Modern Vespa

Thunder Bay, ON to Winnipeg, ON

Early start and I think I was one of the first out the door. Fairly cool so I left on my warm weather gear from yesterday. I saw a one-man tent set up with a bicycle leaning against it in a ditch just as I exited the city.

Right away out of Thunder Bay I didn't stop for gas so I had to cross my fingers that I could find something. Found it at Upsala a kind of an out of the way place that caters to fisherman and people looking for a quiet place to bury bodies.

Two fisherman approached me in the parking lot. I'm going to assume that they were fisherman as they were carrying live bait and asked a few questions about the scooter. They were from Wisconsin and it was then I realized that I hadn't seen a US place for 2-3 days now. Even though the border isn't that far away.

Got my first pilot car to day outside of Ignace. It only looks like a small section of the road needs to be repaired but the amount of equipment and material that is there looks like there going to be there all summer.

Pulled into Kenora for gas and a quick bite to eat. As I was following traffic in I noticed that the mini van in front of me was from Florida! Kenora in the middle of nowhere has a 3-D theater. Playing 'San Andreas' this week

There were quite a few cross country bicyclists out on the road going both directions.

I got quite by surprise at the Manitoba border for two reasons; I thought the border was further down the road and I though that Saskatchewan was next! My bad.

The wind started to pick up closer to Winnipeg that you get. At times it was pretty brutal. Closer and closer and the land becomes flatter and flatter reminding me of the West in the US.

I pulled over to the side of the road take off my inner liner for the jacket outside of Winnipeg as it was so hot. As I was on the side of the road a van pulled over. It ended up being Len Telewiak from Winnipeg. We talked about the trip I was on, the trips he had made, etc. Great guy for stopping. In the end he gave me his email address and phone number. If I had any issues while in the area give him a call. Fantastic!

In Winnipeg I pulled over to look at something off the road and when I got back on the road the GPS wanted to take me to a different route. Again, I let technology take me down the rabbit hole. Eventually after a fight I ended up on 1 West. My next turn was a left in 545 miles!

I was in the city center and it was stop and go traffic. Most of the lights are camera monitored so I'm probably going to have to give up my license at the Alaskan border.

Finally I gave up and pulled into a Motel 6. Just a little bit less than $150 for the room. I caved and stayed.

Can I assume you work for an oil company located in Alaska or affiliate co.?

Not even close.

Calgary

Well after some hard thought and contemplation it's over. I got service yesterday; tires, oil change and they cleaned out the air filter box but did not have an air filter to replace it. I got tires front and rear even though in Toronto I got a new (expensive) rear tire. I felt this would allow me to maximize my chances of not having tire issues in NW Canada and Alaska.

For the past several days I've had the issue with the horn blaring every time you put the tilt lock on. It's a pain in the ass especially if you pull up for fuel or at the front of a hotel. Until today the locking mechanism has been firm but things have changed.

I got up early, before 0400, for the start. I wanted to make Dawson Creek the start of the ALCAN highway. However, after 125 miles on the road, most of it in the rain I pulled in for gas and something to eat. When I came back out there was oil leaking again from the oil filter, and the tilt lock was soft. Locking and relocking didn't fix it and it felt like you could push the scooter over.

So my options were to return to Calgary, but probably could not get service for several days as they are so busy. Also, they don't stock parts for the MP3 because they just don't see them. I happened to have an oil filter with me and that was the only reason that I got the oil change.

So driving South from my 250-mile breakfast jaunt I decided to head to Seattle. I know that the shop there, Big People Scooters (Vespa Seattle) would have the parts and be able to work through these issues. It was just under 900 miles away. It was also South of where I wanted to be.

On one of the stops something else went wrong. As you may know you start the scooter by holding in the brake lever and hitting the start button. I hold in the left brake lever when I start it. However, on one of the stops the scooter no longer starts by holding in this brake lever. Dead silence when hitting the start button. Kind of panicked but then held in the right lever and it started. Something else to get fixed.

Then a bit later while riding the engine light came on. Screw it I'm done.

So I decided to try and get to Vespa Salt Lake City, just under 900 miles but in the right direction - home. I was going to call them from a hotel and see if they could squeeze me in on Tuesday. They're closed Sunday and Monday so it was imperative to call to day to schedule this.

Now for the clincher. Later that day I was in Montana when I... wait for it... ran out of gas. I ran out of gas 100 yards from the ramp that would lead me to the town that had the only gas station around. Right at the ramp. I couldn't believe it. The gas gauge has been broke off and on the entire trip. I've been using the trip odometer and was sure I had and least another 20 miles or so.

So no service because it's too late to call.

I know I've put the scooter through a lot. It's an urban scooter that's been up the big adventure roads doing far more things than probably ever imagined for it.

The engine is strong and has never let me down even over 10,000 foot passes and 14 hour days of hard riding but everything around it has failed; steering bearings (twice), the tilt lock function, the gas gauge, the oil in the filter issue, the variator/rollers/belt, that damned seat that made me sit on a pillow for more than 34,000 miles, wind protection, the controller for the turn signals has been replaced, mirrors replaced, etc. Oh, yeah the parking brake is locked and I can't break the nut loose so I'm forced to do a dance of holding the brake lever while trying to get the gas compartment open and then pump the gas and do everything in reverse all the while not letting the scooter drift away across the parking lot.

With the service I've gotten, including parts I'm spending almost $85 a day on the scooter just to keep moving forward! And I'm still facing more bills for the issues outlined above.

I had big plans for this trip, big ones.

It was fun but that's it - 2500 miles to home.

If I were you I'd look at renting a car and trailer and get it home that way. Rent a U-Haul PU. Or leave it somewhere and have it commercial trucked back home later. Rent a car or take the Greyhound to get back home, or fly.

Bugger.

I was wondering the MP3/500 was holding up for your Trip.
I always considered the MP3, a "Maintenance Nightmare".
But, I love the Bike and enjoy working on them as much as riding them.

I bet a trip like this on a Burghman may have been less Maintenance on you.
My friends who have them swear by them.

I have enjoyed watching the Posts.
Sorry I missed you when you were in Savannah.
I happen to be there visiting family, but didn't know until after I saw your post after you have gone on your way.

Keith,
Marietta, GA

I hope you find the issues are just some loose connections.. The deal with one brake not allowing start is probably an adjustment or replacement of a cheap microswitch.

If you have the time, energy and inclination I would like to hear about your luggage for this trip. I was trying to see what saddle bags you are using.. Your thoughts would be appreiated.

I still think you should turn your posts into an ebook. I would buy it!

Take care.

Bummer, sorry to hear about it.

Seems to me, even if you do get all the issues fixed, it would be difficult to trust that scoot for such a trip again. (Though from my own perspective, I'm a glutton.)

I've really enjoyed reading about your trips, and hope (perhaps against hope) you can continue this one.

Cheers,
Sully

I just bought some cheap saddle bags that fit the frame - no intention at the time to get them but saw them on a store visit and got them. I used a North Face waterproof duffle strapped to the back. Inside divide items up into smaller bags for easier housekeeping. In 2010 I grabbed a Cabelas duffle. Big mistake because it was top loading and a nightmare to find anything.

The frame doesn't lends itself for attaching items like a motorcycle with hard panniers.

In 25 years the engine will still be running. It will be at a grist mill in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia happily doing it's thing. The frame, electronics and other bits and pieces will have been placed in the dust bin of history.

HI Chiaroscuro,

Are you still in Calgary? I have a MP3 250ie parts.

Last stop was in Great Falls, headed south.

Thanks headed South.

The saga continues ?

What is the brand and model # of the drone you are using? Great shot!Merry Christmas.

DJI Phantom 3

Chiaroscuro.................good to see you're still out there! What are you riding these days and where are you?

North Carolina, 'riding' my car. Scooter is in storage in Florida. Hope to trade or sell before Summer 2016.

What fuels your drone, battery or...................? Be nice if you could do this over/in the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, but may be prohibited.

http://www.dji.com/product/phantom-3-pro


Flew back to Alaska in October and drove around:

What are you thinking about getting next?

Heading to Alaska in two weeks. Spent a few weeks there in October past. Going to sell, I hope, the scooter soon and get a motorcycle.

.......what motorcycle(s) R U considering?

U probably noticed I bought '16 MP3 500, from Vespa Seattle aka Big Peoples Scooters. They R the best!

Congrats. Hey, you can take over MP3 500 to Alaska!

Looking at the Honda Africa Twin. However, the Kawasaki is at a pretty sweet spot on price and reputation.

Time to move on:

https://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/mcy/d/piaggio-mp3-500/6372773578.html

Sold my '16 MP3 500.
Took my Jeep to Alaska in August

Turkman. Just wondering if your first name is Stan

Wow, just wow. This was an incredible thread. What great pictures, narrative, and incredible journeys. Good luck.

Thanks, looking at getting back on the road this Summer.

Good news!

Spotted in the wild; Mayfair, London, UK - 30 minutes ago.

I see you are still around, just started rereading your post of Alaska for the second time. been a few years from the first time. enjoying it again

Thanks!

Just saw this in Chamonix, France a few minutes ago.

Rome, Italy a few minutes ago. Yamaha!