Modern Vespa

my ET-150.

What a piece of junk ! It wouldn't make it the very steep hill leading to where I live. So I get off the bike and walk it up the hill at full throttle and goes like 1-2 mph. The Vespa goes 30 mph up this hill.

Just riding it on the side of the road seems so dangerous vs. taking your lane with a 150 cc bike.

The only redeeming features the taotao has are a very loud horn and both a side stand and centerstand.

Unfortunately the motorcycle didn't work today so I'm stuck with this until Monday....I'm not riding it anywhere but back there on Monday to get my Vespa back !

We have a couple of dealers that sell that junk around here....It seems when they go out for rides, they break down....
I have a friend that is a mechanic at one dealer, and he makes good money, repairing them
Why did take days to mount new tires???? Go find a better shop!!

the lack of performance could be from lack of maintenance/care...shop might not want to invest any time/materials on it

I have a local car tire shop do my scooter tire changes when I bring it to them (10 or 12 inch sizes) for $5 and plus $3.50 if I leave the old tire with them. They do it on the spot, or really first come first serve since tires is all they do.

The Taotao has 47 miles on it !

Well they are more of a car repair/ emissions testing place that also sells the Chinese scooters. I went there for my emissions test and talked to the guy about doing my tires then ( a few weeks ago). I brought him the Vespa Friday and I guess the guy he has works on scooters didn't come in that day.

I don't have a ton of options without hauling the bike a long ways in my pickup as I'm out in the boonies.

Their scooter/ motorcycle guy came in on Saturday and did the front tire change,
they seem to think after removing the exhaust a new gasket may be needed. I passed on that, as I want the Vespa back ASAP....and I know the exhaust is removed for oil changes. So they at least started on it...I told them to finish with existing gasket.

I searched some old threads here and it seems the exhaust can be removed like 10 times and replaced without needing the copper compression exhaust gasket replaced.

I think they are doing me right with the loaner and all....if I didn't live on top of a really really steep hill !


Not a true motorcycle shop but they are doing this for $75 cash and throwing in an oil change for the delay ( With my filter and 5w=40 synthetic oil).

I'll judge them after the job....but they let me take their new Taotao as a loaner no problem....pretty decent of them....but I'd prefer my Dad's 76 Pinto !

I wouldn't trade my 12 year old Vespa with 8300 miles for two of these brand new taotaos,.....3 maybe ?

I would like to upgrade to a bigger one, like a 250 or 300 cc...or maybe a 400 Burgman.

I sure as Hell made the the right decision a year ago to buy a Vespa, Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki....over a Taotao or other Chinese brand....

I wish I was that selective when wedding...... !

The legitimate service shops around here will not touch them when it comes to maintenance. They are concerned about the liability.