Thank you! I recently bought a Vespa and went from a 50 cc to a 300 cc. The power and size change was overwhelming and I hit the curb on a turn, fell off the scooter and luckily no permanent injury, except to my confidence. Watching your videos, especially this one on turns is so helpful. I also appreciate that you talk about getting used to your bike, which I didn’t really do. I’m going to find a big empty parking lot and try again!

@ianwatsons

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for your comments.

@ethanthe3157

Ай бұрын

what 50cc scooter did u have

You’re a great instructor! I’ve been riding since 1972. I’m showing your videos to someone that is new to scooter riding.

Thanks for the instructions. This is the best scooter riding guide on the internet.

this series of how to ride a scooter helps me tremendously pass the 2 day course and get the learner permit (in Melbourne). How you taught is exactly what my instructor said. Thank you and thank youtube!

I just got my very first scooter and I'm finding this video extremely helpful!

Thank you! Can't wait for the next one.

Excellent instructions, the gold standard on youtube !

You are guite a good instructor.really like how you teach explaining basic moves that are easy to understand.

Thank you for all the videos you have made on how to ride a scooter. This is really a great help to many people around the globe including me from the Philippines. Highly appreciate this! Cheers and stay safe Ian!

Learned a lot from your videos, Ian. Thank you so much.

Best video on how to ride a motor scooter. Thanks

many thanks Ian you're are and excellent instructor.

Blessing to you it is a great lesson thanks I appreciate that.

Great video, you have helped me to learn how to ride my vespa

learn a lot from this. im a new rider😊. thanks for this.

Thanks I really need this.😉

Following you with your camera in traffic and your instructions coming in real time, after your detailed lessons, is so unbelievably helpful. Thank you! 🙏🏻 Having never ridden before and not having the benefit of in-person lessons, I am slightly confused about when to use the throttle (and when not to?) This may seem so obvious to an experienced driver. I have driven automatic cars for decades and had to look up ‘what is a throttle for?’

@ianwatsons

6 ай бұрын

ha ha... I should explain the key terms and give some definitions! Being a good teacher demands that you put yourself in the learners shoes. Glad you liked the IN-TRAFFIC part of the video... I will do more of this in the future (now I know it is helpful).

This has been so much more helpful than just reading the booklet. Thank you Ian.

@ianwatsons

Жыл бұрын

You're very welcome!

Your videos are very informative as I am a beginner on my scooter. Ive been driving forklift trucks for the past 30 years but scooters are new to me. You make alot of good points especially looking at where you want the bike to go when you steer. When I'm teaching new guys on the finer points of forklift handling, i always give them the same advice about looking where you want to go. Looking forward to the rest of your posts. Thx for making them!🛵

@ianwatsons

7 ай бұрын

the eyes and focus are super important

Thank you!

Your videos are very informative. Thanks from Indiana USA. You are a great resource.

@ianwatsons

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching!

I just learnt to ride scooter recently and watching your videos helped me a lot.Thank you so much for your great instructions

I really appreciate your riding instructions and i 'll be following and using this course. It helps me a lot. Keep the great job. Thanks.

@ianwatsons

Жыл бұрын

Happy to help.

I’m so glad I found this series. I take my scooter course july 3 and buying a scooter right after. I plan to work on all of your drills to get my mind memory going

@ianwatsons

10 ай бұрын

How did you go on the course? success?

@JHJohnson

10 ай бұрын

@@ianwatsons i passed 😄

I just got a piaggio mp3 😂😂😂 i needed this...

I got mine yesterday and these previous videos make me understand better tomorrow I will be practicing

@ianwatsons

Жыл бұрын

Great!

Thank you for your videos they’re very useful ❤

@ianwatsons

Жыл бұрын

Glad you like them!

I just bought vespa and this video helps a lot 👏👏

@ianwatsons

Жыл бұрын

great!

Thank you for share!!!!

@ianwatsons

2 жыл бұрын

My pleasure!!

Thanks! From India

Very helpful! Appreciate this so much. I’m a new rider plus a lady so it’s really a struggle to me to ride a scooter since I need to use it to come to work because commuting here in our country is very pricey and stressful. Thanks so much! ❤

@ianwatsons

Жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

Thanks for this series. I bought an ebike/emotorcycle (cheap china made one that looks identical to a Yamaha Vino) and this series helped me learn to ride it. I'm mainly a car/offroad guy but I wanted a small ride that wasn't a bicycle to go to and from my house and my office (1.5km away fully residential area) and the little thing does great. 55kph top speed and around 75km range lol. I went with this over a standard bike/ebike because I like having headlights and turn signals and I wanted to wear a full face helmet without getting stared at if I had a bicycle.

@ianwatsons

Жыл бұрын

thanks for sharing.

excellent point Ian about wheel size and different bike feeling different. I was an excellent experienced rider on my gold wing and wanted to try a vespa. I rented one and was terrified by how it behaved😂. Ok stop laughing but what you said was right on. I'm watching and learning much, Thanks again.

@ianwatsons

Жыл бұрын

Gold wing and Vespa would feel very very different!

I'ts so useful. Thanks.

@ianwatsons

2 жыл бұрын

happy to help

Thanks a lot for this tutorial series and perfect pronunciation! I'm driving scooter(same Vespa) for the first time in my life, I supposed that will be easy as a bicycle and was surprised how difficult it is. After watching your tutorial I have found that I did many things wrong!

@ianwatsons

10 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

Thank you

Wonderful instruction, thank you! Question please, do you keep the throttle on a little while turning and use the rear break to maintain a specific speed?

I got my motorcycle temps recently and i am excited to get my Zuma soon. I felt like a 125cc was a good size to start with. This was very helpful, thank you, now i know how to get comfortable when i get it :)

@ianwatsons

11 ай бұрын

Getting a new bike is exciting!

@christicha8692

10 ай бұрын

​@ianwatsons Yes!! I am happy about it. I have it now and have fallen twice. This is my first time on two wheels outside of a bike as a child, so pretty good imo. I'm practicing in my apartment and a parkinglot really close by. I seem to have the most difficulty with turning so this video is something I keep revisiting before and after my practices. I can't wait to see the rest of the series! ❤ thank you!

you are fantastic dude. Thank you so much. Haven't got my scooter yet and had no idea how I was going to handle it until your tutorials. Thank you (lost my car in the divorce but a gained bought myself a scooter - hooray for freedom and ) thank you for the brilliant tips. here's what I got: Wrists straight Elbows bent ELBOWS IN Loose arms Knees in Eyes on the horizon Unlock steering wheel Hold left break Lift stand Turn key Push button Right leg up Left leg down Squeeze throttle release break Both legs up Knees & elbows in Stop with both breaks MAINTAIN SAME SPEED WHEN TURNING CORNERS Break light to alert traffic behind you Shoulders down & slightly forward when turning NO OBJECT FIXATION LOOK IN THE DIRECTION YOU WANT YOUR BIKE TO GO HEAD, EYES, CHIN, SHOULDERS ALL FACE THE DIRECTION YOU WANT TO GO IN Hips, Knees, Feet All become one with the bike The upper body directs the bike Only use the back break when turning so front wheel doesn’t grab Shift eyes, chin in the direction of turn Drop shoulder closest to the turn Hips knees feet all part of the bike Straighten heady eyes chin shoulders on the straight ....... thank you

Thank you for the great video! I see you are in Thailand as well :) Cheers man

@ianwatsons

Жыл бұрын

You bet!

I really enjoyed your Instructions Luke, I have your lessons saved to a playlist. Thanks so much!

@ianwatsons

Жыл бұрын

Awesome, thank you!

I recently went from 4 years on a 50cc to a Vespa 300. I feel like my confidence has gone down. I had no idea the weight was going to be so different. It’s huge. You speak of the wobble at slow speed and that is what I get nervous about. I am good with speed but struggle some with the slower speed and pulling into a parking space.

@ianwatsons

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing. 50cc to 300cc is a big jump. Be careful until you get used to the new bike... and it is wise to practice some moves in an empty car park to build your confidence and skills and knowledge of your new bike.

Object fixation, I can relate to that.

Might be getting a moped this summer. One thing ive learned... seems to be a lot more of a serious deal then I thought.

@ianwatsons

Жыл бұрын

In many ways they are easy... but it's also easy to get wrong and have an accident. So yes... they are easy but be careful!

Thank uuu so much

@ianwatsons

9 ай бұрын

You're welcome!

nice tips

@rodrigocarvalho6662

2 жыл бұрын

3 am vibes

I use to ride motorcycle back in the 70s and now I restarted riding again after 50 yrs but I ride a Piaggio mp3 because I have trouble balancing on two wheels bikes because of weight difficulty on left knee replaced! 🤗

@ianwatsons

9 ай бұрын

Sounds like you found a good compromise! Well done!

😮 i learn

Great videos, thanks. I am riding a NIU NQi GTS electric moto, and tried the rear brake control while holding throttle. The problem is that the rear brake actually kills the throttle when applied (I think due to regenerative braking), so at low speeds I´m stuck just with the throttle for speed control.

@JC-fx3wh

Жыл бұрын

You just need to apply a little pressure on the rear brake.

@billcheung65

Жыл бұрын

@@JC-fx3wh I don´t have any throttle control when I apply the brakes on my electric moto. It kills the throttle. If I could I would.

Waiting for these Part 7 - Crash Avoidance, Swerving and Controlled Stoping Part 8 - Pre-Drive Scooter Checks & Parking Part 9 - Safety Equipment Part 10 - In The Traffic | Give Way, Yield, Go and Going With The Flow Part 11 - In The Traffic | Road Position and Sharing The Road Part 12 - In The Traffic | Communicating With Other Road Users Part 13 - In The Traffic | See Danger, Know the Defence and Act In Time Part 14 - Washing your Vespa

@ianwatsons

9 ай бұрын

Thanks for the encouragement - I plan to make these videos over the next couple of months.

Hi from Australia👋! I am thinking of getting a Vespa for my first vehicle for my Ls everyone told that I should learn how to ride a motorcycle first but that’s all I know this was very helpful and I’d like your opinion on having a Vespa for my first vehicle

@ianwatsons

Жыл бұрын

Great question. Conventional Aussie wisdom says first you should learn to change gears (car/truck/motorcycle) then you'll have a greater understanding, also learn long division before you learn to use a calculator... but there are millions of people who jumped straight to an auto car licence and an auto motorcycle licence... and learn how to change gears either never to later. Conclusion either is fine! If my wife or daughter wanted to learn how to ride... I'd get them on a my Vespa first and I'd be very happy to have them learn on a Vespa and have a Vespa as their first bike.

I believe using front brake for turn also can as long we didn't press the lever abruptly

@ianwatsons

7 ай бұрын

yes - this is for the experienced rider. All my videos, so far, are for beginners.

Soccer markers work good,usually comes in a pack of 25.They are flat and can be ran over.

Can you pls do a video on parking Vespas? Specifically perpendicular to the street with the back wheel touching the curb, which is how bikes have to be parked in the US on streets.

@ianwatsons

Жыл бұрын

great idea - when I get the chance I will!

I've learned to drive a manual car, I know quite well how to ride a bike, but I've never ridden a scooter before and I was curious to find out how to drive one and how difficult it is. Actually I am interested to know, because I would like to do a Tuscany sightseeing on a Vespa this summer. But before commiting to that, I wanted to see whether I have any chance to learn how to drive it. The way you explained is so clear, to the point, but also focused on feeling the bike and understanding some perks of the vehicle that I am really intrigued to have a feel of a scooter and I would like to rent one for practice. You are an amazing instructor and it seems that also a good motivator.

@fintonmainz7845

Жыл бұрын

Think of the rear brake as the "false clutch".

@little1942

Жыл бұрын

If you have experience on a motorcycle, you should be fine. Just remember, there’s no clutch and the wheels are smaller. If possible, try to get some practice on one before going on the street. Especially, if you’ve never been on the roadways you’ll be traveling.

Good day Sir, I have a question, do you mean if I'm making a turn (right, left or even u-turn), i need to use/control and put some pressure on the rear break and using continuesly throttle as I turn? Am I right? Thanks for the answer.. GODBLESS

@ianwatsons

Жыл бұрын

Yes - that is correct.

I’m not a beginner rider but it is the first time for me to ride a Vespa scooter. At first I enjoyed it until I felt I was going to the side of the lane. The scooter has no issues so I know it’s because of my confidence declining. Any advice? Thank you for your videos! I’m working and riding my Vespa in Hanoi, Vietnam

@ianwatsons

Жыл бұрын

Vespas have very small wheels so they feel a bit stranger compared to bikes with larger wheel (diameter). This also means that if the road surface changes... you feel it with a Vespa.

Lmao the koel in the background

Man, you’ve got a lot of bikes in your town. I haven’t seen that many in relation to the number of cars in the US. You didn’t tell them which brake lever activates the rear brake-at least I didn’t hear it. It’s hard to see the brakes from the saddle. Almost reminds me of Saigon in the ‘60s with the number of scooters/motorcycles.

@ianwatsons

Жыл бұрын

Yes - Bangkok is loaded with bikes... just like Vietnam. Brakes and throttle - I explained in an earlier video (so I didn't explain it again).

@donelmore2540

Жыл бұрын

@@ianwatsons Oh, I didn’t realize you were in Bangkok. That makes sense now.

Can you please tell me what size vespa you're riding? Love your video's!

@ianwatsons

7 ай бұрын

It is a 150cc - a great bike!

@sandypoo77

7 ай бұрын

Thank you for replying back. I'm only 5'3, so the 150cc seat height is a bit to high for me. I've got a suzuki burgman 200cc. The seat height is good, but the bike is kind of heavy for me to hold up.

Extremely sunny day for a comie UK day.. yeah I said it, it’s true.

ok no front braking in slow turns use back, but what about a lot of modern scooters now using a combined braking system where using what would be a back brake also activates the front brake ?

@ianwatsons

10 ай бұрын

Excellent question... they key here is to work out what works for you and your bike. Take you bike to a big empty car park and try a few drills to get familiar with braking system and when you have a good system.... repeat repeat repeat so it become natural.

@1zanglang

10 ай бұрын

Then you should avoid a scooter with CBS. The majority of modern scooters don't have this system. Unless you talk about three wheel scooters like Piaggio MP3, or Yamaha Tricity.

So when u do a slow U turn, do u lean into the turn or the opposite of the turn?

@ianwatsons

2 жыл бұрын

quick answer... get on your bike and try some different techniques and see what works best for you and your bike. Try dropping the elbow, try shifting your upper body to the opposite, try locking the handle bars, try different revs and rear-brake combinations... "play" in a safe environment and develop a style and technique that works for you.

@Mystery_Man84

2 жыл бұрын

I’m a brand new rider. I have a Yamaha TriCity. I was going around a turn and downhill maybe a little too fast but not that fast and I hit a pothole and it threw me off the bike and it fell on me. So scary & painful. Now I don’t really trust the bike anymore and I’m scared to ride now. What if I’m going a little fast and there’s a huge pothole in the middle of the street and I don’t see it. Any advice?

Can a turn on a Vespa be made within 18 ft ( not duck walking it )

Is he in Thailand?

i have issue when riding with pillion. bike wobbles when i move into slow traffic. Please help.

@ianwatsons

9 ай бұрын

Coming soon... a video on how to ride with passengers.

@kevinmuthu2063

9 ай бұрын

@@ianwatsons wow...I see the remaining parts coming fast..

@kevinmuthu2063

7 ай бұрын

@@ianwatsons when is it coming sir?

Really crazy how DMV and people speak of what one has to do to make a turn. Actually scary. To me you get on a bike and when you need to turn you do it. Seems like a natural thing to do. Don't over think it. Just my thought. 🍦

I don't see teacher dipping in turns but scooter is always straight up? How many feet does it take him to do a 180 turn ?

@ianwatsons

10 ай бұрын

Good point! This video is for beginners... so beginners need to start with wide turns and as their skills build then they can start dipping and making tighter turns. (maybe this could be a future video I could make).

The exercises at 17:35 will help you get comfortable with beginning u turns too!!!

@ianwatsons

9 ай бұрын

Excellent point!

Are bikes more fun than trucks ?

@ianwatsons

2 жыл бұрын

now that's a tough question to answer!

Target FIXATION was your BEST point. Still struggling AFTER 4 DECADES🥺🤢😵‍💫🥵🤮

@ianwatsons

Жыл бұрын

yes indeed

Why can't I turn? I feel like I'm going to fall off if I lean at all.... 😢

Let's see, no helmet, no gloves, no jacket. This is definitely the person whose advice I should be taking

no helmet required eh?

@dIsAstErTR

Жыл бұрын

He does use helmet when necessary.

@ozskipper

Жыл бұрын

@@dIsAstErTRYeh.. I also just noted that he is recording in South East Asia where helmets arent seen as important as they are in the west. Westerners especially are bad for not wearing helmets in Thailand. The fine is only 500 Baht. (US$13). Thailand is hot and humid. Helmets are hot and stuffy. All the more reason for westerners to want to wear them.

30 minutes of talking one minute of demonstration🤦🏽‍♂️

Where's your helmet? Not a Great impression!!! Sorry but true

Everybody is a teacher these days Make a video with your knee down and I will watch You

@pablodateb3000

Жыл бұрын

This is hands down the best and most comprehensive and clear, informative scooty lessons I could find so far. So your sarcasm is misplaced.