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April 9, 2005
the art of movement 
Big day today. I got to PFit just after 7am, and the sun was shining. I immediately saw Hollie and started catching up with her, and as her friends came round, I got introduced. Sweet! I then saw a friend of Mela's, and another of her friends recognized me (oh, I am so bad with names and faces), and then I introduced myself to others.
It was a huge crowd. Overwhelming. It'll be easier once we meet in our color groups—much smaller, much more manageable. As we started off for our 3 or 4 mile walk, I decided to hang back, and try to chat with folks I didn't know. Then I hung with some ACs, and racewalked while they ran. Chatted with some other folks, hung back, sped up, chatted with someone else. It was big fun.
All full of excitement and cheerfulness, I came home, collected the sweetheart, and we went out for breakfast at a place that before was really good—and this morning, nearly inedible. The bright spot was that it was a block away from a hot new bakery which had lots of samples, and we ended up getting three croissants, a slice of lemon tea cake (to die for!), and a pistachio danish. After that, we went scooter shopping.
First stop, the Vespa dealership. As usual, my double x chromosomes rendered me invisible. Then the salesman greets sweetie, and sweetie points out that I'm interested in test-driving. After some negotiating, and after he shows me all the controls as if I had never seen an engine kill switch, I take the granturismo 200cc out for a ride.
It's pretty and responsive. Everyone gives me a second look and a smile. I crank easily up a vertical hill, stop easily, go easily. It's effortless, really.
I bring 'er back in, and the salesman offers to let me try out another automatic transmission scooter. Well, how about a Stella, a manual—they have the atomic fireball Stellas, which I hear are a bit souped-up, could I try that? No.
Next, we roll down to Scooter Station. Stefan is there, and I ask if I can take one of the P200Es out. This is the polar opposite of the GT200—a manual, no electric start, an old, loud vespa. I get it out a few blocks away and stall it, and can't get it kick started again, so I walk it back to the shop. Stefan shows me how to kick-start it, totally without judgement or doing anything to make me feel like this isn't something easy to do, and I go for a longer ride which goes without incident.
This is not effortless. The hand shift requires a lot of left-hand strength, and shifting requires a lot of attention. But I'm cruising up and down hills, up and down streets, it's nice. Though a bit like exercise. It reminds me of when I first started driving a manual car. Soon enough, it becomes muscle memory and unconscious. Just as I was bringing it back in, it started to rain.
He also had an automatic scooter, the TnG Milano which I'd like to try out. But not when it's raining.
We went by Columbia Scooters after that. We chatted scooters with one of the guys, and had a lovely time. But still raining. It was killing me. They still have one Stella, some nice Bajajs, and then the Kymmco. For some reason I had thought they were open on Sundays, but they're not, so not riding any of their stock was killing me!
Even now, thinking about this stuff is killing me. If I had to buy on the basis of decent guys who treated me kindly and with respect, both Scooter Station and Columbia are stellar. I just have to hope that the scooter I want will reveal itself, making this decision easier!
Posted at April 9, 2005
Comments
man, that granturismo is pretty. it sure is disappointing to hear about Portland Vespa-- i had such high hopes for when i make my first million and can get me one of these babies.
heh, yesterday morning as i was leaving for PFit, parked right next to my driveway was an old red vespa, just sitting there looking at me. it was still there when i got back. i think it's a sign-- march into the stupid dealership, make a big stink of some sort and GET THE VESPA.
Posted by: hollumns at April 10, 2005 1:19 PM
The more you write about the scooters, the more interested I am. And I have never in a million years thought about scooters!! So cool:)
Posted by: susan at April 10, 2005 5:23 PM
If they are running any "two for the price of one" deals there is a guy in Texas who would love a scooter! ;)
Hope you are doing well. As always, I enjoy reading your thoughts and what you are up to.
Take care and walk strong!
Posted by: Marshall at April 10, 2005 6:32 PM
Oooh, they're ALL cute! Maybe one in each color? ;) But I don't blame you one bit for not wanting to do business with sexist jerks!! I've told car dealers they lost their sale for that...!!!
Posted by: Nancy Toby at April 10, 2005 6:39 PM
Those look totally cool, VJ! I wish I could get one. Wife says no, I will kill myself on it. Maybe. All the hillbillies out here would run me over probably. But they do look so cool and fun.
If a sales rep treat you bad, don't give him your business, and find a way to let him AND his boss know why you aren't buying a scooter there.
Posted by: Jon in Michigan at April 11, 2005 6:18 AM
I hear ya, VJ, I hear ya. Only I've been looking at used scooters, and I feel so out of my depth when making a decision.
I was looking at a used Yamaha Riva, and have been embroiled in an email coorespondence with the seller for 4 friggen weeks without actually seeing the darn thing. And now there's this other guy emailing me about a Vento something or other and he wrote me, I kid you not, a 4 page treatise all about things like drum brakes vs. disc brakes, 4-stroke vs. 2-stroke, wheel size, front-end suspension vs. telescopic suspension, etc, etc....
My eyes crossed. I'm still struggling with whether to get a 50cc or 120cc, and I keep getting all kinds of contradictory advice. It's just as bad as buying a car. In the end, of course, it will come down to price.
All the scoots you referenced are sexy! So... you want some Mexican Coke? I might just have to go buy some for myself to taste compare.
Posted by: megan at April 11, 2005 7:13 AM
Hi VJ,
I have a scooter from a rice-burner company called CPI. It's a 50cc motor, top speed about 45KPH. I bought it because anything bigger requires a motorcycle license here in Germany. I can drive it using a normal auto license. I know some people tinker with them and get speeds up to 80KPH, but thats illegal, and I need my license. I use it mostly for running errands, going to the garden nights to water (our garden is 11K/6M away) in the summer. It's a good substitute for a second car. It's a ball to drive, but I try to stay off the busier roads, there're all nuts over here. I'm not allowed to take it on the state roads or autobahns, it's too slow. It would also be suicidal;-) I would have loved to buy a Vespa, but I would have needed to get my motorcycle license, and my wife is dead against that.
Posted by: Jack at April 11, 2005 9:42 AM
I just posted a picture of my little 49cc CPI scooter on my blog.
Posted by: Jack at April 11, 2005 10:09 AM