It is not unusual to see police in Italy riding motorcycles and scooters. Apparently this is becoming more true here in the U.S. and other parts of the world as documented at the aptly named “police scooters” website. I was also glad to see that it looks like New Orleans Vespa got a bit of the action down in the big easy.
I have been waiting for an accessory order from Motorsports Scooters to arrive and last week was like Christmas. This past weekend I spend time in the garage mounting crash bars and a smoke colored mini windscreen to my Vespa GTS and I like the results. I was pretty set on getting the crash bars, but it took me a while to settle on the windscreen. The feedback on ModernVespa forum, like most scooter forums, was a great help in deciding what to buy. There are pros and cons to full sized vs. mini windscreens, but I settled on something that would primarily divert the wind. I always wear my full face helmet and a mesh jacket so I don’t feel I need full coverage. Now I am left with only one other concern. Bella, the name I have given my GTS, in memory of our little Wheaton Terrier dog, has developed the dreaded roller weights rattle. I plan on visiting the Vespa dealer this week and will talk with Dave Munn before making any decisions, but again, ModernVespa forum has been very informative and has helped make me more knowledgeable before I even set foot in the scooter shop.
Scooter News and Blog Posts
Music for this show is from the Podsafe music network and Lil Ed Williams and the Blues Imperials. Lil Ed is one of the last authentic West Side Chicago blues men. He plays an amazing smokin’ slide guitar and bats out Chicago style shuffles and slow blues.
Show notes: I have been obsessing for about a week on what to say about the meteoric fall of Vespadition. I know that it’s hard to draw a line between truth and fiction, especially on the Internet and I have toyed with saying nothing or reporting on dirty details, accusations and counter claims. Some of you may remember my interview back in March with Peter Ramstine. At the time he was planning a scooter ride across America and Canada, and was promoting his plan to do the ride with the help of a few sponsors, while relying mostly on the generosity of the scooter community. It was amazing how quickly Vespadition came to a screeching halt. Literally, within three days the Vespa GTS was parked in West Virginia, the scooter forums were blazing with reasonable questions and flaming accusations and what had sounded like an admirable venture turned into a pile of steaming s**t. I began writing myself little mental notes, that is the way I start preparing for the show and by yesterday my perspective had crystalized. What I have gotten out of all this is just how generous the scooter community really is, how we tend to look out for each other and for the most part presume the best about each other. It shows every time someone crashes, gets in over their head with a mechanical project (I sure know about that) or someone new shows up at a ride-out with a brand new 50cc moped. We run an amazingly open and inclusive community. Here in Richmond at the 7hills scooter club, I am probably one of the older members and I certainly don’t have the tattoos or piercings, let along the stamina to keep up with everyone. But at the same time, I am welcomed at every event, feel comfortable hanging at the local scooter shop and can even speak about my mechanical blunders without feeling like a big dumb ass. So regardless of what is true or untrue about Vespadition, I look forward to continuing to be a part of a scooter community that does have an altruistic outlook on life and as for me, I will be looking forward to this summers scooter rallies and events, where I am sure to meet more people who share this value and appreciate the kindness inherent in community we have created.
Next week I will be at the other end of the country, so expect a remote show from the oft times drizzly pacific northwest. Port Angeles should be starting to perk up with lots of flowers and greenery and of course I will check in with Bill Sommers to see what is cooking on the local scooter scene. Port Angeles also has an Internet celebrity who sometimes shows his face in town. If you are a techie you will recognize the name, John C Dvorák. Although he still lives most of the year in northern California, he and his wife own and operate a Deli, or maybe more accurately a spice store in Port Angeles. I am a dedicated listener to all things Dvorák, including podcasts like TWIT, No Agenda, Tec5 and Cranky Geeks and I must return to see what John is raving about, like the deli meats, the spices and the wines.
Blog Posts and bloggers
Music for this show features blues harmonica player Sugar Blue. You can find his music on the Podsafe Music Network, at Ariel Publicity or at Sugar Blues’ website.
SHOWNOTES: I have been very busy at work, but more to the point, I have had one of those weeks where I ask myself, do these people really think I am that smart? You know what I mean, that little nagging voice that you have in the back of your head that says, “if everyone knew how really stupid I was I would be fired on the spot.” I do know that this is my own little nagging insecurities, but indulge me for a minute. After much heartache I have learned that this is a useful little quirk to have, because it keeps me honest, both with myself and with others and also has helped me from getting to far out on a limb numerous times. What the hell does this have to do with scooters? It is related to the idea of making more scooter connections so you don’t get out there and on the web it means getting into groups and forums. Most of groups I know about are through Yahoo Groups. This has got to be one of the easiest ways to communicate with like minded fans and to establish a place where people can ask questions, share information and exchange ideas. Some that I still follow are about disabilities rights, politics and other things more material like McIntosh Stereo equipment, Mini Coopers, Ducati, Harley Davidson Sprint motorcycles and of course Scooters. Some groups are large (thousands of members), but most are small to medium sized (hundreds of members).and each has what I would term its own distinct personality. In addition to the Yahoo Groups, the other place to connect is through the online forums. In my view, the forums provide an avenue to both connect with other scooterist and in most cases, get some of the best free advise in all the scooter community. Many of the scooter forums, like the Internationalist BBS, which has been around for ten years, have more resources on riding, mechanics, clubs and rallies than you are going to find if you do something like google search. And most times, the information is more current accurate and reliable. As one example, the modern Vespa forum includes a section with all the modern Vespa parts and workshop manuals, with a separate section for repairs and technical tips. Now that is a resource!
Scooter Groups and Forums
2StrokeSmoke Group Bajaj Scooter Group Chinese Scooter Group Cushman Group Genuine Buddy Group Honda Metropolitian Scooter Forum Honda Reflex Owners Group Honda Silverwings Group/ Intenational Scooterist BBS Forum Maxi-scooters Group Modern Vespa Forum Scooter Forum in England Scooter Forum in Germany Stella Scooter Group Suzuki Burgman Group TwistnGoScoot Group Two Stroke Smoke (a kinder gentler group than the other) Vespa Smallframes Group Vespinoy Forum in the Philipines Yamaha Vino 125 Group Yamaha Zuma Group
Music for this show is from the Podsafe Music Network
The Clintons with Fan of the Bean
Lesismore with Sweetest Heart
The Aggrolites with Funky Fire
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