Vespa owners

[hoch]

Any Vespa owners in here? After several motorcycles, I now just have my Vespa to take up the canyons and even some overnighters. It’s my favorite bike (at this stage in life).

GTS300

[PaMtbRider]

My wife and I have a pair of Vespas and love them. I ride mine to work most days weather permitting. I too have had several motorcycles and am down to my Vespa and a small dual sport. I don't miss the bigger bikes in the least.


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[Tim Porter]

I have a 2007 Vespa--love it but don't ride it enough. More riding planned this summer.

[j44ke]

Dream of one? Not mine but one of my favorites from Lucca Italy. I've seen it several times over several years of visits. A Lambretta.

[NYCfixie]

First had the Yamaha Vino 125cc (air cooled) and put 8,000 miles on it in 4 years.
Then had the Honda Sh150cc (water cooled) and put about 10,000 miles on it in 3 years.
Sadly we left the suburbs to be back in the big city so no more scooters for me.

I am a big fan of the windshield because it makes riding in cold weather and rain so much easier.

Vino 3.jpg
My Honda Sh150i.jpg

[hoch]

There are some nice Vespas here!

@NYCfixie - yes, I also have a windshield for the fall/winter time but take it off for summer.

[PaMtbRider]

Even TooTall has a secret Vespa fetish.

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[Too Tall]

#scream

[72gmc]

Nothing more secret than a towering gent on a bright green scoot

[COVRTDESIGN]

Not a Vespa, but a Genuine buddy custom 166cc big bore rebuild and custom exhaust, (not shown), currently gets up to about 65mph max here in Denver. Of course I need something to get to the trails! 2x2 Cycles rack.

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[hoch]

I had a Buddy 150 years ago. It was a nice scooter! I like that rack as well.

[sk_tle]

Does a non vespa-branded Piaggio that shares the same engine count?

[72gmc]

A former coworker celebrated a new job by purchasing a Vespa for his wife. She was very happy.

[NYCfixie]

Does a non vespa-branded Piaggio that shares the same engine count?

Yes, because Piaggio owns Vespa

[sk_tle]

Yes, because Piaggio owns Vespa

Here is my Piaggio Carnaby 300ie then, pic from last night:


Basically it is like the Vespa GTS 300 and the Honda SH300i had a child. Large wheels, flat floor and wheelbase as the Honda SH300i, retro style and same engine as the Vespa GTS 300 and Beveryl 300. The large wheels give better comfort and composedness on bad roads and at highway speed than a Vespa, yet it still handle pretty much like a small Piaggio Liberty 125 in the streets with its very short turning radius. It is a pity Piaggio do not produce it anymore [1]. The Berverly 300 and 400 might be even more stable and composed on roads and highway but I would miss the flat foor as it is my only vehicule and it is perfect to carry groceries bags and stuff. I am always amazed at the amount of stuff I can carry between a backpack, the top case and the floor, basically a shopping trolley can fit and I am not even using the biggest top case available.

[1] It is even more stupid as Honda is selling 3 to 4 times as many Honda SH350 as Piaggio is selling Vespa GTS 300.

[NYCfixie]

I read that too; the Honda Sh300i outsells the Vespa even in Italy.

I was lucky to get on of the very few Honda SH50i (see above) they brought to the USA. Unfortunately we never got the SH300i over here. If we ever move back to the suburbs, I am getting a Piaggio 300cc (I like the larger wheels for the reasons you stated and the plastic body panels stand up to more abuse than the metal ones on the Vespa).

Here is my Piaggio Carnaby 300ie then, pic from last night:


Basically it is like the Vespa GTS 300 and the Honda SH300i had a child. Large wheels, flat floor and wheelbase as the Honda SH300i, retro style and same engine as the Vespa GTS 300 and Beveryl 300. The large wheels give better comfort and composedness on bad roads and at highway speed than a Vespa, yet it still handle pretty much like a small Piaggio Liberty 125 in the streets with its very short turning radius. It is a pity Piaggio do not produce it anymore [1]. The Berverly 300 and 400 might be even more stable and composed on roads and highway but I would miss the flat foor as it is my only vehicule and it is perfect to carry groceries bags and stuff. I am always amazed at the amount of stuff I can carry between a backpack, the top case and the floor, basically a shopping trolley can fit and I am not even using the biggest top case available.

[1] It is even more stupid as Honda is selling 3 to 4 times as many Honda SH350 as Piaggio is selling Vespa GTS 300.

[sk_tle]

I read that too; the Honda Sh300i outsells the Vespa even in Italy.

It has been the outright most sold motorbike in Italy for a number of years. We also have tons of SH150 and SH300 in urban area here in south of Spain.

[hoch]

That’s a nice Piaggio. We don’t get those in the US. Also I still prefer 12” scooter tires, the larger wheels certainly have advantages.

Flat floor is amazing at carrying cargo. I have a rack installed. But need to see about a bag that fits well in that space. I’m currently using a reusable grocery bag that I have to hold up with my legs.

[sk_tle]

Anyone knows if throttle cables are interchangeable between various Vespa/Piaggio sharing variants of the same engine? My throttle cable broke recently and Piaggio do not produce it anymore.

[Dave Thompson]

I rode Vespas, a lot, during the late 50s and early 60s. Pretty stout lil’ devils. So when I saw these coming through the village in Mexico (over 1000 miles from the border) where I lived, I genuflected and wished them safe travels.