This article from the Perthshire Advertiser was brought to my attention via the loverly 2strokebuzz. There are few things more drool-worthy to me than a sparkly pink Vespa.

That said, I encourage all the boys out there to man-up and follow my friend Doc’s example by straddling something hot and pink:

It’s good to give those stereotypes a run for their money every once in awhile!

A few months ago I foolishly left Aphrodite, my Vespa GTS, outside in the driveway overnight – a moment of laziness proving to be both expensive and time-consuming. The GTS took an ill-fated tumble into the rock wall outside my apartment, cracking the new Faco mid-size windscreen in half.

I wasn’t in a rush to replace the windscreen over the summer as I mainly use it to deflect rain. But I did find that long trips on I5 lacked their usual comfort; the day after a lengthy journey on the highway, my neck and shoulders ached from absorbing the sustained wind pressure of 75 m.p.h.

I wondered if motorcycle riders experienced a similar discomfort, especially since they tend to spend longer periods of time at higher speeds. Then I realized it’s likely the upright seated position of the scooterist that makes us less aerodynamic and therefore more prone to wind drag. And maybe I would build up muscles in my neck that I don’t presently have. (And maybe I should get a full-face helmet that doesn’t scoop up the wind like a sail, so I must tighten my chin strap lest it fly off my head at high speeds.)

In any case, with the impending Seattle rainy season (September through July) upon us, I realized it was time to admit the windscreen dilemma must be solved or I was destined to continue showing up for work like a drowned rat.

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This photo is from the Sustainable West Seattle fair. A couple of people asked me about the magnetic poetry yesterday’s article in the West Seattle Herald referenced. Here it is!

Aphrodite was covered head to tail light in Sexual Innuendo Magnetic Poetry. It was fun for a few months and then i removed it because it was scratching my paint. Last week I found one lonely, perfect word lying on the floor of the garage, and stuck it to the Frankenstella.

While I entrust 3M and Identi-tape with all my essential reflective needs, I found these self-described “fun reflectors” and wanted to share them with you because they’re so darn cute.
Team Estrogen has an assortment of reflective stickers in party shapes and colors, including blue fish, orange flowers, white stars (this is starting to sound like Lucky Charms) and the clever red cog hearts that are perfect for Aphrodite.

You can apply these stickers anywhere you’d like a little extra shine, day or night – your topcase, helmet, legshield, passenger – wherever.
I removed my cowl reflectors when installing the chrome kit on the GTS, so I may pick up some day-glo cogs to replace them. I’ve already applied nearly-invisible Scotchlite black reflective tape on the sides and trunk of my scooter, but it’s not all sparkly and cute in the daylight.
And sparkly and cute is where it’s at, kids. Epsecially when it comes to safety.

Aphrodite reflects Queenie’s scooter, parked nearby.

When I first brought home my Vespa GTS, I was having problems with the battery. Despite 200 miles of riding in one weekend, the battery failed to charge. The shop replaced the battery with a new one, but it would still quit unexpectedly. It would hold a full charge for a few days, and then randomly stop.
The shop guy suggested that because I had a short commute, the battery did not have time to replenish the amount of power required to electrically start the scooter. I didn’t buy it; a scooter of Vespa’s pedigree should be able to handle five days of short trips on a brand-spankin-new battery without konking out. From a purely consumer view, his explanation didn’t fly.

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Last night’s Vespa Club of Seattle membership meeting ended with a beautiful ride in the stunning February sunset.
Oh, wait – isn’t it June?
It’s membership renewal time and for $20 you, too, can be a member of VCOS. Joining was a good move in this scooter odyssey of mine. It’s given me access to the best minds in Seattle scootering. Scooterists love to help one another, especially if it gives them a chance to showcase their skill, talent, knowledge, or tool collection. And now I’ve been hanging around long enough that I actually have something to offer back.
While my bailiwick is often limited to the realm of digital design and CSS, my two most recent scooters have put me through the paces enough that I’ve become intimately acquainted with things like Vespa batteries and chrome installation, two-stroke carburetors, Stella exhaust systems, Stella electrical wiring, Stella spark plugs and Stella tires. And I’ll take “Towing a Scooter” for 600 please, Alex.
How I ended up at my first Vespa Club meeting last year is a slice of universal synchronicity, if you subscribe to such beliefs.

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I got a sweet new trunk for my scooter. It has a lot of room — it fits my big Timbuk2 tote alongside my 3/4 helmet. Or it will fit two paper bags of groceries from Trader Joe’s.

It will also fit two cats or a medium-sized dog, but Piaggio USA would like to remind you that no pets are allowed in the storage compartments of Vespa scooters.

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NOW! With 50% more bling!

I thought it would be wise to get the crash bars on the Vespa ASAP, considering the fate of the Frankenstella – that scooter went down three times while the crash bars were still lying uselessly on my garage floor. I was determined to install the chrome on the Vespa myself, not only to avoid the $90/hr labor charge, but because I can.

Oh yes, I can.

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Now that I’ve put about 300 miles on the Vespa, I’ve been able to draw some comparisons between this and the various other scooters I’ve ridden. The GTS is the creme of the crop — a five-star scooter, the Jaguar of the scooter world, if you ask me. Vespa calls the GTS “The Fastest Vespa Ever.” I would also call it the safest Vespa ever. Not that I need to rationalize anything, but purchasing the GTS was definitely a wise move.

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