tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-158278912011-04-21T15:30:38.857-07:00Experiences of a new scooterist in the City of Angels.Doctor Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13369539544730545600noreply@blogger.comBlogger191100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15827891.post-1131218146922372262005-11-05T11:10:00.000-08:002005-11-05T11:15:46.946-08:00

I'm packing up shop and moving this blog to www.scootla.com.Eventually I'll be adding a calendar section keeping a comprehensive list of rides and events in the Los Angeles and southern California area. I'll also add a list of scooter stores, scooter dealers, clubs, and other resources specific to the Los Angeles area. Perhaps I'll add photos (or perhaps I'll just continue to link to my photos on

Doctor Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13369539544730545600noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15827891.post-1131080592282420552005-11-03T20:55:00.000-08:002005-11-03T21:03:12.303-08:00

Swayframe had asked in an earlier comment about changing the oil for her ET4, and since I'd also like to save some cash doing maintenance, I looked into the problem. I managed to find a thread on the BBS that detail the proces. I've opened up a new thread on Modern Vespa in an attempt to expand on the issue, but here's the info I've found thus far for those that don't want to click any links.The

Doctor Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13369539544730545600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15827891.post-1131079499473615022005-11-03T19:50:00.000-08:002005-11-03T20:44:59.510-08:00

Esta has had a rough month. Tuesday morning on the way to work I was nearly blindsided by a delivery truck. This forced me to brake hard. I hit a pothole (there are far too many of those in this city) and lost my balance. The scooter went down on its right side (although gently this time, so no body damage). The truck did stop and they came to ask if I was okay. I was fine, but my scooter was

Doctor Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13369539544730545600noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15827891.post-1131048561347589572005-11-03T12:04:00.000-08:002005-11-03T12:09:21.360-08:00

In the past I've posted about the Scooter BBS as a resource for scooter information. And while it can be a great resource, lately I've found that the message board is full of snarky comments from either vintage riders pissing on new scooters, or from cheap Chinese brand (Tank, Baron, Yamati, etc.) riders criticizing modern Vespa riders for paying too much. I've been feeling like modern Vespa

Doctor Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13369539544730545600noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15827891.post-1130528402127467922005-10-28T12:29:00.000-07:002005-10-28T12:40:02.140-07:00

One of the great things about scootering in Los Angeles, and one of the reasons why I thought it'd be completely reasonable to sell my car and have only a scooter, is that riding season doesn't end. Unlike places like Chicago or New York, it doesn't get blisteringly cold; it doesn't get icy; and it doesn't get snowy. So while many scooterists across the states are packing their bikes in the

Doctor Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13369539544730545600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15827891.post-1130525468470202102005-10-28T11:49:00.000-07:002005-10-28T11:51:08.470-07:00

This is happening this weekend. I won't be going as I'll be in Vegas, but I thought I'd pass the word.Buenos Nachos, The Plans are set for our 5th Rally. There are some slight changes from our post last month. Here goes:>Fri 10/28 Meet @ Crooks skate shop in the Arlington arcade 9342 Magnolia ave. Riverside 92503 @ 7:00pm for a dark, windy, and scary ride through the orange groves begining @8:00

Doctor Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13369539544730545600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15827891.post-1130309456830387962005-10-25T23:21:00.000-07:002005-10-25T23:50:56.846-07:00

My final post this evening will be about two scooter-related things that happened on Friday the 14th.Scooter Thing #1 - I got off work earlier than expected and decided to spend the first part of my afternoon at the DMV. I took my riding skills test and passed. I am now officially licensed in the State of California with the M1 endorsement. So I can legally ride on the freeways, at night, and

Doctor Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13369539544730545600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15827891.post-1130307606263332992005-10-25T22:34:00.000-07:002005-10-25T23:20:06.273-07:00

Perhaps eventually I'll make an exhaustive diagram of the things I've done (or am going to do) to customize or upgrade my scooter, like Crystal Waters has done for her scooter blog. But for now, I just want to mention the latest performance upgrades.My scooter is currently at about 3100 miles in three months (that's mileage equivalent to your average car - remember that the scooter is my soul

Doctor Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13369539544730545600noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15827891.post-1130304790228634452005-10-25T21:49:00.000-07:002005-10-25T22:33:51.566-07:00

I've been meaning to post in this blog for a while, but things have been rather hectic so I apologize. I haven't even gotten around to uploading my pictures from my camera onto my computer yet, so all images here are taken from Scoot.net, the Vespastics website, or the homepage of Mitch Friedman. There's been much going on, not just in life in general, but with my scooter. We'll start with the

Doctor Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13369539544730545600noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15827891.post-1128398898594887322005-10-03T21:05:00.000-07:002005-10-03T21:10:13.976-07:00

My scooter club is having its first big rally this weekend. Details are as follows:NIGHT OF THE VESPASTICSOCTOBER 7-9, 2005FRIDAY OCTOBER 7SAN FRANCISCO9:30AM- Mad Dog In The Fog Pub530 Haight (At Fillmore)San Francisco, CA 9411710:00AM- Ride Leaves for Los Angeles-------------------------------LOS ANGELES7:00PM- Cat & Fiddle Pub6530 Sunset Blvd.Hollywood, CA 900288:00PM- Downtown L.A. Ride9:00PM

Doctor Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13369539544730545600noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15827891.post-1128106988401433332005-09-30T12:02:00.000-07:002005-09-30T12:03:08.406-07:00

In addition to getting 1000 miles to the gallon, being able to park in the skinniest of spots, being able to split lanes, and getting to ride in the carpool lane, I have learned that if I arrive on a scooter I can get into Underground (a weekly brit-pop dance party) on Friday nights for free. Not that I ever really went to Underground more than... oh... twice, but it's nice to know the option is

Doctor Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13369539544730545600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15827891.post-1127885685660764152005-09-27T21:42:00.000-07:002005-09-28T11:01:22.300-07:00

I left work a bit early at 5pm on Friday and headed straight out for Santa Barbara. As I still only have my motorcycle learning permit, I wanted to avoid the freeways as much as possible. (The learning permit does not allow for freeway riding, riding at night, or riding with a passenger. I have broken all of those rules, but have done no more than 2 out of 3 at any given time.) I took Wilshire

Doctor Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13369539544730545600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15827891.post-1127766202219578532005-09-26T13:22:00.000-07:002005-09-26T13:24:55.980-07:00

As requested in a previous comment, here's a picture of my scooter.More photos from last weekends scooter rally, and a quick recap to come shortly.

Doctor Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13369539544730545600noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15827891.post-1127518816974059462005-09-23T16:39:00.000-07:002005-09-23T16:40:23.566-07:00

I'll be leaving in a few minutes for my first scooter rally. A report on that and probably a stack of photos when I return on Sunday.

Doctor Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13369539544730545600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15827891.post-1127282868077604202005-09-20T23:07:00.000-07:002005-09-26T13:49:03.733-07:00

I can't believe I didn't post about this earlier...Last Thursday, I finally sold my dear love, Lenka, the '93 Integra.Lenka, we knew each other for nearly two years. We've spent nearly 30,000 miles together, three trips up and down the Pacific coast, and multiple trips to San Francisco and back. You've been encased in a quarter-inch layer of ice after a night of freezing rain, and you've seen the

Doctor Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13369539544730545600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15827891.post-1127281060080396432005-09-20T22:17:00.002-07:002005-09-20T23:11:18.446-07:00

It rained for the first time in Los Angeles since... May, I think. Being no longer in possession of a car, I had a choice between either taking the bus (which I have yet to do for my commute), or braving the elements and riding Esta (the name of my Vespa, which I don't think I've mentioned yet). Since it wasn't coming down very hard at my apartment, I opted for the scooter.Like driving a car,

Doctor Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13369539544730545600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15827891.post-1126673556388183922005-09-13T21:00:00.000-07:002005-09-13T21:53:06.570-07:00

One of my primary concerns, and a concern that I think anyone who's planning on taking to two wheels should have, is safety.Here's the thing - my mother was in a motorcycle accident, from which she still has scars, when she was a teenager. My cousin in the Philippines, who is roughly my age, died in March in a motorcycle accident.This doesn't dissuade me from believing that scooters are a smarter

Doctor Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13369539544730545600noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15827891.post-1125391823775178492005-08-29T23:41:00.000-07:002005-08-30T01:52:23.040-07:00

After deciding I wanted a scooter to replace my car, the first step was to get educated. I did not know a damn thing about scooters before then and I was not about to drop a few thousand dollars on something completely foreign to me. So I turned to the internet, researching brands and models. Scooter discussion boards, like the International New Scooter BBS proved extremely valuable at helping me

Doctor Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13369539544730545600noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15827891.post-1125383911618007452005-08-29T23:05:00.000-07:002005-08-29T23:38:32.013-07:00

First post in a new blog. Though I already have a couple of other blogs, about drinking stories and about everything else in my life, I thought I'd start one on my latest hobby of scootering.A little background on me first of all. I'm 23. Having been raised in the Seattle area, I'm now living in the city of Los Angeles. I work as a graphic designer, which I'm learning is a rather common thing in

Doctor Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13369539544730545600noreply@blogger.com0