Modern Vespa

Last Sunday I decided to do a local motorcycle event with the 170cc scooter instead of one of the bikes. I knew from previous experience that I would peel off at one point on the ride and go to the halfway stop alone. Here we have a nice assortment of twisty, hilly roads and I thought that being alone would negate holding anyone up. Ha! The little scooter rolled along between 50 to 55 mph all day and as I pulled into the halfway the Police Escorted main group pulled in just behind me. Going back to the start point, again alone, I was running at 50 to 55 mph again the whole way. I have tell you, the thing was handling through the curves really well and I was impressed. The whole day, door to door, was 105 miles and I wasn't beat up at all. No mean feat for a 72 year old guy. For the most part the shocks actually absorbed, unlike the 2008 I once owned. Oh and 84 mpg out of a carburetor.

I get a kick out of you group riding with the big motorcycle crowd. Although, on balance, the Harley Boys and Girls here in Minnesota are very cordial. When we are stopped and parked next to a Harley group ride, they are the first to come over and ask questions about our Maxi-Scooters.

Years ago, the original leader of my group had us ride with a formal police sponsored group ride with +200 Sport Bikes. What a hoot. Those sportbike folks love to roller their throttle in neutral and blow you away with their loud pipes. Obviously, they are hugely popular with the young riding set. I just do not get the hump the buffalo (Gas Tank) riding position. Very uncomfortable - but I guess necessary with no windscreen.

Bob Copeland

Believe it or not my 1983 Kawasaki has more horsepower to weight than even the biggest V-Twin. It weighs a mere 500 pounds and has 78 ponies to their 94 horses on top of 850 pounds. So instead of riding it a lot with them I use my 14 horsepower 250 scooter or 20 Horse Nighthawk. I'm not on the brakes as much as I am with the 750. I rode the first three miles with the group and had no problem at the speeds a group ride travels. I only peeled off because the route they were going to take had more traffic and traffic lights.

When I was about five miles from the halfway stop I was riding behind a Tractor Trailer going at the speed limit or less through the curves and hills. I noticed a group of headlights behind me at a distance and thought it was other alternate route takers. As it turned out it was the Police Escort running about the same speed I was. I was pretty pleased that a 170cc scooter was holding its own. There was even a car directly behind me and he wasn't all over my back either.

My old 2008 crate scooter wouldn't have ridden either as comfortably or as briskly.