That's a happy upbeat introduction. Not quite the Real McCoys more the Beverly HillBillys. I like the satellite video of you riding in a circle that must have cost you. You didn't mention the slower you go the better. Paul "The Slow" Ruby
Thank you so much Steve for speaking about the importance of safety, I wish more riders would talk about it more often, I’ve been a cyclist my entire life and cannot express enough the importance of wearing your helmet, I have taken some major spills in my years and can attest without a doubt that the helmet saved my bacon more than once, it’s sad that not all like wearing them, I have friends who do not even knowing what I’ve gone through but we have to keep talking about it.
Safety and risk management are often unwanted topics of conversation. We each make our decisions and it doesn't matter if it's riding safety or politics, we're unlikely to be moved from our beliefs. But for new riders, perhaps there is still a chance of persuasion.
Helmets are compulsory in the UK, so I always find it alarming in countries where this isn't the case, like one time in Spain I think it was, I saw a guy riding a scooter bare-headed, with a helmet clipped closed hanging from his forearm. Surely it was less hassle to just put the damn thing on his head! And you're right, I've seen people in flipflops, shorts and t-shirt bombing along. I'm in the ATGATT camp though, All the gear All the time
Seeing that sort of stuff used to frustrate me. I've learned to let it go. As adults, we get to make our own choices, good or bad. I'm with you and am in the ATGATT camp. If something happens, I want to do what I can to minimize the damage to my increasingly fragile body!
I grew up in the UK and now live in Australia. Helmets are compulsory in both places. I think it's kind of insane that they are not in other countries, especially places where seat belts are required in cars. I know people that have had traumatic brain injures and it completely changed their lives. I also had a friend that had a motorbike accident in Bali and died from a head injury. The guy on the other bike came away with an injured thumb.
I had a car pull out on me when i was about 5 feet away from it 4 years ago , I slamed into the side of it and I was lucky to survive .I'm still in pain everyday but I still enjoy riding . I had 40 years of rider experience and had done at least 5 rider courses. I had heaps of safety gear on also because it was cold that day .... Enjoy your life and rides mate because you never know when it will be your last.
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. The sort of sudden event you encountered are the kind that are nearly impossible to change. A second later or a second sooner and everything would be different. There's wisdom in the notion of not knowing the future. If I can accept that then today is more important. And while I don't think riding my scooter or motorcycle is an invitation to an early death, I do accept the possibility and manage as best I can.
In towns, go slower than the speed limit. Even half sometimes. Drive so if a car on the left suddenly goes to the right lane, you’re not there. Worked good for 60 years so far.
Well, I’ve always been an ATGATT type of person, where we live we are immediately on the an 80km/hr road and then the highway so there’s no question in my opinion what I’ll be wearing. What you’ve mentioned are all great reminders. Looks like Spring has sprung in your neck of the woods, nothing is even green here yet! It’s the time of year where I have to be aware of gravel on the road as winter clean up takes a while. Enjoy and ride safe🙂
I'm an ATGATT rider too. I know there are variations in how riders define that from a full face helmet, leather racing suit, gloves, and boots to more modest helmet, jacket, gloves, jeans, and boots. But I think it means adequately outfitting myself for the ride I am about to make. Riding down the road to the coffee shop is different that single trail in the mountains. Spring has sprung. I can't believe how fast everything is changing right now.
Great advice! I’m fairly new to riding but I can tell you that I’ve already seen a about half the people riding without proper gear or without helmets. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and keeping the riding community safe.
Thank you for posting this it’s all very sound advice. I have been riding for 2 years now and the one most important thing I have noticed is you need to have INTENSE situational awareness. Always use your mirrors. Always know what’s behind and in front of you. SLOW down and check intersections. Never assume someone is going to stop at a light or a stop sign. Again thanks for posting!
Glad it was helpful. Being aware and riding accordingly is essential for safe riding. Practiced riding skills and good road strategies is the least we can do.
All good points! We've all heard: "Ride they're out to get you." I don't agree with that - I ride like they can't see me. Oh, and I noticed you picking your way between the "tar snakes" at the end of the video - I make it a point to do that, as well. Some places use slick stuff on those road patches; or maybe it gets slick with time. Especially coming out from not riding during the winter months (I know you ride all year), play close attention to road conditions, where they may have been sand or gravel on the road from the snow removal. Ride safe - have fun!
Some of the time they can't see you. One recurring drama on a motorcycle is waiting to turn at a T junction, while a car wants to turn across you. Since safety standards required cars to have substantial A pillars, the blind spot is easily big enough to hide a small motorcycle. Another annoyance is the slowly rolling driver, typically exiting their drive way. Have they seen me, because those hub caps are still turning? Or people who approach a crossroads at speed, braking at the last moment. There's a fine line between riding scared, and riding with an appropriate amount of paranoia.
I don't worry about anyone intentionally trying to harm me. That's the one in a million kind of thing and I suspect that behavior doesn't just spring from no where. But I do worry people don't see me. So at intersections and when I see someone waiting to turn onto the road I am always ready to stop or swerve.
"...an appropriate amount of paranoia." That made me chuckle. I have gotten to the point where I just am constantly scanning the road ahead. It's mindless in the sense that it's not something I have to tell myself to do. And doesn't contain any emotion that would leave me scared or paranoid. Just various levels of awareness.
I used to be a power ranger all the time. Armored gear head to foot on every ride. But over time the summer heat has found me at times riding in jeans. I know they're aren't as good as armored pants but I tell myself they're ok for certain rides.
Second thoughts about riding. I have only recently completed restoring a Vespa LX150 and still not completely comfortable with riding. Last week I took back roads to a nearby vacant parking lot to practice controlling the scooter doing slow turns. I had only been on the lot for a couple of minutes when I heard a bang. I looked at the nearby street and saw an SUV crash into a power pole. The horn was blaring and the airbags filled the interior of the SUV so I couldn’t see inside. I was about to go see if the driver was hurt but the police had immediately arrived so I stayed back. Then I saw it. The SUV had hit a motorcycle. The guy had all the correct riding equipment on but it wasn’t enough. Several police and paramedics checked for a pulse but they just covered him up. I found out on the local news that the driver of the SUV was drunk. Seeing this has made me even more nervous about riding in traffic. I am now going under the assumption that I am COMPLETELY invisible to anyone else on the road. I wanted to have fun riding my scooter but now I’m not so sure I should be riding.
What you describe is the nightmare of risk that many riders and non-riders fear. And being so close to it only exaggerates the effect. It's strange, right before I read your message I was watching an episode of "The Good Doctor" that began with a fatal motorcycle crash. And the scene reminded me of the gap between the emotional aspect of motorcycle crashes and the cold facts of them. While all deaths are final the circumstances of them are not. In the TV show the rider got on his bike, saw three pretty young women, was kind of flirting with them, and proceeded to pull out into traffic without looking and was killed by an SUV. He died riding a motorcycle. It was entirely his fault. And this is where risk assessment should take place and not completely in the landscape of the emotional trauma of an accident. That is how I work to assess risk, and manage it via road strategies, gear, and practice. To name a few. In your description of the accident you didn't share any facts other than an SUV hit a rider and killed him. What is important to know is what happened. Was the SUV driver drunk? Was the rider? Did he underestimate the speed of the SUV while making a left turn? Was there a mechanical failure? The possibilities are endless. Riding is dangerous. But looking closely at crash statistics you see factors that are manageable that contribute strongly to crash fatalities. Alcohol. Speeding. Rider error. No helmet. Poor riding skills. And plain acts of God that just can't be managed. Statistically only a tiny percentage of riders die in a crash. It is not as dangerous as people believe it to be. Still, I cannot ignore my emotions and feelings. Those feelings have led me to downsize motorcycles, change how I ride as I get older, and generally adapt to changing conditions. I understand your concerns and no one can criticize you should you decide not to ride. As you say, you want to have fun and not spend all your time worried about dying on the road. I wish I could say something that would make it all clear. But only you can determine what will work for you. We each have our own approach to evaluating risk. And if we can do that honestly we will find the answers we need. Good luck on whatever your future holds.
All good points, especially the view of so many, riders and not, that scooters are toys. Going down at speed and I don't think it matters what you're riding. I always wear an armored jacket, gloves, and helmet. Usually boots and heavy pants, but not always (though never shorts!). I'm thinking I missed a video perhaps? Did you get a new Vespa, and if so, did you keep the old one?
I generally gear up as you do. Never shorts. The only time I've ridden without a helmet is after I was the scooter in the driveway and I ride across the street to the school to do a few loops around the parking lot to dry things off. Even then, I will sometimes wear a helmet. No new scooter. I still have my GTS. The ET4 was inherited from my father-in-law after he died. We're keeping it in the family!
Great video, Steve. I enjoyed that opening sequence. You keep pushing the boundaries of creativity! I purchased an open-faced helmet last year and, within the first month, had a bee wedged between my face and the inside flap of the helmet. It was fine until I pulled over and tried to get it out; that was when I got stung. And last month, for the first time, I had a bird fly directly into my right hand. It seemed to come from directly above me or some unexpected angle because I never saw it coming. I was thankful to be on a straight stretch of road. I didn’t react or overcompensate, which was probably just dumb luck.
Thanks Andy. I'm still experimenting with the 360 camera. It feels like a gimmick so I need to be judicious in it's application with something like the circular image. Getting whacked by bees and other big insects is no fun. And getting them stuck inside somewhere is often the lead up to being stung. A full face helmet has saved me many times from that as is clearly indicated by the devastation on the visor. Dumb luck.... I'll always accept it!
There was this chief in the navy that was coming up on retirement, whom went to move his Motorcycle in the driveway, and it fell over. He hit his head and died. Did not have his helmet on. Tragic.
Highly recommend the ChampU online course for $90. Sometimes it goes on sale for $50. They wait until the end of the course to talk about the rear brake, but scooters have an advantage that other typical motorcycles do not have -- the rear brake on the handlebar for fine use and adjustment. Practice with very slow circles or figure 8s to see how it works.
I took a look at the ChampU previews. Interesting approach to riding. It's hard to tell from the information whether it's more for advanced riders. Braking on a Vespa is pretty sweet with both front and rear brake levers on the bars. It's a little easier to get the right balance with your hands rather than a foot and a hand. And dragging a little on the rear brake while on the throttle makes circles and figure 8s pretty easy. The challenge for a lot of riders, especially with big machines. Expensive, shiny machines, is getting past the fear of dropping the scooter or bike. Understandable. But ultimately it will limit a rider's ability to control the machine at slow speeds.
One my hands in summer are black KLIM Badlands Aero Pro short gloves. My jacket is a hi-viz KLIM Induction jacket. The KLIM gear is fantastic in terms of quality, wearability, protection, and ventilation. On short rides on backroads I sometimes wear an Iron and Resin Rambler jacket. It's more casual and stylish. Not sure why I wear it other than not wanting to always look like an adventure rider!
Great info. A small part of my brain tries to get me to ride in a tshirt, sunglasses, and a backwards hat. But the overwhelming majority of my brain makes me take the 10minutes of time and effort of putting the gear on. I’m glad my brain is setup this way. I still wear regular jeans and want to invest in armored riding pants. And I want a more noticeable armored jacket. I check the tire pressure often. I took a riders course before ever riding a bike. And I research everything to death. This summer, at age 40/41, will mark 1 year of riding. I wish I could say I’ve been riding all of my life, but I think starting at this age has allowed me to make much smarter decisions. In a couple weeks it will be 1 full year of obsessing over motorcycles (after being obsessed with custom cars/trucks for 25 years). Already itching for bike number 2, and I think it will happen sooner than later. (Moto Guzzi V7 in the garage right now… will a Himalayan join her soon? Hmmm… Lol) 🙌🏼
Thanks for sharing your insights and experience related to being a new rider. I try not to have regrets but like you I find myself wishing at times that I have been riding my whole life. And riding at age 68 is different than 18. Or 55. I was satisfied for a long time with just one scooter. Well, partially because I was writing reviews for a local motorcycle dealer and had something else in the garage pretty much all the time for a few years. But once I bought a motorcycle as a companion to the scooter the desire for a third and then a fourth just grew. There may be a 12 Step group.... Good luck on your adventures!
Timely video for me Steve, as just today I got my helmet delivered in preparation for the safety course I'm enrolled in for early May. The school has a scooter for me to use as well. (BTW, I just noticed you have the HJC. I got the HJC myself-- the i90.) Thanks for sharing and keep them coming.
May will be here before you know it. Sounds like you are ready for class! I have an HJC i70 helmet. It fits well though isn't as quiet as some helmets. Doesn't matter though since I always wear foam earplugs when I ride.
@@ScooterintheSticks I've got the HJC i90 as well. My head is almost a perfect circle and this is the helmet that fits me the best. I've been told to spend money on a good helmet, but Shoei and Arai simply don't fit. I wear earplugs too.
Great advise Steve. Really like your videos. But regardless of how well we riders prepare, until we can get also get cage drivers educated to watch for motorcycles we will never be safe. Did you spring for a new Vespa for this riding season?
My attitude toward cagers is that I have no power or control over them and I act accordingly. It would be nice to see drivers better educated about motorcycle and scooter riders but I don't see that happening anytime soon. Despite whatever shortcomings I witness on the road, I don't feel unsafe. I work to manage risk as best I can. And that often includes slowing down and choosing alternate, less convenient, slower routes. I still love riding though!
Thanks, Steve! I agree...an MSF course is a must. Out here in Cali, you take an MSF course and you get to skip the road test given by some well-meaning -- but not necessarily empathetic -- DMV person. Yowzah!
Hello Steve here in England helmets have been a legal requirement since 1973 yep fifty years!!! I'm sixty seven and in 1972 got my first moped and did not wear a helmet in the summer of 73 I got a 250 MZ and also a helmet so most of my riding life has been with a helmet. It makes sense if I lived where you did not have to wear one I still would anyway it's warmer in the winter!! Ride safely.
I've ridden down the road without a helmet for a couple blocks after some maintenance routine, but no matter how good the wind feels in my face, I can't get past what would happen if something smacked me or if I crashed. For me, a helmet makes me feel better about riding, protects me from flying objects, impacts from a crash, and keeps me isolated from the rain and cold. A full face helmet is always on my head when I go for a ride even though in Pennsylvania they aren't required if you are over 21.
Agree with everything you said. It can be pretty hot here in SoCal and the west in the summer and I am always suited up while my friends get down to a T Shirt when it get's too hot. Only recently got a scooter and here near the beach the first thing you think of is riding to the beach in your bathing suit and thongs, maybe with a surfboard attached to the side, but I try to stay with all the safety equipment on.
The internet is full of images of people riding scooters and motorcycles with almost nothing on. It seems more about style, fashion, with little regard to risk or safety. But that's part of the marvel of living in a country with relative freedom of choice in regard to safety. It takes a lot of death and mayhem before people clamor for change. It happened with automobiles as the death toll climbed. And with drunk driving. Hard to say if there will be anything happen in regard to motorcycles and scooters. ABS helped!
defensive driving or riding is a pretty important thing. proper gear is also really important. my dad's friend's legs are held together by pins because of an accident on a vespa. safety on these things is no joke. and forget the freeway.
Indeed. Learning to ride safely, practice, learning road strategies and skills are all basic essentials for anyone riding a scooter or motorcycle. Sadly, there are a lot of people who view scooters as inherently safe compared to a motorcycle. But aside from the extreme high speeds a motorcycle might achieve an accident on two wheels is pretty much the same on either -- bad.
Because of the small gyroscopic action of the small diameter scooter wheels it's easy to flip over. This is a big problem in places like San Francisco where there are tracks crossing the road an oblique angles. Motorcycles have much larger diameter wheels and so remain upright while crossing the same tracks.
Flip over? I'm not sure what you mean. I've found my scooters to be stable and nimble on most roadways. I do see the challenge that railroad and streetcar tracks would pose if you approach at an oblique angle though the same would apply to a motorcycle or bicycle. The only time it would be dangerous is if the tire could actually fall into a channel. I've had that happen a couple times and you need to react quickly and calmly lest calamity occurs. I have more concern where I am with debris like rubber from truck tires, things falling off trucks, liquid manure on the road which is like grease, and deer. But there are a few places with tracks like you say and I am always careful to cross them at the right angle. City riding presents a far different set of hazards than I generally have to deal with. Riders have to prepare accordingly and learn to see them and respond. Riding is an adventure.
Ugh! That's not good. I hope they're simple fractures and you don't have any ongoing healing issues. I got caught in the rain a couple days ago. Turns on my anti-wipeout mechanism. I don't need any fractures now...
Steve.... I am curious.... you do not have any video about windshield usage on your Vespas. Do you use one? Did you used them and decided to not use them anymore? Any reasoning? Thx a lot - yeah and for the video itself reaction - The more protection I have the more like an a-hole a ride 😀
I suppose I'm indifferent to windshields and windscreens. The decision to put one on the GTS was purely cosmetic. I'm not bothered by the wind blast while riding. And in colder weather I just put on more clothes. Your comment about more protection leading you toward more questionable riding habits made me laugh. Now you have a goal for reigning in your gear or your habits!
I've spent a few days riding a Honda Ruckus around town and it performs much as you describe your scooter. While it requires some mental adjustment to be riding a slower vehicle in traffic it is quite capable. And still makes sense to wear all the gear all the time. You don't have to be going very fast to hurt yourself.
Yes, about a helmet... When I just bought my PX150 I thought about it exactly as a toy. So I bought an open face HJC helmet, because it`s cheap and retro style. And one day, driving along in a forest near my village, doing about 50 kph, I caught a huge bee or another big insect of some sort. It was shockingly unpleasant! And I didn`t even want to imagine, what it`s like to caught a stone. So only full-face helmet for me since then. Another thing is "scooter culture". At least here, in Moscow, members of the Vespa club is trying to imitate british mods - driving in casual jeans and parka jackets, or even worse - polo shirt and shorts when it hot. All in open face helmets ofc. And people like me, in full gear - being an objects for the laugh and jokes. "You looking like a damn biker". And it`s very hard for young people, who just bought their first Vespa and join that community, to ignore that nonsense.
Big bees pack quite a wallop. And stones are really bad. I've had a couple kick up and hit me in the chest and it almost knocked the wind out of me. That has led me to stay farther behind vehicles, especially trucks. You're right about various "clubs" setting some rather unsafe fashion style requirements. There aren't any scooter clubs where I am but I do see lots of Harley groups. They are often in the classic biker attire of leather, no helmets or gloves, and have their girlfriends sitting behind them with even less on. And these are often older people and not kids. Everyone can succumb to peer pressure to conform. I can't control any of that. I just make decisions for myself and accept that not everyone will agree or like those decisions. Thanks for taking the time to share your experiences. I appreciate them.
Hi Steve, could you produce a Vespa video discussing riding a GTS for shorter riders. I’m a guy who is 5’2” & 77year old. I think this could be a problem for me. I’ve been to the dealers and find the ‘deck’ puts my legs out too wide. Any info. Would be helpful. Thanks
I’m not sure I can lend much direct experience to your situation. I can say all the Vespa scooters have tall seats. My daughter is 5’4” and can’t manage the Vespa. So she rides a Yamaha 125 Vino which has a much lower seat. The place you’re going to get the answers you need is on the modernvespa.com forum. Create an account and ask away. It’s the absolute best for all things Vespa. modernvespa.com/forum/
The dealership that I went to said they could shave down the seat for me and modify as much as possible to my size. I’m 5ft. Maybe they offer that too as well at your nearest places 🙏🏽
totally agreed . a pound of remedy is better than a once of pain .
And those remedies require so little from us.
I don't think we all can hear this often enough. Thanks Steve!
I agree. It's important to be reminded of what we're doing when we ride.
That reminds me, it's time for the annual post of "Morning Fall" on my blog!
It is amazing to me how common sense is ofter overlooked when folks go for a ride. A really good reminder for folks. Well done, Steve.
Common sense in general seems to be a rarer trait in people. That may just be my imagination. Or too much TV.
That's a happy upbeat introduction. Not quite the Real McCoys more the Beverly HillBillys. I like the satellite video of you riding in a circle that must have cost you. You didn't mention the slower you go the better. Paul "The Slow" Ruby
Thank you so much Steve for speaking about the importance of safety, I wish more riders would talk about it more often, I’ve been a cyclist my entire life and cannot express enough the importance of wearing your helmet, I have taken some major spills in my years and can attest without a doubt that the helmet saved my bacon more than once, it’s sad that not all like wearing them, I have friends who do not even knowing what I’ve gone through but we have to keep talking about it.
Safety and risk management are often unwanted topics of conversation. We each make our decisions and it doesn't matter if it's riding safety or politics, we're unlikely to be moved from our beliefs. But for new riders, perhaps there is still a chance of persuasion.
Helmets are compulsory in the UK, so I always find it alarming in countries where this isn't the case, like one time in Spain I think it was, I saw a guy riding a scooter bare-headed, with a helmet clipped closed hanging from his forearm. Surely it was less hassle to just put the damn thing on his head! And you're right, I've seen people in flipflops, shorts and t-shirt bombing along. I'm in the ATGATT camp though, All the gear All the time
Seeing that sort of stuff used to frustrate me. I've learned to let it go. As adults, we get to make our own choices, good or bad. I'm with you and am in the ATGATT camp. If something happens, I want to do what I can to minimize the damage to my increasingly fragile body!
I grew up in the UK and now live in Australia. Helmets are compulsory in both places. I think it's kind of insane that they are not in other countries, especially places where seat belts are required in cars.
I know people that have had traumatic brain injures and it completely changed their lives. I also had a friend that had a motorbike accident in Bali and died from a head injury. The guy on the other bike came away with an injured thumb.
Your voice is so calming and relaxing. Thank you for your content
You’re welcome 😊. I never liked my voice. And I'm only slowly getting comfortable with it.
I had a car pull out on me when i was about 5 feet away from it 4 years ago , I slamed into the side of it and I was lucky to survive .I'm still in pain everyday but I still enjoy riding . I had 40 years of rider experience and had done at least 5 rider courses. I had heaps of safety gear on also because it was cold that day .... Enjoy your life and rides mate because you never know when it will be your last.
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. The sort of sudden event you encountered are the kind that are nearly impossible to change. A second later or a second sooner and everything would be different.
There's wisdom in the notion of not knowing the future. If I can accept that then today is more important. And while I don't think riding my scooter or motorcycle is an invitation to an early death, I do accept the possibility and manage as best I can.
Good advice as always. Its a pleasure to watch your items.
Thanks for watching! I’m glad you find some value in them.
In towns, go slower than the speed limit. Even half sometimes. Drive so if a car on the left suddenly goes to the right lane, you’re not there. Worked good for 60 years so far.
Yes sir. Good advice.
Well, I’ve always been an ATGATT type of person, where we live we are immediately on the an 80km/hr road and then the highway so there’s no question in my opinion what I’ll be wearing. What you’ve mentioned are all great reminders. Looks like Spring has sprung in your neck of the woods, nothing is even green here yet! It’s the time of year where I have to be aware of gravel on the road as winter clean up takes a while.
Enjoy and ride safe🙂
I'm an ATGATT rider too. I know there are variations in how riders define that from a full face helmet, leather racing suit, gloves, and boots to more modest helmet, jacket, gloves, jeans, and boots. But I think it means adequately outfitting myself for the ride I am about to make. Riding down the road to the coffee shop is different that single trail in the mountains.
Spring has sprung. I can't believe how fast everything is changing right now.
Great advice! I’m fairly new to riding but I can tell you that I’ve already seen a about half the people riding without proper gear or without helmets. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and keeping the riding community safe.
I see people riding in short sleeves, short pants, flip flops, and no helmet. We all make our own choices. And have to live with them too.
Thank you for posting this it’s all very sound advice. I have been riding for 2 years now and the one most important thing I have noticed is you need to have INTENSE situational awareness. Always use your mirrors. Always know what’s behind and in front of you. SLOW down and check intersections. Never assume someone is going to stop at a light or a stop sign. Again thanks for posting!
Glad it was helpful. Being aware and riding accordingly is essential for safe riding. Practiced riding skills and good road strategies is the least we can do.
Another great video Steve. Love the opener! Great job.
Thank you. I thought a little comic relief at the beginning would be shake things up.
Many thanks for the useful tips Steve.
Glad to help.
Agree 100%. Always ‘gown up’, no alcohol, do safety courses, ride defensively. I don’t like pain.
It's painful for me to even think about pain!
All good points! We've all heard: "Ride they're out to get you." I don't agree with that - I ride like they can't see me. Oh, and I noticed you picking your way between the "tar snakes" at the end of the video - I make it a point to do that, as well. Some places use slick stuff on those road patches; or maybe it gets slick with time. Especially coming out from not riding during the winter months (I know you ride all year), play close attention to road conditions, where they may have been sand or gravel on the road from the snow removal. Ride safe - have fun!
Some of the time they can't see you. One recurring drama on a motorcycle is waiting to turn at a T junction, while a car wants to turn across you. Since safety standards required cars to have substantial A pillars, the blind spot is easily big enough to hide a small motorcycle. Another annoyance is the slowly rolling driver, typically exiting their drive way. Have they seen me, because those hub caps are still turning? Or people who approach a crossroads at speed, braking at the last moment. There's a fine line between riding scared, and riding with an appropriate amount of paranoia.
I don't worry about anyone intentionally trying to harm me. That's the one in a million kind of thing and I suspect that behavior doesn't just spring from no where.
But I do worry people don't see me. So at intersections and when I see someone waiting to turn onto the road I am always ready to stop or swerve.
"...an appropriate amount of paranoia." That made me chuckle. I have gotten to the point where I just am constantly scanning the road ahead. It's mindless in the sense that it's not something I have to tell myself to do. And doesn't contain any emotion that would leave me scared or paranoid. Just various levels of awareness.
Good stuff, other than jeans, I'm a power ranger, and could careless what people say.
go go
I used to be a power ranger all the time. Armored gear head to foot on every ride. But over time the summer heat has found me at times riding in jeans. I know they're aren't as good as armored pants but I tell myself they're ok for certain rides.
Second thoughts about riding. I have only recently completed restoring a Vespa LX150 and still not completely comfortable with riding. Last week I took back roads to a nearby vacant parking lot to practice controlling the scooter doing slow turns. I had only been on the lot for a couple of minutes when I heard a bang. I looked at the nearby street and saw an SUV crash into a power pole. The horn was blaring and the airbags filled the interior of the SUV so I couldn’t see inside. I was about to go see if the driver was hurt but the police had immediately arrived so I stayed back. Then I saw it. The SUV had hit a motorcycle. The guy had all the correct riding equipment on but it wasn’t enough. Several police and paramedics checked for a pulse but they just covered him up. I found out on the local news that the driver of the SUV was drunk. Seeing this has made me even more nervous about riding in traffic. I am now going under the assumption that I am COMPLETELY invisible to anyone else on the road. I wanted to have fun riding my scooter but now I’m not so sure I should be riding.
What you describe is the nightmare of risk that many riders and non-riders fear. And being so close to it only exaggerates the effect.
It's strange, right before I read your message I was watching an episode of "The Good Doctor" that began with a fatal motorcycle crash. And the scene reminded me of the gap between the emotional aspect of motorcycle crashes and the cold facts of them. While all deaths are final the circumstances of them are not.
In the TV show the rider got on his bike, saw three pretty young women, was kind of flirting with them, and proceeded to pull out into traffic without looking and was killed by an SUV. He died riding a motorcycle. It was entirely his fault. And this is where risk assessment should take place and not completely in the landscape of the emotional trauma of an accident.
That is how I work to assess risk, and manage it via road strategies, gear, and practice. To name a few.
In your description of the accident you didn't share any facts other than an SUV hit a rider and killed him. What is important to know is what happened. Was the SUV driver drunk? Was the rider? Did he underestimate the speed of the SUV while making a left turn? Was there a mechanical failure? The possibilities are endless.
Riding is dangerous. But looking closely at crash statistics you see factors that are manageable that contribute strongly to crash fatalities. Alcohol. Speeding. Rider error. No helmet. Poor riding skills. And plain acts of God that just can't be managed.
Statistically only a tiny percentage of riders die in a crash. It is not as dangerous as people believe it to be.
Still, I cannot ignore my emotions and feelings. Those feelings have led me to downsize motorcycles, change how I ride as I get older, and generally adapt to changing conditions.
I understand your concerns and no one can criticize you should you decide not to ride. As you say, you want to have fun and not spend all your time worried about dying on the road.
I wish I could say something that would make it all clear. But only you can determine what will work for you. We each have our own approach to evaluating risk. And if we can do that honestly we will find the answers we need.
Good luck on whatever your future holds.
All great points. Especially how scooters are not a toy.
So true. Hopefully the relatively slower speeds for a lot of scooter riders minimizes some of the danger.
All good points, especially the view of so many, riders and not, that scooters are toys. Going down at speed and I don't think it matters what you're riding. I always wear an armored jacket, gloves, and helmet. Usually boots and heavy pants, but not always (though never shorts!). I'm thinking I missed a video perhaps? Did you get a new Vespa, and if so, did you keep the old one?
I generally gear up as you do. Never shorts. The only time I've ridden without a helmet is after I was the scooter in the driveway and I ride across the street to the school to do a few loops around the parking lot to dry things off. Even then, I will sometimes wear a helmet.
No new scooter. I still have my GTS. The ET4 was inherited from my father-in-law after he died. We're keeping it in the family!
Great video, Steve. I enjoyed that opening sequence. You keep pushing the boundaries of creativity!
I purchased an open-faced helmet last year and, within the first month, had a bee wedged between my face and the inside flap of the helmet. It was fine until I pulled over and tried to get it out; that was when I got stung.
And last month, for the first time, I had a bird fly directly into my right hand. It seemed to come from directly above me or some unexpected angle because I never saw it coming. I was thankful to be on a straight stretch of road. I didn’t react or overcompensate, which was probably just dumb luck.
Thanks Andy. I'm still experimenting with the 360 camera. It feels like a gimmick so I need to be judicious in it's application with something like the circular image.
Getting whacked by bees and other big insects is no fun. And getting them stuck inside somewhere is often the lead up to being stung. A full face helmet has saved me many times from that as is clearly indicated by the devastation on the visor.
Dumb luck.... I'll always accept it!
There was this chief in the navy that was coming up on retirement, whom went to move his Motorcycle in the driveway, and it fell over. He hit his head and died. Did not have his helmet on. Tragic.
Highly recommend the ChampU online course for $90. Sometimes it goes on sale for $50. They wait until the end of the course to talk about the rear brake, but scooters have an advantage that other typical motorcycles do not have -- the rear brake on the handlebar for fine use and adjustment. Practice with very slow circles or figure 8s to see how it works.
I took a look at the ChampU previews. Interesting approach to riding. It's hard to tell from the information whether it's more for advanced riders.
Braking on a Vespa is pretty sweet with both front and rear brake levers on the bars. It's a little easier to get the right balance with your hands rather than a foot and a hand. And dragging a little on the rear brake while on the throttle makes circles and figure 8s pretty easy.
The challenge for a lot of riders, especially with big machines. Expensive, shiny machines, is getting past the fear of dropping the scooter or bike. Understandable. But ultimately it will limit a rider's ability to control the machine at slow speeds.
Great advice, love these videos 🙏
Thank you for your kind words about the videos I post.
Hi Steve. Thanks for the videos. I have a question. What gloves & jacket do you wear in hot weather? Do they work well?
One my hands in summer are black KLIM Badlands Aero Pro short gloves. My jacket is a hi-viz KLIM Induction jacket. The KLIM gear is fantastic in terms of quality, wearability, protection, and ventilation.
On short rides on backroads I sometimes wear an Iron and Resin Rambler jacket. It's more casual and stylish. Not sure why I wear it other than not wanting to always look like an adventure rider!
Great advice, thank you.
Thanks for the kind words.
Great info. A small part of my brain tries to get me to ride in a tshirt, sunglasses, and a backwards hat. But the overwhelming majority of my brain makes me take the 10minutes of time and effort of putting the gear on. I’m glad my brain is setup this way. I still wear regular jeans and want to invest in armored riding pants. And I want a more noticeable armored jacket. I check the tire pressure often. I took a riders course before ever riding a bike. And I research everything to death. This summer, at age 40/41, will mark 1 year of riding. I wish I could say I’ve been riding all of my life, but I think starting at this age has allowed me to make much smarter decisions. In a couple weeks it will be 1 full year of obsessing over motorcycles (after being obsessed with custom cars/trucks for 25 years). Already itching for bike number 2, and I think it will happen sooner than later. (Moto Guzzi V7 in the garage right now… will a Himalayan join her soon? Hmmm… Lol) 🙌🏼
Thanks for sharing your insights and experience related to being a new rider. I try not to have regrets but like you I find myself wishing at times that I have been riding my whole life. And riding at age 68 is different than 18. Or 55.
I was satisfied for a long time with just one scooter. Well, partially because I was writing reviews for a local motorcycle dealer and had something else in the garage pretty much all the time for a few years. But once I bought a motorcycle as a companion to the scooter the desire for a third and then a fourth just grew. There may be a 12 Step group....
Good luck on your adventures!
Timely video for me Steve, as just today I got my helmet delivered in preparation for the safety course I'm enrolled in for early May. The school has a scooter for me to use as well. (BTW, I just noticed you have the HJC. I got the HJC myself-- the i90.) Thanks for sharing and keep them coming.
May will be here before you know it. Sounds like you are ready for class!
I have an HJC i70 helmet. It fits well though isn't as quiet as some helmets. Doesn't matter though since I always wear foam earplugs when I ride.
@@ScooterintheSticks I've got the HJC i90 as well. My head is almost a perfect circle and this is the helmet that fits me the best. I've been told to spend money on a good helmet, but Shoei and Arai simply don't fit. I wear earplugs too.
Great advise Steve. Really like your videos. But regardless of how well we riders prepare, until we can get also get cage drivers educated to watch for motorcycles we will never be safe. Did you spring for a new Vespa for this riding season?
My attitude toward cagers is that I have no power or control over them and I act accordingly. It would be nice to see drivers better educated about motorcycle and scooter riders but I don't see that happening anytime soon. Despite whatever shortcomings I witness on the road, I don't feel unsafe. I work to manage risk as best I can. And that often includes slowing down and choosing alternate, less convenient, slower routes.
I still love riding though!
Thanks buddy! Ride safe!
Thanks, will do!
Thanks, Steve! I agree...an MSF course is a must. Out here in Cali, you take an MSF course and you get to skip the road test given by some well-meaning -- but not necessarily empathetic -- DMV person. Yowzah!
Totally agree! I've taken the basic MSF course and two advanced ones. Always more to learn.
Hello Steve here in England helmets have been a legal requirement since 1973 yep fifty years!!! I'm sixty seven and in 1972 got my first moped and did not wear a helmet in the summer of 73 I got a 250 MZ and also a helmet so most of my riding life has been with a helmet. It makes sense if I lived where you did not have to wear one I still would anyway it's warmer in the winter!! Ride safely.
I've ridden down the road without a helmet for a couple blocks after some maintenance routine, but no matter how good the wind feels in my face, I can't get past what would happen if something smacked me or if I crashed. For me, a helmet makes me feel better about riding, protects me from flying objects, impacts from a crash, and keeps me isolated from the rain and cold.
A full face helmet is always on my head when I go for a ride even though in Pennsylvania they aren't required if you are over 21.
Agree with everything you said. It can be pretty hot here in SoCal and the west in the summer and I am always suited up while my friends get down to a T Shirt when it get's too hot. Only recently got a scooter and here near the beach the first thing you think of is riding to the beach in your bathing suit and thongs, maybe with a surfboard attached to the side, but I try to stay with all the safety equipment on.
The internet is full of images of people riding scooters and motorcycles with almost nothing on. It seems more about style, fashion, with little regard to risk or safety. But that's part of the marvel of living in a country with relative freedom of choice in regard to safety. It takes a lot of death and mayhem before people clamor for change. It happened with automobiles as the death toll climbed. And with drunk driving. Hard to say if there will be anything happen in regard to motorcycles and scooters. ABS helped!
Love your stuff Steve.
Thanks. I'm glad you find something useful in them.
defensive driving or riding is a pretty important thing. proper gear is also really important. my dad's friend's legs are held together by pins because of an accident on a vespa. safety on these things is no joke. and forget the freeway.
Indeed. Learning to ride safely, practice, learning road strategies and skills are all basic essentials for anyone riding a scooter or motorcycle. Sadly, there are a lot of people who view scooters as inherently safe compared to a motorcycle. But aside from the extreme high speeds a motorcycle might achieve an accident on two wheels is pretty much the same on either -- bad.
Great video. Thank you!
Glad you liked it!
Good tips. Thanks!
You bet!
Greats recommendations 👍THANKS!
Glad you like them!
Because of the small gyroscopic action of the small diameter scooter wheels it's easy to flip over. This is a big problem in places like San Francisco where there are tracks crossing the road an oblique angles. Motorcycles have much larger diameter wheels and so remain upright while crossing the same tracks.
Flip over? I'm not sure what you mean. I've found my scooters to be stable and nimble on most roadways. I do see the challenge that railroad and streetcar tracks would pose if you approach at an oblique angle though the same would apply to a motorcycle or bicycle. The only time it would be dangerous is if the tire could actually fall into a channel. I've had that happen a couple times and you need to react quickly and calmly lest calamity occurs.
I have more concern where I am with debris like rubber from truck tires, things falling off trucks, liquid manure on the road which is like grease, and deer. But there are a few places with tracks like you say and I am always careful to cross them at the right angle.
City riding presents a far different set of hazards than I generally have to deal with. Riders have to prepare accordingly and learn to see them and respond.
Riding is an adventure.
No, a scooter is not a toy, it's actually the sports car of the motorcycle world!
My thoughts exactly! My ET4 is my version of a 1970 MGB.
Riding through town at 10mph. Deluge of cold rain. A slow speed wipe out. Tibia and fibula fracture.
Ugh! That's not good. I hope they're simple fractures and you don't have any ongoing healing issues. I got caught in the rain a couple days ago. Turns on my anti-wipeout mechanism. I don't need any fractures now...
Steve.... I am curious.... you do not have any video about windshield usage on your Vespas. Do you use one? Did you used them and decided to not use them anymore? Any reasoning? Thx a lot - yeah and for the video itself reaction - The more protection I have the more like an a-hole a ride 😀
I suppose I'm indifferent to windshields and windscreens. The decision to put one on the GTS was purely cosmetic. I'm not bothered by the wind blast while riding. And in colder weather I just put on more clothes.
Your comment about more protection leading you toward more questionable riding habits made me laugh. Now you have a goal for reigning in your gear or your habits!
great video
Glad you enjoyed it.
very nice video. I love your voice 😊
Thank you for your kind words.
I ride a 49 cc scooter capable of 62 km/h (about 38 mph) and wear ATGATT.
I've spent a few days riding a Honda Ruckus around town and it performs much as you describe your scooter. While it requires some mental adjustment to be riding a slower vehicle in traffic it is quite capable. And still makes sense to wear all the gear all the time. You don't have to be going very fast to hurt yourself.
Shoulder is much better in Nj, gear helped 0ut a lot at 5mph uturns....
5 mph turns are an art form.
Thank you.
You're welcome!
Yes, about a helmet... When I just bought my PX150 I thought about it exactly as a toy. So I bought an open face HJC helmet, because it`s cheap and retro style. And one day, driving along in a forest near my village, doing about 50 kph, I caught a huge bee or another big insect of some sort. It was shockingly unpleasant! And I didn`t even want to imagine, what it`s like to caught a stone. So only full-face helmet for me since then.
Another thing is "scooter culture". At least here, in Moscow, members of the Vespa club is trying to imitate british mods - driving in casual jeans and parka jackets, or even worse - polo shirt and shorts when it hot. All in open face helmets ofc. And people like me, in full gear - being an objects for the laugh and jokes. "You looking like a damn biker". And it`s very hard for young people, who just bought their first Vespa and join that community, to ignore that nonsense.
Big bees pack quite a wallop. And stones are really bad. I've had a couple kick up and hit me in the chest and it almost knocked the wind out of me. That has led me to stay farther behind vehicles, especially trucks.
You're right about various "clubs" setting some rather unsafe fashion style requirements. There aren't any scooter clubs where I am but I do see lots of Harley groups. They are often in the classic biker attire of leather, no helmets or gloves, and have their girlfriends sitting behind them with even less on. And these are often older people and not kids. Everyone can succumb to peer pressure to conform.
I can't control any of that. I just make decisions for myself and accept that not everyone will agree or like those decisions.
Thanks for taking the time to share your experiences. I appreciate them.
Hi Steve, could you produce a Vespa video discussing riding a GTS for shorter riders.
I’m a guy who is 5’2” & 77year old. I think this could be a problem for me. I’ve been to the dealers and find the ‘deck’ puts my legs out too wide. Any info. Would be helpful. Thanks
I’m not sure I can lend much direct experience to your situation. I can say all the Vespa scooters have tall seats. My daughter is 5’4” and can’t manage the Vespa. So she rides a Yamaha 125 Vino which has a much lower seat.
The place you’re going to get the answers you need is on the modernvespa.com forum. Create an account and ask away. It’s the absolute best for all things Vespa.
modernvespa.com/forum/
The dealership that I went to said they could shave down the seat for me and modify as much as possible to my size. I’m 5ft.
Maybe they offer that too as well at your nearest places 🙏🏽
@@bombasticashers4332 thanks for that information. I’ll check it out👍
@@ScooterintheSticks thanks for the comment. I enjoy your videos & I love your ‘style’ and camera work. Cheers from Australia
compared to eating a Big Mac and a large soda,,,, :D
Hah! So many risks in life!
Ngl Im doing everything that you warn us for
Taking steps to manage our risk is a good way to ride.
@@ScooterintheSticks True words. Thank you, take care and keep doing you