How to carry a coffeemaker on your Vespa
If you've been riding your Vespa for any length of time, and use it to run errands, then you will inevitably know the challenge of trying to carry something like a coffeemaker on the back. Neil wrote about carrying a 40 pound bag of cement on his rear rack, and my old blog-mate Justene worried about how she would carry her chickens.
Just as inevitably, people walking by you in the parking lot will make comments about what you're about to do. They look at the shopping cart, then look at your scooter, and can't help but watch. Yesterday, I bought a coffeemaker and some other work necessities, and a gentleman parked next to me shook his head and smiled as he watched me attempting to strap down my coffeemaker with a somewhat uncooperative cargo net.
"You're going to be sorry you don't have a trunk anymore," he laughed, as he opened the trunk of his car to put in his bag. He made a Vanna White gesture to emphasize his point.
"I've carried stranger things than this," I replied, as I swapped my non-complying cargo net for one that worked.
Truth be told, I haven't carried too much that is stranger than a large box on the back of my scooter. When I visited India in '98, I was amazed at the scooter drivers in India carrying entire families and then some. I once was a passenger on a friend's motorcycle - his only form of transport - and held two 2-by-4s (off to the right, not across my lap) as he manipulated us through San Francisco traffic. This activity is not recommended.
"What you need to do," said the gentleman as he got into his car, "Is figure out how to rig that thing up to brew as you ride!"
"You're right," I laughed. He is right about that, but I'm satisfied with just getting it (and me) home safe.
For info on how to carry cargo on your scooter safely, read this and your local motorcycle manual for tips and local laws regarding passengers and cargo.
