Modern Vespa

I went for a ride to the Doctors today - the first ride since I had surgery.

It did feel odd riding without L-plates!

I'm home now and I feel really disillusioned with my Vespa! I guess I got used to 600cc's and 17 inch wheels, along with the greater performance and stability that brings.

My LX felt really skittish and gutless today. I even checked the tyre pressures twice to ensure they're ok - they're fine.

I guess it's just me. Or it's time to sell.....? Hmmm....

Big bikes do that to you, it will wear off. Just remember its horses for courses.
Time for a GTS300?

To be honest with you I feel the same going from my ET4 to my GTS.. Just feels so unstable on the smaller ET.. as previous GTS300 is in order

What they said. Go and test drive a GTS 300 Dave. It's a game changer. You've done the test and earnt it after all. Simples

Test ride a Honda SH 300. Big wheels, super fast. It just might suit you sir 8)

The BV350 has got big(ish) wheels and is pretty gutsy. You might want to test ride one before deciding what to do.

Best wishes, John W

Just got this email from the shop where i got my SH 300 from. If I buy another 2 wheeled scooter I would go for one of these.
I test rode this one and it was fast enough and very comfortable. and it has the all important ABS

Good Afternoon Terry
I hope you are well?

I am just wanting to see if you are still interested in our demo Honda Forza that you had been discussing with Michael?

If you could let me know so i can update your details accordingly.

Kind Regards,

James.
Scooters Limited
49 Kings Road
London
SW6 4SE

Tel; 020 7351 7400
Tel: 020 7751 0199

Of the three, I love the GTS, but then again, I've ridden an SH125 before and I've heard the SH300 is a bit of a dark horse....although it's also discontinued.

I sat on a BV350 when I was at Vespa Sherman Oaks...I wasn't sure about the seating position to be honest; I felt too far forwards on it. I've heard they also go very well.

I've just been offered a brand new Honda CB500F for £450 deposit and £80 a month by a Honda main dealer. Hmm.....

Lots to consider. Cheers guys!

A scooter & a motorbike offer different things. Sounds like you need/want a motorbike, nothing wrong with that.

Never quite got the point of a 500cc. I jumped from a 125cc Aprilia Habana Custom to a 600cc Yamaha Fazer. Never regretted it. The 600cc had over 100bhp i think and only it's physical size ever became an issue (too small).

Yep - Maybe try a BV 500 or a BV 350.. closer to that motorbike feel than a scooter if you ask me. Little bit more power and weight, but still light and maneuverable.

But, seriously, if you don't mind, how'd the visit to the doctor go?

Clips out, no infection, just a bit of a weird skin overlap on the wound in question. Blood pressure was 116/76 and I've lost 28lbs since April 2nd.

Thanks for asking!

Dave, every time I hop on the BV250 after riding the 900lb Harley for awhile, it seems very strange indeed. But readjustment occurs fairly quickly and I soon get that everything-we-all-love-about-scooters feeling again as I go zipping around.

Clearly, the solution is to have both!

What Belk said. It is the best of both worlds. Have fun and good luck with all the choices out there.

Hang on, it's gonna get a little faster every month from now on.

It looks like everyone is trying to get you to buy their scooters.

All the suggestions are good, but the feeling of skittishness of the little 50cc LX goes away after you ride it for a while.

I switch between my bikes and there is a big difference, but each is unique and fun to ride once you get over the change.

Yours isn't dangerous or anything, it is simply little, light and slow.

Different bikes for different things. I had 3 scooters a while back. Each had their own purpose. Still hard to go from a 150 to a 50cc knock off (abruzzi). Felt like i was riding a toy after riding the LX. Congrats on the weight loss. 8)

...and it's a 125cc!

For me, the big change usually comes after I go tearing down the street, around the bend, up and over the hill, and head towards the stop sign as the main road approaches. Just as I do on my motorcycles, when getting within about forty yards of the stop, I pull in on the clutch, so as to coast at speed. Only thing is, the "clutch" lever on the scooter is the rear brake lever, the engagement of which nearly sends me flying over the handlebars. My wife calls this my "fly and die" maneuver. I call it a "self-correcting mistake."

Ooh, coasting. I was told by my instructor last week that if I coast on my test, it's a fail because you lose engine braking and don't have sufficient control.

Naughty Lawdog!

(Seriously, ride however you want, it's none of my business!)

I'd go for a BV350.

All the handling of a motorcycle and the ease of a scooter.

They handle better than a GTS and go like stink plus cruise at 80 mph all day long.

Remove the seat bolster and you can sit where you like.

SH's look like a scorpion taking a crap.

Bill x

Test requirements not withstanding, your instructor is a twit.

Ask your instructor to comment on bicycles: they have no engine braking: one is either pedaling, braking, OR COASTING. Or, many scooters with a CVT: they to are either gassing, braking, OR COASTING. Doesn't seem to be the least bit dangerous, and on my PTWs I've always had plenty of control, well, except for the part where I go flying over the handlebars of the scooter (don't tell your instructor about that part, they might call me a twit.....


By the way, glad you are starting to feel a bit better. You'll be out there, coasting away, in no time!!

How often do you watch scorpions poop?

He picked up this little-known hobby while crossing the U.S. in the last Scooter Cannonball. It takes a certain kind of person........

I'm not sure I'd agree with that. The BV350 didn't handle as well as the TMAX or the C600 Sport by a long chalk. And certainly nowhere near as well as a modern, well-balanced M/C. The reason is that it has a very hefty load of unsprung weight bouncing up and down with the rear wheel (ie the engine). It is a good scooter, though, no doubt about that. I have also no doubt that a TMAX 530 is the best scooter available.

Dave, I suggest you ride on of those. Demos are rare, but George at Scooterden on the Kingsland Rd let me have a go on one recently. You'll like George, he's quite a character.

If you like bigger engined bikes and you really want to change gear, I would suggest riding the following. Kawasaki Z1000 naked and the SX touring model. Triumph Speed and Street Triple plus the Tiger 800 to add in an adventure style bike. You might also like the new Honda VFR800. I have the Kwak SX and I think it is the nicest machine I have ever ridden.

You might also like the Ducati Multistrada, although I don't like V-twins, preferring the smoothness of the fours and the triples.

Best answer.

Speaking of TMAX.. IMHO, this is pretty awesome.

http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/popular/roland-sands-hypermodifies-2012-yamaha-tmax-530/

Dave darling, I've only just realised your stepping up from a 125cc vespa. I have no idea what the top speed of that is, what?65/70. if you do go up to even a 500cc bike, chances are it will do near on 120 mph. A 600 4 cylinder will probably have you nearer 140mph anything bigger will have you in orbit.
Whatever you chose please take your time and get used to things coming at you a lot faster than a 125 scooter.
Sorry if I'm teaching you to suck eggs, I'd like you around a bit longer, just to see how you get on after your operation, you understand

That's highly unlikely... most won't

Oops! Sorry about that. I didn't mean to insult the little scoot. You should have plenty of performance for anything up to its top speed.

Of course, if you like motorways and fast touring, a bigger bike is required. The GTS 300 or Beverly 350 are both good choices. I would keep the LX too, though, because you will enjoy having it for riding around town.

By the way, congratulations on the surgery. It is proven to help. Best wishes in the recovery and upcoming weight loss.

I was thinking the same thing.

OK 139 mph To be honest I've lost touch with the latest bikes, the last fast bike I had was a yamaha FZR 600 and that was fast 130mph on the clock. the bike before that a Kawasaki GPZ 500 twin was good for 120 on the clock. I just assumed that the latest bikes would be much faster.
What ever Dave goes with,,,he will need to get used to the much faster speed 8)

No, he's not a twit by any means (he's a Police traffic cop and Royal protection squad rider), but he had to tell me what I needed to know to pass my test.

"Don't coast on your test. You'll fail"

A student of his didn't listen. Took his test the same day as me. Failed for coasting.

Now, I'm not saying I agree, in fact, my instructor didn't agree either, (mentioned the word "bullshit" in the same conversation about coasting), but they teach us essentially what we need to pass the test and put into practice later.

I guess once a test is passed, the real learning in the real world starts.

Whereas I'd say a car or m/c should always have the engine engaged while on the move, and engine braking should always be used if available. Maximum control at all times.

To be fair, there are huge differences in driving do's and don't on each side of the Atlantic. For instance, in the UK whether in a manual or automatic car, when waiting at traffic lights it should always be in neutral with the hand-brake on - just depressing the clutch and/or just using the foot-brake would be an instant test fail. In the US you'd be considered very odd indeed if you did the former!

SH300's are discontinued in the UK anyway, replaced by the NSS300 Forza. A completely different style of scooter. I asked two local Hodna dealers but they're both sold out of the SH.

Thanks for the concern love! I'm all good though, having spent 4 consecutive days on a Yammy XJ6 - 77bhp and a top speed of 135mph. I have zero interest in going that fast anyway, so it's not really an issue.

I do respect speed limits though. These days, you have to. Bloody cameras everywhere!

Here here, jimc

Quite a few dealers still have new SH 300's in stock at very good prices. I'm not sure, but I think they supply free toilet paper to use after they've pooped