Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/03/16
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Bob, You have already gotten a lot of advice, most of which falls in the category that you must be suicidal to consider motorized two-wheel transportation. Some of it has been more useful and I agree with those who said that a proper motorcycle handles better and is basically safer than a scooter. If you do decide for a scooter, then definitiely go for one of the models with relatively large wheels, but if I were you I would take a hard look at a small motorcycle, in the 125cc or 250cc class. It will have plenty enough power for the kind of riding you describe and will be much better handling and safety-wise than a Vespa. Any of the major Japanese brands would be fine. Regardless of what you decide, I urge you to take one of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation rider courses. Also consider getting a subscription to Motorcycle Consumer News (www.mcn.com) which is totally unlike any of the other motorcycle mags in that it carries no advertising, is therefore totally objective, and has a wealth of useful articles focusing on safety, riding techniques, insurance, repair costs and other real-world issues. No half-naked blondes sprawled on Harleys in that magazine. Finally the issue of risk. No doubt riding a scooter or motorcycle is more dangerous than driving a car. But it is equally true that you can do a lot to reduce the risks by getting appropriate training, riding defensively, riding sober, wearing high-visibility apparel, wearing proper riding gear etc. I always enjoy the sight of a pretty girl in a short skirt riding her Vespa in Italy or Spain, but I also shudder to think of what would happen to those pretty legs in even a minor spill. Likewise, I always wonder about whether the owners of the bikes I see parked outside our local lakeside bar on a nice summer evening are inside drinking coffee or Coca-Cola...I don't think so, unfortunately. A very high proportion of motorcycle fatalities involves alcohol or drugs, much higher than in the case of car fatalities. The point is that to a large extent, you can influence how dangerous riding really is. Feel free to ask any questions off-list. Kind regards, Nathan BOB KRAMER wrote: > Please pardon the off topic question here but I would appreciate some > advice, particularly from you Europeans. Growing weary of my 15 year old > car, and not being able to afford a new one, I am considering a motor > scooter. Would work great for zipping around the neighborhood, and even to > work in nice weather. - -- Nathan Wajsman Herrliberg (ZH), Switzerland e-mail: wajsman@webshuttle.ch Photo-A-Week: http://www.wajsman.com/indexpaw2002.htm General photo site: http://www.wajsman.com/index.htm - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html