Відео

The Hanover area is a lot more intense now than it was in the late 60s! The whole southeastern part of Pennsylvania is jammed now with traffic. Have fun on that W800 in Utah. Some of my best memories are from the Moab area...

Thanks for sharing your experience with your W800. I have to admit though I can't quite connect my mental picture of roads in southwest Utah with a W800. Maybe I've watched too many videos on Matt's Off Road Recovery. But I sure can understand the feeling of pure bliss!

I'm not sure why but scooters and motorcycles of similar engine size are faster than Vespa scooters. Not a lot but enough that you'll notice an enhanced capability when pushing the top end. The important thing to keep in mind is exactly where you will be riding. If 55 mph is required consistently for 50 mile trips something bigger may be in order. But renting things to try them out seems a good plan.

You're a lucky man. Not everyone gets to experience a W650.

The Vespa GTS can grow on you. I've had mine a long time and it still makes me smile every time I ride it.

I've not had any direct experience with Ebikes but I find them interesting. Especially since you can ride them in places you can't ride a scooter or motorcycle and they seem quick enough to be useful for an adventure. My body and arthritis can't endure a bicycle anymore without some serious suspension dampening. Time will tell what choices we both will make!

Glad you like them!

It definitely has a classic feel to it. And you're right, not many motorcycles still around with a kick-start. Until I bought the W650 it had been decades since I last kick started a motorcycle.

@@ScooterintheSticks You know when asked the Kawasaki distributor in NZ (my country) said that there was no kit available to retrofit the W800 with the W650's manual kickstart, but one wonders if the few parts were obtained as spares for the W650, if they couldn't be still fitted..??

I think you're right. You could easily load the Trail into the bed of the truck, or even add it to a front rack on the truck. It would allow some easy exploring.

I have a 2006 Vespa GTS 250. Not sure what the service intervals are for the various 300 models. I know the new ones have more frequent service needs. I change my oil and filter at around 3500 miles. The belt around 7500 miles. The hub oil at 6000 miles.

I think practically any motorcycle or scooter can do what the Honda Trail can do save for some deep water. But for me, it is a matter of comfort and manageability. The Honda Trail is nice and light. Something that matters to me.

Thanks for listening!

I'm just shy of 6'3".

Yes. I had the repairs done and it rides like a new scooter. Saved many thousands of dollars doing that. I love the W650. It is just a very special machine. But it is completely different than the GTS. The bigger engine and wheels give a different feel to the ride. Whatever I happen to be riding seems to be my favorite at that moment. But if I could only have one machine in the garage, it would be the GTS. It has all around utility that the others don't.

@@ScooterintheSticks Thank you for your reply, Steve. I live in Taiwan. Welcome to Taiwan. You can ride my little Vespa et4 to explore Taiwan.

I'm just shy of 6'3".

@@ScooterintheSticks Thank you for the answer! You shouldn't shy! You looks good on this motorcycle! It is a little bit difficult to find a suitable bike for tall people, i know it. But you are good! I saw your video for understand what can man feel on this bike. Yesterday i bought w800. Sorry if my english is not good. It is not my native language .

Congratulations on acquiring a W650. I hope you find it as satisfying as I have mine. I had to look at a map to see what kind of riding you could do around Conroy. Seems like the mountains will be calling! Have fun riding the W650.

Sorry to hear you're going through some rough times. I guess all I can share is that when I get in a bad place I am completely capable of making it worse. I have to be careful to focus on what I can actually do and not spend too much time in the past or future. Thanks for the kind words about the video. I appreciate them.

Probably my Vespa GTS. It can do almost anything the other machines will do. Particularly at my age now.

Sounds like you've found some ideal places to ride your ET4. I still enjoy my Vespa scooters and we have similar places to have some relaxed rides through the countryside. Have fun on your scooter and get some more rides in before the weather reminds you of winter!

I'm glad you found the video worth watching. The W650 had 47K miles on the clock when I bought it. The bike was well maintained and I suspect it will run another 20 -30 thousand miles before any serious maintenance is required.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the video. Riding certainly has real, positive, therapeutic effects on me. I've not posted anything lately because I've been out of town and not riding. Hopefully something soon...

Any time!

You're welcome!

Sorry for the delay in responding. I've been away and didn't have access to my music database. The piece used in the video is called "Deep Breath" by Noam Zaguri. It is licensed by Artlist to which I pay for an annual music subscription. Even though I have to pay for the subscription I have unlimited access and use for UA-cam to thousands and thousands of great music pieces. And UA-cam sees my license and there are no copyright issues. Makes my life a lot easier.

@@ScooterintheSticks thanks for the reply and the information. The music is very good and suits your ride videos. Keep riding !!

My riding is more about the experience I feel than it is the machine.

That won't happen. I can barely remember the brand I have let alone how I installed them. There are lots of videos on how to install heated grips.

No need to worry about oil and street junk on these back roads. Traffic is far too light for that. What I do have to worry about though is gravel, especially in the summer when they are continually doing tar and chip treatments, liquid manure which is like grease, and deer. I've never really ridden anywhere that oil or street junk was an issue except when it first starts to rain. As I said though, no worries on these roads.

She’s our little angel.😍

Thanks for sharing your electric scooter and car experiences in snow. I can't quite wrap my head around the charging issues yet of using either as a daily commuter of any distance. But being retired it no longer is something I have to worry about. Riding in snow is definitely a puzzle. And it does mean being focused and engaged. But again, being retired now, I'm unlikely to continue to play with that puzzle. Be safe out there in winter number 3!

Glad you found the video useful and worth watching.

Thank you very much!

Wow, that sounds like a fantastic adventure. Have a great time. Lots of fine memories to come!

Do you mind me asking, what camera do you use?

You are correct. It is a result of the design of the GTS. Comparisons to other brands and models isn't relevant. And this design issue is something Piaggio is seemingly willing to live with. Probably because most riders never know they have the issue until someone comes along and tells them about it. Again, let me stress, it is not tank slap. It only occurs on deceleration with no power to the engine and both hands off the bars. With your hands on the bars as you would ride normally you would never know it's there. As far as I know it does not occur in every GTS. But it is a well known issue. And some can fix the issue with different tires, different air pressures supposedly but I'm skeptical. And you won't get much help from the dealer. They certainly won't take your scooter back and refund your money. And it isn't a recall issue since it functions perfectly as it is intended to be used -- with your hands on the bars. I've had more than a few GTS owners tell me their scooter doesn't wobble only to get back to me that it does after they try it out as directed. Some had their scooters for years. As I said, I consider it completely a non-issue. Riding with your hands off the bars seems like texting while riding to me. Just not a good idea. My three cents.

@@ScooterintheSticks I am 70 years Old I made it this long taking my hands off the bars every once in a while while cruising around in the country with No Traffic to adjust .. I Guess they wont be a using this Scooter In the Wall Of Death Show any time soon....! LOL...

@@iplaymytele You can take your hands off the bar at certain speeds. Or if you have a throttle lock and are under power. But off the throttle and decelerating you'll experience the wobble begin around 40 and continue down to about 20. Other than that, it is wobble free. And if you are fortunate, you may get one that doesn't wobble. I just turned 70 a few weeks ago. The only time I take my hands off the bars is when I am testing for wobble!

@@ScooterintheSticks …. 😹😹👍🏻 Have a good one ..🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻👍🏻 your friend in Sweet home Alabama Professor Jeff …

Yes, the Vespa is just what I often need. Like your experience, it is an excellent tool to focus my mind through all the distractions of life.

It was a fine day.

I used Windber Cycleworks in Windber, Pennsylvania. You can find them on Facebook.

Thanks for the kind words about my videos. Glad you like them. Some nice backroads in Lancaster. Especially in the southwest heading toward Conowingo Dam. It's been a while since I've ridden down that way. Have fun with your Vespa. It's a great little machine.

Resell value is an interesting subject. One that didn't occur to me because tending to keep things for a long time until they no longer function I don't concern myself with resell value. But I have a friend who carefully chooses his used cars and motorcycles with resell value in mind. He'll keep something for a couple years and sometimes sell it for almost what he paid for it. That keeps expenses low. I just get what I want but I understand that's a luxury not everyone can afford. And I always pay cash rather than finance things hoping life will unfold in the way I predict so I can keep making the monthly payments. Patience and paying cash are on my radar. Resell value just isn't even though as you say embracing it can save you money.

@@ScooterintheSticks I got lucky this year, January I picked up a 2015 700n DCT Honda that was sitting for years, $3k with new tires from dealer. Put $800 more into it, Fluid changes, tune up, chain, brakes. Ridden it for thousand miles, runs so well now. $5k is the cheapest I've seen this bike now for it's year and condition. So I hope to break even when I sell it, not including insurance. But definitely low cost bike.

More fun than a 70-year-old man is entitled!😂

@@ScooterintheSticks 😁👍

I enjoy the magic as often as I can!

I'm more comfortable on the Honda Trail 125 than I am on the Himalayan in rough, off-road situations. Especially when riding alone in areas where I could drop the Himalayan and not be able to pick it up. But the Himalayan is still a good choice for me in more sedate dirt and gravel forest roads or on the pavement.

It definitely doesn't suffer from too much power!

I prefer lighter weight to more power.

@@mikewiitala9462 Me too.

Couldn't agree more! It takes some practice and release to get there. But worth the effort.

The W650 seems fine in the rain. Bad weather estimation on my part. Your ride on the Classic 350 sounded fantastic. My kind of ride.

Thanks. I'm glad you find something useful in them.

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...

I've come to an understanding with my Himalayan. The Honda Trail 125 handles the really rough stuff and the Himalayan the tamer dirt and gravel. My said the other day that she thought I was selling the Himalayan. I told her I still like it. She was fine with that answer so it will stay until it's not comfortable to ride on the pavement and groomed gravel roads. I'm 70 now and figure I have a few more years!

I imagine the Himalayan would be a better choice for the Blue Ridge. No high speed needs there. And it is a lighter machine than the V Strom. Thanks for the kind words about my videos. I enjoy piecing them together. Glad someone finds some use from them.