Modern Vespa

So looking at the weather report I've decided the skirt is coming off and another season of winter riding over. Took her to the car wash today to get the grime of winter riding off. She's still looking pretty and in a few weeks will be my wife's ride when she wants to use it as she's finally getting her license. I'm booking some instructor time with her tomorrow as I know there is no way I'm teaching her! I just hope she doesn't hurt my green Italian baby...

Maybe in your neck of the woods but this is my driveway a few minutes ago.

At least it looks pretty I may be able to take the skirts off my bikes earlier than you but I sure don't have your view.

That's not even the side of the house with the good view.

With temps in the 90's, skirt season is just starting in my part of Arizona. yippee!

Isn't this one of those ...

Skirt Season is over, long live skirt season.

Well put! I much prefer to see ladies in skirts than my scoots. Still on the BMW but I think that comes off tomorrow if the rain stays away. One really nice thing about the lap aprons is you don't need rain pants on in the rain.

Lookin' good Harbinger! Tell me- how do you like that windscreen? And does it look like the black part could come off with some ingenuity and elbow grease?

Appreciate the info.

figures its monsoon season this week in boston...im so glad i took off the skirt and windshield yesterday....NOT!!

Thanks! The windscreen does the trick and there is not exactly a lot of options for the GTV. I'm pretty sure with a little effort the black part can be removed. My understanding is it is there to shade the instrument panel to make it easier to see in bright daylight.

My first thought also.
"Is it windy? What's skirt season?"

"skirt" Is a common term used for a lap apron. Both my scoots get one put on for the winter. It came off the BMW yesterday and the Vespa last week.

Took the skirt off of my scooter two weeks ago. Ah, what a sense of lightness and freedom with out it. And the muffs came off too.

That said, I will never ride through another winter without those two things. Can't believe I went through 12 winters before finally buying them. I understand now why my father used to call me a knucklehead...

Yeah, it's amazing how much more freedom of movement you get with the skirt off the bike. Still, nothing beats one for winter riding and keeping the lower body warm and dry. On the Vespa there is the added benefit of the rads venting in to the covered area and on a long run it really warms things up.

The apron is just amazing. A miracle. And once you get used to seeing it the thing is not nearly as ugly as you thought it was. Regardless, it makes for one warm, cozy ride.

With 8" of snow in the last week and more predicted next week definitely not time to remove a skirt in our neck of the woods.

Cold and pouring rain here. I'd put it back on but it is a little bit of a hassle. Not too bad really but it is being used for a bridal shower photoshoot in a few days so I would just need to take it off again. So looks like the rain pants are going to be the go to for today.

Like the black on green setup a lot!

Well after 10 days with no snow the Aspen trees near my house are starting to bud leaves so it looks like skirt season is finally over here as well. Took my husband's scoot out to grab the scooter tag on ADVrider since mine is down in Boulder getting service.

I don't have skirt (none of them). I am weakling. I don't ride in cold weather, snow, or heavy rain. This year I started to ride in the middle of May.

Thanks Also welcome to MV. Always glad to have another Canuck! About time! That was a long time coming for you two! Glad you've finally caught a break.

Local paper was saying the state of Colorado had 65% of its normal snow pack or 51 times the average year. While Breckenridge ski resort closes soon A Basin will be open AU least to the 23rd. They've dropped Lake Dillion loser than I have ever seen it. When full Dillion holds 257,304 acre feet of water. When the snow pack melts estimates are up to 211,000 acre feet of water will flow into it. We've already had one fatality among river rafters and the rivers are only now starting to have significant flow.

High temps are running 60f plus or minus 5 which when the sun is out is my idea of prime riding weather. Well peak in the mid to upper 70s later this summer. It is already in the 80s in Denver. Now if I can just get rid of this cough.

I had a cough that would not go away. First doc visit gave me some pills, said you'll be fine. No impovement, second doc said pnuemonia, gave me a shot and some better pills, you'll be fine. Again no improvement, someone suggested an allegy doc. This guy checked me out and quickly stated with much confidence, you don't have a cold, you have "gurt". Short for regurgitate, My stomach rejects some fluid, sends it back up and some of it would settle in my lungs. Thus the cough! I am now taking pantoprazole. At your local price fixing drug store this would rip you for about $350/mo. Thankly, I am a vet so my costs are a fraction of that.
Hope this helps.
Tony

Sounds kind of like one drug I take. Buy it at the pharmacy and it is $458 a month. Though Express Scripts it is $191 for 3 months. Unfortunately I'm pretty sure this is a virus caught from my mother in law who was hospitalized for 2.5 weeks with it. Fortunately, I don't have her other medical condition that made it harder for her to recover. I *think* I've turned the corner. Appetite came back yesterday and today it has dropped to normal seasonal allergy levels. The local trees seem to be intent on making up for lost time and cottonwood is my primary allergy up here.

I had hoped to take a scoot out today but my husband blew a tire on the Subaru yesterday leaving us with just one scooter until the new tires come in or Monday when I can renew the registration on the BV since I don't want to ride on expired plates. He's got a commitment today and since it is after all his Vespa I guess he gets first claim on it. Now that I'm feeling better I'll need to find out if my Vespa is ready to be picked up from the shop where it is getting warranty service done.

Look what I woke up to this morning. Weather forecast says 3-10 over the weekend.

Wow! Is that normal and or common this time of the year? Is it just melting when it hits the road? I ride my Vespa all the time when we get that kind of snow.

Have you guys thought about a Ural or another vehicle that you can enjoy riding even with snow? I bought a Ural just so I can ride when there is snow as being on a motorbike is important to my mental well being. But then again it's also because I hate public transit and you really can't get around in a car in this city.

No, this isn't normal. While we often get snow in early June it doesn't stick and this won't either. In fact the snow that was there when I woke up this morning was melted by 10 am. I was tempted to take the scoot out since the roads were clear while the sun was out. It just a bit wet on the dirt road in front of my house but not enough to have mud thin layer of hard pack over rock (makes for terrible gardens but good roads). Started snowing again a bit after 2pm.

I commented to a friend that I've seen some snow fly every month except July in the 10.5 years we've had our house here. She said that back in the mid 90s she went to a Fourth of July BBQ in the snow but that was an exceptional year. This year was the first time in over 10 years that the mountain was open for skiing on Memorial Day weekend. Then they ended up extending to the second weekend in June. Another area about 15 miles from us is still open. Pictures below was taken last week when I took a ride over Loveland Pass.

I have a pin in my left ankle that makes shifting a pain after a short time so I doubt we'll get another motorcycle though I have thought of a side car so my dog could ride with me.


A Basin formally known as Arapahoe Basin Ski Resort last week.

Cause of traffic back-up on Colorado 6 between A Basin and Keystone Ski Resort which definitely didn't have enough snow to ski on.

Lived in CO for a dozen years, and you can always tell when wildlife is near; cars are parked all over to look.

Yep, these were crossing the road before going up the mountain. Once they had cleared the road and I took my photo I nipped past the cars (on both sides of the road) who had stopped to gawk. This group apparently do this several times a day since my husband has also had to stop for them and the associated looky loos.

Frankly when on a scooter I'd far rather stop for these guys than the other wildlife that stop traffic around here aka moose and bears. The bears usually high tail it across the road as quickly as they can to disappear in the woods. The moose on the other hand have been known to charge. Took out one of the county busses with their rack through the radiator. I do not want to ever be in the situation especially on a scooter or foot where a moose decides to charge me. Fortunately my only moose encounter on the scooter was during the 2016 cannonball when I stopped to take a checkpoint photo and a moose was standing next to the sign. It was a young moose who did not like the sound of the scooter so took off for the woods. Had it been a true adult, especially a female with calves it could have been a whole different story.


One of my favorite photos captured during a ride down Clear Creek Canyon.

Ya, some of us actually know of the "beasts under the no pet carrier. Looking forward to our ride to Niagara.

Finally dusted off the mesh riding jackets today. I think this is about the latest I have ever started wearing them.

I pulled mine out of the closet a couple days ago but haven't worn it yet. When I go down to Boulder to pick up Steve's scoot from first service I'll wear it.

Seems we've gone directly to summer with 70f forecast for today.

My husband surprised me last night suggesting a 4 day scooter trip in July.. Looks like we'll be doing a Utah and western Colorado trip. Moab, maybe Durango. Guess he feels like looking at some geology.