Riding “blind” and “invisible”
January 22, 2008 
Pyke & I finally got to the ‘Highest Point’
This post is sort of a follow-up to two of my previous entries: Q & A: Installing HID to a Vespa PX and Conquering the ‘Highest Point’.
A little rewind to last week: As I was preparing my scoot for the long ride to the Highest Point / Mt. Data, I noticed that I find it hard to electro-start my scoot, so I had to resort to that good ol’ fashion kickin’. Upon checking, my mechanic noticed that the battery isn’t charging. Had the battery charged and with just a short ride, I lost my horn and my headlamps. It was then diagnosed that my regulator’s busted. I had a new regulator installed just to make sure I’ll be ready for the ride as we’re leaving at dawn.
On the day of our takeoff, just a few kilometers and still in Manila, it happened again. Horn gone and my headlamp (halogen lowbeam) is weaker than my parklight. The HID / high beam doesn’t work anymore. Then I suspect the HID kit is causing all that electrical problems I never had before. I’m writing this to serve as a caution to all those considering installing an HID kit on their PX. I’m still willing to give it another shot but I’m definitely switching back to the more reliable halogen for long rides.
Having said that, I ridden the entire stretch of the trip with no horn and a very weak headlamp. But upon heading home, I also lost two of my side mirrors. How come? Well, I crashed. 
It was a case of overbreaking so my rear fishtailed and tried to control it with the front break then… BHAM! There I was lying on my side in the middle of the road. My immediate instinct was to get up but my right foot is stuck on Pyke’s floorboard. I waited for a fellow rider (I think it was Charlie) to bring up the scoot so I could stand up and go to the sidewalk.
My ride buddies asked me if was alright and I said I’m okay. They asked me to remove my jacket to see if I got any wound somewhere. I saw some scratches on my left arm. A buddy saw streaks of blood on my finger and turns out a had a very small laceration on my wrist. So first aid was administered (thanks Randy!) then I was good to go.
Clearly, it was solely my breaking error. I think it was a bad fall. I was just lucky that I wore body armor. The elbow pad in particular is what saved me of getting a broken limb. My leather jacket is now battle worn and my belt snapped into two. I still don’t know how that happened. Actually, I couldn’t care less with any of those. Funny, but as Randy was helping me with the bandage, I suddenly remembered to check if my iPhone was still intact. After seeing it was okay, then off I went back to my scoot to see if I could still ride it back to Manila.
As for Pyke, my reliable steed: well aside from the side mirrors, its headlamp lens got broken and dent on the legshield. My chrome blings did their purpose in protecting the fender and the left cowl. But it kick-started as reliable as ever. Thank God, I could finish the ride. Before straddling, Ronald handed me a bottle of cold water. I wasn’t really thirsty but the gesture meant a lot to me. Thanks pare!
Riding was harder not being able to see who/what’s behind me. But the adrenalin rush after every fall (it was my 2nd time on a Vespa, by the way) has always kept me going. When dusk came as we hit the Metro, I switched on my hazard lights so I’d somehow be visible on the road. I have to thank thank Sonny (our ride captain), Cliff (our patient sweeper and expert mechanic), and the rest of the 13 other riding buddies for yet another fun and memorable riding experience.
I never informed my wife of my spill on the road so she wouldn’t worry unnecessarily. I waited ’til I got home so I could tell her what happened and see my condition for herself. She’s just glad that I’m still okay. Although my body aches the day after like the first time after the gym.
Despite the spill, I totally enjoyed this 3-day ride experience. I’ll tell you more about it in the coming days. Now I can finally say: I conquered the ‘Highest Point’…
… and ‘dived’ to the ‘Lowest Point!’ 
-o-
{▫}
J0HNRANA
john[dot]rana[at]gmail[dot]com
Yikes… buti di grabe.
Hay Karl,
Tignan mo bruise niya… pangit!
Tsaka si Pyke… wawa!
Buti na lang no broken bones… hay…
See you sa Sunday attend kami (ako?) wedding ni Kendz…
-Benz
john, natawa nga ako nung check mo yung iPhone mo kung
okay while administering first aid.
nice riding with dude! enjoyed every minute of it except for the spills. you literaly conquered both worlds.
“lets roll” wag literaly ha!!!
john, dapat yung highest point beanie eh may burda ng lowest point.
Wow, 7,400 feet… Chinook Pass is only 5,430. Good for you! Did the bike run okay at that altitude?
__Orin
randy: didn’t notice na napansin mo rin pala habang chne-check ko phone ko. hehehe
Good Idea! Pabuburdahan ko sa likod ng bonnet: LOWEST POINT! hahaha!
dodik: likewise. Di ko rin masyado na-enjoy yung semplang. hahaha!
Orin: On the way to the ‘Highest Point’ some of us felt that our PXs start to ‘cough’ on 2nd gear. No problem with 3rd gear. At the Highest Point, a few of the guys removed their air filter. The rest of us didn’t and we run okay after that. Even on 2nd gear.
I’ve read about your ride to Chinook Pass in your blog. Read from wikipedia that it’s “usually closed in November due to very heavy snow and significant avalanche danger.” YIKES!
Hey John, buti walang nangyari sa iPhone hehe. I had regulator problems too when I tried going HID a few months ago so I’m back to my tungsten friend
Luckily, the rally in Tri-Cities was in September, when the weather was nice. But yes, it’s often closed during the winter, though I think it’s open now.
See you sa Sunday guys… saya siguro nun hehe. Benz, dapat naka-gown ka ha!
Jake: Yeah, buti intact pa yung iPhone. I’m back to halogen in the meantime. hehehe
Btw, the Vespa Club might take up your suggestion of a Quadrophenia screening at Mogwai in Cubao X sometime June. I’ll contact you pag-malapit na.
There’s a planned Vespa Sagada Ride din. Sama ka?
Orin: If and when I get to Washington, I’d like to go there.
Karl: Kitakits. Mukang masaya nga!
it happens to us all
Homer: Hey, kids! Want to drive through that cactus patch?
Bart: Yeah!
Lisa: Yeah!
Sideshow Bob: [underneath car] No!
Homer: Well, two against one!”
[...] several stuff we have previously tackled in our respective blogs like our mountain biking, the Highest Point/Mt. Data Ride and the then upcoming (we just got back grueling but fun 4-day ride last weekend) Titanium Butt [...]