

Brief History:

1962 - 1982: 20 years owned 3 Vespas, 125, 150, Rally 200... Lived and rode in California, Northern and Southeast Virginia... Longest ride was on a 150 from Washington DC area to Sanford, FL in 1966... Rode to and from work at the Pentagon braving the "Mixing Bowl" intersection coming from the West... Those of you who have ever worked at the Pentagon will know what I mean...
Total of about 50,000 miles on Vespa scooters...

1982 - 1997: 15 years no two wheel vehicle...

1997 - 2018: 21 years owned 6 Harley-Davidson Electra Glides, mostly Ultra Classics... Lived in Virginia and Florida... Completed several Iron Butt rides: seven Saddle Sore 1000 (1000 miles minimum in 24 hours or less) and one Bun Burner 1500 (1500 miles minimum in 36 hours or less)... Also rode the Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap in the Great Smokey Mountains with my wife riding behind me... Was a Road Captain leading innumerable rides over the years...
Total of over 160,000 miles on Harley motorcycles...

I have outlived two wives, Lorraine - high school and college sweetheart for 6 years and spouse for over 51 years... Caryl (who I knew and double dated with in high school; Lorraine and I and Caryl and her sweetheart)... Caryl revitalized me after Lorraine died... Unfortunately, after only 3-1/2 years her warranty expired and God recalled her (you can't argue with God!)... Both my wives loved to ride on the back of scooters and motorcycles but now I live alone... I found I wasn't riding my Harley much after Caryl passed away 4 years ago and I was paying large loan payments and insurance premiums for nothing, so I sold the Harley but I realized I still needed a two wheel vehicle... So I drove to Vespa Orlando in central Florida and bought the new Vespa... Bruce is putting some additions on it for me and will deliver it to me soon... Now if I can only find another woman who might like to ride with me...

By the way, in those over 56 years of riding I have had two serious accidents and in both of them I was wearing full leather protective gear and a convertible full-face helmet... In both cases the helmet was pretty badly torn up... While I was still in the hospital after the first accident, my HOG member friends did a show-and-tell of the helmet at the chapter meeting... The face shield looked as if someone took a wood rasp to it and there was a three inch diameter section on the top of the helmet where the shell was worn down to bare fiberglass... I am not preaching here, but as for me, I wear a convertible full-face helmet every time I mount any cycle, no matter how short my planned ride...

Anyway if very soon you see me anywhere on the road, smile and wave as you go by...

Hello and Welcome to the forum!

Pics are highly valued in postings so everyone will be expecting to see pics of your new Vespa!

Maybe you should consider the Vespa Club of America Amerivespa event in Richmond, VA in June....

Welcome back to the family..... the Vespa family!

Quite a history you have there.... both on two wheels and with the ladies.

These guys here are awesome.... as long as we stay away from the forbidden topics (hot button stuff that nobody truly ever changes their views over... you know what I mean).

I'm still waiting for the weather to turn spring-like here in Boston so I can get out and ride.... I hate being cold, so I will wait a bit longer.

Welcome to a wonderful community.

Welcome and that was a great intro. I'm sure you will enjoy the Vespa and hopefully you find a companion to hold on to you as she rides pillion on the scoot!

I'm sure a Vespa Vamp will find her way to you soon enough. Be prepared for a rider and not a pillion, though. Welcome back to the fold!

Hello and welcome from the deep south.

Welcome from New England.

Welcome Antonio.....I used to work with a guy who had 79,000 commuting miles on his Vespa P200 coming from around Woodbridge into DC every day when he retired. Pretty impressive I thought.

So, most importantly, which Vespa did you order?

fried okra

Hello! Thanks for that interesting introduction

Welcome to MV. You're gonna love that Vespa.

Great intro. Sorry to hear the loves of your live passed on. I wish my wife loved to ride as like yours did. Welcome to MV from the left coast (SF Bay Area).

Welcome from the North Coast. Very nice introduction. Though, what I find absolutely interesting about your introduction is this is your first post, on April 4, 2018 - though, you joined Jan 27, 2011!?

What have you been doing the last 7 years since joining?

Cheers,

Hello and welcome. Congrats on the new Vespa purchase. Ride safe.

Aloha and welcome to the forum from Hawaii. Sounds like your living life to the fullest. Good for you. Got any pics of your scooter to be? Keep the shiny side up as they say. Sounds like you've had a full life and it's still going strong. 8)

Welcome to MV and welcome back to Vespas. Let's see a picture of your new ride.

Welcome from Robin Hood country. Please post some pics of your new ride.

Howzit A-C.... from the Southern tip of Africa!

I was touched by your intro and by one coincidence.
I have been married to Jenny (my first wife for 39 years in Oct).
The coincidence is that my first love's name is Caryl (same spelling!)
We are still very fond friends and celebrated 50 years of friendship in December.

Ride on, Vespiti - I hope you find another kindred spirit to ride with you.

We'll be in Orlando in May though probably just a day or two on our way back from Italy (cheap return flight on Norwegian) so I will definitely wave if we see you. Welcome back to the Vespati.

Shalom and welcome from Israel.

I'm still waiting to get my new scooter, not all accessories in stock, but I have patience... As soon as I get it I will post a photo and will update photos as I customize it...

Welcome from Virginia! What a great introductions and I hope to see you on the road.

Eric

Welcome from The Salt Lake Valley in Utah Antonio. Which Vespa are you getting?