Modern Vespa

Just back from an amazing holiday in Rarotonga - Cook Islands. Locals all ride scooters, no helmets and babies as young as two on the back
For tourists scooter hire is the way to go in the sunny, tropical weather. Official speed limit 40km/h with no helmet or 50km/h with a helmet Scooter hire place advises not to park under coconut trees to avoid injury to people and damage to scooters The roads were pretty good and a 32km circumnavigation of the island with frequent stops for snorkelling, swimming and freshly caught Tuna for lunch made for a memorable day.

So hire we did, a 125 Honda but when it came down to it I just couldn't bring myself to ride without a lid. We would have been one of the only ones wearing helmets but we felt safer, even if we were riding in shorts and jandals (flip-flops, thongs...).

Yesterday we headed into the small town centre for the Saturday morning markets. Came upon a Police road block stopping all the tourists and locals on scooters for licence checks. They were very polite and friendly and we were soon on our way but I missed out an actual photo opp with the 'Raro 5.0'. This is the first time in my life I have ever been stopped by the police whilst I was riding a scooter. At home I must look too 'sensible' (high viz and all) and get waved through a checkpoint every time.

Great trip and a lifetime of memories. If you ever venture south you would be hard pressed to find a safer, friendlier, easy-going tropical paradise to stop over for some R&R. 8)

Boulty I hear they do helmet checks near Avarua when they want to raise a bit of cash. We never bothered first trip but I made the Mrs wear one last time because little Z was on the way. Good call on the Honda. We got a chinese scoot first time and it was full of gremlins. Riding at night with just the indicators to light the way

Cheers Z - isn't Raro a blast!
Yeah the Honda performed well even with 2 up. Did make me think about my impending dilemma - get a new Primavera 150 in May or wait for the Sprint 125 in Sept/Oct???? (wrings hands in anticipation). After a few days on the 125 in Raro I'm liking the idea of a couple more HP the Primavera has (13 compared to 11).

Wait for the sprint.

Que?

C'mon man, lay your opinion out coz I am really waivering.
I love the new wheels on both but the Sprint's are another step ahead. I was in love with the square headlight on the old S150 but the 'trapezoid' headlight on the sprint not-so-much.
The Sprint has 12" wheels but I also like the Primavera in white with the red seat like the 946 colour scheme.
Confused much.

Wait, the NZ Sprint will be 125?

Yup, apparently so.

Well then I'll stick with my original advice. Buy a cheap new S for 5k and throw the 190 kit at it.

Ah, but nearly all the reviews praise the new frame and new suspension as the as the most significant upgrade in many years. If THAT wobble has truly been resolved it I will be stoked.

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The smallframes are reportedly wobble-free. My LX 150ie 3v certainly is.

When I was much younger, my brother and I rode the whole circumference of Tahiti on Solex mopeds. Never again! Too much pedaling.

Photos were amazing!

Looks like a wonderful get-away.

I was stopped in a nearby town for doing 75 in a 55 on my GTS. I questioned my speed considering I was riding a moped, but the officer insisted he had me on radar. I went to court and told the prosecutor maybe they clocked the vehicle behind me, and he dismissed the charge due to me riding a moped. This is the only time I have admitted to riding a moped and it worked

Awesome and it looks like Hawaii. Probably cheaper tho. Glad you had a great time. At least you guys know how to ride when you go on vacation. I saw 2 idiots on rentals yesterday riding up the bike path. One had a helmet on but it wasn't fastened. Then the first one almost dumps the scooter as he was coming off the bike path to turn on to one of our beach roads. A car almost clocked him so he stopped right in front of me in the road. I stopped could of went around him because the other guy was still on the bike path. I had to yell idiots. Years ago i found out the whole "don't have anything under a coconut tree" thing. I was in Belize on Ambergis Cay. Had my towel near a coconut tree. Went to have lunch and when i came back a coconut was right on my towel where my head would of been.