Scooter Saturday

My 2008 Vespa LX50 got delivered today, so I’m motorized again.

There’s a funny-lookin’ new bike in the garage. Speaks Italian. Only the Bianchi gets it.

This entry was posted on June 13, 2015 at 5:50 pm and is filed under Albuquerque, Scooters. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

13 Responses to “Scooter Saturday”

Stan Thomas Says:
June 13, 2015 at 6:28 pm | Reply

Guess which side I’m from…
- Patrick O'Grady Says:
  June 13, 2015 at 7:10 pm | Reply
  I know, I know, I’m the only person on the blog who doesn’t ride an actual motorcycle. I’m shiftless. The only time my hands and feet work in concert is when I’m picking my toes.
Pat O'Brien Says:
June 13, 2015 at 8:16 pm | Reply
Vespa. Red. Pure class. Pure style. Pure cool. Quiet, smooth, and efficient, the machine for poets, writers, cartoonists, and people with verve and vision. Only lovers of good music, (preferably live) food, wine,beer, and classic bicycles need apply for ownership. I am with you in spirit only. Maybe some day a red Vespa will keep the steel bikes company in my garage. But, for now, finding a quiet place to live has the first priority. Our neighborhood has gone to shit.
- Patrick O'Grady Says:
  June 13, 2015 at 8:25 pm | Reply
  
  Mario Batali rides one too. I shall say no more.
  
  I’m sorry to hear the Visigoths have clambered over your wall, Pat. We had that going on in our Bibleburg ‘hood forever until the SWAT team finally took a hand.
  
  One of Herself’s favorite stories is of me leaping out of bed and thundering out the back door to holler, “Hey! ASSHOLES! It’s 2:30 in the morning! SHUT THE FUCK UP!”
  
  To which a sodden, mildly chastened voice replied, “Sorry. …”
  - Pat O'Brien Says:
    June 13, 2015 at 8:37 pm | Reply
    Batali is an aberration.
    
    I had the same idea until I saw the 6 foot something, 300 pound guy on neighbors pation slamming that last beer. I am too old for this shit, as I believe an actior once said in a poor action movie. I think I shall simply move in to the “waiting to die” neighborhood across the road. Lots of bike riders there, including Gwynne at 83 still riding his well used Bike Friday.
  - Pat O'Brien Says:
    June 13, 2015 at 8:41 pm | Reply
    And how to turn on the spell checker in comments with this new damnable Yosemite 10.10.
  - Patrick O'Grady Says:
    June 13, 2015 at 8:45 pm | Reply
    Yeah, I don’t know what I was thinking. A mixed martial artist I am not. Which is probably why Herself finds the memory so amusing.
    
    I saw a dude give a ruthless beatdown to another dude in a road-rage deal on YouTube the other day. Hijo, madre. Didn’t look one little bit like fun. Cured me of popping off … until the next time.
  - Pat O'Brien Says:
    June 14, 2015 at 12:44 pm | Reply
    Amazing what a ride on the Saga with your sweetie, also my favorite riding buddy, will do to improve my outlook. That and accidently meeting up with our tandem riding buds for a short time on the return leg. Good company.
    
    Man, don’t mess with a feller wearing a tie and driving a Corolla. If that van going by in the opposing lane would have been a little closer to the center line, Mr. Tie would have been in big trouble. I guess Larry can clue us in on driving in LA. I’ll take a pass. Been there done that.
Marc Greene Says:
June 14, 2015 at 7:02 am | Reply
Dear PO’G,

You are one of the snarky good ones. “Old brown eyes” would feel proud unto thee. Would that more USA citizens achieved such a transportation compromise. (Optative Subjunctive) OS likewise: would that I had any garage, much less one with 16 bikes. After a 1972 Chicago crash bent my sweet Zeus, I bought a Paramount P10 frame for $140. It survives better than I do. My first car was a 1948 MGTC, a gift from Grandpa.

Disk brakes for racing cars came in during the 1953 LeMans on the Jaguar D-Type.

Maybe someday the UCI will let race bikes have disks.

I suppose there is some kind of compromise: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disc_brake

Marc Greene
khal spencer Says:
June 14, 2015 at 8:11 am | Reply
So my red one has a little brother, eh?
Debby, south of Longtucky Says:
June 14, 2015 at 8:12 am | Reply
It’s a fine looking scooter, Patrick. I’ve always thought Vespas looked the best. And it’s the right color, too!

Much cooler than the one that Mario dufus is sitting on…
Dale Says:
June 14, 2015 at 1:51 pm | Reply
I’ve been looking for a Vespa that I could restore (or at least fix up) for some time, but they are hard to come by on the right coast, at a price that I am willing to pay. There are hundreds of Chinese scooters around town, and they can be had (used and abused) for cheap. They just do not float my boat.
Pat O'Brien Says:
June 14, 2015 at 3:40 pm | Reply
Patrick, I beg your pardon for changing the subject for just a second. Anyone want to race a steam locomotive running on used vegetable oil?
http://grandcanyonracing.com