Modern Vespa

It had just rained, and I wasn't thinking much about it's effect on certain kinds of concrete (parking deck concrete, stuff that isn't as rough as the normal stuff, I suppose so it doesn't drink up dripping oils) and felt a little wobble. I was taking a turn, and tried to slow immediately but fell straight over. Don't remember much of what happened....are they designed so your legs don't get caught under the thing, or did my leg just naturally move out of the way, cause I did take my feet off the foot rest and put them on the ground....not my big question, but something I'd like to hear from your collective experiences.

My question, is that wobble the same thing I would feel at higher speeds? I did read through the Riding Tips topic, and perhaps I should just ask there, but I thought this question wasn't really covered. I need tales from the experienced!
I have heard about that Proficient Motorcycling book, just yesterday, actually, and am definitely interested in reading it. Did anyone else find it as helpful as I hear it is?

Damage was extremely minimal, if anyone is wondering. I have already dumped it (or whatever the term is for having it fall over while it's at rest) on the same side and didn't see any addition damage, which I'm attributing to the slickness of the concrete. Gotta love how they are designed; the stuff that people stare at stays completely untouched in a tip over. So nice. Also, would damage like that be covered in the warranty?

You're an inexperienced rider, who obviously did exactly the wrong thing in a difficult condition and you think your warranty should cover your damage? Very interesting thought.

When the road is straight, clear and dry, visibility perfect and traffic is light anybody can do well. It is under tougher conditions that experience and guidance make a difference.

You learned 2 things today. 1. Do not panic--if you feel wobbles or slippage your best bet is to ride it out with smooth relaxed input. Hard braking or steering inputs WILL put you down.

2. You've got a license, you've got a bike, you've got responsibility. A warranty covers manufacturer's defects, that's their responsiblity.

P.

Did you take the MSF Basic Rider Course? That covers some of the basic stuff in Hough's book but with practical, supervised drillwork to make sure you understand and do it right a few times under the eye of a coach.

Stuff like "don't make do a full brake stop going around a turn" (i.e., while the bike is leaned over or with the fork turned). To make a sharper turn, lean harder into the turn instead. Don't pull in the clutch, if you are riding a manual transmissioned bike/scooter, or roll completely off the throttle on a TnG scooter, which will lose you traction -- you can roll off a little to slow down with engine braking though). To come to a stop, straighten the bike up/out and brake in a straight line if you want to come to a complete stop.

They also make sure you learn how to do full stops correctly (a smooth, but not too quick use of mostly the front brake -- not hard on the rear brake, which will lock up, nor too hard too quickly on the front brake, which can cause you to stand the bike up and toss you off like a bronco buster).

To answer your other question: in general, no, what you feel at lower, parking-lot speeds is not what you will feel at higher speeds. There is much written about this, starting with the word "countersteering", which I won't go into... Besides, it's all just blah blah blah text on the screen, the only way to really learn the difference is to go out and ride!

First - Rly sorry about your fall. 99% have had mishaps the other 1% are lying. Glad you did not get injured. Your pride will heal shortly...

I am not an expert but I did take the Mortorcycle Saftey class. At slow speeds, you need to keep your head up and look to where you need to go. If you feel a wobble do not panic and do not hit the brakes...Wet weather mixed with oil on the road is a bad combination...

Cheers,

Gianni

Sorry about the crash. You made a beginner's error. Been there, done that, got the scars to prove it. In the long run, it will probably have been a good thing - gets you thinking seriously about your riding skills. At least that's how it worked for me.

Definitely take the MSF basic rider course.

Also definitely get Proficient Motorcycling by David L. Hough. Read it right away, then read it again after a few months of riding. Then read it (and More Proficient Motorcycling) once a year.

Welcome to the club. You've come to a good place to ask a good question.

"It had just rained, and I wasn't thinking much about it's effect on certain kinds of concrete (parking deck concrete, stuff that isn't as rough as the normal stuff, I suppose so it doesn't drink up dripping oils) and felt a little wobble. I was taking a turn, and tried to slow immediately but fell straight over."

How did you try to slow immediately? Hit the brakes hard, in a turn, on a wet surface?! It sounds to me like you haven't enough knowledge yet to know how to control your scoot..?
IMO you should get some learnin' about bikes, and fast, before you hurt yourself and/or do more serious damage to your scoot!
Read Hough's "Proficient Motorcycling," and try and get hooked up with a MSF riders class ASAP!

Question? 1} What tire pressures did you have? Too low can cause a 'wobble', and too high could give you a poorer grip on wet surfaces!

Question? 2} Do you know about counter-steering? -So the bike will at least go in the direction you want it to?

Question? 3} Do you know about applying the brakes firmly and evenly, and not grabbing at them?

Scooters are motorcycles; they are not bicycles or toys that anyone can just hop on and ride quickly away on. You need to learn the principals and dynamics of motorbiking... It's a learned skill, so take your time and get as much knowledge and practice as possible before you even think of taking the scoot out on the open road, okay?

To begin with, I doubt it will be covered by warranty. However, your scoot is probably insured - I'd wait a year (because you'll probably drop it again), and look at insurance as an option. But, that said, I haven't repaired the scrapes on mine, and probably won't until I go to sell it.

My suggestion, with regards to damp roads, is just to avoid them. I've been riding about 5 months now, but I still refuse to ride if the chance of rain is very high - I look at the whether every day. I've been caught in a couple of storms, but I always take it veeeery slowly.

I see rain riding and passenger riding as two things I'll be willing to do after a year of experience. I have to be able to take care of myself in normal times before I can risk another person, or take bad weather risks.

Sometimes, no matter what you do, your scoot will go down. First time down I was in our school parking lot. They locked the gate on me so I had to turn around. I was in sand so I was being careful. Scooter got into some stuff that was really deep and soft. Bike just slid out right from under me. There was no stopping it. I landed on my butt and the scooter on its side. No scrape marks on the bike and I had a tiny bruise on my hip. (landed on a rock under the sand). The cut-a-way kept the bike off my legs. I was mortified but unhurt and so was the bike.

When I did get hurt I was air born, not just sliding. The scooter and I had a contest to see who would land first. I won. Bike landed on me (broken wrist). That one was all my fault. No getting around it. Was dumb, no helmet, shorts, tank top.... (Hey, it's Key West) and I got complacent.

If you haven't taken the safety course please do so. It will teach you all kinds of great stuff. I've kept from getting killed a couple of times because of what the course has taught me.

Hi, Lots to learn about riding bikes and scoots. Parking lots have more than the average amount of car drippings (oil). This with some rain makes for really slick surfaces. Same with the center of the lane at a stop light or sign. Really avoid the center of the lane at a light. Take comand of your space, ride in the left third of the lane so a car can not crowd you out. Unless you are in Europe, they will pass you anyway so stay right. But, you probably felt the wheel slip sideways a little when you felt your "wobble". Don't hit the brakes no matter what. In fact more power will have a better chance of saving you. As many posters said, the proficeint rider book is good thing. Small claims on your insurance will just raise your rates. Save that for something serious that breaks the bank. Warranty work is only for something that the manufacturer created. You now know why it is important to wear your riding gear, gloves and helmet for sure. I have been riding motorcycles for 40 years before I discovered my Vespa. Scooters are great. Keep at it don't get discouraged be observant. beech