Modern Vespa

So I've recently moved to Chapel Hill, NC and I love it, but I've found one oddity among the scooter community. It doesn't seem like anyone waves at each other. Is that just a Northern thing?

Don't know if it's the same in NC, but in SC you don't need insurance or a license to ride a 50cc scooter

So a lot of folks are really "moped riders" by necessity and don't tend to wave

Nice, only a guy from jersey could offend Southerners, drunks, & M.P's in one short sentence. what exit are you from?

Aww this isn't supposed to be a diss-off I was just wondering if it's not something people don't do down here

First off, Tommy, the Mason-Dixon line is in Maryland. North Carolina is not North. I quit waving at motorcycles a long time ago. I kept getting my feelins' hurt when they would'nt wave back. I always wave to Vespa riders, and only to smaller scooters if they wave first. A side note: The other day I fell in behind a Harley and followed him for about three blocks. I guess he got tired of seeing a big red scooter in his mirrors so at a stop light he quickly moves to the right lane, gags the throttle and takes off. He swerves back to the left, moving in front of a semi. So what the hell! I do the same thing, and in a second or two I'm right on his tail again. He then moves over to the right, and I pass him with a big grin on my face. True story.

Ditto - occasionally get waves from motorcycles if in the middle of nowhere on the highways. In city, I consistently get waves from geared-up vespa and other scooter riders (lots of MP3s on my route), but not from the occasional hipster vespa rider since I don't look cool enough or something as I wear all of the gear and a full-face helmet.

I'm sorry!
I meant no offense to anyone

I was very excited to see so many "scooter riders" when I moved down here recently
But was disappointed that to realize that they were really "moped" riders,
who rarely wave back

I've been having much better luck with motorcycle riders

And Starboard,
in which part of the South did you learn those excellent manners?

I visited Chapel Hill just a few weeks ago. I think the scooter community is pretty much comprised of clueless college kids that see their scoots only as a convenience.

Too bad- there are some great places to ride out there if you avoid campus. I know Raleigh has a scooter club.

Have fun!

Tommy,

Welcome to the area. I live in Raleigh and work in Chapel Hill. I have 2 Vespa's, so you may see me around on the small roads to and from campus or on the highway commuting. I don't often get waved to, so I don't wave either. I find that many of the motorcycle guys only wave to me when I was riding my crotch rocket, not on my scooter. I guess it is a "pecking order" thing and I am below them now. Oh well, I don't let it get to me at all, since I ride for my enjoyment and not theirs!

You are correct about most of the scooter riders being college kids using them as transportation only. Not many Vespa brand scoots around here, but definitely some great places to ride.

Tommy, I Apologize. You are from the North, and have moved to the South. I missread that. Well, then let me say this. Give it some time. You'll find that there is nothing better than Southern hospitality, and Southern cooking. And, of course, the Southern belles.

Trust me I haven't had a problem with the belles haha

Chapel Hill is certainly a college town and kids riding scooters use them to get around-not to make a statement. In Charlotte where I live, pretty much everyone on two wheels or three will acknowledge a scooter rider with a two finger wave. I'm sure whenever you scoot to Charlotte, Greensboro, or other non-university spots you'll find that bikers are pretty friendly. I also noticed a large number of scooters in Athens, GA at the University of Georgia and none of the kids there waved either.

I see here that many of the 50cc scooter riders that don't have to have a license or insurance to ride in SC or NC aren't riding for their love of the experience, but because of a DUI or some other legal issue. They find these 50cc bikes are the only cheap transportation available to them. When I got my first scooter, a LX 150, I spent more time explaining it wasn't a "liquor-cycle" and that the bike could actually maintain speeds of 55-60 mph. Can't tell you how many times I pulled my license out of my wallet to prove it.

You are going to love Chapel Hill. What a great place to have a nice scooter!