Modern Vespa

Took my first ride on my new-to-me Liberty 150 this AM. Just a couple of laps around the neighborhood loop, all of 5.3 miles. Bad knees and too many birthdays make me appreciate the step thru platform. Twist and go is a big difference from the TW 200 I just sold. Tomorrow I'll head to an empty parking lot to practice slow speed turns, figure 8s, U turns, and urgent stops.

OFG

Congratulations on your progress Mike. Glad you finally feeling good enough to get out/about. I guessing you wanted to ride more. Next time you go out, take a photo or 2 or 3 and post in the gallery section.

Looks like I might need to plan another ride up to Huntsville.....

Thanks for the congrats. Scooter feels real good and totally better than the Hurricane 200X mini bike. The driver needs to do the slow speed practice before venturing out onto the streets with traffic.

OFG

I'd recommend you practice taking your weight off the seat just a little bit even though you don't have pegs to stand on. You can use the footboards for the same purpose.

Makes a big difference comfort wise when you hit washboard road sections and potholes, since the Liberty is so light.

Good for you!
Yes, practice practice until you feel comfortable.
I put an embarrassing number of miles on my first scooter 10yrs ago, before I ventured out into traffic 🙂

It's a great scooter...and at speed, the big wheels make it feel pretty stable when compared to 12" wheeled scooters

O.S.

^^^^ This

Any idiot can go at speed - the real safety skills are in slow riding. That's why the much-decried California lollipop test is actually a very good test for competence and control. Not for road-awareness, sure, but if a rider can do the slow speed stuff with confidence they for sure can manage riding in traffic.

If you're used to your left hand controlling a clutch, you will easily adapt to using the rear brake a tad to modulate speed while keeping the throttle relatively constant. This is a very good way to keep smooth slow speed control for a short while. Not good for pads or clutch to do this for long at very slow speeds, but you'd be surprised just how slow you can go for a 100 yards or so. Certainly fine for U-turns in the space of two car-park spaces or for figures of eight etc.

Went for second ride this AM. A couple of laps around the neighborhood then to the local church to ask for permission to practice in their parking lot. Not ready for the test yet, but better than when I started.

OFG

Nice top case!
Bet you were smiling today.

Top case and fly screen aren't standard equipment? Bike won't start if not smiling.

OFG

With the 22 miles this AM I now have a total of 52 miles on the clock. Got out on some real streets today. Getting more comfortable going the posted speed limit. Still need more slow speed practice.

OFG

On an advanced rider's course, I was told to walk the bike in as tight a circle as I could.

Then I was told, if you can walk it round, you can ride it round...

Not nearly as easy as it sounds, and it doesn't sound that easy - but if you can manage that consistently, you've completely cracked the slow-speed stuff.

Belt and suspenders. Be careful if you take off the center stand with the side stand down, it can kick it to the right out of your control.

Happy to hear you're getting comfortable with the Liberty.

Side stand down kills the engine so won't have that problem under power.

OFG

I have a friend with a scooter that has a side-stand lock-out...it plays up from time to time, locking him out from his ride home!
I'm often miles from home on some very cold
mornings. Hoping to reduce the number of gremlins...I chose not to connect my Liberty's lock-out.
But I do like the side-stand!!
O.S.

You should just do it and then ask for forgiveness later, as is their custom.

Wondering if anyone agrees that this concern about ultra slow speed (creeping 8's in the kitchen).. riding skills is a bit overcooked?

Yes, agreed that riding enough in a safe area to develop balance and throttle/braking confidence is important to safe riding, but most of us don't filter, and those who do don't ride at the correct slow speed. The rest of us rarely ride through our living room.
O.S.

On a heavy motorcycle it's really important to be competent at low speed or that bike is on the ground. On a light, nimble scooter maybe not so much.

It's NEVER a bad idea to practice slow speed maneuvers. Even if you think it's not crucial, you can't deny the importance of self-confidence.

What he said. I've never dropped a bike at speed, but have tipped more than a few in parking lots at low speed, when the bike is top heavy and I'm paddling around on tiptoes.

You should keep your feet on the floorboards all the time while moving, however slowly. Doing otherwise alters the centre of gravity of the 'system' and makes it feel even more 'perilous'. Deffo do the practice!