There's a certain anxiety among some vintage riders about the resurgence of scooters in the US as a consumer product and the unwashed masses that buy them. Now... I do understand the point of view that people into classic scooters don't want to hang around with someone that bought a new Vespa yesterday who doesn't know a carburetor from a cat's ass. It's like someone showing up at an antique car show with a Kia, expecting to fit in and be one of the gang. Birds of a feather like to stick together. There's nothing wrong with that.

On the other hand, there's a Luddite attitude among a few of the classic scooter crowd who reject anything new. They insist you have to do everything yourself. The appearance of your ride doesn't matter. You have to be a club member, and all modern four stroke automatics and people who ride them are bad. Disagree with any of this and you are tagged as a carpetbagger who is bent on ruining the culture. That point of view reminds me of a character I once knew who incessantly bragged about using only one golf club because that's how they did it in Scotland three centuries years ago. It was interesting and perfectly OK with me if he wanted to enjoy the game that way. Once, in response to his annoying one-club banter on the back nine I gathered some leaves for him. I said they were for wiping his ass... that's what they used three centuries ago. We had a beer on the 19th hole and laughed about it. Sometimes people find strange ways to stand out. And they feel the need to tell others about it. Over and over.   

I've periodically exchanged messages with a guy in Oregon that gets up at 4 am to wrench on his Lambretta's. Between his job and his family, that's the only time he can spare. If he chooses to not do everything himself and outsource some work to a shop, I don't see why that's a big deal or or makes him less worthy in the eyes of the scootering community. Although I had some prior experience as a kid working on my own cars, my scooter collecting has inspired me to learn metal working, painting, welding, brazing, and even old school techniques like using lead instead of plastic filler. About half of my engines have been rebuilt by a shop. The other half by me. I have a small lathe I'm learning to use and have occasionally made my own parts. There's a minority of people who do all that. But there are times when it just makes sense to send work out and I do so with no apologies or shame.

Classic scooter enthusiasts who outsource work helps a lot of scooter shops keep the lights on. Without them, the classic parts supply would dry up and a lot of broken down scooters would end up abandoned or headed for the crusher. If someone wants to rebuild his engine by the light of a kerosene lamp using only a stone hammer and chisel, great. That's OK with me - right up to the point where he accuses me or others of not being proper for having a box of modern tools or outsourcing some work. I must be unique in my ability to not care what other people do. Or let that discourage me from what I enjoy. The great masses of twist and go riders only interested in scooters as a fashion accessory or being trendy don't bother me one bit. I'm completely indifferent towards them, just as I am with Mod revivalists and scenesters longing for the good old days, bickering clubs, and cliquish rallies. Is modernity about instant gratification or just sensibility? Each has to decide for himself.

Sometimes that means you wrench and ride alone. That suits me just fine.