Modern Vespa

Believe me, being this handsome isn't a blessing, it's a curse.

Well, if Danny's the cute one, I get it.

You know, I've always hoped that in some parallel universe Danny DeVito would marry the Barefoot Contessa so she'd be called Ina Garten DeVito.

So, yeah ...

Glad the Guzzi's working out for you, Bill.

It's a very interesting bike to ride.

Not a lot of horse power but loads of torque which often sets off the over sensitive traction control on anything but smooth tarmac.

It barks and twists on start up then will vibrate reassuringly at tickover. I like vibrations.

On the highway it's utterly useless.

It has a gearbox that won't be rushed, fat tyres that tramline and suspension that's often bone jaring, but I don't care as it's just glorious.

Also the uneducated don't know what it is

This is an awesome (short) bike review! 😁

It also has a pair of short Mivv pipes which make it go bakkak bakkak bakkak.

You get a great echo from the cars you're overtaking as the sound of them bounce of the panels.

Not much performance but a lot of presence.

Sussed it.

Turn the Traction Control off and you get such a better bike.

Just moderate the throttle over the bumps and you'll be fine.

It's an irony that the very thing that's supposed to enhance the ride makes it so much worse.

Enhance? Hardly: I've always regarded it as a get-out-of-hell-free card when riding in inclement weather (which I seem to do with some regularity). I only switch it off when out on a seriously fun ride, on a known route, in sterling weather. Even under those conditions, there can be the possible "surprise" literally 'round the bend, but I'm betting on that not being likely.

At any rate: glad you got the formula right for the Guzzi.

Lets be honest, a 55 HP V Twin doesn't need Traction Control.

I'd argue that any bike doesn't need it if you're an experienced rider.

If the rear wheel starts to spin up just back off the throttle until it grips again.

How on earth did we cope before ?

It was the excellent grip and modern tire technology of the early seventies and the drizzle of Redwood Forrest and fog of the Bay Area that taught me all about traction control.

Pucker and pray.

This ^^^

Maybe, but not everyone is a experienced rider so its a good thing that riders get to choose whether to have it switch it off.

Everyone is experienced until they have a new experience.

"Are you experienced?
Have you ever been experienced?
Well I have"

Out on the BMW this morning and once again while I'm at the pump watching the fuel flow while the digits increase and there's a gentleman getting impatient for my attention.

Please, can it wait ?

It's a bit like being asked a question the second you've put some food in your mouth.

Best analogy I can make.

Or when you're hopping off your ride desperate for a bathroom break. Yep, happened.

The kiddo is not feeling well and we were low on the fluids of his choosing.. so I took the GTS to the supermarket for provisions.

Taking my helmet off in a pleasantly empty market parking lot...

guy: Hey cool scooter!
me: Thank you.
guy: I used to have a scooter.
me: Nice, they really are fun.
guy: Yeah, they... Oh it's a Vespa... well EXCUUUUSE me!

Walks off.

So he felt that the Vespa was in a different league ?

Apparently. I was rubbing my privilege in his face by minding my own business.

If he only knew I was there to buy milk and toilet paper, because I sh*t just like him.

That's one of the best things about living in the UK. Unless you're riding a Classic British Bike
everyone pretty much leaves everyone else alone.

Or a classic Scooter, this reminds me of a mate who walked back to his Lambretta LI150 to find an elderly Italian gentleman standing next to the scooter crying, when asked whats up? he replied it reminded him of his wife who had passed and the fun times they had riding around Italy together when they were younger.

Yep, no stopping it with a Ural. They use the abbreviation UDF for Ural Delay Factor and it happens ALL the time. My rig must be in thousands of photos by now and I'll often walk up to the bike with people taking photos of it.

The GS Adventure gets some attention but mostly from Germans and other riders.

The Vespa sometimes but there are lots and lots of Vespas in the city.

Wow. I just Googled 2019 Ural Gear Up! No wonder it gets comments. Beautiful bike. I'm curious to know more so I'll Google some more.

This cracked me up.

I believe I understand the way you feel. Sometimes I just want to be left alone. Besides at this day and age with so much violence I'm very much aware of my environment. Plus sometimes I just want not to speak to strangers.

Welcome to my World.

I often pretend that I don't speak English, just to sidestep the smalltalk.

Aweee! So glad you're back. Now I have somebody to flirt with.