Becoming a scooterist: Part III: Shoes

Shoes are even harder than riding pants. For quick runs to the store i wear tennis shoes...i know, i know...
For the 20 mile free way commute I use Timberland ankle length boots

For longer rides I use frey daytona roadstar boots, very very expensive but the most comfortable protective boots i could find...and i tried riding boots at almost motor riding gear shop in the bay area. I got the daytonas at helimot in San Jose...

Becoming a scooterist: Part II

ATGATT! All the gear all the time...Very sound advice, but a little hard to follow consistently...
Helmets are of course mandatory in California. I chose a full face helmet...I would like protect my jaw as well as my cranium...Try out helmets for comfort and fit at a shop...I went to Road Rider in San Jose..Settled on a Shoei RF 1000 in white

Now for the jacket...Corrazo (corrazo web site) is very popular with scooterists...Another popular brand is Rev-it. I wanted leather though and an italian make for an italian scooter + italian clothing , even safety clothing is sexier than any other kind . I bought a new dianese (dainese web site) perforated leather jacket with a goretex liner from ebay and am quite happy with it. Perhaps a little too much for short trips to the store for example...
Riding pants is where ATGATT breaks down for me..I wear regular jeans...but on longer rides feel vulnerable. Much searching later I found Kushitani country jeans...Leather jeans which Kushitani claims look and feel like ordinary jeans...I called them and asked for swatches to be sent to make sure. They are expensive at $400 a pair...(kushitani web site)

Becoming a scooterist

Global warming, $4 gas, a performance car (fun but a little guilt inducing), and a secret wish to be cool-:) were the motivators...

OK, which one to buy?

The coolest ones are Vespas....seductive, rolling art...the Vespa GTS i.e. in dragon red or shiny black ..tasty...but one must be rational...
Requirements: 15 mile highway commute on 280, reasonable storage capacity, > 60 mpg. The vespa does all of this well...the one issue is the wheel size, 12 inch wheels means being very sensitive to freeway rain grooves and that nasty wobbly feeling....but i could just look at a vespa and feel happy....but alas, it was not to be...at Scuderia in sf i spotted a left over 2006 scarabeo 500, 16 inch wheels, top and side cases, 120 mph top speed , 55 mpg for $5200 (the vespa was 6k without the extras and almost 7k with luggage and windshield)...so parsimony won...I got the scarabeo...

The medication and exercise regime over the past three months has done nothing for my cholesterol, hdl and ldl...need to also go on a serious diet..sigh..

Road the carrea to work on skyline to get over the mood brought on by the test results....

Cin-Cin

Dinner at cin-cin in los gatos with Dushyant. Friendly service, good wine, good food...priced ok for the area...highly recommended...

Linky

Made good time to Palo Alto from Aptos in the morning....took a detour on Summit rd to see the aftermath of the recent fires...

Contacts still a hassle...almost on the point of giving up...

Ran today...dinner at the Joe Rockets...
Browsed in B&N after that...