Modern Vespa

Hey, is it just me, or do any of you other former motorcycle riders out there find that riding your Vespa is just a lot more fun? I'm amazed by my GTV 300. It feels substantial and glued to the road. It's powerful and responsive. And it maneuvers through turns like a graceful dancer. Seriously, the turning is near effortless. I used to ride a Honda 1100cc bike called a "Saber." I thought it felt good on the road and believed it was quite maneuverable. But this GTV 300 Vespa has it beat all to blazes. I've been out for the last several days doing U turns, circles, figure eights, and all kinds of turns in acceleration or slowing down. The Vespa takes it all in stride like it was nothing. I can come to a virtual (or complete) stop, and keep the Vespa balanced for several seconds using the steering. Just a touch of counter steering, and the 300 falls into the most graceful arc in the opposite direction, and it will tighten that turn as much as you want then come out of it without the slightest hesitation. Never once so far have I felt anxious about falling into a turn too quickly, or getting too low. Riding the Vespa is really a pleasure.

Not just you, VegasGeorge. Took my GTV to work today, and found myself laughing out loud like a kid at the amusement park!

Be sure to check out Vespa "GTV" all in one place

You figured it out pretty quickly!!!

+1 Not just you. Was riding down the coast highway today, thinking, what a cool Vespa, running nice, all the controls work exactly as they are supposed to, engine sounding nice, wind in the face, smiling down the coast, it's great. Rode a Harley in the past, was also cool, but not as much fun, still have not put my finger on it yet however, still a mystery.

No it is just you. Vespas are shit to ride.

i am new to the two wheel thing and my vespa is my first but i agree it is a gas to ride and i am enjoying it tons. unfortunately it is getting cold so i will not likely get much more riding till the weather improves.

I occasionally ride my friend's GSXR1000, just to remind myself how fun my vespa is.

Welcome to the Dark Side

Yup

I used to ride a Suzuki Volusia but never took it out of the garage after I got my first Vespa.

Sold it 6 months later.

Yup, me too. I never thought I'd say it, but I find that I'm enjoying the rides a lot more. More relaxed seating position, legs are comfortable. Biggest thing is that with all the storage, you can actually go somewhere and store all your gear on the bike so you don't look or feel like an alpinestars branded douche wearing leathers at the dinner. I also enjoy the low center of gravity around the city and in traffic.

I would have to say I enjoy both. The BMW is great for distance and the lx150 is fun for the non hwy stuff. The motorcycle can be more of a challenge to get right. The weight is always in the back of my mind. But the power is addictive . It's always hard to figure which one to take out. Life is tough

Agree here too, George. You had a V65 Sabre, huh? My father had a Magna which had the same V-4 engine. Those bikes were quick!

It's defintely not just you. But hell what do I know I've never owned anything but Vespas!

Yeah, as I recall the Magna was lower, more Harleyesqe, whereas the Saber was more of a conventional bike. And yes, it was quick. I rode it for two or three years. Took one nice road trip on it from Central Cali to the four corners area and back. Did Yosemite and Death Valley a couple of times.

The Magna was, indeed, a cruiser.

The vespa is great but i do enjoy my "naked" KTM too. All bikes are designed for a specific purpose - take a sedan to do the work of a pick up and you will be cursing away .. Or take a sports car shopping. But put it in its element and you will b smiling from ear to ear. The basis of comparison i notice has always been a vespa vs a harley (or a similar heavyweight cruiser or a sport bike) but has anyone compared it to modern nakeds like the ducati monster / the streetfighter .. Triumph speed triple ..

I really dig not shifting. It's not that I don't know how or can't. I used to have a Bonneville. It's just that at some level, you're always monitoring and thinking about it. With the automatic, you're more in the moment.

I have a '78 Honda Goldwing as well as my Vespa. Since I bought the ET4 I haven't touched the Wing. The Vespa is so addictive, it is a LOT more fun!!!

I was surprised that I really like the CVT transmission. I thought I would prefer a shift bike, but the Vespa is so effortless to drive I don't miss the clutch / shifting...

I met a guy here in town who had rode motorcycles all his life. He sold his Goldie & bought a S150 b/c his knees could'nt hold up a big bike anymore. He was actually terrified of 10"wheels and their instability at speed. He did'nt like going over 50mph because of this. The last time I saw him his knees had gotten better and had traded in the S150 for a Yamaha V star.

Every now and the I'm scooting through a slight bend at full tilt and remember how much fun this sweeper was at twice the speed.

As for attitude, it's like you smile more on your scoot, but strut more on a MC? Who you gonna impress with that toy moped anyway? Roger that. On these scooters slower seems faster and that's fine. Full tilt on a scooter gonna get fewer tickets too.

BTW, those of you exmotorcyclists that have never tried riding a fast shifty like a strong Rally or P200 ought to give it a try. Might surprise you. I prefer to shift - adds to the fun factor, but I'm like that w/ cars too.

I just saw a '78 Goldwing on Craigslist for 2 or 3k yesterday and was intrigued. What is a good price? The bike was in very good shape w/45k Miles BTW.

It depends on the condition of the bike. For that price it would have to be in really good shape. You can PM me with the link if you want.

I just saw an early Wing go for over $11,000 on eBay. It was pristine and relatively rare though...

I was riding my 94 GoldWing 1500SE until this summer when we got my wife a scooter. Rode her scooter to break it in until she got her MC license, then...

Sold mine for $4500 on CL with 68k miles, ran great.

I'm riding my new 300 GTS Super all the time now, in cooler weather than I used to, but I want to scoot all the time it is so fun!!!

More fun per mile (FPM), and can't beat 69mpg.

I rode a motorcycle for 5 years before switching to my ET4. I rode more this season than the 5 years I had the motorcycle, and the ET4 was down a couple weeks. It is a much better weight for me. I enjoy the twist and go simplicity of it.

I've had over twenty bikes, covering most makes and types and now ride a Vespa and an MP3 because they're better than bikes in a lot of ways. I especially love the frustration my buddies feel when they can't shake the little yellow GTS on a tight back road.... or even better, can't catch it!

Having said that I'm already plotting my next cafe racer, but there will always be a Vespa in the garage from now on.

Besides, how much beer can you get under the seat of a Ninja?

I agree, and this forum ain't so groovy, either.....

You know, I'm beginning to feel that too. Before, I was always listening to the revs, waiting for the right moment to shift. Sometimes checking the Tach, thinking about what gear I was in. Now I'm more focused on my external surroundings. I think it will make me a safer rider.

I think there is something to that. Less things to do, just back off on the throttle and hit the brakes. The more attention that is free for situational awareness translates into more safety.

The most compelling thing I like about CVT scooters vs. MCs is the smooth acceleration; adding to the CVT is the fact that the engine and drive wheel are "one" and, physically speaking, "share the same moment!" A low center of gravity too adds to it...

As long time rider (57 years) high mileage (over 1.5 million) and since 1968 a scooter on the side (Vespa 2 strokes/Helix/Reflex/Burgman 400/Daelim/Silverwing) AND recently sold my last motorcycle--NT700V Honda, really like to ride scooters...like the dry feet thing. Had over 75 new bikes/scooter, from HD factory sidecar outfit on down. Wouldn't think of a "Cruiser"---where is the center stand?

Scooters work well, can carry large amounts of stuff-----but no longer are cheap to keep or fix.

Did 1600 scooter miles in 4 day trip last week in 30 degree temps ( to MI). Think you are a little warmer drier on scooter. Next year plan may be new Vespa 300.

One period, 80-90's, when I lived in Europe----had 8 registered bikes/scooters------my Vespa PX150E (US model) was my choice over my BMW RT for my own camping vacations.....and rally's---like the Elephant or the Stella Alpina in Italy. Stella is up a mountain about 25 km in mud/dirt/rocks/sometimes snow-----much easier on Vespa---just ake it slow.

That is actually a disadvantage when comes to handling. Making the engine and transmission part of the rear swingarm increases the unsprung weight tremendously... a definite no-no for performance suspensions.