Service

yesterday, my son trailed me in the car as I rode the ET4 to motorsport scooters for a service. The guys at motorsport are one of a kind. For more than 15 years, alex and the gang have serviced and upgraded scooters of many makes and models, and just about any Vespa. When I began to consider getting a motorscooter, I called them frequently when making a find in the newspaper or craigslist. They always gave me an honest evaluation and still do. Before I bought the ET4, I considered a Kymco people 150. I rode the people 150 and was very impressed with the handling and acceleration. I bought the ET4 simply because of its beauty. The Kymco performed better and they are very reliable. But the ET4 is more suitable to the 2-up kind of riding I do, and is just jaw-dropping gorgeous. The used ET4 had low miles, was only about 500 less than the new people 150, but for once in my life I went with my heart. Motorsport sells Kymco and Genuine and will order Bajaj and maybe a couple other brands. They don't sell new Vespas which I found rather odd. I asked one day while admiring the Kymcos and they mentioned it had something to do with Vespa USA wanting to maintain the boutique image. This sucks.

I've been to the San Diego boutique Vespa shop on University Avenue in the swanky Hillcrest area. The shop is small and cramped. A space not much bigger than a walk-in closet serves as the service shop. I could see tools and parts of new Vespas were scattered all over the place in the tiny room until the tech guy closed the door. The front room holds maybe 30 new bikes in close rank and file. The salesmen are nice enough but know very little about Vespas, certainly much less than the guys at Motorsport Scooters. In fact, the boutique defers to motorsport for service and performance upgrades.

If I walk into the Vespa boutiqe, I know I'll get a sales pitch (ironic that the bikes don't really need one). But when I walk into the Motorsport Scooters building on 30th street, I know I'll get a fair and honest price and evaluation concerning new and used, upgrades and service, parts and accessories, etc. Scooterists hang out at Motorsport Scooters. They have their "regulars" that come and go. They are not just service and sales, they are the meeting place of a like minded community of people. Motorsport Scooters rocks... I think I'll ask them to upgrade my ET4 with the 187 kit and maybe a windscreen, perhaps those chrome mirrors I've been looking at, and... where do I get one of those infamous surfboards with the motorsport scooters emblem (you've got to go there to see it)?

I love the new Vespas - all of them. But I just can't understand the business decision to open boutique shops with little or no service capacity. Especially when a place like motorsport has been in the Vespa business for so long. The bikes sell themselves and are very reliable. Maybe it doesn't matter who sells them since the markup probably isn't much anyway. I know where to go for support and I'm lucky to have motorsport scooters in town.

Scooter Commuter

Its been a couple of weeks now that I purchased a previously loved Vespa ET4. It had only 2009 miles on it when I drove it home. The ET4 now has 2200+ miles. It's easy to park (just about anywhere), and moving it around a little on the stand is not much trouble at all. My daughter loves riding with me, especially after I installed passenger footpegs. Before the footpegs, she had to twist her feet inward to reach the floorboard. It was uncomfortable for longer trips. The footpegs allow her to sit comfortably with her feet firmly in place without any extra effort.

My girlfriend is about 5 feet 7 inches so has no trouble reaching the floorboard. But the footpegs also make for a more comfortable ride for her... and I don't impale my ankles on her cowboy boots anymore.

My commute involves about 6 or 7 miles of Interstate 5 north, from Seaworld Dr. to Gilman Dr. From there, I take my daughter to school, about 3 miles or so of secondary roads. And then I scoot down Genessee Ave. to John Muir School where I work as a secondary science teacher.

Fortunately, California allows for lane splitting at stop lights and when traffic is stopped or very slow (that's my understanding). This makes heavy traffic a breeze on the Vespa. No long waiting for several minutes at lights. Once on the on-ramp, I accelerate up to about 50mph, keeping up with traffic, and merge into the slower right lane. This particular stretch of highway is typically slow workday mornings, moving about 45 - 55 mph. I often need to slow down in the right lane. After a few miles, the speed picks up to about 60mph in the right lane. The Vespa ET4 keeps up with traffic.

Granted, cars in the left lanes move 65-70mph and faster, and the Vespa is "giving its all" at 60 - 65mph. Wind resistance becomes the biggest factor on the highway, and a mid-sized windscreen may add a bit more acceleration and top end speed by providing more aerodynamics. And another 5mph may very likely make my short commute a little more comfortable.

But the highway is not where I intend to ride the Vespa the vast majority of the time. Secondary roads and urban streets is where this baby really shines. Out accelerating most cars from the light, there isn't a street, avenue, or boulevard where the Vespa doesn't dominate. It provides quick, fuel-efficient, easy to park, fun filled transportation to just about anywhere that I want to go.

When school's out this summer, I may take a road trip on the Vespa. It will take planning and patience, and I may be forced to stop and smell the roses (or the coffee).

Memorial

I appreciate the commemoration of Memorial Day. In spite of being a Navy veteran nearly always stationed with Marines, I get lost in the day to day and forget to slow down and remember.

My father is buried at the Santa Nella National Cemetary south east of San Francisco about 80 miles or so. He was drafted and fought in the Korean War. After the war he couldn't find work enough to support a new wife and daughter so returned to the Army. Some years later, the Army sent him as an "advisor" to Vietnam, and for another tour in 1968. He saw plenty, and was awarded a medal of valor for some of the conflict he endured.

He retired from the Army and worked as a truck driver until he really retired. He enjoyed the long reflective hours at the wheel, listening to his favorite radio programs, music (sons of the pioneers), and books on tape. He especially loved having breakfast with his buddys. They would talk all morning, solving all the worlds problems in a few hours.

After having a stroke, his last years were spent in a hospital bed, with people who didn't really care for him. He could no longer eat or talk, the two things he loved most. He held on long enough to see his children, and battle the VA for the medical coverage he couldn't afford and they never seemed to give without a fight. He died in his sleep.

I made damn sure he received a proper send off, befitting a hero. The Army provided a chaplain, the Navy provided an honor guard. It was a beautiful service and a beautiful day in the rolling hills bordering the eastern San Juaquin Valley.

Every summer, I travel the 500 miles north to visit him. California is a big state, 1000 miles long from north to south, with diverse geographic regions.

He loved the Big Valley. Born to teenaged migrant workers from Mexico and Oklahoma, he was adopted by an old cowboy who worked as a seasonal wrangler, and his much younger wife. It was a classic "Grapes of Wrath" story. During the picking season, they all picked fruit, almonds, vegetable, anything that needed to be picked. When cattle needed tending to, that was done as well. They got by.

Dad told me that every Christmas he got a new pair of boots; on his birthday a new pair of jeans. His mom made his shirts. He spoke glowingly about his dad and mom, the sacrifices they made, the fun they created from nothing. No computers, no cell phones, no video games, just a creative imagination and an appreciation for what the good Lord provided.

By sweat, blood, and sacrifice, my Dad and others like him loved the land they lived in, serving the nation and asking for little in return. I miss him.

Sunday Morning Outing

Yesterday, I woke up early thinking about taking a ride on the Vespa ET4. I have only had it for a few days, so don't know the handling or speed limitations yet. I dressed quietly so as not to wake my girlfriend. Outside, the air was cool and moist with a light hazey fog. San Diego mornings close to the beach often start with a light haze that quickly lifts and burns off. It was quiet with very little traffic.. perfect time and conditions to try out the Et4 on I5.

Visor flipped up to feel cool salt air on my face, I twisted the throttle and scootered down Newport Avenue along the Ocean Beach pier, and stopped for a moment. A few tourists walked barefoot in the cold sand, jeans rolled up to their knees. A child carried a yellow toy bucket, likely filled with shell fragments and smooth rocks. The morning sun already burned through the remaining marine haze, only a few gatherings of cotton ball cummulous clouds remained in the sky, framing the OB pier above while waves crashed below. Another beautiful morning, a twist of the wrist, and I was off.

I love the low gurgling growl of the 4-stroke Et4 motor; subtle, yet characteristically Italian. So far, it seems to have plenty of torque for a majority of roads.

Crossing the San Diego River early on a quiet Sunday morning is almost mystical. The blue-gray sky reflected off the sweet smelling river water while long-legged cranes fished along the marshy banks. In the evening, just before the sun goes down, you can see fish jumping out of the water catching bugs. This morning, the river surface was lightly rippled as a gentle breeze of salty air moved from sea to shore. I don't know why I don't do this more often. Like most people, I get preoccupied with work, relationships, life... perhaps the Vespa will carry me away from all the stresses in life... if only for a little while.

The I5 on-ramp approached and I felt a tinge of apprehension. Riding across the overpass, I saw few cars. Even better, they seemed to be moving at a reasonable rate. Speeding down the ramp, my right wrist rolls on everything the Vespa has to offer. Indicated speed increases quickly to 55mph and continues up to 60.

The Vespa feels solid. I expected the small tires to dance around in the rain grooves but I don't feel any of that. My speed increases to an indicated 65mph or so. I stay in the right lane, finding that I need to slow down a bit to accommodate slower moving traffic in front of me. The ET4 motor carries me at a respectable 65mph for several miles before the highway grade increases slightly and I slow to about 60mph. I can see that a long, steep grade would likely cause me to slow quite a bit more. Fortunately, my commute consits of a relatively flat stretch of highway for about 6 miles.

The Vespa Et4 is adaquate for short highway stretches, but I wouldn't feel comfortable traveling long distances on the interstate highways. As read in many other forums, the rider becomes a "sail", catching wind and reducing top speed. I'm sure that with an average sized windscreen, the Vespa will pick up another 5mph or so. But with throttle wide open, there isn't anything left. In spite of that, for my purposes the ET4 is suitable for the short on-off highway stretches that I need to travel.

I've read several blogs and forum posting about upgrading the motor and exhaust, tuning the carb, etc. Results seem spotty. Some folks boast of huge increases in speed and/or acceleration. Others make, what I think, are more honest evaluations; increase of maybe 5mph top end, a bit more acceleration, louder pipes... all at the cost of cylinder kits and pipes and the sacrifice of reliability. Perhaps it is worth it for the garage mechanic who has the expertise, patience, tools, and space to work in. But I'm an urban guy in a moderately sized city who would rather pay someone else to maintain my vehicles.. I haven't the tools, expertise, or even a garage to work in.

I'm happy with my Vespa ET4 performance. It takes me where I want to go at a reasonable speed and in superior style. It's a gorgeous machine, outclassing the bulky, heavy, lumbering motorcycles of my youth. If I want speed, I'll buy that Triumph Bonneville T100 or the latest and greatest Japanese super bike.

2-wheeled Life before the Vespa ET4

Some years ago, a friend horse traded an old BMW R80 for an even older Lambretta scooter. At the time, I was riding a Suzuki 650 thumper. It was called the "Savage" but was quite civilized, really. Still in production, the Savage 650 exemplifies simplicity, reliability, and efficiency... though lacks passion. We swapped bikes for a short ride and I became enthralled with the feel of the scooter. The old Lambretta possessed many qualities of the Suzuki, but inspired passion as well. Fast forward many years and a handful of motorcycles into the future. After a long break from bikes, I began hitting the local shops, looking at Ducati, Motoguzzi, and others. I loved the classic lines of the European bikes, especially the new Triumph T100 bonnevilles. And while perusing the San Diego Reader classifieds read an ad for... you guessed it... a 1960's Lambretta 125.

I answered the ad and visited the Lambretta to check it out. It rested for years at Montgomery Airport in old old hangar, a naked frame and engine, rusted and layered in cobwebs, dirty and molded, seat cracked and paint faded. Restoration was far beyond my capability and the price was far too high. I thanked the gentleman, a retired attorney and hobby pilot, but left unsatisfied. The search ensued.

About a year ago, a Derbi Red Bullet showed up in the classified ads. Curious, I investigated online, digging into the sites I was becoming somewhat familiar with: Modern Vespa, Scooterville, Scooterwest, girlbike, 2 stroke buzz, and provoscooter. Provoscooter forum even has a forum for Derbi bikes. Apparantly, Piaggio bought Derbi, a smaller Spanish company, some time ago. Derbi now puts piaggio motors in its scooters, and the Red Bullet (a red Atlantis), possessed a 50cc ET2 motor. The price was right so I took it home. Mechanically, it was solid. Derbi makes a quality product and the 50cc motor is bulletproof. My respect and yearning for Vespa continued to grow throughout the year, especially as the Derbi struggled to get up the steep hills (really not a hill like in the midwest or east coast, but a mesa). Most of San Diego is built on top of and around its many mesas and canyons, and consequently, many steep hills are encountered. I made the Derbi work for me, using it to go to work on occasion and for short trips to get movies or groceries. It never once let me down. But it really only went about 45 mph, and substantial hills often forced me into the bike lane. In Kansas, Oklahoma, any other flat land the Derbi would prove to be a competent and utilitarian second vehicle... but not in the Mesa and canyon strewn landscape of Southern California. After a year, I sold a the Derbi to a young man moving to the midwest... somewhere in north Texas I think. His intention was to use it for transportation as he completed bible college. An interesting fellow, he had served with US Marines for one hitch and wound up in Iraq, "a little west of Bagdad". All he was interested in now was finding a little piece.

That brings me to the ET4. Memorial day. My girlfriend was working and I was bored. What to do? Go look at motorcycles... only one shop open today, though. Ironically, the same shop I bought the Suzuki savage from so many years before. I arrived in the late afternoon and made my way through the used bikes.. and there it was. A Royal Blue ET4 parked inbetween an old burgman and an older Yamaha Riva. The Vespa was dirty and the sun's light produced a purplish effect on the paint. Several young men wandered about the lot, sitting astride powerful sport bikes and cruisers. The Vespa looked small and weak, almost feminine. I sat on it and thought, "this might be it". The salesmen largely ignored me. Perhaps it was the little effeminate Vespa in the middle of so many testosterone inspiring behemeths. When asked about it, the salesmen knew nothing about the Vespa, or even how much they were asking for it. I made an offer of 2700.00, which I felt a fair offer. I asked to ride it, but they wouldn't let me. Apparantly, it had just arrived as a trade in and they hadn't yet checked it out. They wanted it overnight, so I resolved to wait another day. Two days later, (I couldn't get away from work before they closed), I picked up the Vespa. The mechanic who did the service check met me at the door, "This thing has a lot of poop to it and its beautiful cleaned up". He was quite impressed as were the sales staff. They asked me how fast it would go, gas milage, etc. Funny, they had sold me the bike but I was "the expert". I'll get it in for service at motorsport scooters as soon as they can accomodate it, and in the meantime just enjoy.