Modern Vespa

Just been looking on Google Earth and I'm amazed at the amount of scooters there are, parked up in the residential area.
There are more scooters than bikes, mainly buddy and small 125 fly's.
I was wondering if this is a special part of USA that people use Scoot's more than elsewhere, or are there other places that are scooter friendly.

Yup There are a lot of them down there but very few Vespas.

I've been there 4 or 5 times and rented a scooter once.

They're mostly 50s that folks just use for getting around on the island, which is relatively flat and congested. A lot of them are rentals, too.

I'd wager that Key West is the most scooter-intensive place in the US.

I think so too

Thats right on. I have visited there twice in the past 3 years and it is the most scooter intensive place I've ever seen in the US. They are allmost all 50cc's

I wish more places were as scooter friendly.

They may be a little too scooter friendly there. Just about anyone can rent one so you get a lot of tourists flying around that have little to no experience some making it worse by showing off. I have nearly been hit crossing Duval St. in a crosswalk and have seen many drops and out of control riders. Fortunately most seem to be the skinned body part and ego kinds of mishaps.

Stuff like this. Watch the first guy coming around the corner then of course the girl. Do you think either of them should be on a scooter?

Very true, Sticky.

Been there. Lived through it. We're just getting old and cranky.

Every time I watch that...I get a little more ill. Wow...clearly those two have absolutely no clue how to ride.

She was probably over in Margaritaville. Folks there love to party.

Having spent lots of time there in the last century I would say a lot are tourist but many, many of them are DUI scooters.

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It is the most insane place I have ever ridden...and that includes the Vulcan Vice City rally!

It's not the US, but close. Bermuda is a very small island in the middle of the Atlantic. It is in a latitude between Savannah, GA and Charleston, SC., but about 700 miles east of these, and has around 60,000 inhabitants on 21 square miles.

Being so densely populated, the government decided years ago to restrict residents to one car per household, but as many bikes as you want. I believe that there are at least two scooters per car and parking takes place in large banks in Hamilton and St. George. It is quite a sight.

Give Bangkok a try. It will blow your freaking mind.

I would not ride a scooter in Asia. Respect to those that do it regularly!

Was in Key West a few weeks ago on my GTS. Most of the scooters are smaller ones. Seems like many are rented. KW is perfect for that.

Had dinner a couple of nights at the Banana Cafe and left a little red wine in my glass.........they poured it in a 'to-go' cup. Perfectly fine on Duvall Street in KW!

Yep, sounds like Florida....fun to go.

I luv Key West and renting a scooter is the only way to get around. 8) No there aren't a lot of Vespa's but definitely a lot of scooters
If you go, be sure and visit Mallory Square followed by a sunset cruise and definitely stop sometime at the Conch Shack on Duvall for a lobster roll ...Yum

My wife and I will be going to Key West in a couple of weeks....by motorcycle....a really nice ride. The trip down US1 ( 100 miles from Miami ) is considered one of the best motorcycle (or scooter) rides in the USA.

I've been there twice, many years ago. It's a very laid back relaxing place to be.

I have family in Lauderdale. I really want to rent a bike and ride down to Key West and back. A guy I know did it a few years back. The only bike rental he could find then was a Harley. I haven't looked into it yet. If I did do it, ideally I'd like to find some riding companions.

If it turns out that there are only MCs to rent I'll have to learn to shift first.

If you are thinking of doing it, give me a shout, I might tag along

I did that trip way back in 1979 in a brand-new hired Thunderbird

Do you use the Vespa dealer in Clearwater? Interesting place. Had my GTS serviced there.

I will. Just don't don't know when.

Turkman.....I have not used the Clearwater Vespa dealer, although I stopped by there expecting something like a Lexus dealer.....wow what a surprise.... more like a small used car lot with an old garage full of Vespas. I drove on and purchased my Vespa from Barney's. Doesn't seem to be any stand alone Vespa dealers left in the area.....Tampa had a nice one but they closed and Barney's bought the franchise. Did you have good luck with Clearwater Vespa ???

I originally thought what a funky place Vespa in Clearwater is....until I got to talking with them. Interesting place that could use s bit of organization!
The service I got there was great! Had a oil change and a few things checked out. They checked my scooter out pretty good. Loved talking with them about scooters, MG's and the other British and German cars they had there.
I'd go back!

It videos like that that makes me wonder why anyone can ride a scooter without a license endorsement no matter what the size is. How many times has a video like or simular been posted somewhere, like running into cars, fences, garbage cans...you name it. This give scooter riders a bad name. Just my 2 cents worth.

......I think it has something to do with the 'to-go' cups on Duvall Street

I rented a Vespa from Eagle Rider in Miami. Yes, they're primarily a Harley rental place, but they do have scoots.

Actually, I rented an MP3 250, but it kept overheating and stalling. They swapped it for my choice of a Harley or an LX 150. Obviously, I took the one I'd have fun riding, the LX. (I've done the Harley thing before, but had never had a chance to ride an LX.)

Anyway, I took that all the way down the Overseas Highway (US 1). There were times when I could have used more oomph, but it made it down there and back with no problems. And the next day, I took it across the Everglades with a group, and it handled fine.

But that's really more than you needed to know, isn't it?

Actually, that's really helpful, thanks for posting that. An LX150 would do that trip very nicely. I'd love to try an MP3 too.

Our Son Jordan and 8 other peeps are riding Vespas to Key West from VSO next month. Will start a new thread in about 2 weeks.



SDG

Umbrella drinks down there....

(Just saying)

...like I said watch out for the '2-go' cups.......

Tourists on scooters are idiots. We have them over here. Not as many as KW tho. They think just because their on vacation nothing will happen to them and they magically know how to ride.Fair amount of deaths over the years also.

How will you work your way towards Miami? The ride across the Everglades via 41 is fun. So is working your way towards the west side of Okeechobee and then down via 27.

There is a good mechanic in Naples @ VespaNaples.

Have a safe @ fantastic ride!

To the above post, might I add some pleasant offshore fishing?

I love Florida!

"....livin' on spongecake, watchin' the sun bake

all of them tourists covered with oil.

Strummin' my 6 string, on the front porch swing"....Jimmy Buffet (sp?)

Ah, what a life.

I have it now. I've retired early and lovin' it!

GulfCoastPrimavera: I will be staying east of 75 south to Everglades City (overnight) and then, yes, I will be taking 41 across to Homestead and US 1 to Key West. Probably do something different on the return trip.....probably around Lake Okeechobee and then NW.