This guy could be heading straight for your scooter. Photograph Courtesy Of: Cedarposts.Blogspot.com

I took a ride this morning. The weather is be-yoot-iful. But some say it can’t last. Some say, the milder the Fall, the worse the Winter. Who knows? I prefer to think more optimistically. Given the engine on my Jet 200 had been on the surgeon’s table at Scooters Originali for most of the last couple of months (thanks Gene, she’s running like a dream,) I’m hoping for a continued riding season to squeeze as much out of this year as possible.

However, one thing is for sure – Eventually the weather is going to turn nasty, and even if it’s not full-fledged snow, it could be ice that will prevent you riding. It’s therefore time to start planning a winter strategy for your scoot.

Many scooterists choose to store their scooter out on the street during the Winter months. And with some basic prep-work to winterize your bike, especially if it’s a two-stroker, this is certainly a viable option. But it can quickly become a bad call if the snow comes in and you wake up one morning to find your bike under a pile of snow, or worse yet, your bike scrapped away unknowingly by a NYC Sanitation Department snow plow (yes, it happens.)

And that’s why most of the area’s local scooter stores and mechanics offer off-road Winter storage solutions. With limited space available, it’s better to call around now before the weather turns and competition for space rises.

Northvale, New Jersey’s Metro Scooter has been offering a storage service for several years now with a pick-up and drop-off service for Manhattan bikers. Owner Alan Townsley recently pointed out to us that saving a buck by leaving your scooter on the street over the Winter can sometimes mean “Penny-Wise, Pound-Foolish.”

Alan got several distress calls this past Spring: scooters damaged by snow removal activity, customers issued tickets for parking issues related to being immobilized and many more that had mechanical issues needing serious money spent to get the owner riding again: “Winter 2010 was a blood bath. Many customers unfortunately had to spend much more to get their scooters sorted in Spring than they would have spent in storing them.”

Metro Scooter charges $349 for storage over Winter until April 30th and offers pick up and delivery in NYC at no additional charge. They also go a step further than simply putting a roof over your head and provide an oil and filter change plus a full safety inspection of all bikes before they roll out on the road for another year of riding.

So your call. Many seasoned scooterists pretty much ride all Winter long. As with all things, it’s about having the right apparel. But even the toughest scooterist can’t commute in the snow. Others who are more familiar with the ins-and-outs of their bike might opt to store their bike on the street. Again, viable as long as you know what you’re getting yourself into.

For those looking to store their bike outside, some local dealers have in the past hosted Winterization seminars so it’s worth keeping an eye on your favorite dealers’ websites for upcoming events. If you’re a Stella rider looking for tips, we have some great videos courtesy of Scooterville Minnesota, a state where you can be sure they know snow when they see it.

But if you don’t intend to ride through the harsh weather, or you’d like that shiny paint job to remain just the way it is, then worry-free storage is the way to go. If you’re interested in storage options call around your local friendly scooter dealers. Metro Scooter can be reached at 201-564-7003 or emailed at metroscooter@optonline.net.

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Photo courtesy: cedarposts.blogspot.com

It has been discussed here several times, at least once by me, that some potholes in this city are nothing shy of craters.  I have seen massive holes in the roads during fair weather seasons, but nothing compares to the damage done by a violent winter.  This winter was more violent than most, and we are now seeing the effects of the DOTs harsh treatment of the roads, presumably, in order to make them drivable, after the snow melts.  The irony that the DOT’s actions create more dangerous conditions, in an effort to make us all safer, does not escape me.  Especially as I have approached a pothole at speed, barely escaping it’s depth.

I am not here to b*%ch and moan about the potholes again (although I would love to vent, for the 4537th time).  These road condition have highlighted a safety measure that I am having a hard time adhering to.  When I took the MSS safety course, one of the lessons that stood out to me most, and which I have tried to practice regularly, is the ‘four and two second rule.’  The simple act of picking a stationary point in the distance (parked car, telephone pole), and counting the seconds between you and the car immediately in front of you.  This lesson has stuck with me, above all others, because it seems the easiest way to prevent unforeseen issues, which could lead to horrible, horrible things.  Ideally, you would have four seconds between you and the car ahead.  At worst, you should never get closer than two seconds.  I believe the goal of the MSS instructor was to prevent rear-ending someone. But an added benefit would be to have a clearer view of the road ahead.

So, in my daily riding, I make sure that I (of course) keep an eye on the car in front of me, but also to occasionally count off the distance, adjusting my speed and open space accordingly.  Therein lies the problem.  On the streets of New York, in the type of congested traffic we typically deal with, allowing even two seconds between us and the car ahead, is incredibly difficult.  I think that I give in to the pressure of angry horns, urging me to move before it’s safe, pressuring me to follow closer than I feel comfortable with.  The bottleneck of cars that I encounter, on almost every ride, offers very little in the way of safe space between me and ANY car.  Not behind, parked or at crossings, let alone the one ahead of me.  Often, I find myself instinctively beginning to count…”one Mississippi, two….”  That’s it.  That’s all I get.  Maybe I need to use a different state?

This brings up our old nemesis, the pothole.  I have found that there is very little chance of me spotting these craters, when I am tailing so close behind.  The reaction time is now limited, and I have merely split seconds to react.  Thus far I have avoided these disasters-in-waiting, but I feel my time is coming.  The other day, on an entrance ramp (when most of us would be concentrating on the merging traffic ahead, I realized I had entered a gauntlet of holes, no less than 10″ deep, about the size of a basketball.  There is no way, and I mean NO WAY, my bike would have remained upright, had I hit one of these chasms.  They were spaced perfectly to eat scooter tires, allowing only the slightest room for error.  Fortunately, I barely avoided the tragedy that awaited me, but felt the sting of nerves, for the remainder of the trip home.

Although there is now an easier way to report road condition problems through the 311 service, the rate at which these issues are solved is never going to prevent us having to deal with them.  So, best to take safety measures into our own hands.  The solution: well, I’m not sure there really is one.  If, like me, you cave to the pressure of the traffic surrounding you, there is a very good chance that you will encounter one of these holes.  If, unlike me, you can resist the honking and pressure, you will be safer for it, and have a fighting chance at safely getting through this season of splits in the road.  Keep an eye out, and a safe distance between….it’s about the only thing we can do.

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Sadly, I must admit that I allowed myself to go MIA for a while.  I let the cold weather and snow conquer my drive to ride.  I found myself giving in to my landlord’s advice, to put the Vespa in the backyard for the winter, to avoid the harsh accumulation that developed on our street.  So, there it sat, where I could see it out the rear window of my apartment, a daily reminder that this winter had gotten the best of me.  The picture above shows you the depressing site I had from my window, and that daily view just kept eating away at me.  The snow stayed hard and tall for weeks, and the idea of digging it out became easier and easier to avoid, as the wind turned ugly.

But then this past week, the weather turned warmer and I started having visions of riding around Brooklyn, once again wearing the lightest (yet protective) gear possible.  It’s high time to fire the old gal up, and make sure all the parts are in good working order.  This will be my first winter survived, and the defeat I felt by the winter of 2010-2011, will be gone.

Let’s hope that she starts right up, and the effects of winter don’t delay my riding any longer.

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During the nasty weather days of this past week, I have found myself scouring the web for information on repairs I plan for the Vespa, and tales of great rides that people in my area have found.  Also, I am trying to keep myself of all the safety options that are out there.  Several posts I have come across discuss riding in the inclement weather.  Because I am new to all this, I have been keeping it extra safe, and have been wondering if I will ever feel completely comfortable riding in the rain or cold weather, or whether I will be strictly a sunny day rider.

Obviously the danger involved with riding the streets of the greater NYC area increase with bad weather, and I find them to be fairly challenging already.  I am trying to decide if the wet roads would impact a cab driver at a stop, when they don’t come to a full stop on DRY roads.  Will I get to a confidence level that will make traveling in the rain less intimidating?  Not sure, but for now, I have decided that if the streets are wet, I will keep off the roads.  I have also decided that I will take certain precautions, to ensure I have the best protection available.

Besides the required helmet, I have purchased several motorcycle specific safety items, some of which make riding on a nice sunny day… a little less nice.  I chose a full-face helmet for the obvious reason, it offers just that much more protection. This is my first time riding on two wheels in over 20 years, so I also prepare for each ride by donning an Xelement padded mesh jacket (which makes me look like something out of Mad Max), padded riding gloves, a pair of blue jeans and over-the-angle leather boots.  I could tell that some of my friends felt I was being a little paranoid, and I’m sure most consider my look somewhat ridiculous.  Fact is, they are correct.  I AM a bit paranoid, but I’d like to think it’s not in an unhealthy way.  I am taking precautions, and if that makes me look and feel somewhat uncomfortable, so be it.  This is NYC, and the dangers that the streets possess are real.  Fashion be damned!

Which brings me to the next season change – which will involve dry streets, but cold temperatures.  In my neck of the woods, the wind in the winter is quite robust. There is an intimidation presented by the oncoming winter months, making me wonder whether I will be confident riding in the cold.  This seems less daunting than riding in the rain, but still presents a set of challenges.  Can I dress warmly enough, yet still feel loose enough, to ride safely?  Will I be so focused on how cold I am, that I will lack concentration, and therefore an element of safety?

All these questions will be answered when the weather finally turns to chill, and I am hoping that I find myself refreshed by the cold, and not limited by it.  I know that my enthusiasm level is high right now, because this is all so new to me, but I can’t imagine not riding the scooter for several months this winter.

One thing I do know, I will not be doing donuts in the snow!

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2 Stroke Buzz has a great short article in answer to a question from Chicago reader Phil about the validity of storing your scoot in your living space, in this case the basement of his rental building. 2 stroke’s answer – in short, unless you’re prepared to fully drain the oil and gas, don’t do it.

Click through to read 2 Stroke’s answer in full.

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Bob Hedstrom of Scooterville Minnesota has yet more video tips for us. This time – how to winterize your scooter. A man, those MN boys should know.

Winterization is less about protecting your scoot from the inclement weather than it is about two key issues that arise with a scoot that hasn’t been ridden for a few months: coagulation of gasoline and battery drain. Find out how to avoid both in Bob’s videos:

Part One:

Part Two:

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Photograph by keever04, Flickr.

Seattle based NWAutos have just put together a nice primer on staying safe on your scooter this fall and winter from Dave Wendell, a local safety instructor with 22 years under his belt.

As they say in the article, Northwesterners are not a people who let a little inclement weather stand in the way of their riding experience, with the mantra that there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear.

Head on over to NWAutos to read the tips.

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Photograph by Francesca Tronchin, Flickr.

Vespa Brooklyn has just announced its winter storage program for two-wheelers.

$120/month for scooters & $150/month for motorcycles

• indoor, secure storage
• started bi-weekly to keep battery fresh
• complimentary wash
• free service if stored over 3 months (Vespa/Piaggio models only)

Head on over to their website to contact them for more details.

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Photograph by Francesca Tronchin, Flickr

The fine folks at New York’s Motorcycle Safety School and Vespa Soho’s sister store McCarren Motors/Vespa Greenpoint have joined forces to put together an upcoming lecture on the basics of preparing your scoot for the “off-season.”

A Vespa Greenpoint mechanic will be on hand to walk you through the dos and don’ts and, handily, McCarren Motors are putting their accessories on sale at a 20% discount during the event.

The two-hour lecture starts at 1pm on Saturday October 17th. Space is limited, so to RSVP for event, email Cvera@ridemss.com or call 718-599-1079. McCarren Motors is a block away from McCarren park on the Williamsburg, Greenpoint border.

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Photograph by Francesca Tronchin, Flickr

With the weather dropping a few degrees over the past couple of days, turns out we’re not the only ones thinking about all things scooting through the Fall and Winter – Metro Scooter/Vespa Northvale have just announced their Winter storage package for 2009.

For $299 you’ll get pick up and drop-off in NYC at the beginning and end of the storage season, and the following fantastic package deal, taking advantage of NJ’s relatively cheap storage space:

• Oil change (4 stroke engines only)
• Transmission fluid change
• Fuel stabilizer addition to the gas
• Antifreeze check on liquid cooled scooters
• Running the stabilizer into the engine
• Fuel drain
• Battery removal and trickle charge
• Cleaning
• Storage indoors in a heated space
• Reverse process in the Spring (full fuel tank included)
• Safety check for proper running before drop-off

Fall pick-up and Spring drop-off times and locations will be announced shortly, but in the meantime you can reserve a space with the store for a $100 deposit.

Contact Alan and the crew at Metro Scooter to learn more.

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