Modern Vespa

It's very interesting to see an old thread of mine resurrected today: People in LA (don't) drive like assholes. The following month (March 30) I was hit by a left-turner as I was going through an intersection. He was waiting at the light and turned into me at the last instant. The bike was totaled. I got thrown 30 feet or more and ended up in the ER with a crushed foot and various bruises about my body. It was a classic SMIDSY (Sorry, Mate, I Didn't See You) scenario.

I spent twelve weeks on crutches as my shattered heel bone put itself back together (amazing, really) and the open wounds on my foot healed. I'm still limping, but improving steadily. If you're interested in the medical aspect, google "calcaneous fracture" and "fracture blister".

Some thoughts on the crash:

I should have figured that something was up when he was just sitting at the green light and not turning. I did slow down and I was already in the intersection when he hit the gas. I don't know what else I could have done about it, though, but I will be warier about this kind of thing in the future. BTW, the police officer who took the report said that the driver was 100 per cent at fault. Didn't make me hurt any less. Since there was no other traffic on the street, the sun was high in the sky, and visibility was perfect I think that he was doing something like adjusting his radio, looked up, saw a green light, and just punched it.

I remember the instant of impact, but only the sound. The next thing I knew I was waking up lying in the street and thinking, "I've got to get out of the street!"

I was wearing complete gear: full face helmet, armored jacket, armored pants, armored motorcycle boots, armored gloves. Every armored spot on my body (knees, elbows, shoulders, back, knuckles, feet) took a hit. I would have been much more severely injured had I not been geared up. Ironically, my helmet only had a small scrape on the back. Because it easily could have hidden damage, I've discarded it. Toreador Pants

For a while, I was 95 percent certain that I would choose not to ride again. Little by little, I started thinking about it. One reaction I had was "I want to decide when I stop riding, not have this guy take the decision away from me." Ultimately, I decided to ride again when my foot was strong enough.

I knew I was making the right decision (for me) when a woman at a party said, "You're not going to ride again are you?" "Actually, I am." -pause- "Well, good for you!"

Anyway, here it is six months later and I just rode my new (slightly used) MP3 400 home from Sherman Oaks Vespa (shout out to Drew Teague). I was concerned that my body might have a tough time getting on a bike again (I got the shakes one time before after a minor crash) but it felt absolutely natural - like I was home again.

Good for you.

I was in a near fatal accident back in 1999 and didn't get back on a bike until I took a test ride on a Can-Am Spyder and hated it and then my next riding experience was test riding MP3s. I test rode a 250 and a 400 and was waiting for a 500 to be available; when one did I didn't hesitate and bought it without even taking it for a spin.

Michael,

Thanks for sharing the emotional/spiritual aspect of your journey back to riding. I couldn't agree more with your point about deciding that you, and not an external event, make the decisions in your life. If we limited our options in response to every failure and setback in life, sooner or later we'd just be huddled in a corner in a fetal position.

I underwent something similar when I worked elephants. When one of them sent me to the emergency room, I needed more than a little time to come back. I don't really subscribe to the "get right back on the horse" school of risk management. There really are some times you should quit while you're ahead. I rode bikes for a few years when I was younger, and I always felt that I had dodged a bullet by escaping that period of my life without a bad wreck. I figured I'd stay off bikes in my later years, and just count my blessings.

Discovering this year that I had the will to ride again has affirmed that I'm the one making decisions in my life. There have been few decisions in my life that have boosted my confidence so broadly. I feel more confident in almost every aspect of my life in response to the lift to my self image. I almost swagger through the door now when I come to work on my MP3.

So glad you shared your story.

Jack

+1 Crayonator !

Back in '85 & '86 I was a motorcycle courier and someone pulled out in front of me. I laid the bike down and slid into the car & totaled the bike, I was fine except a bruise on my leg.

Well, I was cruising down a main road near my house about a month after I got the MP3. Well everything must have been just right and I had a flash back to my accident in 85. I got through the intersection and was covered in sweet, my adrenalin kicked in and I was shaking. This was over 20 years later and I had owned at least 2 other street bike since that happened, with ten of thousands of miles under my belt since the accident.
Weird, never had another issue since then. Guess everything was just right and something happened that brought that back at that moment.

Wayne B

I just turned 68 and back in 1985 I had 2 near misses within an hour. Both left turns. Scared the hell out of me. Sold the moped. I am now thinking of getting back into the fray so I can ride with my woman. I have my eye on an MP3, but am concerned that if I invest 8 grand in one, that if 2-3 years from now I have to quit for health reasons, I will lose my shirt. Is the resale on Vespa pretty good? I realize that the MP3 is new so there probably isn't much history. I am also considering a cheap Chinese scooter, but am starting to think the MP3 will be a better choice.

Any thoughts?

Hi Old Dude,

I'm almost as old a dude (60). The resale on Piaggio products, Vespa in particular, has been very good, though no one can predict the future. MP3's are in short supply with a good demand.

BTW, if you are going to be riding 2-up, you would probably want the MP3 400 or 500, which will set you back somewhat more than 8 grand.

Bottom line? I don't think you will lose your shirt after 2-3 years. You will do better than you would on a car, for example. But choosing to ride an admittedly expensive scooter isn't really a rational economic decision. If your heart says go, then go.

Old Dude,

I had a cheap chinese scoot. It was a 250 tourer model. I rode it for about a year and ended up having 2 spills on it. First one I will take credit for, as being inexperienced (first powered two-wheeler) and being in the wrong place etc. The second one I do blame on the scoot. I think the quality of the parts, particularly the front brake rotors caused my second spill as I was slowing down from around 45 mph. I have since done the MSF rider course, and read/reading David Hough's books on Proficient Motorcycling. Still I was happy to sell off that scooter this past spring and not ride this whole year while I struggle to save up for the MP3.

When I sold it, the rubber dust boots for the shocks were disintegrating. It was a 2006 model and I couldn't be sure about the state of other components, like brake lines, fuel lines. Those other important bits. It also had a "shimmy" when slowing down that would start around 35 mph if you took your hands off the handlebars rather than tracking straight. I may be wrong and inexperienced but I can't believe that other real bikes do that.

A chinese scooter might get you somewhere, but will it get you back? It may go and get up to speed (I had mine up to 80+ gps verified) but can it stop? without throwing itself to the ground like mine did?

If you were a kid struggling through school and needed an around campus ride or something, a chinese scoot might be ok, but I wouldn't recommend it for anyone past their 30's and especially if you are going to ride 2-up. Just my experience and 2cents.