Modern Vespa

I've been doing some long rides this year into the Laurentian Mountains of Quebec as the border with Vermont and NY are closed to Canadians. I've noticed that I am not as confident in tight turns as I was on my old Kymco GT200i. Now, I must admit I am not at all that good at that sort of thing. You won't see me being anywhere in the rankings if I actually did a track day.

Still, I find the suspension and general "feel" of the BV350 not as confidence inspiring when facing 35 km/h rated turns, especially with the choppy pavement found on some provincial two laners. That certainly isn't a deal breaker for me. The BV does fine on sweepers and the commuting I do day-to-day. I just find it interesting that I found the big wheels on the Kymco more comforting in the twisties than the more flickable ones on the BV.

Or, perhaps I should budget for an advanced class to actually know what I am doing...

Hey Smarkand,
I am also from Montreal. .
New to vespa but not to the Laurentians.

I read a couple of your posts. Nice one on on the headlights.
I also live in a condo with shared garage. I will do oil changes at a friends but I am probably going to get the belt service done at Vespa Montreal or Scootart. I was looking for a private mechanic for scooters but not so easy to find.

I am planning to do Lac Superior st Donat and a few other rides, this summer.

If you want to practice your turns there is a loop of tight turns at the technoparc in Dorval (mostly right hand turns but still ) I used to go there to practice a bit. I am not sure if the loop is blocked by construction.

Which part of Montreal do you live in ?
Enjoy your new scooter !!

If you mean the Chemin de Nordets ride, that is a spectacular (though not technical) ride through the mountains. I definitely recommend a ride during fall when the leaves change.

I just did a loop through 117 down through 309 to 307 and back to Montreal. Hella long ride with an aggravating start--the 15 was crazy today--but worth it. 307 at the upper end where it branches off the 309 is a very twisty road hemmed in between a lake and a cliffside. Definitely a recommend if you are willing to go out as far as Gatineau.

I'm a No Damn Good--NDG--resident. It's pretty sweet, since I'm close to both the 15, 10/20 to the Champlain Bridge, and the 20. And not so sweet, when said autoroutes have construction/congestion/aliens/whathaveyou.

Hi Thanks
No not the Nordest, it's really a straight road meant for higher speeds.

Ch. Duplessis and Lac Superieur where they do the Ironman. always well paved and great riding.


I meant 347 from St Come then Lac Ouareau, and Chemin Regimbald.
Not very fast (well I don't ride it very fast) but very technical and beautiful.

I am also from NDG and live near the Monkland Village. Aliens on the routes are really terrible especially during orange cone season.
A+
Spirovision

You know, it's interesting realizing that areas I think are "played out" have more to offer. I usually focus on the signed provincial routes and the odd secondary road I have read about. Mainly because I didn't check the satellite view on Google Maps and ended up on a dirt two laner. Sometimes my scooter could handle them. Other times...er. Not.

Honestly, I should spring for a B&B motel stay (in anywhere not Tremblant itself) and spend a day exploring those little back roads.[/i]