Scoot Touring

[Southerner]

I just picked up a copy of Motorcycle Sport & Leisure and under the heading of Alternative Tourers, there's a nice centerfold pic of a Vespa PX. I thought that was kinda neat.

It mentions that they are back in production. Is this a European-only thing or were they referring to the Stella, perhaps?

Side note: MSL is very scooter-friendly. They seem to like anything with 2 wheels.[/u]

[TVB]

I happen to think a Buddy is perfect for touring.

[uklemond]

I happen to think a Buddy is perfect for touring.

I sure hope you are right

Im about to start planning the trip of all trips. Boston, MA to Belding, MI on my Buddy 170i.

Hands up all those that think it is do-able

[Mutt the Hoople]

One paw... Hand up here. That's why I went for the elephant gun
Guess l'll find out the reality soon enough.

[cdwise]

I happen to think a Buddy is perfect for touring.

I sure hope you are right

Im about to start planning the trip of all trips. Boston, MA to Belding, MI on my Buddy 170i.

Hands up all those that think it is do-able

Of course it is, ypu won't set any speed records but that isn't what touring on a scooter is about.

[Maximus53]

I have started venturing out of the city into the near by country roads that have a speed limit of 55mph. WOT my Stella does about 52mph until I hit any sort of hill then i start working down to 45 or so and start to worry about really slowing down traffic.

For those of you who hit the open road on the smaller scoots, do you just keep an eye on what is behind you and not worry about it?

[Skootz Kabootz]

Im about to start planning the trip of all trips. Boston, MA to Belding, MI on my Buddy 170i. Hands up all those that think it is do-able

Totally doable. Just not doable fast Are you going to take the straight-line route through Canada? Very pretty through the finger lakes in NY, you can check out Niagara Falls, lots of nice countryside along the way. I'd suggest a full-face helmet as there can be a good deal of bugs in the air depending on the time of year you're riding.

[ericalm]

Vespa started making a limited edition PX125 in response to sales of the Stella (LML Star) in Europe. A lot of UK Vespa dealers were picking up the Star and Vespa freaked out, made a lot of threats and said, "Uh, we got one coming." The PX125 is a 2-stroke, so its performance is tuned down to meet EU emissions standards. They rushed out a bike that they'll no longer be able to sell in a few years after declaring they'd never make another 2T manual. So. Vespa, yeah.

I have started venturing out of the city into the near by country roads that have a speed limit of 55mph. WOT my Stella does about 52mph until I hit any sort of hill then i start working down to 45 or so and start to worry about really slowing down traffic.

For those of you who hit the open road on the smaller scoots, do you just keep an eye on what is behind you and not worry about it?

Keep your eyes in front of you! Your Stella performance will continue to improve with break in. But even then, you might need to stick to routes with slower speeds and sometimes let other vehicles pass. This is true even for faster scooters.

[cdwise]

I keep an eye out and if it looks like I'm really holding up traffic I'll pull over at a safe location - turnout to let them pass. When we were crossing Utah it was something we did regularly because my geologist husband was gawking at the rocks and kept slowing down.

BTW. a couple of threads for those who are interested in touring on 50-125cc scoots from ADVrider:

Multiple trips on scoots ranging from 50cc Ruckus to 125cc Piagio & Honda scooters through Sweden, Norway and Finland http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=608324

Two 125cc Buddys from Arizona to Canada and back http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=690259

Scooter Cannonball on a Buddy http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=798134

[Southerner]

Even the slowest scoot can't possibly aggravate car traffic as badly as a bicycle and cyclists tour all the time. You probably just have to take precautions similar to theirs if your scoot is limited speed-wise.

As slow as I pedal, I've aggravated my share of traffic.

I would say that practically any scoot in good running order would be up to the task. And yes, that would certainly include a Buddy.. Like a lot of hobbies, there's a lot of fun to be had in learning how to work within limitations.

Still looking forward to seeing that 200cc (or better?) Stella, though. It's certainly amusing that Vespa had to backtrack. It's very hard to supercede an icon.

[Capt_Don]

I have started venturing out of the city into the near by country roads that have a speed limit of 55mph. WOT my Stella does about 52mph until I hit any sort of hill then i start working down to 45 or so and start to worry about really slowing down traffic.

For those of you who hit the open road on the smaller scoots, do you just keep an eye on what is behind you and not worry about it?

Don't spend your energy worrying about a damn thing when you ride. If you do that you are gonna have a crappy time and find yourself in terrible situations even before you get into them, you're going to become mentally fatigued too. Be aware of your surroundings and use your mirrors wisely! Though perhaps the most important thing is to stay classy!

[TVB]

Im about to start planning the trip of all trips. Boston, MA to Belding, MI on my Buddy 170i.

Hands up all those that think it is do-able

To... Belding? Like... on purpose... not just because you get lost and end up there accidentally?

You can ride a Buddy to anywhere they have paved roads (and even to many places where they don't, if you really want to). Especially since yours is allowed on Interstates (if you must), which mine isn't. It's just a question of how much time you have and what kind of traveling you want to do. (I'm a 100-150mi/day pitch-a-tent-at-state-parks kinda traveler myself.)

If you haven't already, look at this thread for some thoughts about the route from Bean Town to Silk City. Short version: assuming you have a passport, I'd suggest cutting through Ontario, from Niagara to Port Huron/Sarnia.

[TVB]

Even the slowest scoot can't possibly aggravate car traffic as badly as a bicycle and cyclists tour all the time. You probably just have to take precautions similar to theirs if your scoot is limited speed-wise.

It's a bit different, actually. On roads where traffic is going a lot faster, a bicycle can (and should) ride on the shoulder, or at least stay close enough to the curb to be quick and easy to pass. A scooter can't do that; a slow scooter simply gets in the way.

I just got back from a few days of riding at 35-40mph and watching for traffic in my rearview mirror. Any time I saw more than a couple vehicles behind me (or just one big truck), I started looking for a place to turn right and let them pass. (I prefer turning to just pulling over, because it gets you totally and safely out of their way, and also looks a little more dignified.)

[Mutt the Hoople]

I have been venturing further and further out on my Buddy 50. Yes, you are limited what roads you can take but one of the above posters
made and excellent point regarding where bicyclists ride. But as long as you are not going lower than the posted speed minimum, don't worry. I don't care one rap about the jerks who are going to pass you, even if you are doing a bit over the limit because you are on a scooter. Those a-holes would find a way to pass you if you were going 50 miles over the speed limit. However, if I am on a road that has areas that are posted at 40, I make sure I know what is going on behind me and if I see a line of cars beginning to develope I pull over to the side and let them go around me. I just smile and wave wave and in a few seconds I am back in my lane.

Hopefully at the end of the week I will be picking up the GTV and exploring even further. I plan on seeing Ian Hunter in Chicago in September and am thinking it would be fun on the Vespa... I'll do some shorter trips first, but taking an extra day and the side roads would be a great opportunity to photograph some great old signage and Americana.

We have a scooter club here in Saint Louis. Some people there including our own Pete H and Jana are very nice but the majority are into the maxi scoots. Which is fine, except some are very vocal about why NOT to ever buy a 50 and have a certain disdain for those who do. Well, I don't chide them for throwing a BarcaLounger onto two wheels and calling it scooter, if that is what they like. But I would love to see them get those ScooterUVs into the same tight places that I've had Manuel in while I am shooting pictures.

Keep posting about scooter touring on your Buddys... I love the idea

[TVB]

For those of you who hit the open road on the smaller scoots, do you just keep an eye on what is behind you and not worry about it?

I start by picking routes where I'm less likely to find myself being followed. If the name starts with "I" or "US", I don't take it unless there is absolutely no alternative, or just for a few miles. State highways usually aren't as bad, but only during low-traffic times. On a map, I look for roads that aren't very straight; I've found some real gems that way. If there's a highway that's going where I want to go, I look for roads running parallel to it. Names like "Old US-27" are a good sign: it means there's a newer road nearby that the speeders and most traffic will take instead. In most areas I've scooted, there's a road about a mile from the one that's too busy, with hardly any traffic at all... and probably nicer scenery.

[Mutt the Hoople]

For those of you who hit the open road on the smaller scoots, do you just keep an eye on what is behind you and not worry about it?

I start by picking routes where I'm less likely to find myself being followed. If the name starts with "I" or "US", I don't take it unless there is absolutely no alternative, or just for a few miles. State highways usually aren't as bad, but only during low-traffic times. On a map, I look for roads that aren't very straight; I've found some real gems that way. If there's a highway that's going where I want to go, I look for roads running parallel to it. Names like "Old US-27" are a good sign: it means there's a newer road nearby that the speeders and most traffic will take instead. In most areas I've scooted, there's a road about a mile from the one that's too busy, with hardly any traffic at all... and probably nicer scenery.

Yep. Definitely. So you're doing it on a 50 too! Yeah baby! There's fun in the. Challenge isnt there

[uklemond]

To... Belding? Like... on purpose... not just because you get lost and end up there accidentally?

Its on purpose, family live there.

Its still just a pipe dream right now, not found a route that seems suitable for scooters. I dont mind interstate driving, but i would prefer not to have to be on them to be honest. mapquest will not let me plan a route without going on them though. Not had bike long enough to be that confident so may put it off for a year.

[Capt_Don]

When I was on my 50cc piglet I used to move over, until some gravel caused me to put her down. So If I was on a four lane, like Lindbergh, they could just pass me. If I was anywhere from a 25-35 then they could just floow me and wait for the broken line to pass. I have to put up with drivers going 50 in a 35, they can put up with a 30 in a 35. That said, I am not a grand marshal in a parade, so if it warranted it I would move over.

On the 170i it is not an issue at all.

[TVB]

To... Belding? Like... on purpose... not just because you get lost and end up there accidentally?

Its on purpose, family live there.

I hope they aren't in the apple business; the crop this year is reportedly gonna be meager.

Its still just a pipe dream right now, not found a route that seems suitable for scooters. I dont mind interstate driving, but i would prefer not to have to be on them to be honest. mapquest will not let me plan a route without going on them though. Not had bike long enough to be that confident so may put it off for a year.

Hmmm... apparently MapQuest insists on including highways when going from one state to another. Silly web site. You're right: you don't want interstates.

Google Maps has an option to avoid highways, which I use all the time. The route it gives with that checked looks like a reasonable rough draft (at least for the area I know). It's 860 miles... depending on whether you wanted to make a real trip out of it (sightseeing Finger Lakes, Niagara, etc), or just wanted to get there, you could do that in anywhere from 3-4 days to a couple weeks.

[TVB]

When I was on my 50cc piglet I used to move over, until some gravel caused me to put her down. So If I was on a four lane, like Lindbergh, they could just pass me. If I was anywhere from a 25-35 then they could just floow me and wait for the broken line to pass.

Given a choice between a busy two-lane and a busy four-lane, I'll take the four-lane. It might be more cars, but it gives them all a way to pass me in a short period of time each.

But if traffic's light and there aren't a lot of hills or curves (each with an invisible Gandalf proclaiming "you shall not pass") to hold up cars behind me, I prefer a two-lane.

[cdwise]

To... Belding? Like... on purpose... not just because you get lost and end up there accidentally?

Its on purpose, family live there.

Its still just a pipe dream right now, not found a route that seems suitable for scooters. I dont mind interstate driving, but i would prefer not to have to be on them to be honest. mapquest will not let me plan a route without going on them though. Not had bike long enough to be that confident so may put it off for a year.

I find Google Maps with the "avoid highway" option does a pretty good job of finding non interstate routes though sometimes they are pretty convoluted. Dragging can sometime get you better options when you start with the Google no highway routes.

[jonlink]

To... Belding? Like... on purpose... not just because you get lost and end up there accidentally?

Its on purpose, family live there.

Its still just a pipe dream right now, not found a route that seems suitable for scooters. I dont mind interstate driving, but i would prefer not to have to be on them to be honest. mapquest will not let me plan a route without going on them though. Not had bike long enough to be that confident so may put it off for a year.

I find Google Maps with the "avoid highway" option does a pretty good job of finding non interstate routes though sometimes they are pretty convoluted. Dragging can sometime get you better options when you start with the Google no highway routes.

Agreed. "Avoid highways" is a great start, but you definitely need to fine tune the route. That said, it is how I've found some pretty amazing routes. Sometimes it even pick things better than the GPS. Plus you can often use street-view to check out the route and find ways to avoid lots of traffic lights and other annoying things.

[TVB]

Agreed. "Avoid highways" is a great start, but you definitely need to fine tune the route. That said, it is how I've found some pretty amazing routes. Sometimes it even pick things better than the GPS.

I check the bicycle and walking directions for ideas. Both of those put a huge premium on shortest distance, and also tend to seek out bike/hike trails, so they can easily steer you wrong if you put faith in them. But sometimes that single-lane 25mph shortcut it points out will be golden.

Plus you can often use street-view to check out the route and find ways to avoid lots of traffic lights and other annoying things.

I've gotten in the habit of using Street View to spot-check the route I'm planning to take. For example, in my quest to avoid traffic I sometimes manually select roads that go a little too far in the other direction; if it hasn't been photographed by Big Brother Google... it's probably unpaved. It can also give you a sense – not actual data – of how busy the road tends to to be.

[Rob]

I absolutely love touring. I've done some mini-tours on the scoot and maxi-tours on the MC.

As many other have said, pre-planning the trip and route, particularly on the scoot, is key for a safe and enjoyable ride.

That said, even on the MCs, I stay off the expressways if at all possible. IMHO, for the most part, that is an incredibly boring ride. I prefer side roads, country roads, rural highways and a more leisurely ride. It's amazing what you come across in terms of scenery, small town eateries, interesting people, etc. that you'd never experience on an interstate.

Rob

[Southerner]

I was just watching a couple of programs on PBS about India. The street scenes are the usual sort of madhouse you've probably seen before but the Vespa clones were legion in every shot.. You can well imagine those scoots go everywhere over there, bad roads or not.

It occurs to me that we are often faced with a choice to make between an older, possibly less reliable design that is easier to repair or a more modern design that is probably more reliable but difficult for the less mechanically-inclined to repair. I could cite say, a Ural motorcycle vs. well, lots of things. Or I could contrast the Stella vs. a Honda PCX 150. I think those last are comparable in price.

Now, consider the nature of touring, that is, a long way from home and your favorite repair shop. Ignore aesthetic considerations, please. Disregard for a minute which has the better cruising speed.

The question: Which is better, the Honda, which is most likely not to go wrong at all, but if it does, you probably can't fix it, or the Stella, which might screw up but you can probably fix it, even on the roadside?

I don't know the answer except to say that I would favor the Honda when both are new but if both have considerable miles on them, maybe the Stella might be the safer bet.

And as a general statement, I want to say that I hate that modern bikes and scoots are following cars in becoming more sophisticated and with that, unavoidably difficult to repair.