Modern Vespa

My BV was knocked over (and no one copped to it) end of July. I was able to get it into the shop 8/15. Spoke to John at the repair place and parts aren't due in for possibly another 2-4 weeks (from then). Withdrawal symptoms are so bad I dreamt I was riding last night. The gorgeous weather that took months to get to the east coast has finally arrived and my bike is a sitting duck.

Torture.

That's why everyone needs at least two scooters for situations such as your's 😊

I am always accepting donations!


But in all seriousness, when I stop and think about the day my BV no longer works, and what other bike I would replace it with, I can't come up with anything other than another BV (unless the Yamaha T-Max ever comes here)!

Of course Mopedlar was talking about a backup rather than a replacement. Have you ever considered an X-Max? Somewhat similar to a BV. Even an S-Max or a Liberty could be a backup.

This resonates.

Over here the good riding season is short. On an average year around 5 months, sometimes less, sometimes more.

This year I had a bit of injury in April. Lost my right hand for awhile.

So....rode my bike 15 km from a winter storage with one hand in May (don't ask...), took a few short spins in August and returned it to the winter storage

My other summer hobby, gardening was equally out. Tried to do something with my left hand, but as I have a bad left shoulder (...), this was not much.


Still, I was alive. Enjoying summer days walking and sitting outside was actually not so bad either. Went to see more outdoors music gigs and plays than in years.

But yeah, took some mental adjustment.

Then that's the thing to do. Another BV. Equip them a little different and enjoy.

I've had simultaneously:

2x Vespa GTS250i
2x Harley-Davidson V-Rod
2x Harley-Davidson Sportster
2x BMW G650GS

I've had several other bikes multiple times over, but those were just the ones I had doubles of at the same time.

Each one was set differently...

In the case of my GTS, one had protection and was used in winter, it also had uglier wheels, and no top case, so I could pick up bigger items on the back rack, like wheels/tires/pizza boxes/fenders/typical bikelife stuff.

The other GTS has pretty wheels, top case, is pampered, never sees snow, never used to see rain, etc.

Imagine a world with no waiting on service, no waiting on parts, where backorder is a typo and not a word... You can have it all!

I have THREE scoots and they all spent the last 1 1/2 months in varying states of disrepair. My big Vespa picked up a nail in her tire and probably also needs a new ABS sensor, my C3 had a cracked valve stem and thus needed work, and my Liberty was in the shop for almost a month for a stalling issue (that they could not find or fix) covered under warranty. I got the Liberty back a couple weeks ago and have been riding it a bit, but it is in desperate need of new tires as well as its 6k service, so I'm not trying to add a whole lot of miles to it. The C3 is up and running again too, but being only a 50cc, is mainly just for fun short local rides... It's gonna take a while for me to save up the scratch for the Vespa's and Liberty's service needs which I'm planning to have done early in the spring, so my riding season is pretty much over for the year.

I feel you. Fortunately one of my three held up this summer, but between an engine repair and a speedo cable/front shock project I've done far more wrenching/waiting than riding. So much for bragging about having backup scooters.

I think the key here is to have different machines, but also from different manufacturers.

I still feel for you, Karlsbadd. Unless it is a common item, it takes a week to even get a part on something even like a newer Honda. Meanwhile could you have ridden the scoot while waiting for the parts to come in?

I was window shopping scooters recently, and I don't believe either the X-Max or S-Max come in anything but 100% flat black. I sold a perfectly good scooter once just because it was flat black. I thought I could live with it. I was wrong. I got more disgusted every time I looked at it. I have 4 motorcycles, 2 scooters, and 2 pedal mopeds. None of them black. So if one or more break down, I still have something to ride. The weather is starting to cool down here in AZ, after a straight 2 1/2 months of 112 degrees F every day. I'm hoping to rack up at least 15,000 miles this winter, between all of my bikes.

Hey Tierney,
I drove it home from NYC to NJ after it had been knocked over. It was okay, but the left brake handle left a bit to be desired. For me it was more of a peace of mind issue. After I parked it, I felt uncomfortable driving it with the left brake lever so wonky. It worked, but I just didn't want to take my chances.

Yeah, I just don't have the kind of money, wrenching, or space capacity for multiple bikes. I really love the T Max. I don't think I would go with a smaller bike. I am kind of hoping that by the time I need a new bike, the T-Max is back here. I also happen to love that it's a little bit lower seat wise than my BV.

If I had another bike, I feel like one would just sit, and that posese its own problems as I understand it.

Then again... if Honda ever comes out with the ADV or literally anything else in a larger engine, I would probably abandon all other rides for a Honda. Boring, maybe, but RELIABLE.

I have repaired many bent brake handles. With the right amount of heat and a little patience, you can make them good as new.

Not much of a wrencher so I don't know that I would trust my skills there. But yeah, maybe it's time to learn.