Modern Vespa

As Im working away on my new scoot recently I got that bad feeling come up to the surface...years ago went thru a hit and run experience. Got beat up pretty bad and took a break from anything with 2 wheels.

Now that scoot universe pulled me back im gettin flashbacks-mind is a weird invention...or a curse.

How do you get over it? Or just embrace it? Learn from it?

Till this day my knee is messed up, back gives me a nerve pinch from time to time-just to make sure I remember lol

What gear should I get-I have a good full face helmet...that I hope I still fit in lol

Whilst you have a full face helmet, how old is it? Like tyres, they have a life. 5 to 7 years is considered about it, presuming the helmet has been stored in a warm dry place.
As for other gear, everyone has their own opinion, but I would never ride without good gloves, a jacket with some protection and at the least kevlar type jeans with knee and hip protection. Similarly I like to always wear good protective footwear. But - this is me. We are required to wear helmets in New Zealand but there's no other requirements so we get everything from shorts, singlet and jandals (flip flops) through to full leathers.

I went down awhile back and almost quit riding. But I eventually got back on the scooter and I'm riding again. I updated some of my safety gear, that I'm bad about wearing sometimes, and took a current safety course to help ease me back on 2 wheels. I honestly get depressed and bummed out if I don't get to ride something 2 wheeled for longer than 2 days. Currently on an ebike kick also, that I also went down on! I guess 2 wheels are no different than falling in a shower. I need to do it.

Spend some time riding a bicycle in city traffic. You'll feel a lot more comfortable on the scooter afterwards.

I certainly believe in good gear and I wear it - but I also believe that the skill and attention of the rider are the most important aspects of a safe ride. Nothing like an advanced safety/skills course to reinforce your ability and confidence.

I had one year I was having some personal issues and did not do so well on 2 wheels.
I was definitely saved by my gear even though it was not too expensive.
(joe rocket and first gear pants)
Good full face helmet, jacket with protection, pants with knee pads, decent gloves and decent boots that cover your ankle.
The biggest boost to my confidence as a rider was a Motorcycle safety course and riding slowly at first with good friends who understood my situation.
Take your time and ride. get some gear you are comfortable in and will wear all the time.

I lust after one - Ha! every - Aerostich suit I see in the emails I get. Haven't been able to talk myself into it. Yet.

I got hit very badly thirteen years ago - I was really beat up and my left foot was crushed (it still isn't right). I was 95 percent sure I wasn't going to ride again.

But after a few months, I reconsidered, bought a new scooter, and am still riding.

What made the difference? Anger. I was damned if I was going to let some distracted driver take riding away from me. And I just wasn't ready to give it up.

I was wearing full gear, including armored pants. It saved me. I still do.

Thanks ALL for the good word and advice

This past summer, I rode past the intersection where a kid in a pickup "left turned" me in 1993. Yeah, 28 years ago. I got that little twinge in my stomach as I rode past. So, I guess I'd say: it takes a while.

I will say I gear up better these days.

To reduce my exposure to getting hit on two wheels, I stopped commuting on my
scooter. It was 23 miles one way on the express way. This express way was in
the city with constant merging of cross connecting freeways. A real suicide ordeal
even on four wheels.

The whole chalupa on this express way: no use of signals for lane changes, Audi drivers
thinking they are playing a Mario Kart Video Game, others following so close it looks like
the car in front is towing them.

So, I still get out leisurely around the neighborhood and hit the long miles on group
rides. I also advocate for safety riding courses, and good gear. After years, I still
have not gotten into safety riding pants. I do wear "Duluth Trading Company"
Fire Hose pants.

Bob Copeland

Oh, yes…I just wrote about one of my worst accidents on a bicycle while responding to a post in another thread just now. I actually feel a lot more nervous on a bicycle in these parts now than on the scoot, in spite of my bad crash a few weeks back.

On the preventive front, it'a all about "the best you can do": helmet (FF prefereably), armored jacket, pants, gloves and footwear. This helped me in my recent crash, to be certain, but it's not the equivalent of Iron Man's power-suit: in a crash like mine, the best I could have hoped for was minimizing my injuries, which is exactly what I got–nothing broken or fractured, just assorted aches/pain, slowly diminishing.

And, wearing bright(ish) colors helps a bit, but the best advice I can think of is to ride as if you're invisible…because, to too many clueless drivers, you essentially are.