Modern Vespa

I'm seriously considering making or buying a Scooter Lap Apron - or whatever they are called. Termoscuds seem to be popular I've noticed - Corazzo seems to make a nifty one - there is a company called Bagster which also seems to make some cool Termoscud variants - there's another company called Scooter Skirts - and then a number of people have recommended ways and techniques for those handy with sewing machines and fabric to create their own custom models. Choices, choices, choices. But it's getting cold here in Oregon so I'm zeroing in on an approaching - but am hoping to get some real-world feedback first from anyone who has actually USED either a Termoscud, a Lap Apron or a Scooter Skirt....

When I ride my scooter, I must frequently stop - at stop signs, traffic lights, etc. When I do that, I often slide one foot down to the ground, usually the left foot.

How do scooter skirts / lap aprons / Termoscuds - work with this maneuver? Do they interfere at all with free movement of one or both feet or legs in any way?

Related question - most of my riding is on paved surfaces but occasionally I must go on dirt roads, gravel driveways, etc - and sometimes at slow speeds when the going is tricky, it's useful to be able to put either one or another foot - or sometimes (shudder) both feet - down for balance. What happens if you are wearing a lap apron / scooter skirt / Termodscud --- can you actually do this?

2nd related question - the scooter I ride most of the time, a 1986 classic Honda Elite, has a foot brake (my right foot) and a hand brake (right hand) - unlike most modern scooters which only have double handbrakes. How does/would a lap apron / scooter skirt / Termoscud - affect foot braking?

And finally - I've read a large number of posts about the issue of skirts/aprons FLAPPING in the wind - and the strategies different people - and different manufacturers - have adopted to deal with this real phenomenon (supposedly the faster you are going, the more insane flapping you get, from what I can gather). Several strategies seem to involve either strapping the skirt/apron to the frame - or somehow attaching it, loosely, behind the legs (either with cords straps or bungies). BUT it seems to me that if one did any of these strapping/anti-flapping measures - they would further REDUCE the rider's maneuverability of one or both feet - especially in emergency situations, which (alas, in the real world) we all encounter sooner or later. So what's the deal in real-world riding conditions here?

I'd appreciate feedback about these questions - before going forwards on my own scooter apron termoscud search....

Gracias!

Miguel

i've worn both lap aprons and scooter skirts and have had absolutely no problems with them as regards maneuverability of the scooter or free movement of the legs and feet.

i have found that the scooter skirt flaps unnervingly at speeds over 40mph or so, but that is because a) i am using one that is designed for a much taller person than myself, and b) i refuse to stick velcro on the cowls.

my lap apron (a tucano urbano one) has inflatable pockets at the sides that do a fine job of stabilizing the apron. i've only had the scooter up to about 50mph with it on, but there has been no problem with it flapping.

I used Termoscuds on both the LX and the GT all last Winter. There is no hindrance to putting your legs out and down with a Termoscud. One let, both legs, it doesn't interfere and doesn't matter.

On the GT, the Termoscud has the huge advantage over a "skirt" in that it captures the warm air that comes out of the back gills of the radiator, so even on cold days, your legs get toasty warm after the engine is heated up.

Both of the Termoscuds us an inflation tube to stiffen and stabalize the sides. This works extremely well. I've had the GT at highway speeds: 70+ MPH with absolutely no flapping.