Rider’s Profile: Abet Rana
Since profiling other Vespa riders is a major part of this blog, I figured that I might as well use the same format for my ‘About’ page here.
So here goes…
rider: Abet Rana
also known as: John Rana; bartmaniac (in online forums I join in); didda (to my daughter, her cousins and friends)
ride: Vespa PX150 (PYKE)
homebase: San Juan City, Metro Manila
email: john[dot]rana[at]gmail[dot]com
mobile: 0917.811.1026
job: site admin (WeddingsAtWork.com); husband to Benz, and didda to Kite; professional taong-bahay
ABET & PYKE | photo by Tops Marin
more about the rider: I have been a rider since my college days in San Beda, but have since been a prisoner of the four-wheel contraption due to work and family life. Rekindled my love affair with two-wheels in April of 2006. I still drive the cage out of necessity, yet I ride to get that natural high! Got no plans of turning my back on two-wheels ever again!
I’m a founding member of the Vespa Club of the Philippines, and served as the club’s president in 2008. PYKE (the name I call my Vespa) used to be black which sorta had a mod theme with all the chrome bling-blings. In early 2009, I had it repainted to sport a look and color scheme based on the Philippine flag.
The video below tells more about myself. 😉
By the way, should you need to correspond to me in writing, here’s the address:
P.O. Box 233
Greenhills 1502
San Juan City, Metro Manila
Philippines
Ride on, Blog on!
~ABET
john[dot]rana[at]gmail[dot]com
Who rides a Vespa? 
Hey John,that is really cool!
Thanks for dropping by again, Amy! 🙂
hey john! Nice one. Just a shout out to you…it was nice seeing you this evening at the gallery 7 openning. Love the spinners, man!
I’ve always wanted to get a Vespa, but most of what i’ve seen so far are too heavy for my 105lbs, 5-ft frame. What do you suggest? I’m open to a piaggio, too. I prefer to seek advice from aficionados rather than salespeople 🙂
Hi spitargue! I’m assuming you’re a she based on your blog link. Maybe it would be better for you to get an automatic scooter than a geared one. There’s the Vespa ET4 or the Piaggio Fly. You may call up Nani of 2211Works (see his rider’s profile entry here). He won’t talk to you into buying, but will give you some expert advise if that’s what you seek. 😉
hello john,
its been really a long long time….still remember me? albert of san beda? frend of boy- paul (now he wants to be called as simply henry) and the rest of the gang at matienza near malacanang at mendiola? its indeed a celebration of reconnections of long lost frends- so how is benz?…. good to find your blog–and congrats for winning the title !…..
Hey Albert! ‘Musta na? Sino nga bang magaakalang magiging Benedictine monk ka. 😉
Benz is doing okay. Glad you found your way here. Thanks for visiting.
Ora et Labora. 🙂
Hi John,
i just found your Blog via Technorati…It´s great ! I am from Cologne/Germany and I am driving Vespas since 1991. It´s really interesting to read about Vespisti from around the world, and that we´re some kind of a great family. Keep up your work, it´s really nice !
Greets from Germany,
Stefan
wow! been a fan of vespa since last year, and dreams some time (hopefully soon) i can have one too 🙂
allow me to lurk here pls 🙂 cheers!
Thanks for dropping by, Stefan! Yes, we’re one family. 😉
banggigay: You can lurk here all you want but do let me know once you get your Vespa already. I don’t know a lot of Pinay Vespa riders, and it’ll be cool to know another one. 🙂
Hey man when you going to get blogging again! I keep coming for my fix and there are now new posts – im sad 😦
Hope to get back to blogging soon, Danny. Thanks for checking back. 🙂
John,
I’m a Vespa owner in Madrid and i’m in great trouble. My lovely PX125 has a flat tire and I have no idea how to change it. I have looked all over the internet for help but can’t find anything.
I have to fix it today because it is in the middle of the street.
Can you help?
Patrick
Hi Partick!
Check out the video in this post to get an idea how to change the tire of your Vespa: http://whoridesavespa.com/2007/04/29/what-a-del-monte-juice-can-is-to-a-vespa-rider-a-tutorial/#more-397
Hope that helps. 🙂
hi john
what a blog it’s amazing i’dont have read everything yet
but i will do and link you in my favorite
i will be please if you swing by my blog it’s a Parisian
VESPANOSCOPE about most of the vespa’s in Paris
live a comment to tell me how you feel about it
thank’s and congratulations
martin from paris
ride safe from a fellow rider.
Hey, thanks for posting those Greatest Ever Motorbike videos on Youtube. Can you email them to me. I’d like to burn them onto DVD, but can’t find them anywhere. Thanks. Cool site, btw.
Hi John, i am a webdesigner that actually would like to use the image of Jlo on a vespa on page:
whoridesavespa.com/2006/10/
how do i go about finding out who the photographer is or who owns the rights to that photo so i may use it?
please email me with any help – thanks!
Hi John, i like ur blog.
Its nice vespa blog.
Peace and love from Indonesia…
Hi John,
Nice Blog!
I have a 1987 red PK125XL. Just bought it 2 months ago. I would like to introduce to yo my blog Vesping around the world.
You have some good pics that I would like to use in my blog. Please, let me know if I have your permission.
Thanks, and kep it riding!
Gonami (Madrid, SPAIN)
Hi Gonami!
Do let me know via private email which pics you’re interested in using. Thanks for visiting! 🙂
~John
Dear John,
I was searching for Vespa Clubs in the Philippines and lo and behold, I chanced upon your very popular and award-winning blog.
I am planning to get a Vespa here in Seoul by restoring a 70s Vespa 125cc. Some Vespas available come from Japan but most of the ones availabe are Vespa 50s. There are two Vespa dealers here but there’s only one person who restores Vespas in Korea and his name is Ali. He started 5 years as a hobbyist but does restoration apart from his real job– making stickers in his shop which is also a classic Vespa gallery in Itaewon, Seoul. Just this afternoon, a famous Korean TV drama actor was having his scoot tuned. In case you visit Seoul, I’ll tour you around. Congrats on your blog!
Your batchmate in SBC,
Jed Dayang
Seoul, Korea
Hi Jed, I’ll be going to seoul, korea this month, really apprecite it if you could give me the address where i could find any vespa items there, thanks
Huy Jed! Glad to touchbase with you. Kuha ka na ng Vespa, ayos yan! 🙂
If ever magawi ako dyan, I’ll let you know. Pahiramin mo ako ng scooter mo ha. hehehe
John,
Thanks for the reply. I’m also glad to touchbase with you. I’ll let you know of the progress. BTW, how many Vespa owners are there in RP? Is it a big community? Did we have Vespas in RP just like Vietnam and Thailand back in the 70s?
Kung skaling magawi ka dito, pahihiram ko yung scooter 24/7 🙂
Jed
Asahan ko yan, Jed! hehehe Benz (my wife) is thinking of a family vacation in Korea or Japan by next year. I’ll let you know if matutuloy kami. 🙂
There were more than a hundered Vespa riders who showed up in a recent event here. But there are more indie Vespa riders around here I’m sure.
Hello there John,
I felt the goosebumps when I saw Pike’s makeover. I remembered Francis M. Awesome idea to put up the National colors on your wasp. More power to you and your blog.
Ride safe,
Ryan125
Hi do you need an updated file of the e3, because I have it and I can give you a file.
Hey John.
My Uncle gave me his Vespa GS 150,he told me that he got it year 1956. it’s pretty old. I know it’s obvious. Pero ang galing niya mag ingat sa gamit niya. Haha. It’s still okay, pero it needs a lot of restoration and detailing i think. Gusto ko siya mapaganda, sayang kasi diba. Haha. But the problem is, wala akong alam ng shops that do vespa’s. Hahaha. Shocks.
You might not have seen this . . .
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1210279/Pete-Townshend-swaps-rock-star-life-moped.html
Cheers
Hi John
You are most certainly one ‘cool cat’ on that black machine of yours. Found this website quite by chance. The Vespa community is just too cool. I’m riding my GT 200 from Johannesburg (where I live) to Cape Town – around 1600km, in approx. 2 weeks time. This is good riding country as well. Anybody interested? Contact me.
Cheers
Paulo
John,
How are you? I posted a comment on August 29th 2007 regarding a flat tyre.
The link to my website is causing a problem on my website (I don’t know how?)
Could you delete the comment I left that day.
Many thanks,
Patrick
p/s – Thanks for the advice for changing the tyre it was a great experience and not hard at all.
astig tlga italian scoot
prada バッグ 2013