There's a nice measure of freedom when we can release our grip on something whether it's our favorite motorcycle, a job, or anything else that isn't working right. I loved my BMW K75C but it was the right choice to release it to make way for the Himalayan. And it was good for me to add the Honda Trail 125 to my little fleet. I can ride it alone in pretty rough stuff without concern of drops or getting hurt because it falls on me. The Himalayan still has a role but I let go of holding onto it for every off road situation. I was 61 when I had my heart attack and stent. Nine years out I'm still doing ok. And riding makes it better!

It sure is! It has an eclectic beauty to my eyes. And capable of all the riding I do.

There are a variety of mountains here. Not sure which you are referring to. The most common ones that stand out on the landscape are Mount Nittany, Egg Hill, and Brush Mountain. Otherwise I am in the longer ridges of the Appalachian Mountains -- Bald Eagle Ridge, Tussey Mountain, Jack's Mountain.

@@ScooterintheSticks It is prominent at 3:29 minutes.

@@69telecasterplayer That’s the end of Brush Mountain east of Centre Hall, Pennsylvania.

The W650 is a very smooth running and riding motorcycle. It has me mesmerized!

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Especially about the master cylinder. I will add it to my checklist. Hopefully any issues with it appear slowly over time and not a catastrophic failure. Brakes are important! A reminder to everyone to change their brake fluid every couple years....

@@ScooterintheSticks Normally the first sign that an ET4 master cylinder is going bad is that the brake lever becomes slow to return to the "off" position as the piston rubbers start to bloat and the return spring starts to weaken. This causes the brake light to remain illuminated after the front brake lever has been released. I forgot to say that I really enjoyed your video, that's a beautiful part of the world you live in.

@@TruckingVideos Thanks for the information regarding the performance of a failing master cylinder. Centre Pennsylvania has a lot of beautiful places in which to ride. I consider myself fortunate.

All day would be a long time!😁 I appreciate the sentiment. I will endeavor to continue to share things worthy of your time.

The Vespa GTS is an exceptional machine. Not everyone feels as I do for various reasons but if you’re drawn to it and you find it comfortable to ride, it will deliver a rich riding experience that’s different from a motorcycle. Good luck with your considerations!

@@ScooterintheSticks thank you!

@@ScooterintheSticks just wanted to reach back out and let you know I purchased the bike. No regrets at all. Such a wonderful machine. I see what you mean from the spiritual side of riding.

Thank you for the kind and supportive words on the material I share. I appreciate them.

No, I never made a video specifically focused on how I produce my content. I can tell you that generally I use a GoPro 8 on my helmet, sometimes an Insta360 One X2 on the bars or on a pole, an iPhone 14 Pro, and sometimes a small camera on a tripod for static shots. And a DJI wireless microphone system. I edit on an iMac running Final Cut Pro. I also subscribe to Artlist for music. Nothing special about clothing. KLIM summer jacket and gloves. First Gear Kilimanjaro IV jacket for cold weather. HJC helmet. Joe Rocket armored pants for summer. Tourmaster armored and insulated pants for winter. TCX leather riding boots. That's about it.

@@ScooterintheSticks thanks for the feedback. I plan to save this as a text file. Really thinking about getting one of those Vespas, probably the 300. Love your videos.

@@69telecasterplayer Good luck on your search. Vespa makes fine scooters though they are expensive. I'm asked sometimes if I wasn't going to buy another Vespa what kind of scooter would I look at. My first consideration would be the Yamaha XMAX300. They are thousands less and equally if not more capable than a Vespa. I love the way a Vespa looks and it may affect my desire more than someone looking for a capable scooter. Just saying...

Thanks! The 2001 W650 definitely looks like a late 60s Bonneville. Many other riders confuse it as such. Even when I show them the Kawasaki badge they have a hard time believing it. The W800 has a similar vibe but is much more readily identified as a modern motorcycle. They are hard to find though.

Thank you for your kind words about my channel. I appreciate them. Good luck on your consideration of getting a Vespa. They can be a good choice for someone looking for a lighter and easy to handle machine. They bring with them much of the same risks as a motorcycle though. They aren't inherently any safer aside from not achieving the dazzling speeds of many motorcycles. If you do decide to ride, make sure you get some training. Especially regarding road strategy. Being on two wheels on the road requires a very different mindset and approach than driving a car. Good luck and be safe!

Thanks for the sub! I’m glad you liked the video. My most recent one focuses on riding the W659. It is a great bike.

You’re exactly right. The motorcycles are merely a means to an end. And in this case, to spend time with each other. I’ve made a lot of friends because of scooters and motorcycles. It helped me break free from the kind of self imposed isolation I lived with. I will always be gratefulto have found riding. Not just for the solitary benefits I derive from it, but for the richness of the friendships that have grown as result of riding motorcycles and scooters. Thanks for taking the time to comment. I appreciate your thoughts.

Clint Eastwood has me beat. I'm just shy of 6'3". Tall enough to get things off of high shelves for my wife and frequently bang my head on low door frames at the bottom of stairways...

@@ScooterintheSticks that's what helmets are for.

You bet!

For the years I was riding in snow, salt, and slush, I had to repaint the muffler every spring. And I had to repaint the bottom once because the paint was starting to come off from rocks and gravel beating on it and exposing bare metal. But other than that no serious rust issues.

@@ScooterintheSticks Good to know. Vespas get a bad name for rust but I always suspected it was an owners neglect issue.

Congratulations on your decision to move towards becoming a scooter rider. I started in my 50s and it was one of the best decisions I've made. I hope it is for you as well. Whatever decision you finally make, I would suggest you take a beginning rider course if you can. And watch some of the material on MC Rider that deals with road strategy. Learning to manipulate the machine is relatively easy. Learning how to be safe on the road is an entirely different story and has little relation to driving a car. Good luck on your new adventure. Let me know how things are going!

I think a lot of what makes a ride think a certain machine can or can't do something has to do with their personal expectations. I could comfortably ride the Trail 125 from Pennsylvania given the time. There are plenty of guys riding 50cc scooters across the country with no more support than their own wits and wallet. For me, the longest ride I foresee with the Honda would be a day long. Maybe 200 miles. For that I don't need much of anything. If guys make long trips alone on a bicycle I can do it on the Honda!

I would agree with. your assessment of the W650. It is wearing a vintage tweed suit. Nothing showy. Just functional. And from that laid back state comes something magical that is hard to describe. Thank you for the kind words about the video. I appreciate them.

@@ScooterintheSticks You're welcome, and thanks Steve for making these wonderful videos, keep building those memories and enjoying the ride

I listened to a podcast today where Peter Egan, author and moto-journalist was being interviewed. He has a Himalayan and said his will cruise at 70 but it happier a little slower. He indicated that his tops out at 78mph. Mine is roughly the same. If I was planning to do a lot of high speed cruising the Himalayan would not be my choice of motorcycle. Nothing in my garage would be a great choice for it even though the W650 and GTS could. I have the machines I do for riding off the freeway. I consider it a personal failure of planning if I have to spend much time on an expressway...

@@ScooterintheSticks It's always interesting to hear people's different views of the same machine. It always comes down to personal preference in the end. Same with the classic 350 - some write it off as being too slow while others love it for what it is best suited to.

Thank you for the positive positive perspective on getting older and riding. There’s a lot of unknowns. I try to just focus on today and what I can do right now. Best wishes for your upcoming rides. I hope you have the opportunity to do a lot of them.

That’s good to hear. My cardiologist keeps telling me I am doing fine but it’s nice to hear from someone who has similar experience. Like you, I plan a ride until I can’t.

Glad you enjoyed it!

Glad you enjoyed it. I’m grateful to have the opportunity to ride.

They seem to pace themselves and drink plenty of water!

A lot of people have trouble accepting the wobble as an inherent aspect of the GTS design. There's a lot of weeping and gnashing of teeth around it. Especially since some examples of the same model year don't wobble and others do. But across the board from 2006 to the present, the GTS wobble persists. I recently had the steering races and bearings, along with the shocks replaced. The steering is tight and positive. But the wobble persists. But as you say, with a hand on the bars there is no wobble...

Thank you!

She’s an angel.

Thank you for the generous words about the video. Like you, when I look at the W640 in the garage, I see a ‘68 Bonneville as well. It’s a lovely machine to behold and ride!

I think our days of raising puppies is behind us!😂❤️😎

@@ScooterintheSticks amen brother. Lol

Seems as if I get more and more relaxed the older I get. Some become old bold riders. I just get quiet.

I'm glad the video resonated with you. I just want to share the notion that there is more to motorcycles than speed, power, and noise. From what I've seen on Google Street views, there are fantastic roads in North Wales to explore with the W650.

Thanks for the kind words about the video. I'm glad I could echo your feelings about riding the W. It is just an amazing machine.

Thanks!

The KZfaq is full of stories of high speed, aggressive, competitive riders and riding. It would be easy to think that's what motorcycle and scootering is all about. But in the world most of the riders I meet are laid back and far from that stereotype. We're beginning our heat wave today with the temperature climbing near 90 with 78% humidity. Not my kind of riding weather. I'll have to fly in my imagination today...

@@ScooterintheSticks I get that, Steve - when we were living in Texas, it was "the humidity, not the heat"... at least that's what I frequently heard. It still felt darn HOT. And now in Arizona: "It's a dry heat"... so is an oven. But, I get out early and that works for me. Got a nice ride in this morning... I did some "flying" with you in mind.

Good choice! The GTS scooter will take you anywhere.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and perspective from the shores of Lake Huron. I appreciate them. Your description of what you do with the bike is a perfect summation of what I do with mine. Simple rides and great returns of experiences and memories.