I did some Vespaing. I have some thoughts.

"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher) 06/13/2020 at 14:15 • Filed to: two wheels good

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My wife has ridden this Vespa precisely once, since I bought it in September 2018. The time had come for me to finally ride this thing enough to get the 5/8 of a tank of old gas out of it. I changed the oil and juiced the tires a few weeks ago to get it ready.

Thankfully it is fuel injected, so I did not suffer the wrath of a clogged carbu rator. It fired right up, although it did not want to be ridden until it was properly warmed up. After a few minutes, I was able to set off.

I rode it three times over the last few days, putting on about 80 miles total. Here are my riding impressions.

The Vespa is geared for top speed. It takes off from a stop far slower than any of the other 125+cc scooters I’ve owned. The power train is happiest at 30-50mph. It m oves along quite nicely at speed. 55mph is pretty easy to achieve, unless you’re going uphill o r into a headwind.

I find it strange that it’s geared this way, because the Vespa is also the twitchiest handling scooter at high speed that I’ve ever had. Taking turns or dealing with road imperfec tions at speed is decidedly less fun on the Vespa. I’m sure the mismatched tires aren’t helping that cause, but the heavy steel body is top heavy a nd the little 10" wheels just aren’t suited for sp eed runs or hitting the twisties with vigor.

The Vespa would be perfect for around town or city, if it were geared lower. It takes off so slowly from a stop though , that it’s really hard to interact with traffic. It does soak up bumps very nicely at low speed.

The Vespa is made to cruise while looking stylish. If there’s still g as in it next summer, I’ll ride it again to get the stabilized gas I just put into it, back out. Until then, I look forward to getting back to bombing around on my Zuma and my Hooligan.

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > shop-teacher 06/13/2020 at 14:32

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Just add Nitrous. That should help the low end grunt. Or a really small turbo. Or both. Or jusrt swap in a Ha yabusa motor, then turbo, then nitrous. Whatever order.

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > shop-teacher 06/13/2020 at 14:35

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10" wheels and 50mph is not really my preferred combination. Miss one decent sized pothole and things can get dramatic quickly.

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI 06/13/2020 at 14:36

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Boss Hogg with a 1.8 liter V6 from a Mazda MX-3.

Nibby > shop-teacher 06/13/2020 at 14:56

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do a V10 swap

shop-teacher > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: 06/13/2020 at 15:29

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Agreed. And I saw as much as 62mph when ringing it out. I didn't like it.

shop-teacher > WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI 06/13/2020 at 15:29

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Right. I'll get on that.

shop-teacher > Nibby 06/13/2020 at 15:29

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The only sensible solution.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > shop-teacher 06/13/2020 at 16:01

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I wish I was closer so I could buy it off you....for some reason Vespas are cheaper, used down there....yet with the exchange rate it would still be expensive for me, haha!

cmill189 - sans Volvo > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: 06/13/2020 at 16:04

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An original Vespa at 60+mph with 10" split-rim tubed wheels, drum brakes, and two inches of suspension travel is a true experience in fear. 

shop-teacher > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 06/13/2020 at 16:09

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At this point, it’s not for sale anyways. My wife insists that she loves it, even though she never rides it.

You're in kind of a rural area, right? You should probably save up for a 200/250/300 GT. This scoot is super twitchy and not fun at highway speeds. You really want the bigger wheels and longer wheelbase of the bigger models.

shop-teacher > cmill189 - sans Volvo 06/13/2020 at 16:35

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I believe it! I didn't even like riding this one at 60mph!

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > shop-teacher 06/13/2020 at 16:40

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I have actually never ridden a modern Vespa. My kitted up P200E was pretty stable at highway speeds hiding behind the leg shield haha. 

shop-teacher > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) 06/13/2020 at 16:43

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It didn't feel dangerous by any means, but it wasn't fun. I've ridden my Zuma 125 as much as 500 miles in a weekend, so I'm no stranger to high speed scootering. The Vespa just isn't made for that.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > shop-teacher 06/13/2020 at 16:45

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Yeah they built those newer GTs for that.

shop-teacher > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) 06/13/2020 at 17:15

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Yep. I'd like to try one of those.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > shop-teacher 06/13/2020 at 17:54

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Rural area, yeah, but most roads here are 80kph other than the highway which is 100kph. If I was going anywhere a 150cc would probably be fine as long as I stayed off the highway?

shop-teacher > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 06/13/2020 at 18:22

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A 150 in general, yeah. My Zuma would be fine running at 80kph all day long. Same thing with the Hooligan or that Super 8 I had. The Vespa though, it really isn't fun with that top heavy body and 10" wheels at high speed. It can do it, don't get me wrong, but I think you'll be happier with something that's meant to stretch its legs. The smaller Vespa is made to live in town. So if you really want a Vespa, you'd be well advised to get a big one.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > shop-teacher 06/13/2020 at 21:45

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Advice noted! :D