Modern Vespa

It is a beautifully warm day here in Los Angeles and as I was crossing the street I saw a guy at the stop light on his Vino wearing nothing more than flip-flops, a tank top, half helmet and shorts. Thinking to myself Those guys on MV would give this guy a verbal beating if they could see him now.
Tried to take a photo with the mobile phone but the light changed too soon.

Hey i wasn't in cali today Guilty but NEVER flip flops What was that guy thinking

That was photo worthy?

Actually it was JimC's face that popped into my head when I saw this guy. I honestly don't wear full gear when I ride, but not like this.

I'm not sure I'm comfortable with you thinking about me

That guy gets around, ... he was here in South Carolina just a few days ago. I drove my Forrester down to Lowes for lumber and saw at least 10 people on two wheelers. Only one of them had a helmet on, but the worst was the scooter rider in his tank-top, shorts, shower shoes and ballcap turned backwards.

There is no cure for stupid!!

We haven't had an Toreador Pants thrash-fest in at least a couple of days.

I'm keeping quite on this one. The last time I mentioned a guy riding a white PX over here on the UK wearing shorts, a t shirt with an open faced lid and no eye protection I got buckets of heat from the US saying - you don't have the right to tell us what we should wear etc etc etc so this time it's buttoned.

Bill X

LOL, I get heat all the time for some of the things I post, I have to admit that reading the constant barrages of wear your gear type posts do help.

Well, you've only been here since May ...

Change your name often then people will wonder what you've been up to

Regardless of time sometimes my opinions are not the popular ones

What the hank are shower shoes?

Satan's shoes ... flip flops.

Ohhhhhh!

Anyone who has experienced the sensation of having your skin peeled off by black top or concrete knows that it's not nice and it takes an age to heal so maybe those who ride without protection are the ones who havn't experienced it ?

Just a thought.

Bill X

Now now BILL you know new skin is all the rage these days

I wish I knew what that meant. Once you've had that sensation of having your outer layer being removed by what feels like a cheese grater you don't want to go back for seconds.

Sorry I'm going on a bit.

Bill X

Yes we will give him hell... A Vino... Sheesh! You should have told him to get a Vespa first.

I was actually thinking of posting about this the other day when I passed yet ANOTHER scooterist looking like they are riding a Schwinn cruiser down the boardwalk. I drive through the U of M campus a lot, and pretty much everybody rocks the shorts, short sleeves, sandals and no helmet on their Vinos, Metros, and no-name Asian bikes. They must really think I'm a dork with my leather jacket, gloves, helmet, and bubble goggles. I agree with Bill; having skin is in.

While advice on wearing full protective gear is commendable in its intent, its unintended consequence is to negate natural selection. If these unprotected individuals had been meant to survive, they wouldn't have been born stupid.

EACH TO THEIR OWN, that's what say.

What good is freedom of speech if it don't come with FREEDOM of CHOICE.

But if you want to feel better by telling people who don't want to listen, carry on.

I thought you were keeping quiet on this one?

Yeah I agree. I just wonder what these people think when they see me.

It's quite possible that they don't have an opinion at all about what you are wearing. Just because you are judging them, doesn't mean they are judging you.

I think we would just worrie if he was on a Vespa, LOL just kidding, I'm stuck in a LA Area Power plant this weekend. this weather brings out fair weather riders and you'll see alot of it just ride safe and enjoy the weather.

Self-preservation is the main reason why I wear the equipment, but I don't give a flippin' damn what other people do with their bodies. In fact, if for some weird reason I were to collide with another motorcyclist, I would prefer they were NOT wearing their gear ... it would be a much softer impact for me. My helmet vs. their skull ... helmet wins!

But seriously, I've always wondered why so many people have such strong convictions about something that only impacts the person who - for some stubborn reason - refuses to take measures of self-preservation.

I have to admit that I wonder why so many people refuse to at least protect their noggin. Here in the South, riding Harleys without a helmet is a religion. But my wonder is just a passing thought. It's their head after all.

Yeah, I suppose it's much easier to judge stupidity than intelligence.

It is blistering hot here too, and the other day, there was a guy on a Vespa, no helmet, t-shirt, shorts, and black leather flip-flops. I saw his reflection in a big window.

Wait, that was me I was looking at