Modern Vespa

We won't be getting an ABS or traction control model here in the US, if past experience is any predictor. Also European prices tend to be OTD prices, and if you lose the VAT, the ABS, and the traction control, Alex may be very close.

Point taken.

Yeah...Maybe equal to GTV? Something like MSRP 6999? I think 946 should have some really unique feature which could justify the price besides aluminum body. Engine size can but not in our case. ABS could be such a deal breaker, I think. Aluminum body alone wouldn't make me run to the dealer. After all all hobbies are irrational. Vespa is not an exception. We all heard those questions "you could get a car for that $, why didn't you buy a real motorcycle, my friend just bought 3y.o. Sportster,for $4500" etc etc etc. At least we are not paying dozens of $$ for HDavidsons

Per Piaggio's own limited edition digital "book" the "body" isnt aluminum....its steel with aluminum front mudguard, handlebars and mirror stalks, removeable cowls, and seat pan.

Nice componentry, but not an aluminum structure.

Le sigh.

What I worry about: what if it is uncomfortable and is not as gorgeous as on pictures? GTV, for example is very good looking but for some riders it's seat is not comfortable. 10 y ago Chrysler published a pic of PT Cruiser...it happened to be cheap plastic econobox. Vespa so far hasn't disappointed us. I just worry too much. 8)

LATEST PICTURES!!!http://www.motoblog.it/galleria/vespa-946-my-2013/1

she seems happy sitting on top of the hump!

It vibrates.

Would like to make a pragmatic comment...

Every modern Vespa has had a removable underseat bucket that gave access to the top of the motor.

But not this one....the gas tank is under the seat, no 'top' access.

Thus the need for 'side panels'.

This bike will be very different to work on....like old style.

Setting the valves?

Glad I have a lift table.

R

But... then who will start the "I don't have a 946" thread?

Check the link to the latest pictures and you will see more pictures and get answers to your questions. Warning: no inappropriate images, just a lot of pix of that fluffy skirt on 946. I wonder who did the photographer admire most.
http://www.motoblog.it/galleria/vespa-946-my-2013/1

I really like the finishes and the lines of the scooter...it's a beautifully designed piece of machinery. I just can't see myself on one. I'm normally an all-gear kind of rider, and I think I'd denigrate the design by hopping on the 946 with a Kilimanjaro jacket, full face helmet, boots, etc.

This scooter needs to be ridden by a guy wearing an Armani suit, silk socks and penny loafers with the penny and the tassels. Helmet? it could only be a 3/4 shell with the brim on front.

I may have to admire this one from a distance.

I don't think so, it's 4 stroke engine not 2 stroke

Perhaps someone else posted it earlier in the thread and I missed it, but I still haven't see a pic with rear blinkers.

Best
Miguel

They're kind of subtle:

I wonder how bright they are? If they are always on? Etc.

Wonder how visible the bike is in general? Seems pretty low slung, like a Honda Joker.

You know, I don't really find the comparison to the Joker to be very credible. They both have a pointy tail, and that's about it. Even then, the tails aren't really very similar.

I see some some Mojito mojo going on there.

Compared to the Joker, definitely. No idea which one came first.

I don't think there's any resemblance of either of them to the 946, though.

Note that I'm not defending the 946 -- I just don't see the comparison.

And here are all three together for direct comparison.

Notice, on the Mojito and the Joker, the following similarities:

- The shape of the seat, and the way it transitions down to the step-through
- The transition of the floorboards to the cowls
- The contrasting black plastic floorboards, vs. the rest of the bike
- The perfectly horizontal line at the lower edge of the cowls
- The decorative flourish on the tail
- The chrome handlebars
- The chrome headlight
- The stalk-style tail light

None of those design cues are shared by the 946.

I'd say they're all similar because of the elongated tear drop shape on the rear. The Joker and Mojito are closer to the 946 in that respect than the LX or GT. More so with the Joker.

Compared to the Joker and Mojito, the 946's tail is positively subdued. And that's literally the only thing they share, aside from, you know, being scooters.

I didn't intend to say they looked the same. Only that they seem low slung in stance. I find the LX and GTS tall, the Jokers low.

It's very nice but it's clearly going to cost so much that even the most well-meaning Vespa aesthete and true lover of the breed will have to think long and hard before taking the plunge on a beautiful object that seems unlikely to perform better or be more practical than the scooters he already has.

But I can see a way I might end up with one. I work at rich peoples' houses, people rich enough pay (a lot) to someone (me) to come into there homes and install their artwork. I can picture myself spotting two of these in one of their garages in about 4-5 years, parked in a corner and covered with dust, batteries dead, tires soggy, and about 156 miles on each of them. "What's up with those scooters?" I'll say, innocently, knowingly, greedily...

This bit has given me some pause... I'm not sure I want a *bigger* scooter. I had hoped this would be more in keeping with the LX's proportions...

Hmm....

I think it's a much better attempt at moving the iconic Vespa brand forward than the Cosa was many moons ago. After seeing pictures of the 946, the LX already seems dated.

Absolutely, but EU prices don't "tend", but are OTD prices (no sales tax, destination fee or dealer prep), unless the retailer gives you a discount. Thus, you will find the "list" prices varies from EU country to EU country based on the national VAT rate and delivery transportation cost, if any. If Piaggio advertizes a given scooter for 4,500 Euro in Greece, then that's the max I can be guaranteed to pay, excluding plates and title. If a dealer offers it to me for 4,400 Euro, then that's the bottom line price I will pay.

As more pictures have been released, it's been surprising how many sharp angular lines there are in the details. And slots. Slots everywhere! The up-close styling is busy and hard-edged compared to the simple sleek curve of the whole scooter in profile view. It's quite a trick. Is it retro or hi-tech? It's both.

But the handlebars... yuck! I'd prefer they were either left naked or encased in a larger streamlined shell, yet they have taken the middle ground.

I'm looking at the photos and thinking accessories....



Under-seat luggage. Plenty of space to install some! Enough for... A fat textbook? Thin raingear? Hang it off the seat.



Add-on glovebox "pockets" like on some classic models. Not a great deal of space, but somewhere to pop your sunnies/latte...



Wonder if there'll be factory a factory chrome crash-bar kit. Or if they just plan on selling a lot of replacement side cowls for when they're dropped!



Looks like quite a lot less lean angle to left than right before you scrape something, in this case a hard sidestand...

The replaceable cowls are actually a really good idea from the point of view of crash damage.

Oh and while we're at the cowls, I want pictures with them off! Engine access is a very important feature, and I'm curious about rear shock placement/quality...

Oh dear, those rear turn signals appear to be quite low and almost angled down towards the ground. Hopefully they're really really bright so that they are noticeable.

The 946 appears to be a good looking Vespa and one that really differs from anything else on the road at the moment. Although it may not be the most practical, with little undersea storage, I think it will do well enough if its price isn't stratospheric. We might be back up to a three scooter family again if the 946 ever reaches Canada.

Not always, not always. One of my scooters sat in the wealthy man garage for 40 years with 800 miles and everything original. I got it for almost the same price he paid vespa dealer (he was an original owner) adjusted to the inflation. It was worth it, it was on the top of normal price range but it was NOT a yard sale/barn fine price. He made good investment

Thanks for the heads up. I be ready for your not so innocent attempt to part me from my 946s.

I am really curious to find out what the final street price will be.

At 30k intervals for valve adjustment, not too much an issue..

While I'd prefer naked I like the streamlined shell. I wish there was an easy way to make the ones on the GTS either naked or much smaller.

If the bike only comes with ABS and TC then the U.S should be getting it too.
Remember that the reason why we don't have ABS here on the GTS and the BV is that you can get the model with or without it in Europe and Vespa America decided to bring the model without.
If they only make one version of it, then it should be the same.

I don't mind the look from the front but from the rear the design seems a little awkward. And it should have a mechanical speedo IMHO. Love everything else though so far.