Patiently waiting

In retrospect, this was probably not the best decision, but when I bought Lucia, the previous owner did not have title in hand, but did have a notorized Lien Satisfaction affadavit from his loan company and he told me that he had done the request for title and should be getting the title in two weeks. Well, next Tuesday will be three weeks. I spoke with him last Tuesday and he said that he had called about the title and they said that it had been sent, but it had been nearly a week and hadn't received it.

I'm really not worried as the guy I bought the scooter from seems a very decent guy and I don't think he is trying to pull anything, but it is a bit inconvenient. I have the scooter insured, I have my learners permit, I just can't get a legal tag until I get the title...ugh. Anyone know of a way to get a legal tag without the title in Georgia?

Had a nice 20 mile ride today (all within my neighborhood) to keep up with my practice, but I'm wanting to get out on more main streets and am hesitant without the tag. Well, gotta go to Palmetto and play bluegrass music for a wedding.

Working out the details

I got signed up for the MSF Beginning Riders Course today at Earl Small's Rider's Edge. Everything I've read say's you really really REALLY need to take the MSF course. It's one of those courses where you learn the things that you didn't even know that you needed to know. Apparently their classes fill up pretty well in advance so I'm just hoping to get in in June sometime.

On another note, I'm still waiting to get the title for the scooter because I can't get a tag without it. Without a tag, I have to really limit my riding to within my neighborhood... not that I should be riding much further without more experience.

When I got home from work earlier I happened to notice the cool reflection in the chrome cap in the engine of my vespa and decided to take a picture of it... Like it? 

Baby Steps

Another day, a little more confidence a little longer ride. This morning I rode a little over 13 miles. I went through most of the neighborhood streets in my area. Good practice stopping, signaling, turning, etc. Plenty of curves, dips and manhole covers to keep you on your toes in a fairly controlled environment. It's amazing how much differently you view things on a scooter than in a car. I was noticing the shape of the road that I had never seen in places that I have driven over every day for the last 3 years.

Maybe I'll get a chance to take her out this evening again.

First Rides

After getting my learners permit yesterday, I took Lucia for a ride last night and just got back from another ride this morning. I have a great neighborhood for learning to ride. There are lots of curves and hills, the speed limit doesn't get above 45mph (mostly under 35) and there are very few cars.

The hardest thing I am finding to get used to is remembering to turn the blinker off! I'm starting to get more comfortable leaning into curves and starting from a stop on an incline. But overall things have been easy and fun!

I've got an open face classic style helmet and and full face helmet. This morning I rode for the first time with the full-face helmet. It's a cool spring morning and the full-face is definitely nice. Lots less wind noise, no watery eyes, just more comfortable overall.

Yeah, I'm legal!

Ok, now I can leagally drive my italian sweetheart! I got my motorcycle learners permit this morning and got my insurance all set up. I guess now I can burn up the hot metropolis of Smyrna. . . Look out!

You know, the DMV is a great place to look at a cross-section of life in your area. If they had a coffee shop there, it might be my new hang-out. I was behind an immigrant who was trying to pass off a tax id number as a social. The DMV worker looked at the person as if she had seen this attempt 1000 times.

I'm 5'11" and was behind an african-american woman who was probably 4 inches taller than me and out weighed me by about 100 pounds. She had on biker boots, skin-tight jeans, a see-through top and spiked out hair that was hot pink. I think that might be a good look for me. . .hummm. . .

New Scooter

I'm a little behind so this post may be a bit long. I wanted to start this blog before I bought my scooter so I could chronical the decision making process. But alas. . . The best laid plans. . .

Well, I did it. After three years of waiting and wanting, I finally got my first scooter. During that time, I think I nearly drove The Boss (aka The Wife) crazy.

I have read practically everything available online about practically every possible type of scooter and had come down to deciding between two: A Dragon Red Vespa GTS 250 and a Tangerine Orange Stella.

The GTS was just absolutely beautiful - Classic lines, powerful engine, grabbing color, modern performance. What an absolutely perfect bike. But OUCH! Coming in at just under $6K was a bit burdensome on the wallet.

On the other hand, the Stella was smaller (149cc 2-stroke), was totally vintage in nature and I just loved the Tangerine Orange. Plus the bike came in MUCH cheaper at around $3K. This seemed like just the bike for me as I loved the vintage flair.

Well, as I had just about made up my mind on the Stella, a slightly used Excalibur Gray 2005 Vespa GT 200L came up for sale on Craig's List. From the pictures, the bike looked absolutely perfect and the owner was only asking $3800 for it.

My mind had already started trying to get comfortable with the idea of the Stella! So, I went over to Stella Speed to see if those Stella-heads had any opinion about this. After telling them about my 6 mile commute with about 80% being on a non-divided 55 mph 4-lane, they suggested that I go with the GT as the stella really tops out around 50-55 mph and the Vespa will do 70+ pretty easily, plus the Vespa was such a great deal.

So I called the owner about the Vespa and after he had gotten his title details straightened out I drove over to Athens to take a look at it. Sure enough, it was perfect. Not a scratch, dent, ding, or blemish. Plus, the owner was throwing in two helmets and a shop manual. I bought her on the spot and you can see a little snapshot of her above (her name is Lucia).

To be honest, I've been a bit scared of the scooter. I've never ridden a scooter or a motorcycle. Well, yesterday morning I was backing her out of the garage so that I could get my car out to go to work and spontaneously decided to coast down the drive way. I got to the culdesac, turned around, started her up and gingerly rode back up the drive. That wasn't so hard! Well, The Boss was standing in the garage and she immediately reprimanded me sharply for riding down the drive without a helmet and "what kind of example is that setting for The Kids." Ok. Fair enough. Point taken.

Well, last night I got home from work, had supper, then went out and pulled the scooter out of the garage (this time geared up with a helmet). As the scooter doesn't have a license plate yet and I don't even have a learner's permit yet, I limited my roamings to the culdesac and the 1/10 mile of street I live on. The Kids are both so excited about the scooter and went out into the yard by the street (in their jammies) to watch me practice riding and made a game of running up and down the length of the yard as I went past. The Wife was out sweeping the driveway and hanging the curtains she had washed in the garage.

Looking back at the situation from the outside, we must look like the neighborhood crazies. The Wife was in her pajamas sweeping the driveway and hanging curtains. The Boy was in his t-shirt and boxers running through the yard laughing and playing, The Girl was in pink pajamas rolling in the grass, and I was doodling up and down the short street and around the culdesac on a scooter for about 45 minutes.

Even just that little bit of low-speed riding was SO fun. It really is exciting! I think I am going to go get my learners permit and see if I can get a tag for her today. Then I will be legal and I can take her a little further in the neighborhood (not going to brave the bigger streets yet).