Modern Vespa

Love this one.. So dramatic.. Great photographs mate!!

Thanks for the kind words. This time of year the forests in my part of the world are lovely to traverse with the Vespa!

A couple photos from today's ride in the snow. First time this season.

Great photos! Love the second one

Another shot from this afternoon -- temp around 29F as I made my way home from a round of errands.

" -- love draining the noise of the week with the Vespa.", VESPAsfw3

This is the best line. It makes sense to me. It is why I keep coming back.

Riding a Vespa is like magic. I've read things about playing a musical instrument as a pathway to mindful meditation. I feel the same way about the scooter.

Why won't the University clear out the motorcycle spaces? Had to kick a place clear for the Vespa...

More winter riding photos -- these two from a Christmas Eve ride during a passing snow squall.

Very beautiful photos. Yr brave. I wouldn't ride on conditions
Like that.

What a great pictures. Thanks for sharing.

Not sure I consider myself brave. Determined maybe. And I love being out in the snow. As I kid I would jump in my 1962 Ford Falcon and venture out whenever it snowed. Always had studded tires and chains. I guess I've been a snow man for my entire adult life...

stunning pictures mate

A scene from a short ride on New Year's Eve day...

Colder weather is approaching -- it's the time of year I start riding more. The past couple weeks have provided some mornings in the 30s and fog. This one was made during a ride to work as I took a shortcut to the office. Fog and gravel. Yum.

Love your photos in the fog!

Thanks! We have a lot of it lately. Makes for fine emotive pictures.

Another fine foggy morning for riding even though it was just to run errands. Love this time of year...

Jeeze, Steve, just ran across this thread! Guess it's been hiding here all along. Guess I've got some catching up to do.

Thanks for sharing!

BTW, I think you've cornered the market on scooters in snow photos!

Agree. Awesome photos. Now, if some people would just check their PM's.

Thanks for the kind words about the pictures guys. There was a bit of snow in the air yesterday so winter can't be far off now. I need to get ready.

A couple pictures made this past week on a detour during a ride to work. I had to sneak in a few miles even though it was raining a bit.

Went all day without a ride but couldn't stand it any longer so ventured out into the dark for a little spin. Sometimes a ride is just what the doctor ordered. Temperature hovered around the freezing mark but not much traffic to contend with.

awesome pictures!!

My Vespa GTS 250ie on a ride with a Ducati riding friend. Love the open road.

wow, that took a lot of much appreciated work...You have some cool photo skills, I see a coffee table top book in it...great stuff

art

totally dig your style, my faves are the vespa by itself just sitting on a dirt road like a horse taking a quick afternoon,early evening snooze knowing it will be kicked and run in just a bit.

art

Thanks for the kind words about my work Art, I appreciate them. I have two book projects on my long list of things I want to do before I'm gone. Time will tell...

My Vespa GTS 250ie is out standing in the field...

Made these a few days ago on a ride home from work. Some days I feel like the kid in the Family Circus cartoon who is depicted by a wandering line all over the place when mom asks him to go to the kitchen to get a paper towel. My trip home often wanders wildly off course. "You told me you were leaving the office an hour ago" is a common comment from Kim when I get home...

I love this thread, you chose the long way home and break up your routine with simple pleasures like your love for riding your GTS. We should all be doing something like this!

How did the snow tires work? I have an extra set of rims and have contemplated throwing a set on for winter riding

It takes just a little extra time but the rides are a nice way to unwind before getting home at the end of the day. As the days shorten it means riding in the dark...

The snow tires have real advantages for:

-- more traction on cold dry pavement due to the softer rubber
-- more traction in dry snow and slush
-- good performance in dirt and gravel

For packed snow the benefits are minimal and for ice nothing.

Many miles today on gravel and rock. Not the best performance environment for the Vespa but it can slog on...

The autumn visuals make even the little Vespa rides special. Riding into the early splash of color muted by the misty mornings is more than I can stand at times -- makes it difficult to steer the scooter toward work...

Vespa in the snow is very beautiful.

Beautiful landscape. The scooters match the sky!

A scene from a little ride this past weekend through Rothrock State Forest. Even with the street tires the GTS does ok on gravel.

Great pics!!!!

Back in the day, early sixties also, we used to put cut down car chains on the rear tires of the Cushmans to deliver papers in the snow

So, how do you deal with road salt on your Vespa during the winter rides?

fried okra

I don't do anything about the road salt anymore. Last year I went all winter without washing anything off. The salt and grime chews away at things but entering my 9th winter the scooter hasn't fallen apart. I do plan to take it to a local body shop and have them sandblast the bottom of the scooter and repaint it because some rust is starting to develop. It's a lot cost job since I told them to match the paint as best they can and not worry about using Vespa paint.

I don't advise people to ride in the winter, especially anyone who meticulously cares for the look and finish of their scooter. A northern winter is hard on looks.

A shot from a recent series of rides in frozen fog at the beginning of December. Seems like a fantasy world...

Posted more pictures on my blog post titled RIDING IN FROZEN FOG.

My LX on the way back to Amsterdam after a nice tour this Sunday..