Modern Vespa

OK, I am a recent convert from motorcycle to scooter. And I know a bunch of you will not like my riding jackets, that don't have armor, but that is another deal. At least I don't wear shorts and flip-flops.

Has anyone else gotten grief over having a scooter? I have had responses to posts that were less than Gay friendly. I did not reply..for no other reason than I was dealing with an idiot. Apparently, motorcycles are heterosexual, but scooters are not.

Here is the thing, and my response to someone who just seemed to have a motorcycle bias:

"I got into a string with a dude about a Piaggio corporate post. I am sure we all have seen it. It shows the suit person walking up to his ride. The big deal seems to be that someone with a suit can't ride. My bet is this person is a fair-weather motorcycle rider. He wondered how someone in a suit could ride and how someone would deal with riding-wear and where to store it. This is the text of my main response:

"I use this Helly-Hanson jacket in the winter and rain. It, combined with the aftermarket leg-shield and waterproof gloves, pretty much keep me warm and dry. If it is warmer I have a similar FrogTogg jacket that is uninsulated.

In terms of where to put stuff: I have a 25 liter tail pack, a 20 liter backpack (that fits into the step-thru floor fastened with a provided hook..typically a laptop and lunch), and the 17 liter under-seat storage. I also have an 8 liter Molle pack attached to the tail pack that stores the scooter cover, disc lock, and U-lock. The 3-ft chain for security, if I need it with the U-lock, is in the under-seat storage.

If I really need more space, I also have Nelson-Rigg panniers that I can throw on...29 liters each side. But I only use those for grocery shopping. All this is WAY more than nearly any motorcycle...128 liters if you add everything up...and I get 80+ mpg, with speed up to 60 mph (more than enough for city commuting)."

Overall, I love this scoot and will never have a motorcycle again. If I want over-the-road capability, then I will get a BV (but used, 'cause I can't afford a new one!).

www.amazon.com/Helly-Hansen-Workwear-Winter-Charcoal/dp/B07V5PGGQ1/ref=asc_df_B07V5PGGQ1?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=79920845021686&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583520389070086&psc=1

I checked and can't find my ET4's gender. Maybe I need a Haynes manual.
I avoid Harlettes with those big jugs and sissy bars.

Love it!

I have good friends with Harleys who get my deal. They have checked out the Liberty 150 and love it; knowing me and my predilections. But, there will always be some who have closed minds.

I connect with my Harley buds based on my love for vintage bikes. Back in the 30's and 40's they had shit happening and were as on the cutting edge as BMW. Though the horizontal twin and shaft drive was, and is, far superior.

Harley actually did a similar bike (Horizontal twin/shaft drive) during WW2, but it only was a prototype and produced in limited numbers. One of these would be a million-dollar bike on auction, in my guess.

My favorite Harley thing is looking at "Dales Wheels thru Time Museum" youtube posts. Many cool things.

https://wheelsthroughtime.com/museum/

Peace on Ya!

I think classic bike guys tend to be old enough to have enjoyed a variety of bikes. Older guys might own a hog while waxing poetic about Whizzers, Mustangs or Hummers. The midlife crisis bikers are less rounded in experience. I've always waved at scooters.

Still new at this, I sometimes try to shift down...

Practice this phrase -

I didn't buy it for you did I ?

Sorted.

Move on.

In my experience the Harley Guys™ are the worst about snubbing scooters. Note that I don't necessarily mean everyone who owns a Harley.

My normal reply is:

If I had a motorbike I'd be dead by now. Don't trust myself with that much power, i know what I'm like with my Vespa.


Related: I've met many Harley guys that appreciate and even have a Vespa. It's the guys with crotch rockets that don't understand.

I can't say that I fully understand your point...

A scooter it is a motorcycle...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorcycle

Am I missing something?

Why is it so important what others do think??? It is what it is, and as long you are happy, who gives a fuck what others do think??

Well, regardless of Wiki, scooters have the engine located at the swing arm vs. motorcycles having the engine forward mounted in the frame and the drive via chain or driveshaft. This is why a Honda Cub is a motorcycle and a Vespa (or the like) is a scooter. The Cub has all of the other characteristics of a scooter, but for the engine location and drive method.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scooter_(motorcycle) "The classic scooter design features a step-through frame and a flat floorboard for the rider's feet.[citation needed] This design is possible because most scooter engines and drive systems are attached to the rear axle or under the seat. Unlike a conventional motorcycle, in which the engine is mounted on the frame, most modern scooters allow the engine to swing with the rear wheel, while most vintage scooters and some newer retro models have an axle-mounted engine. Modern scooters starting from the late-1980s generally use a continuously variable transmission (CVT), while older ones use a manual transmission with the gearshift and clutch control built into the left handlebar."

Otherwise, I agree. WTF! But, it still is difficult, when you aren't homophobic, to deal with a one word response: "GAY". I just deleted the whole string rather than come up with a snappy response. So, as you say..." as long you are happy, who gives a fuck what others do think??'. I am trying to do that. Your response helps fortify my position.

Two wheels. Same risks. Same rewards. If I rode to impress someone else, I have failed. I have two Vespas and one BMW bike and select based on the ride.

You ride your own ride. And care about the others you see out there who have chosen to do that.

That is the thing for me. I am just enthralled with 2 wheels. I try to never drive my car. It sucks.

I did motorcycles for 40+ years and now am on to a scoot. Never going back. The only thing I could do in addition is a BV for highway trips. And, I have a project Honda CT90 EV conversion going on right now; for summer commuting.

Life is good.

I'm running through a mental list of gay riders I've known and none rode scooters.
Oh, Sal Mineo in Rebel Without a Cause. Silly me.

The Harley guys and girls (huge group) seem to most enjoy dressing up like
it is Halloween in Black Leather. I get the appeal.

When my scooter group has fuel or rest stops, I find the big bike riders coming
over asking questions about our machines. I usually tell them their bike looks great.

The Bad to the Bone Harley appeal is strong. Come on come on Wild Thing!

Bob Copeland
Minnesota

I haven't been riding 2 wheelers for 40+ years, but it only took me 2 minutes to realize I don't gaf about what other thinks of my purchase/vehicle when I got my first scooter a decade ago.

Enjoy your new gender-neutral camaraderie!

Also, the answer to the post topic is: Why not both?

I have ridden in group rides alongside many V-Twin brands. On my Chinese 250 scooter, my 250 Honda Nighthawk and thundering 750 Kawasaki. Not one person has ever made a snide comment about my choice.

You are still missing the point.

Are you gay? If yes, good for you, if not, good for you... It doesn't really matter as long as you are busy living happy! None of us are coming back. Do you really believe you have spare time to waste on topics like this one???

Straight, gay, lesbian, colour..., we are all on the same boat! Enjoy the ride if you can, while it last...

I'll have to go back and watch that classic again.

I just recently met a few rainbow folks, in my best guess, at a local ride. They were the people I hung with because they had interesting rides and were the most fun.

Nothing new for me. The best parties in College were Gay parties..and this was back in the late 70's and early 80's.

Peace on Ya!

You have some cool groups to ride with!

I agree 100%. I just was taken back by a despicable single word response to my positive post. I wrote a few responses, and some were pretty good without being nasty, but decided just to delete the post.

My only regret is that "they" got the last word. I wanted to slam-dunk their small brain head into an even smaller hole in the ground.

I am fully into enjoying the ride as long as it lasts.

And, in my belief, I am coming back, till I get life right, maybe next time as a bug, or bird, or cat/dog, or (horrors) a Harley rider! Each life moves toward Nivana when we become part of the universal energy....lessons learned along the way. But, that is my deal!
https://www.bing.com/search?q=nirvana&form=ANNTH1&refig=68c2fff84fd6498aa51373f32d5caffc&sp=1&qs=EP&pq=nirvana&sc=8-7&cvid=68c2fff84fd6498aa51373f32d5caffc

To me it's the same too. After all a scooter is a motorcycle with it's own form factor. If others have trouble understanding that, I couldn't care less.

It's somewhat silly, like someone saying that hatchbacks aren't really cars, if they think that a scooter falls somehow outside of the powered two wheeler category. Same risks, same rewards, also the same skills needed to keep the rubber side down.

I've never had anyone disparage my choice of PTW. Those old, grizzled, hard-living Harley folk love to come over to talk about our scooters.

As far as the other part goes, you're made the way you're made. In this life or the next, you can ride with me anytime.

all I have ever owned is my Vespa 300 GTS. Living in AZ now I have an old friend, someone I have known since fifth grade, and we go riding every week. NO fall back yet. Usually if someone has a comment on my Vespa they think it is very cool, surprised it goes as fast and as nimble as it is. But I am sure I will hear fallback, but I likely will not give a crap, I love my scooter and enjoy riding it. Quite simple actually.

I've only ever had scoots. Never owned anything else with an engine. So yeah, I've gotten a bit of flack. When I've bothered to respond, I do so by pointing out the great benefits--fun, sips gas, all that good stuff. If the situation warrants it, I simply state that I don't need to compensate for anything, and roll on the throttle.

I have both a scooter and a "motorbike". Short distances and around town I use the scooter. Ego wise it doesn't bother me what others think. Scooter I wear shorts and boat shoes because I can.

I have never lived in the US but one line putdowns such as suggesting one is gay, seem to be a national disease. Here in Asia the usual difference, ego-wise, between large and small bikes is economic so nothing needs to be said. Here in Thailand many of the women are blokes!

It is that you ride not what you ride. But I will admit that the funny sack thing around one's legs on a scooter looks a bit anoraky.

The only thing I know about motorcycles is that their fuel tank is located not so good. So their designers never considered their usage by real men.

Real men are used to sitting further back?

That's the only REAL reason why I had to buy a Vespa...

There you go.

There's the four that aren't compensating for something.

After years on bikes I took a lot of heat from my riding buddies over the purchase of the Vespa, it was all in fun and no harm was done.

Many were later impressed with the effort it took for them to keep up with the GTS in the twisties. The use of the scooter as a patio beer cooler at a barbeque was also a massive hit.

However, I have had obscenities about my ride yelled across the intersection by pick up truck drivers. Perhaps biker wanna-be types. Weird.

As for never going back to bikes, don't speak too soon. They are a different enough experience that I had to go and get another "proper" motorbike after 10 years of scooter. Now I have the best of both worlds to be used and abused as needed.

Funny thing is the Vespa is quicker than the Suzuki.

Back in 2010 when I rode my 150 LX from Florida to Calif my wife made a T-shirt for the ride. She does this for all my great adventures. The best part of this one:

"Anybody can ride a Harley across American, but it takes a real man to ride Vespa across America"

There's nothing you can do about the existence of stereotypes or other people's belief in them.

If you are choosing your vehicle because of how it makes you feel or what you want others to think about you, then a scooter may not be the right choice. At some point you need to just either make peace with your insecurities and choose to project the image you want, or make peace with the fact that other people may misjudge you, and that's ok. Truth is, it's really hard to truly not care what other people think.

It's fair to not want to constantly deal with this kind of wrong reaction from people, and to choose to conform to the stereotype just to avoid the drama. I did that to an extent when I replaced my beloved Miata with a Jeep, and when I bought my Bonneville. If you appear to fit other people's expectations, there is no debating or defending.

One of life's great satisfactions for this scooter dude is pushing and ultimately passing those big hogs. The expressions range from humorous to hate. Priceless.

The look on their face as I passed a group of Harleys on I-90 leaving Sturgis when they realized it was a girl on a scooter passing them at 90-95mph (BV 500). They were parading at 60mph and I was intent on outrunning black storm clouds.

Take their comments as expressions of their insecurities. I've gotten thumbs up from many an old school Harley rider and even as offer from a 1% club nomad to ride with him on our Sports City in New Mexico after we struck up a conversation at a gas station. I had commented the beautiful green of his bike and that started a conversation where it was revealed his club affiliation since he wasn't wearing colors.

The truth is, the way you feel about your interactions with others is completely valid input towards your decisions, just like the way you feel when you ride your scooter. We all want to think we don't care about what other people think, but it's just not really true for anybody.

I guess you might have been looking for solidarity here, but I'm not going to offer it. The way you feel about other people's reactions is something you may be able to control, but you can't control other people. And you might not want to do what it takes to even try to control your own feelings. IMHO it's probably not worth it.

I mean, no matter how much I might actually like one, I don't have a Harley because I don't want to be thought of as a stereotypical Harley rider. Having a Harley would never be worth the fight against the stereotype I'd have to endure. This isn't any different. Pick your battles. Maybe this isn't the one you want.

I've ridden with HDriders, and was treated just like one of the group.

I've gone to a gathering of HD riders, and no one commented on my Piaggio. I made sure to not park in the spaces marked "Harley Davidson Parking Only", although a guy on a Honda Grom did park there, and no one said a word.

Most HD riders give me the "biker wave", and I give it in return (or I initiate it and they return it). Very few HD riders don't give the wave. The one type of rider I've run across that doesn't give/return the wave, pretty much without fail, is scooter riders.

No one has questioned my sexuality or gender when I ride it.

I've had plenty of folks ask when I was going to get a real bike; I've learned to mostly ignore them when they ask that question.

I do recall while on my trip down the Blue Ridge Parkway, a group of Harley riders were at a pull off repairing one of their bikes. I approached in friendly manner asking if they needed any help. Their response was "you can't help us", but they changed their tune when I produced a torque wrench and extension bar they needed from under the seat. They were pretty stunned regarding how much I was carrying on the bike and that I had ridden from Ohio to the BRP.

I rode with them for the rest of the day and had a great time at the end of the day with them.

I'll happily take heat for preferring scooters over motorcycles, minivans over SUVs, and sail over power.

My final observation is this. When I've been on one of my Chinese scooters or another the only people who have never waved back have been on Vespas or Piaggios.

I did a big group ride last year and a Kymco Grand Vista came along the other way. Everybody in front of me gave the person "The Wave".

This is my experience as well. Most Harley riders, especially the older riders, at one time rode a scooter. And they are usually pretty interested to check out the newest generation of scooters.

I also participate in several Harley forums. I can count on one hand the number of threads I've encountered where someone complained about or disparaged scooter riders. MV is another story. I regularly see comments disparaging Harley riders. It seems that scooter riders spend a lot more time worrying about what Harley riders are doing. I get it though... a lot of Harley riders earn the bad press with obnoxiously loud pipes and/or other bad behavior while scooter riders tend to fly under the radar (pretty well behaved).

I've had a few people over the years, usually people I know, ask when I'm going to graduate to a motorcycle. They aren't directly dissing the Vespa, but they definitely have a hierarchy of machines in their head and I'm not near the top.

My response is generally, "I would get a motorcycle, but they're just not good in the snow."

As a year round rider, my BMW motorcycle sees less action when the snow flies.