OP
@vezpa avatar
UTC

Banned
Vespa GTS 300 Super & Vespa P125X
Joined: UTC
Posts: 4134
Location: St. Petersburg Florida
 
Banned
@vezpa avatar
Vespa GTS 300 Super & Vespa P125X
Joined: UTC
Posts: 4134
Location: St. Petersburg Florida
UTC quote
So my girlfriend took me to the Rascall Flats Concert at Wrigley Field Saturday and I decided to take my new 2 week old 300 Super. I knew parking with a car would not be happening and I hate public transportation. I rode around and found a spot about 2 blocks away from the Stadium on a side street behind the Fire Dept, out of the main path of idiots leaving the Stadium. The spot was about 6 feet wide and next to the entrance of an alley. I parked about 3 feet from the alley, put the bike on the centerstand rear wheel to the curb, front handlebars locked to the side and went in happy to find a nice spot.

Concert was fantastic and when we headed out I came back to my bike to find a suprise. A triple stretch limo was coming out of the alley and turning right and couldn't make the turn. Someone must have just moved my bike 3 feet back and to the side despite the fork lock being on. It was standing up straight resting on a street light. The part of my bike touching the street light was the brand new Vespa cowl crash bars I just installed 3 days earlier. I didn't think this was a big deal until I realized the centerstand was UP ! The bike could have just rolled forward or reverse a few inches and the bike would have went down. The person moving it obviously didn't know how to use the centerstand and without a kickstand used nothing.

I didn't know who actually moved it so I didn't make a scene but I scanned the bike and could not find any scratches or damage. I figured I was lucky. I was glad I had just put the cowl protectors on or they may have rested the bike on the paint against the metal light pole. I am thinking about putting a kickstand on my bike in case this happens again and for myself too. I'm just glad my $7K Vespa sustained no damage. Even when you think you are safe you are not.
@paul_g avatar
UTC

Ossessionato
GTS 250ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 2047
Location: Rhode Island
 
Ossessionato
@paul_g avatar
GTS 250ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 2047
Location: Rhode Island
UTC quote
Thats just big city life. You do everything you can and still people screw with your bike.

My 800cc and 1000cc BMWs and my 750cc Honda were moved every so often when I lived in NYC. Ticks you off, but unless you want to chain a Rottweiler to your bike it will happen sooner or later.

Your sidestand idea is probably a good one, everybody can figure that one out, the centerstand, not so much (especially with the fork lock on).

Good luck!!

P.
@paul_g avatar
UTC

Ossessionato
GTS 250ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 2047
Location: Rhode Island
 
Ossessionato
@paul_g avatar
GTS 250ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 2047
Location: Rhode Island
UTC quote
One more thing--in Europe most cities have designated motorcycle parking spread around the town in order to encourage smaller, less congesting vehicle use.

Some day, the US will get with the program (I hope).

P.
@fluffy avatar
UTC

Hooked
Beverly 350 "Mavis"
Joined: UTC
Posts: 475
Location: Sydney
 
Hooked
@fluffy avatar
Beverly 350 "Mavis"
Joined: UTC
Posts: 475
Location: Sydney
UTC quote
I use a disclock with alarm. It works.
@mike_bike_kite avatar
UTC

Banned
GTS250 - GT200 - XJR1300
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1424
Location: SW London, UK
 
Banned
@mike_bike_kite avatar
GTS250 - GT200 - XJR1300
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1424
Location: SW London, UK
UTC quote
So to summarise: you were were blocking the exit of a business and yet you're surprised they moved your bike. It sounds like they were reasonably careful with your scooter all things considered.
OP
@vezpa avatar
UTC

Banned
Vespa GTS 300 Super & Vespa P125X
Joined: UTC
Posts: 4134
Location: St. Petersburg Florida
 
Banned
@vezpa avatar
Vespa GTS 300 Super & Vespa P125X
Joined: UTC
Posts: 4134
Location: St. Petersburg Florida
UTC quote
mike_bike_kite wrote:
So to summarise: you were were blocking the exit of a business and yet you're surprised they moved your bike. It sounds like they were reasonably careful with your scooter all things considered.
No......... to summarize you need to learn to READ


I wasn't blocking anything.
UTC

Hooked
GT 200L Navy Blue 2009
Joined: UTC
Posts: 116
Location: Gilbert AZ
 
Hooked
GT 200L Navy Blue 2009
Joined: UTC
Posts: 116
Location: Gilbert AZ
UTC quote
Id consider you lucky that your bike didnt get plowed over with a larger vehicle coming out of that alley. There really should be designated 2 wheel parking though
@benito avatar
UTC

Moderator
2010 Dragon Red GTS 300 Super, 2018 Grigio Titanio Piaggio Liberty S 150
Joined: UTC
Posts: 16296
Location: Toronto, Canada, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
 
Moderator
@benito avatar
2010 Dragon Red GTS 300 Super, 2018 Grigio Titanio Piaggio Liberty S 150
Joined: UTC
Posts: 16296
Location: Toronto, Canada, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
UTC quote
Wow some people are just BASTARDS, glad there was no damage to your scooter, I'd be pissed.
@mike_bike_kite avatar
UTC

Banned
GTS250 - GT200 - XJR1300
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1424
Location: SW London, UK
 
Banned
@mike_bike_kite avatar
GTS250 - GT200 - XJR1300
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1424
Location: SW London, UK
UTC quote
VEZPA wrote:
mike_bike_kite wrote:
So to summarise: you were were blocking the exit of a business and yet you're surprised they moved your bike. It sounds like they were reasonably careful with your scooter all things considered.
No......... to summarize you need to learn to READ


I wasn't blocking anything.
In your 1st post I read "a triple stretch limo was coming out of the alley and turning right and couldn't make the turn" and naturally assumed that if you parked your bike by the ally exit then it would only make it more difficult for them to leave. But I'm curious: if you weren't blocking their exit why do you think they move your bike ?
@scoot avatar
UTC

Molto Verboso
Vespa 946
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1379
Location: Lake Geneva, WI
 
Molto Verboso
@scoot avatar
Vespa 946
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1379
Location: Lake Geneva, WI
UTC quote
Imagine something giant trying to leave a tight space. I'm sure the guy woulda' moved half the cars on the street if he could. Not that hard to picture.

Really really sucks though. I was just at Wrigley two weeks ago for Cubs/Cards and parked SO far away because of this.
@mogeewogee avatar
UTC

Beer Fairy
GTS-"Cannonball Bettie" Member Iron Butt Association
Joined: UTC
Posts: 851
Location: Seacoast New Hampshire USA
 
Beer Fairy
@mogeewogee avatar
GTS-"Cannonball Bettie" Member Iron Butt Association
Joined: UTC
Posts: 851
Location: Seacoast New Hampshire USA
UTC quote
I have a really long F350 pickup and I can relate to the pulling out of an alley scenario... I am putting myself in the drivers shoes>>> do I pull out and side swipe the scoot and knock it over or jump out and move it?
I would move it.
now the average joe WILL NOT be able to place it back on the center stand, ergo, a sidestand may be in your future. or perhaps a trunk monkey.

I guess you were lucky that they didn't load the whole scoot into the limo and drive off LOL
My 2 cents, thanks
@theoz avatar
UTC

Sir Frets-A-Lot
Vespa GT250ie/L, Honda Ruckus 50, Honda NT700V, Honda CB125
Joined: UTC
Posts: 11197
Location: Bee eff eee.
 
Sir Frets-A-Lot
@theoz avatar
Vespa GT250ie/L, Honda Ruckus 50, Honda NT700V, Honda CB125
Joined: UTC
Posts: 11197
Location: Bee eff eee.
UTC quote
I've heard of this happening to a few people here in the city but has never happened to me.

Pretty crazy and irritating.

If you truly weren't blocking anything then you definitely have every right to be irritated.
@autovoluculum avatar
UTC

Enthusiast
Nero Black LX 150
Joined: UTC
Posts: 59
Location: Aurora, IL
 
Enthusiast
@autovoluculum avatar
Nero Black LX 150
Joined: UTC
Posts: 59
Location: Aurora, IL
UTC quote
Parking in the immediate vicinity around Wrigley is really not worth it. If you want to go to a game or a concert, it is safer to park over by Depaul and just hike all the way up to the field. It's free to park and there are usually other bikes in the area parked in front of houses. There is power in numbers, so that way you won't get your bike moved. I was there for the Saturday game against the cards not too long ago and this was exactly what I did, with no problems and the Cubbies won too!!!
@bluebuddha avatar
UTC

Molto Verboso
Kitted ET4.
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1657
Location: City of Lost Angels
 
Molto Verboso
@bluebuddha avatar
Kitted ET4.
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1657
Location: City of Lost Angels
UTC quote
The Gorilla Alarm is great for this type of stuff. It "chirps" and gives a warning if someone tries to move or mess with your scoot.

Good piece of mind and easy to install.

That with a grip break lock and you're in business.

Glad your scoot was okay...

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