Modern Vespa

You get a better class of Nosey Geezer with a guzzi.

Dog,

You are obviously in a 12 step addictive program for two wheeled machines.
Your privacy, how many two wheeled vehicles do you own? You do
not have to answer. My best friend in my riding group has had 8
different scoots in 14 years. He trades and gets a different machine.

I admit, I am over the moon with my new 2022 Kymco 550. Problem,
to darn cold here to ride. It got up to 50 degrees last week with dry
road. I was able to ride my new scoot home.

Bob Copeland

At the moment I have a BMW R1100 RT and a Moto Guzzi V9 Bobber, plus something else that I can't talk about right now.

With the Royal Enfield's you either get it or you don't. I'm pretty certain that I got it but with ownership comes an obligation to engage with others, whether you want to or not.

Iv'e chosen not to any longer and so far I don't miss it.

The Guzzi feels really purposeful. It has loads of torque, twice the HP of the RE, a solid gearbox that won't be rushed and it sounds glorious due to some Mivv pipes.

Just like the BMW when you blip the throttle the engine twists in a reassuring way.

It's passed the gas station test with flying colours but the coffee shop test is next so watch this space.

I had a BMW C650 Sport scooter and about 4 years ago I was at a rally. While the scoot was parked and unattended, it became a backdrop / photo prop for a large contingencies of Indian people who were also staying at the hotel for a wedding.

Had I been present during their selfies and such, I would have shared a little about what I thought about the scoot and their disrespect for another person's vehicle.

Bail for assault is a couple of hundred dollars.

Anyway, moving on.

Talking it for a decent ride is going to have to wait as rain is forecast for the next 4 days.

It's just sitting in my garage brooding at me. Bloody Italians

I recently bought a Honda CTX700 DCT. I think it is a decent looking bike, my wife thinks it is better looking than my Vespa... I would question her taste, but she did pick me... well, it was a long time ago. That said, I haven't had a single person approach me while fueling up the Honda.

I think some of the Vespa interest stems from "the good ol' days" when you could buy an Allstate Vespa at Sears for $350. The Vespa styling is classic - it stirs memories (and the soul) for those who had one.

Get a phone number and an address asap

I get it most often in the parking lot at the grocery store. If I'm to believe the folks I meet, every person under that sun used to own a Vespa But I've gotten used to it. I just tell them "yes, I love riding it. You should get one" and get on my way. I rarely get attention at the gas station. Maybe Vespas are different than Enfields.

The Enfield got so much more attention than any Vespa I've owned.

People just seem to get so enthused around it no matter where it was parked.

Anyway, those days are gone.

Fingers crossed you will get totally ignored with your new ride

A boy can dream I guess

Lets see what transpires eh ?

Years ago I rode my Hardly Ableson Sportster "a girls bike" as they said. To a local car club "Show and Shine". I didn't show it or shine it. It drew some unwanted attention. AND this STUPID question:

"How come it has so many miles on it?"

Ahh…I ride it.

Now on my Vespa a GTV: why didn't you get a Harley?

They have too much chrome.

Duck,

I love that seat cover with gray.

Bob Copeland

My Harley Philosophy,

If I can't afford the T shirt, I certainly can't afford the bike.

Thanks.
Stock color and seat on the 2016 GTV Picked up in November 2021 with 15.8 miles.

Riding my 1949 Harley-Davidson, I get questions that are comparatively as ignorant.

Question: How far have you ridden that thing? Across town? (from the guy who averages 2K miles a year).
Answer: From Arizona to the east coast and back, numerous times.

Question: Why don't you buy a new Harley? Wouldn't that be more comfortable?
Answer: It might be a smoother ride. But I don't ride motorcycles for comfort. I ride them for how they make me feel.

The folks who called your Sportster a "girls bike" were just showing their ignorance. It probably never occurred to them that the Sportster had a higher power-to-weight ratio then almost any other Harley. They're just repeating some drivel they heard from someone else.

I think that you may have just prompted another thread - What's the dumbest thing someone has said to you when riding ?

When I was riding the Triumph T120 across the country a few years ago one individual thought that it wasn't the right kind of bike to do that on.

I didn't have the heart to tell him that people have done it on Supercubs.

It's my belief that repeating someone else's non thinking comments shows an inability to be inquisitive.

Done. It's up On the board. Thanks Bill Dog.

If you set the basketball net low enough, anyone can dunk!

Duck, what is the bracket called the the floor of your GTV attached to the battery cover? Backpack holder? Answer to my own question:
https://www.scooterwest.com/flat-black-rear-sport-rack-with-grab-rail-gts-300super-incl-2x-black-bolts-1.html

Mine is from Classic Racks. My Christmas gift from SWMBO.



https://www.classic-racks.co.uk/cup-holders

She Who Must Be Obedient?

Slavery was abolished bud...

That was a woosh then...

She who must be Obeyed.

Never heard of her. See second sentence of quoted message.

Bill, are you sure you don't have any Finnish ancestors?
Sounds like you would fit here well.

Except your taste for Guzzis, that is...the Bimmer would be just fine.

I get more unwanted attention when I ride one of my vintage mopeds than any other bike I own. Many middle aged riders like myself, started out riding mopeds in their teenage years. Mopeds just bring back a lot of good memories for folks. The most annoying question I get is "how much do you want for it?"

You just haven't found her yet.

I may well be Finnish and I didn't even know it because that's me to a T.

I think I'd quite like being Finnish.

Just to remind everybody, I don't wish everyone who approaches me dead, I just wish that there was a filtering or appraisal system where you could invite or decline a conversation.

Of course I'd be declining each and every time but unlike many other people who don't have a personality I don't buy these things to attract attention because I'm lonely.

I'm alone but I'm not lonely.

So a Fitbit or Apple AirTag go fund me page to monitor your location in case we have questions is a little much and not warranted at this time. Good to know.

Thank God for that. In a world with billions of wonderful people to choose from, keep the oppressive ones far away from me.

Dude.
It's a humorous term of endearment for a consensual relationship dynamic, not a forced conscription.

(...And send the oppressive ones my way, will ya?)

Very eloquently stated, but I haven't forgotten a young man's perspective.

Do you ever continue to read a thread you grow to hate?
I can't seem to stop even though I promise I will.
Is there a support group for such irrational behavior?

Nope.

Read on.

I rode the Moto Guzzi to the coast today and sat about 30 yards opposite it while I drank coffee.

Person No 1 Recognised me from when had the RE but didn't want to talk about the bike.

Person No 2 Wanted to talk about his Honda Rebel 500 - Not interested.

Person No 3 Wanted to know if motorcycles have to pay for parking.

Person No 4 Wanted help with the ANPR parking.

Person No 5 wanted to know where I got my Bell open face helmet.

On many levels a success.

I don't know if 5 humans have engaged with me in all of 2022, let alone during one coffee ride.

This includes my family.

Maybe its because you have those beautiful seashell eyes and I look like Danny DeVito's ugly little brother?