Anyone ever seen this guy?

Domromer · 11-19-2012, 07:22 PM

I was on an off road trip from my house in Flagstaff to Monument valley.
I stopped to take in the sunset and I hear the putt putt of a little two stroke and this heavily laden scooter comes bouncing down the road. He waved and literally rode off into the sunset. I grabbed a few quick pics as he went by.

Any of you guys ever see a trip report from this guy? I'd be curious to see it if such a thing exists. I posted on the modern vespa forum as well to see if he hangs out over there.

there is a website on his windscreen but I can't make it out.

ganshert · 11-19-2012, 07:40 PM

this looks like the web page

http://www.vespanda.com/ioelavespa.html

Domromer · 11-19-2012, 07:42 PM

Ha! I literally just found it seconds ago. I've had that photo sitting on my hard drive for 2 years and I just noticed the website for the first time today. This guy seems like a pretty hardcore traveler. I was just looking at some of the videos on his website. It's a shame the link to the photo gallery is broken.

ganshert · 11-19-2012, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Domromer

Ha! I literally just found it seconds ago. I've had that photo sitting on my hard drive for 2 years and I just noticed the website for the first time today. This guy seems like a pretty hardcore traveler. I was just looking at some of the videos on his website. It's a shame the link to the photo gallery is broken.

GSAragazzi · 11-19-2012, 07:46 PM

Nutz!
Checked his blog, he puts a doubt for the "need" of GSs and 990

Really, the little Vespa is handling the world tour w no issues

MODNROD · 11-19-2012, 08:12 PM

HAHAHA! Damn, that's hard-core!
I'll never sook about gravel corrugations to myself on my SC One again! I should be ashamed!

DaveStockwell · 11-19-2012, 09:42 PM

Hell of a ride!

{Google Translation}
"See the Three Americas.
From New York, go to the top of Alaska, down in California, visit Arizona, then down into Mexico to Central America ... then Venezuela, Guayane, Brazil, Argentina, Cape Horn, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, ... Central America and then again West Coast of the USA."

Queen · 11-20-2012, 03:24 AM

What a great ride! Gotta love people who just go; they don't try to purchase the adventure, they just load up and go on what they have.

hugemoth · 11-20-2012, 04:52 AM

I ran into him on 9/14/2010 at Arches National Park. As I recall he was planning on going to South America. The old Vespa is perfectly capable of round the world trips. I rode my 1974 Rally 200, which is pretty much the same scooter as his 150, on many long trips including the Alcan Hwy in 1978 when it was mostly dirt and gravel.

Domromer · 11-20-2012, 05:12 AM

Very cool. I wonder how many other people have snapped pics of him in his travels. I emailed him my pics. I'll send him the link to this thread..maybe I can convince to start a trip report!

samthg · 11-20-2012, 06:45 AM

After I went to the Masters two years ago, I haven't golfed since.

I may have to give up riding, I'm a wus!

foxtrapper · 11-20-2012, 05:02 PM

Looking at his pictures and contrasting it with the adv thread about the guy who took his Harley on about the same trip through South America made me chuckle. A light little bike that you can actually pick and drag out of a mud hole is a blessing. Sure, you don't have the cruising speed, but to me at least, it's frequently a worthwhile tradeoff.

JerryH · 11-20-2012, 10:23 PM

Wow.. Now that guy has my respect. I would never thought a '60s Vespa would be reliable enough for that kind of travel, my '09 Stella certainly wouldn't be, though it can be made a lot more reliable with some work and money. The design is fine, it's the poor quality that is the problem. '60s Vespas were not much better. That one was probably rebuilt from the ground up and done right.

hugemoth · 11-21-2012, 04:19 AM

The one he is riding is probably about a 1975 version. Plenty reliable to do an around the world tour. My 1974 Rally 200 had 170,000 miles on it when I sold it. It never let me down in all those miles.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JerryH

Wow.. Now that guy has my respect. I would never thought a '60s Vespa would be reliable enough for that kind of travel, my '09 Stella certainly wouldn't be, though it can be made a lot more reliable with some work and money. The design is fine, it's the poor quality that is the problem. '60s Vespas were not much better. That one was probably rebuilt from the ground up and done right.

gatling · 11-22-2012, 01:50 PM

Very cool. I am very impressed. Good for him. A real rider.

11-19-2012, 07:22 PM	#1
Domromer ^OP Desert Rat Joined: Mar 2004 Location: Charleston, South Carolina Oddometer: 997	Anyone ever seen this guy? I was on an off road trip from my house in Flagstaff to Monument valley. I stopped to take in the sunset and I hear the putt putt of a little two stroke and this heavily laden scooter comes bouncing down the road. He waved and literally rode off into the sunset. I grabbed a few quick pics as he went by. Any of you guys ever see a trip report from this guy? I'd be curious to see it if such a thing exists. I posted on the modern vespa forum as well to see if he hangs out over there. there is a website on his windscreen but I can't make it out. __________________ If all you ever do is all you’ve ever done, then all you’ll ever get is all you ever got. http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=851060 ... A desert rat explores the south.

11-19-2012, 07:42 PM	#3
Domromer ^OP Desert Rat Joined: Mar 2004 Location: Charleston, South Carolina Oddometer: 997	Ha! I literally just found it seconds ago. I've had that photo sitting on my hard drive for 2 years and I just noticed the website for the first time today. This guy seems like a pretty hardcore traveler. I was just looking at some of the videos on his website. It's a shame the link to the photo gallery is broken. __________________ If all you ever do is all you’ve ever done, then all you’ll ever get is all you ever got. http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=851060 ... A desert rat explores the south.

11-19-2012, 07:46 PM	#5
GSAragazzi Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Sep 2012 Location: The Purgatory of Suburbia Oddometer: 428	Nutz! Checked his blog, he puts a doubt for the "need" of GSs and 990 Really, the little Vespa is handling the world tour w no issues __________________ "The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday"

11-19-2012, 08:12 PM	#6
MODNROD Perpetual ponderer Joined: Feb 2009 Location: Midwest, West Oz Oddometer: 1,663	HAHAHA! Damn, that's hard-core! I'll never sook about gravel corrugations to myself on my SC One again! I should be ashamed! __________________ Every ride's an adventure if you can't ride for crap http://www.dragtimes.com/Ducati-Mons...lip-10329.html

11-19-2012, 09:42 PM	#7
DaveStockwell Rock Fodder Joined: Jul 2011 Location: Betwix the Cascades and Puget Sound Oddometer: 205	Hell of a ride! {Google Translation} "See the Three Americas. From New York, go to the top of Alaska, down in California, visit Arizona, then down into Mexico to Central America ... then Venezuela, Guayane, Brazil, Argentina, Cape Horn, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, ... Central America and then again West Coast of the USA." __________________ "Yes. It looks insubordinate, but it isn't really." - T.E. Lawrence

11-19-2012, 07:40 PM	#2
ganshert not sleeping Joined: Mar 2005 Location: Colorado Oddometer: 7,608	this looks like the web page http://www.vespanda.com/ioelavespa.html

11-20-2012, 03:24 AM	#8
Queen Escapee Joined: Sep 2003 Location: IL Oddometer: 23,425	What a great ride! Gotta love people who just go; they don't try to purchase the adventure, they just load up and go on what they have.

11-20-2012, 04:52 AM	#9
hugemoth Banned Joined: Sep 2007 Location: Bend, Oregon summer, Snowbird in winter Oddometer: 2,078	I ran into him on 9/14/2010 at Arches National Park. As I recall he was planning on going to South America. The old Vespa is perfectly capable of round the world trips. I rode my 1974 Rally 200, which is pretty much the same scooter as his 150, on many long trips including the Alcan Hwy in 1978 when it was mostly dirt and gravel.

11-20-2012, 05:12 AM	#10
Domromer ^OP Desert Rat Joined: Mar 2004 Location: Charleston, South Carolina Oddometer: 997	Very cool. I wonder how many other people have snapped pics of him in his travels. I emailed him my pics. I'll send him the link to this thread..maybe I can convince to start a trip report! __________________ If all you ever do is all you’ve ever done, then all you’ll ever get is all you ever got. http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=851060 ... A desert rat explores the south.

11-20-2012, 06:45 AM	#11
samthg Sam...I am. Joined: May 2010 Location: seal beach, ca. Oddometer: 881	After I went to the Masters two years ago, I haven't golfed since. I may have to give up riding, I'm a wus!

11-20-2012, 05:02 PM	#12
foxtrapper Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Sep 2011 Oddometer: 279	Looking at his pictures and contrasting it with the adv thread about the guy who took his Harley on about the same trip through South America made me chuckle. A light little bike that you can actually pick and drag out of a mud hole is a blessing. Sure, you don't have the cruising speed, but to me at least, it's frequently a worthwhile tradeoff.

11-20-2012, 10:23 PM	#13
JerryH Vintage Rider Joined: Jul 2009 Location: Chandler, AZ Oddometer: 1,681	Wow.. Now that guy has my respect. I would never thought a '60s Vespa would be reliable enough for that kind of travel, my '09 Stella certainly wouldn't be, though it can be made a lot more reliable with some work and money. The design is fine, it's the poor quality that is the problem. '60s Vespas were not much better. That one was probably rebuilt from the ground up and done right. __________________ "I refuse to give up the thrill of living for the relative safety of existing" Nick Ienatsch "Life is not a race. Don't treat it as such. If you don't believe me, just have a look at the finish line"

11-22-2012, 01:50 PM	#15
gatling Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2006 Oddometer: 1,961	Very cool. I am very impressed. Good for him. A real rider. __________________ www.motofoto.cc www.CaliforniaScooterCo.com/blog/ '06 KLR 650 (Red...the fast one...) '10 California Scooter (my Baja Blaster!)

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