Modern Vespa

With the sad news of the accidents of late, I was again looking over the MSF website. I am now registured for the ERC on 9/2.

While looking around I see they now have information about the MSF Scooter School as well as a great 70 page book with scooter riding tips.

For the Scooter School information - http://www.msf-usa.org/scooterschool.cfm

For the riding tips booklet - http://msf-usa.org/downloads/Scooter_tips-screen.pdf

If this has been posted before, I have never seen it. It's worth a look see! I think it's really great the MSF is putting more scooter specific information out there.

Tom

Great stuff, as well as the Group Ride vid. Thanks for posting this!!!!!

Hey, thanks for posting links to this info.

Jess, I nominate this thread, or at least the links, as Sticky material.

Nice find, Tom.

Great stuff!!! Thanks for the find!!! you rock

The practice exercises in the very back of the booklet (starting on pg. 48 ) are especially great in helping prepare for your endorsement or just brushing up your skills.

Stickification completed.

Tom, this posting is very timely. I had my first Kick Start session last night. I was a class of one so I essentially had a private lesson with a super instructor. We did the first nine of 17 sessions of the BRC. Next Sunday I will have another Kick Start session, but with a different instructor who is also good. What I have difficulty doing is the offset cone weave and the tight corner turn. I apparently still have a fear of leaning, of dropping my scooter. I think I may have picked up some pointers from this post that will help me. I need to solve my problem before Sunday so I can progress thru the last 8 sessions. If I do well the Abate MSF manager will have me do the ERC so I can get my endorsement.

Thank you for the posting.

This is the greatest thing I've seen posted on MV in a long time. Although the SS1 Scooter Course is not available in my area, the practice sessions in the back of the booklet are sufficient to get me started on specific practice techniques. Now I just need to find some pavement chalk, and start saving my milk cartons.

Don't know about pavement chalk, tennis balls cut in half make terrific cones. I got a couple dozen practice balls st a rediculously low price; mine are yellow. This tip comes from Jerry Palladino, Ride Like a Pro.

Thanks for the tip, bronwyn.

Fantastic find! The class is no where near me but this is great material. thanks for posting it!

A great asset-- thanks for posting this as a stickie!

--Deborah

>>A scooter used in SS1, whether it is provided by the training site or by a student, must have a gasoline-powered engine with a maximum engine displacement of 200CC, be of a step-through design, and be manufactured to meet U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations for use on public streets and roads. Scooters certified to be used on the street will have "DOT" stamped on the rear wheel. <<

Where does that leave us poor old GTS owners with our HOT 250 cc engines? In motorcycle school??? The GTS is probably classed as a motorcycle due to engine size in some states...

Don't know about pavement chalk, tennis balls cut in half make terrific cones. I got a couple dozen practice balls st a rediculously low price; mine are yellow. This tip comes from Jerry Palladino, Ride Like a Pro.[/quote]

no need to buy anyting. just use old plastic water bottles.

Thanks for Sharing that.
Zach

Not to worry DaveT. Oregon considers anything over 50cc a motorcycle! But you can take the m/c test at DMV on your 250 scooter and get your endorsement.

As for cutting tennis balls in half.. I was pretty sure I would stab myself in the hand and while I don't mind seeing blood, I hate seeing mine. When I helped my wife practice to get her endorsement (Vespa ET4 150) I bought a package of 5 small orange cones at Target for less than $5. In fact they were so cheap I bought two sets to be sure we had enough. After she passed her test we gave them to the kids next door. Just another idea.

Has anyone taken the Scooter School class? Is it worthwhile? There's a class about a 3 hour drive from me, but I'm wondering if it's worth it. I was thinking of taking the kickstart class and the BRC at the branch located closer to me (that branch doesn't offer SS1). I wonder if there's anything covered in SS1 that isn't covered in the other two classes?

And what about us who have electrics. My EVT-168 will do almost 40 mph.

Edit: Not an issue any more since I traded my EVT in for a Vespa LX150

I took the MSF course with my scooter and it was invaluable. Some MSF courses provide scooters while some let you bring your own.

I also recommend a book called Proficient Motorcycling by David Hough.

I will second that recommendation and also recommend his follow up book More Proficient Motorcycling. Most of what is said applies to scooters as well as motorcycles. It sure helped me get my endorsement.

Excellent information!

I'd like to add that if a scooterist gets the opportunity to bomb around on someone's offroad (read enduro ) motorcycle, as long as its small enough to feel short or underpowered, you really ought to treat yourself to a dirt/grass experience. I learned to ride in the dirt and the instincts you build as you learn to roost around off road really apply to road use. Things happen so fast that you often react without thinking about what it is you're doing. Just that instant of hesitation is probably the cause of many accidents. Once you build those skills of sliding, controlled drifts and brake applications you ride with more confidence too.

My dad used to tell me to find an empty parking lot the first good snow of the season and relearn how my car reacted under those conditions. The same things apply to us here.

I haven't seen a good safety article like the one you posted in a long while. Many thanks.

RB

Great post. Your right it is good to review every so often. No matter how long you have ridden. THANKS

That's a very helpful booklet even i am riding my vespa in my sunny contry,Singapore!Cool posting!!


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Vintage helmet store:http://stores.ebay.com/J-A-T-Vintage-Helmet

Great stuff - Saved the Scooter Booklet. Thanks!

I'm totally exhausted.!!! 8 hours of classroom and 10 hours of riding!!! Why anyone would not take this class is beyond me. It really changed my skill level.

TIP Check you local community college....many offer the class at reduced rates. In Las Vegas hte Harley Shop uses the same instructors, the shop charges 350USD.....community college offered the same course with the same instructors for 100USD.

Incredible information!

This is a handy book. Much like the one for Motorcycles. I took the Rider's Edge course at a Harley- Davidson dealer, on the Buell Blast. Outstanding event ! Highly recommend it.

We both are taking the MSF course next weekend at a nearby High School from what everyone is saying it will be great. They are bring a scooter for each of us to ride for the weekend. cost was $225 USD each.

I just wanted to reinforce the general consensus in this excellent thread that it would behoove all riders to take an MSF course. I used to be an MSF instructor, have ridden motorcycles for almost 40 years, and still take the ERC (Experienced Riders Course) every 3 years of so as a refresher. And I always learn something new, and am reminded of all the things I forgot, and re-learn to do the things properly that bad habits led me to do wrong. Folks, you just can't go wrong with this program. It literally could be a life or death decision to take this course.

Regards,

Bill

Nice guide. Thanks for posting it!

As a wannabe, I want to commend the informational content of this and other threads. (Thru a link, I was able to look up my local class options.... awesome. Thanks!... even though the DMV classes are totally booked until Sept/Oct!!) :?

A subject that this site may want to consider is having a permanant thread dedicated to those of you or friends who have suffered through an accident(big or small)... so it can shared.
For those of us considering or new to scootering, it presents the sobering side of the oft romanticized transportation, and it can also educate any and all to hopefully prevent a repeat for someone else.
Hopefully it can start a dialogue on what went wrong, and what could/should be done to prevent it in the future. It also gives a forum to share and to be supported through tough times.
I'm sorry that the link to the accident mentioned at the start of this thread was unavailable... so guessing what happend.... as is the case with NapaCoach sharing his photo of friend Nick's fatal crash scene... in the Owen Wilson barefoot link. (dah..).. (Cool you were willing and able to share what you did, man.) What do you want us to learn from it, besides acknowledging your lost friend?
Peace

I took the course here in FL. Cost was $ 225. Instructors were GREAT ! Bikes were pretty crappy and beat.
I learned I probably don't want to ride a MC-shifting would be a pain in the urban environment where I generally ride. Good to know however. Surprisingly the box caused me no problem but I went brain dead and nearly screwed up another part-the swerve. Came home exhausted. At 59 I was the 2nd oldest of the 12 people in the class. I think we all passed though. Good investment of time and money. I'll probably take the advanced course sometime but on my scoot. 2 thumbs up !

Congrats Bhemmis!!!! Along with 2 other family members, we were able to get into a class this weekend too! Like you.... we were exhausted and thrilled that we all passed! For any newbie, or anyone wanting to brush up on technique in IL, not taking advantage of the Basic Rider Course offered by the state, is foolish. We are charged a mere $20 for information/instruction that is priceless... given a great bike to ride, and helmet to cage the dome. Speaking of helmets, the sight of one of our classmates smacking the pavement when he inadvertantly locked his brakes (while stopping just after his patially botched square test...)... made all of the participants converts to full face helmets, 100% of the time, period!
Thanks for the recommendation to take the class, MV! A total MUST for any newbie!
Now to take out the Vespa!!.... which should be BREEZE compared to the Honda Rebels we tooled around in...

If you all live in or near Santa Clara, there is a great school at Mission College run by TWIST (Two Wheel Safety Training)... Their Classes are convienent...being on Friday evening from 5pm to 10pm and then the following Saturday and Sunday. I highly recommend it!

Thanks.

that's rad. but i wish it would explain scooter parts more.

Very usefull. Thanks!!!

I thought I'd pass along some tips from the Ducati board I moderate - they're applicable to scooter riding too!

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If a deer runs in front of you, slow down as much as possible. There are probably one or two of his friends right behind him.

If you're trying to decide if it's time to put on the rainsuit, see if the cars coming your way have their wipers on. People leave on wipers long after they're not needed.

If you see debris in the road, increase the distance between you and the car in front, and watch for more. The morons of the world who don't secure the loads on their trucks will often deposit several "presents" over the course of a few miles, so stay alert! Note that this doesn't hold true for mattresses. The brain-dead fools who tie these to the roof of their car with twine usually only have one to kill you with.

If you're behind a truck that looks like it has a bunch of loose stuff blowing about, get as far away as you can. Don't wait for that trashcan to blow out of the truck bed.

The worst time to lanesplit is when traffic is just beginning to slow. This is when everyone abruptly decides the lane *next* to them is going to be the one that doesn't slow down. Wait until the realization that they're trapped rats fully sinks in before you go between them.

If there's a breakdown on the highway, get at least two lanes over. There will always be someone who doesn't see the stopped car, comes abruptly to a halt, then pulls out at three miles per hour into the next lane, where traffic is moving at full speed.

Don't just avoid the common blind spot on either rear quarter of a car/truck - try to avoid staying beside the driver as well. Many of them don't have or use peripheal vision. I always try to smoothly pull ahead where I'm more likely to be seen.

Check your brake light with front and rear brakes before every ride.

Test your horn before riding.

Cover your horn, clutch and brake any time another vehicle is in a position to turn in front of you.

Even if you never plan to, try riding in the rain sometime to gain experience. The key is just be totally smooth with every input and never put yourself in a position to have to trail brake into a turn. If you ever get a rain shower at a track day, don't sit it out. You'll be amazed at the experience of riding a wet track.

If something sounds funny or feels different, stop and check the bike over.

When stopping quickly in traffic, go to the edge of your lane instead of being in the center of it (if you're in the far left lane, go to the far right of your lane and vice-versa). most people don't know how to properly drive (in the us), but for the 35% that do, it'll give them an extra bit of space not to crush you. this saved my life on 695 in balitmore.

When you think the guy ahead of you is drunk, sometimes it's best to just pull over and call the police. drunk drivers suck and they can't be trusted in front of you, but they are scarier behind you. getting home is more important than trying to get home quickly.

When stopped at a stop light with no-one behind you, check your mirrors often. As the first car comes up to the light to stop, be sure to grab a brake a few times to flash your taillight.

When approaching an intersection with the potential for a left turning vehicle (in the us, anyways) to turn in front of you, not only cover the clutch, brake, and horn.....but it doesn't hurt to jostle the handlebars a bit side to side to sort of 'flash' the headlight to the person driving.

When approaching an intersection with the potential for a left turning vehicle to turn in front of you (like above), see if there are cages around you whom you can 'buddy-up' with through the intersection by riding next to them. Cagers are MUCH more likely to see other cages, and therefore are less likely to turn in front of you.

Always give yourself an "out." If I'm riding at 80 mph I'm looking for the safest spot to go in case someone does something stupid. If I'm coming to a stop, I always leave room and have a good line on an escape in case the cage behind me doesn't decide to stop.

Remember, cars that leak oil do it at intersections. Nothing worse (or more embarrassing) than putting your foot down on an oil slick...

One of the most important things to remember... LOOK WHERE YOU WANT TO GO, AND YOU'LL GO THERE!! If you get mid turn and fix your eyes on a guard rail, tree, or ditch, you'll more than likely meet up with that object. Look through the turn.

Keep an eye on the front wheel of a car you're concerned about. Even if its just with peripheral vision, I've found that I can tell if/when the car is going to move earlier that way.

Watch out for road crack filler (black sticky tar sometimes known as road snakes or tar slurry I believe). In the summer heat, the tar softens to the point where its very slippery, and its almost like riding on banana peels. Its fine if you are riding in a straight line, but if you happen to lean a turn over this stuff, you will feel the bike slide out from under you. Scan the road ahead and plan a line around this stuff if at all possible.

Use other road users reactions as an early warning system. Following a car round a blind bend. He can see the exit you can't. Do his stop lights come on?

Leaves on the road are slippery. Wet leaves on the road are like ice.

Be very, very careful when lanesplitting up to the front of a light if there are pedestrians around. A lot of folks will decide that it's simply faster to run between the stopped cars than it is to go over to a nearby crosswalk. So be extra cautious when you're splitting past any vehicle you can't see over.

Just finished and passed the MSF Basic Rider Course.

A note to those who choose to use the motorcycles offered versus your own scooter: Bigger Wheels and Manual Transmissions. I had some issues with them shifting up/down as well as other things.

Also in the double U Turn in a Box scenario. You REALLY need to have your butt off the seat counterweighting the bike AND cranking your head/neck around ala the Exorcist while maintaining a steady/even throttle!

You can practice this in a parking lot with 4 stalls and no cement dividers! That's the rough equivalent of space that you get tested on.

These test are Great...wish they had something for scooters here in Greece

We do have schools but for big bikes that i know anyway...

Thanx for the info...