Modern Vespa

Thank you...truly helpful post. I am starting to feel a pattern with your posts too...

"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving
safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside,
thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, "man, what a ride!"

If you were 90, and residing in a nursing home, I'd consider your concerns valid. Until then, avoid acting old at all costs.

HAHA, I actually LOL when I read that last part. Thanks for the advice - I agree with you. There will be a time when I can't help but act old, right??

Wangta, you seem much happier trading jabs with folks who can't stand you than actually discussing the topic you raised. Why is that?

Sigh, you're right - guilty as charged. It was too tempting...but I should take the higher road.

Back to the topic - I think many people have made great points. Not sure it needs anymore diologue, but more perspectives are always better!

Hey, everybody gets older, unless they screw up while riding, as an example.

Where is it written that "youth" has a corner on the market for irresponsibility.

Where is it written that "older" people can't enjoy the fringe (i.e. - dangerous living) sports, hobbies, etc.
It's known that "oldies" engage in sex well into their nineties. Why not biking???
A good ride is like good sex, and not age dependent.

I'm not going to read all 4 pages of this.

Today, we were on a group ride with 30 bikes. When we stopped for lunch, we sat with a guy who is 72. He's been riding Vespas since forever. I think he said his first one was a '48.

The owner of the school we did MSF through rides a Goldwing. Been riding since '81, when her daughter was in college. I don't know her exact age, but the math would indicate late 60s - early 70s.

If you're having doubts about "old" you can ride when you're only 30ish, maybe you should hang up the helmet now, for your own good.

I'll be 58 next month. Wife, two teen-age kids and I ride when it suits me. Usually to work, but sometimes on errands. Yeah, there is a risk, but my travel requires me to fly 2-4 times a month -- a risk there too. Plus driving in a cage in unfamiliar locations, eating food all over the country. Risks everywhere.

Look do you smoke? do you drink? do your exercise regularly? do you eat the"right" foods? do you get an annual physical?

Life if full of risk, IMHO opinion somebody who likes to bungee jump or skydive has crossed the line of acceptable risk. Riding on two wheels -- not beyond the pale, YMMV.

I think each person has to make their own decision. I wouldn't be so concerned with the people that would be left behind at work if you died while riding, but I would make arrangements so my family would be cared for. I have a friend who was in a "bike" accident in June and has severe TBI (she is a walking miracle) so riding a bike is risky too. I think a scooter is a level up from bike riding because we have mirrors and the ability to accelerate and brake in a quicker manner than a bicyclist.

Wangta,

I'm 63 years old. I scoot to work every day -- just took up the sport 1 year ago and have logged about 6K miles since then. I love my family more than myself.

Your discussion is lame. Scootering is a sport. If you crash, it's more dangerous than a car. So is biking or downhill skiing, and by extension, many other sports. So we all shouldn't practice any sport that carries risk of injury or death? For the sake of those who love us?

Because they would be so sad if we were to die?

Lame.

I look forward to your post requesting directions to Higher Rd.

Glad to hear you're riding at the spry age of 63! I hope to be like you one day.

I respect your perspective, but I wonder if you read the detail on my situation. Did you? Yes, biking or downhill skiing, along with base jumping and skydiving are more dangerous. I don't do those either. Bout the craziest things I do is play basketball (alot!), run outdoors (on the street sometimes), and ride a scooter. These are all things I choose to do. Should I die on an airplane, well - thats not really "in my hands" per say.

I had a close call in LA this summer - was parked at a four way intersection, looking to turn left, and guy in Buick Escalade (yacking on the phone!!!!) crossing from the right hand side almost hit me me head on - I was parked, not much I could of done given the timing and situation. He saw me last second and jerked back to his right - missed me by about a foot. I almost bailed and jumped off my scooter. Situation was scary - I was well within my rights of where to stop, and just proves, that no matter how safe you drive or what you wear, things are not always in your hands. And LA had just passed the no cellphones while driving law!!

I feel like alot of people are depending on me, perhaps they aren't, but atleast I feel a sense of responsability and I should make decisions that wouldn't jeapardize that. That might sound lame to you, but for me - its a serious consideration. I don't live my life just for me. But as others have mentioned, I have to make sure I live life in away that is fulfilling to me - which I'm beginning to agree with. Its a compromise really, and not the easiest decision for me (maybe not for you).

re-read my comments on all your posts. Blueprint for you to follow. I don't think I slighted you once with the exception of saying you throw some zingers!

Feeling that they're all depending on you sounds like a lot of vanity to me.

Somehow, it sounds self-inflated to me to say, "Oh, I can't die because so many people would suffer."

Believe me, life would go on without you (or me, or anyone else) just fine.

I realize that's the way it sounds. Maybe its just me trying to be a "good son". I'm not trying to be arrogant, or self-grandizing my role in my family. I just want to make sure I'm there when/and if I'm needed.

Assuming you have kids, I'm sure your kids want to be there for you when you need it, no? Didn't you want to be there for your parents/family?

Especially with the economy the way it is now, financially, I am somewhat worried about the future. Retirements account went down 20% in the last 3 months ($2 trillion). I might need to pickup the slack (not for the $2 trillion of course)! Not sure you know my situation well enough to say that. Not sure I'd feel confident enough to assume that about anybody else's life unless I knew all the details about their situation. Is that not a little presumptuous to assume?

Oh somebody please put me out of my misery!!!!!!

Well. What's the worst thing that could happen?

Nearly happened to me. Thirty years ago, I went into a high-side when forced into a curb. Smashed liver right lobe, ruptured stomach, punctured lung, cracked skull. Just under one year in hospital, and five years to come all the way back. Young children, dependent mother, etc.

Kept me off bikes for three decades.

Now, had I been killed, what would have happened? Financial bases were covered by insurance, but certainly emotional devastation to those I left behind. Which all would have - one way or another - survived. It is a rare and fortunate person who does not experience one huge trauma or another in their life.

That said:

If your near-miss has you looking at the pavement and wondering how being belt-sanded by macadam and gross-impact trauma feel, then anxiety for your loved ones is already interfering with your ability to ride safely. That can become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Quit riding until you can get a handle on it. If you choose to continue, take an advanced MSF course to increase your confidence.

If you decide that the risks and wild-card factors are too great and the math is against you, accept that you are making a thoughtful decision informed by reason, and do not in any way allow yourself to feel as though you have chickened-out. You have not: the MSF BRC opens with a consideration of risk. The risk is real. The only way to obviate it is not to ride.

Therefore, chose whatever will result in the greatest peace of mind. You can always garage your bike for months or even years while you mull it over: it's only a scooter, not a fishing trawler that must put out to sea to feed your family. Above all, be at peace.

regards,
rhm

Wangta, I think what many of us are trying to say is that you can't live your life in fear. That's no life at all. It's the old "die on your feet or die on your knees" approach.

On the other hand, you feel an extreme weight of responsibility. It's not for us to say, really, whether the pressure under which you are placing yourself is real or imagined.

Bottom line, you have to make the decision for yourself. I rather expect you already have made the decision to stop riding. That is yours to make. But this is not a forum where I would expect you to find many who would advocate for giving up riding. It's a scooter forum.

What I believe has rubbed a few of "we oldsters" the wrong way is the fact that at the ripe old age of 28 you wondered in this forum whather it was irreseponsible to ride as you get "older." You've been on here long enough to have realized that many, many of us here are old enough to be your parents, and some even your grandparents. We're riding.

So what you've been hearing is a resounding message of "go out and ride."

I can only imagine you are an only child to be taking on the sole responsibility for your parents. I can also only imagine that they are either in unusually poor health for their ages, or that they had you very, very late in life. Because honestly? At my age, easily being old enough to be your mother, if it were my children who felt they could not live normal, full lives because they were so worried about me being unable to care for myself I would berate myself for raising children who didn't know how to grab life by the lapels and live fully. While it would break my heart if a child was killed or injured severely, I would rather take that risk every single day than feel they weren't living because of me.

From this and your other recent posting it appears you have a lot of angst around the scooter. Perhaps it was that near miss. But again, you don't need our permission to quit riding.

All the best.

My 2 cents worth. I started riding at 15 1/2 on a Honda 50. Worked my way up to a Harley over the next 25 years. Had a few close calls, but fortunatly never had a wreck. Then when I was 40 I was at the roller rink with my 8 year old son and I fell down and broke my hip. Sold my Harley and didn't ride for the next 15 years. At 55 I got my Vespa and started really enjoying commuting to work again.....They can get me to stop now when they pry my cold dead fingers off the handlebars

Yes, I realize how this came out and I didn't mean that to be my intention. I was more referencing, as one matures and adds more responsability to ones life, how do you weigh the pros/cons of riding when you are expected to deliver more than before? Nothing really with age, more about increased responsabilities. I guess this was lost, despite my quotes around "older".

I think you guys are great people to ask, because, you've all been in this situation before. I presume most have been riding for many years, and obviously went through this transition in life. I would argue, in one's early 30s, things change - I think this is when many get married, or start lifelong careers, have kids, grandparents die, etc (I've noticed I have been going to alot of weddings, and funerals lately). I wanted to know, how you rationalized the dangers of scooter riding (it could be base jumping - same logic applies), as you progress through life. Thats all I was trying to ask. Age was not really the emphasis - sorry! As I stated before, my parents have never wished upon me to do anything but do what I love. I guess it's me, a deep personally thing. Can't really explain it. Example - I would rather I work a job I hate, if it allows me to keep my family's future happy/safe, vs. working a job I love but barely pays the bills (can't pay for kids college, parents healthcare, etc). Seems illogical, but thats me - if my family is happy, I'm happy - work isn't life, life is when you're at home.

I've learned alot here from hearing other's thoughts. I do connect with the "do what you love" approach - scootering is meaningful for me and I'm not sure how life would be if I didn't have this. This discussion is making me think a bit differently, which is the reason i posted this in the first place!

FYI - I'm planning to ride across the US (reverse cannonball) in May...I feel like its a once in a lifetime opportunity to do this (can take as long as i want), and it has been something I have always wanted to do. So its not like I'm not hearing what everyone is saying...I do and it has helped me rationalize this decision.

This is a great post redhandmoto. Thansk for sharing your story. And I follow your rationale very closely - the risk is real, but was concerned that my love for scooting would biase my decision. I have indeed signed up for the advanced MSF course - you read my mind!

I'm 62.
Not riding because it might result in me dying prematurely has never entered my mind.
I restarted life on two wheels last March.
If I worried about all the stuff that might have killed me I wouldn't haveL joined the military, been a paratrooper, started riding motorcycles when I was 21, buying and driving only small cars (cause big ones are safer don't you know).
Life isn't just breathing.
Take some risks, that is what life feels like. Manage the risks, don't be stupid but enjoy life and the thrill of living it.
Or stay inside cause UV causes skin cancer and there is a giant asteroid on it's way to wipe out civilization as we know it.
Your choice.

Wangta, don't stay away from wild women just because you have responsibilities. What fun would that be? They're still fun at any age. Girls are always worth the risks involved.

Hahaha. TRUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I found this thread while doing a search - had almost forgot about this heated debate!

Anyways, I really appreciate everyone's insight. I had posted this before taking my long trip, and it helped me put riding in perspective.

I love riding and will continue to ride in the future. Riding is truly a joy for me, and that was confirmed with my long journey last summer - I will always look back on that trip with fond memories.

However, I still question if I will ride forever. I expect kids, and other family matters, will change my priorities at some point, which is ok - just not sure when. Anyways, wanted to thank everyone again - I know this thread was heated at some points, but this was a big question for me and helped me decide to go ahead with my cross country adventure.

-W

I stopped caring what other people thought of me sometime in high school. I care about what is doing best for me and what makes me happy.

Scoot On !

Hi Wangta, nice to see you again. where've you been?

Necro post alert!

Hiya, Wangta. Waxing nostalgic about your old thread, eh?

Happy scooting,

~Deborah

Actually, flying by airplane is even safer than staying at home

Welcome back, young man. Good to hear from you.

Al

True. Sitting at home, hoping to avoid danger is not a good idea. Home is quite dangerous and more people are harmed or killed there than anywhere else.

When a scooter crashes, only one or two people get hurt. When a plane crashes, hundreds do. How's that for twisted logic?

Back to the (oldie but goodie) thread. I am a much safer rider at 61 than I was at 17. I am more aware of my limitations and have the experience to compensate for them.

as long as they don't touch your thumbs...

Always loved that quote.

I've driven a car literally just long enough to be able to pass the test for my license. I've never owned one, never had to drive one, and at the moment I do not have intentions to any time soon. Always been on scoots since I was 19. I can't imagine driving anything else down the road (with the possible exception of a sidecar rig, if I ever strike it rich).

As far as being responsible...
Perhaps buying my new GTV loaded with accessories and dealer packages, and then keeping it once I got laid off 3 months later and was unable to find employment for over a year... now that may have been a bit irresponsible.

Got my first VESPA at 61 years old. My wife (she is 47 years old)makes no plans for us on Friday or Saturday. Especially any plans involving me! She knows I'll be off riding with freinds and my scooter club. Sunday is saved for us to take our horses out and ride no less than 10 miles. According to Government research I should have only 15 years left to live, and I'm going to cram everything I want to do or haven't done in my life into those years. Eight more mounths to retirement and then it's look out world , here I come.......................Safe scootering to all.

Glad you came back Wangta but did you really have to dredge this up? Just spent half an hour reading it and the only result is I am 30 minutes closer to when I will have to hang up the scooter.

Seems to me there is a greater risk of shortening your life by smoking, overeating, not exercising, and being totally stressed out than riding a scooter. And at least riding can offset stress by doing something you enjoy!!

Hey Genie - been busy with work and getting accustomed to the west coast life! No really - work has been quite busy but I should be on MV more often in the coming months. I stopped riding for a couple months given LA's rainy, "cold" season, but starting to pick back up as the weather improves! Good to "see" everyone again!

Hah, sorry - but honestly, I think thinking through this is something everyone will have to do or should do eventually - perhaps after an accident or other event. I wouldn't interpret it as a "i must give this up" - I sure didn't. But I think it makes you perhaps ride a bit safer...atleast it does for me.

64 and riding 4 to 5 days to work (short commute), then a good Sunday ride when possible. I'm careful, and think safety all the time. The right clothes, equipment (headlight modulator for example), and just plain common sense allows me to still fee responsible not only for myself but also for my family as well. Nothing is perfect in this world, and no amount of care will make us totally invulnerable to dangers that are lurking around us. Glass is still half full for me and looking forward, I see a lot of years on the Vespa ahead. I feel I will know when it is time to pass it on to my kids.