Modern Vespa

Scooters are awesome, but there must be a few members here who also ride dirt. I'm blessed to live near an offroad riding area and have been riding dirt since a kid. I'm 60 now and have lost count of the # dirt bikes I've owned. Let's see your bikes. Off road scooters count too. Tell us a little about your dirt background. It might help others interested in this genre.

Here's my KTM 350 EXCF, it's like a 250 on steroids and the perfect old dirt rider cheater machine.

I live just a couple miles from mountain dirt and gravel. And the Mid Atlantic BDR. I've answered the siren song many times...

I started riding dirtbikes in 7th grade. I'm 52 now and have had many over the years. Currently it's a 2015 YZF 450, a Z50R 86? that I resurrected from the dead laying in a junk pile on a friend's ranch and just recently picked up a 2019 KTM 250 XC. Most of my riding now is out in the desert not far from home. In the first pic is my buddy Ruben with his 86 XR250R.

It's a modern vespa website or so I thought maybe we can talk about socks considering at least 95% of vespa riders wear them may be food as well vespa riders eat food.

Here you go.
Vespa socks and other amenities ...
Your favourite Bakery food...

VESPAfsw3, nice fleet, it is perfect for the backroads near your home. The new Honda CT125 caught my eye, I watched your video btw. How do you like it compared to the Himalayan? There's nothing like getting out and focusing on the trails. It purges all the day to day crap we build up inside. I come away mentally refreshed after every ride.

BajaRob, sweet machines! That is pretty cool to hit the hills with your riding friend's XR. These machines keep us youthful. I had a project YZ426F and more recently a WR250R. Both brought back with some wrenching effort. Oh, almost forgot the KTM 525EXC, same story on that one. Rolled those bikes into my current 350.

Sledge, nice links

The difference between the Honda Trail 125 and the Himalayan is size and weight while riding. I became more concerned riding off-road alone at my age on a motorcycle that could hurt me if I came off it, or that I could no longer pick up if I dropped it. Those fears evaporated with the Honda and I ride it in places I would never take the Himalayan.

And off road, the speeds I travel with either machine are the same.

The Himalayan is still fine on well maintained dirt and gravel roads. And to quell my concerns regarding being alone or dropping the motorcycle, I've purchased a new iPhone with satellite capabilities, and also an Eastbound MotoWinch that I can use to pick up the bike. It's a neat device.

Watching the most recent episode of Itchy Boots has me wondering again about a Garmin InReach Mini 2 that she used to contact people. With a much larger antenna than the iPhone it will have an easier time accessing a set of satellites while riding in a forest.

And the Himalayan still has a role for those rides where I may go 50 to 100 miles to reach the dirt and gravel I want to explore. It's higher top speed makes it preferrable at times to the Honda.

My two cents.

It looks like you have worked out some of the safety logistics for peace of mind. Indoctrinating your scooter riding friends into trail riding buddies may be another solution!

IMHO, you knocked it out of the ballpark with the Honda CT125. It has scooter-like characteristics with rugged capabilities and excellent utility. If your vehicle is capable of a hitch carrier or small lightweight trailer, it can expand your riding areas... in comfort.

The Himalayan is a good liking ride and appears to have a large following. It seems to compete with the KLR650 with the price point and capabilities.

Enjoy your new machines!