Modern Vespa

I know that riding in the snow is dangerous, however as the season is approaching (in NJ we have snow right now) and as my vespa is the only source of trans. for me, does anyone have tips and/or pointers for riding in the snow?

Just the common sense stuff really, try to be very smooth, no hard throttle or braking etc.

Just had to ride this evening here in the UK for the first time in about 3 years throgh snow on the way home, that was not fun

Yeah, just take it smooth and steady, try and slipstream a snowplough if poss!!

Have you thought about good winter tires?
http://scgt.wordpress.com/2008/02/08/those-are-some-serious-snow-tires/
http://www.moto-amore.com/heidenau/new/snowtexnew.html
I wouldn't drive my car without snow tires, and how much more important with two wheels.

Here's some advice from a winter rider
http://www.sqream.org/seattle/ScooterWinterRiding.php

And here's blog of another winter rider (the original website is closed but the google cache is still available);
http://74.125.95.104/search?q=cache:_yyQyl0zuaMJ:www.ridetowork.org/baroninwinter/+baron+in+winter&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=3

Steve Williams also did winter riding, but in a more rural setting (less traffic);
SCOOTER IN THE STICKS
http://vespalx150.blogspot.com/


Seriously consider that there are going to be days you shouldn't be riding and think about alternate plans.

Good Luck!

Regards
Harvey

I would LOVE to try it !! Grew up in New York and Chicago and really miss the seasons.............

Here is the current conditions in Thousand Oaks, Ca.

Thousand Oaks, CA

Local forecastHourlyTen-dayMapsAverages
Current conditions (as of 11:51 AM) Today's forecast °F | °C
Clear91°F
Feels like: 91°F


Barometer: 30.1 in
Dewpoint: 28°
Humidity: 10%
Visibility: 10 miles
Wind: 0 mph
Sunrise: 7:12 AM
Sunset: 6:05 PM
UV Index: 4 Moderate
Observed at Van Nuys: Van Nuys Airport.

All times shown are local to Thousand Oaks.

We got an inch of snow here in Bridgewater before the rain washed it all away, it killed me to have to drive my honda in to work and leave the vespa behind

Probably going to continue riding on Thursday, weather for tomorrow doesn't look so hot either. I've been trying to use the Vespa as my primary source of transportation.

I used to ride 50cc's in the snow...
Put both feet down as stabilizers and off I went...
15 mph tops...
Not going to try it with the Vespa....
Cage time.
Take your time and examine the road very carefully as you drive..
Tire ruts will kill you if you hit them wrong.
Treat like Train tracks..

Haven't ridden a scooter in the snow, but when I had a sportbike I had to ride it in the snow a couple of times (it started snowing while I was out). Basically put feet down and keep it under 15mph with very smooth inputs. Even so, based of my experience I wouldn't recommend doing it- you have little traction on 4 wheels, much less on 2 small wheels- the chances of dropping your scoot are high...you probably wouldn't even get a warning.

Also wet or icy fall days are bad to ride in too- I know a lot of guys who've dumped their motos in patches of leaves in the road.

When I was young and bounced better than I do now, I used to ride my Honda Trail 55 in the snow and on the ice--and I pranged several times at pretty slow speeds. Not fun (the pranging part).

When I was stationed in AK, we used to go to the Willow Winter Carnival. One major event was the ice races on the lake, which included motorcycle races. They "studded" their tires with sheet metal screws driven from inside the tires--looked pretty wicked, and it was very effective, as they would come screaming around the track at high speed, throwing ice chunks everywhere but staying upright.

So I suppose you could try that, if you were going to ride consistently on ice and snow--but you'd have to add tubes to your tires--screw holes let out a lot of air!

Cary

Don't do it unless there is no other source of xportation, and then, with extreme caution.

Up here in wintery Canada, I've done it on several occasions and it scared the s**t out of me.
Frost or ice under snow cover is deadly for 2 wheels.