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My first post here.
My wife and I are getting ready to retire and move to the Sarasota area. I currently ride a Honda CTX700 DCT. Most of my riding here in New England is back country roads. Not dirt, but the high numbers state highways that pass through the small towns and farms. Mostly running speeds around 30-45 MPH. I take a lot if pictures as I ride. I usually pick an interesting looking diner/Ice Cream shop/BBQ joint as a destination. I especially like ocean shore rides through the small beach front towns. A typical weekend ride would be 150-250 miles for the day. I like riding slow and relaxed. Never in a hurry to get anywhere. I average about 5K miles on the bike during the riding season.

I really like the styling of the Vespa's. I am looking at the Primavera 150 or the GTS. I am also open to other suggestions that the gray beards here think might be a good choice. I am not concerned with the cost difference as much as I don't want to pay for more than I really need.
It doesn't seem the physical size difference in scooters under 300cc is a big issue. I am leaning to the extra power of the GTS since it looks like it is more power for not a significant difference in size and weight. What are the thoughts of those here?

Also does anyone know of any scooter groups in the Sarasota/Tampa area?

Thanks for Your Time
RoadRider13

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If 30-45 mph is all you need then the LX/Primavera/Sprint will do fine. If you want more capabilities including speeds over 60 then the GTS is a great all-round scooter with a bunch of flexibility. I don't, however, agree that the GTS and Primavera are essentially the same size and weight. The GTS is quite a bit heavier, which becomes obvious when rolling it around, putting it on the stand, etc. How tall/ strong is your wife? The weight of the GTS could be an issue, and the seat height of either scooter could be an issue for a shorter rider. My wife is 5'3" and rides a Buddy because she is not comfortable on an LX (similar to Primavera).
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Dooglas wrote:
If 30-45 mph is all you need then the LX/Primavera/Sprint will do fine. If you want more capabilities including speeds over 60 then the GTS is a great all-round scooter with a bunch of flexibility. I don't, however, agree that the GTS and Primavera are essentially the same size and weight. The GTS is quite a bit heavier, which becomes obvious when rolling it around, putting it on the stand, etc. How tall/ strong is your wife? The weight of the GTS could be an issue, and the seat height of either scooter could be an issue for a shorter rider. My wife is 5'3" and rides a Buddy because she is not comfortable on an LX (similar to Primavera).
My wife doesn't ride . I am 6' with a 33" inseam. My ctx is just under 500 lbs and it is pretty easy to manhandled.
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RoadRider13 wrote:
My wife doesn't ride . I am 6' with a 33" inseam. My ctx is just under 500 lbs and it is pretty easy to manhandled.
So, you are just talking about one scooter, for you. Do you ever want to ride 2-up? This is all pointing toward a GTS in my opinion.
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Do try them both before making a decision. My local Kawasaki agent had two used Vespas in stock - a 125 Primavera and a 300 GTS. I think the Prim is probably the best looking Vespa but it is just physically and engine-wise too small for me. I'm 6'2", 14 stone and with 30" inseam. I can get both feet down on the GTS but they're flatter on the Primavera.

I bought the GTS and I love it.
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No two up riding either . Just me at 210 lbs.
Matt How is the riding in Cornwall? I have visited there and think it is by far the prettiest part of England!
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Dooglas wrote:
RoadRider13 wrote:
My wife doesn't ride . I am 6' with a 33" inseam. My ctx is just under 500 lbs and it is pretty easy to manhandled.
So, you are just talking about one scooter, for you. Do you ever want to ride 2-up? This is all pointing toward a GTS in my opinion.
You are from out where I grew up (Medford)! My mother lives in Eugene. HUGE Ducks fan.
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I bought a Primavera about 18 months ago to run around and do chores on Marco island where I live ( about 22 square miles) speed limit is 30 mph with many areas 25 mph.

I absolutely loved it (still do)

I got to looking at a 2016 GTV 300 at the local dealership in silver with red seats , and front and rear racks ( beautiful would be the only way to describe it)

I took it for a test ride to tryout with the intent to purchase and was very impressed with the speed , handling and performance it was a joy to ride but could not escape the fact that my Primavera seemed "zippier" easier to throw around in smaller spaces and somehow just felt more "fun".

I still lust after the GTV.

I appreciated the Primavera before, but now I really, really appreciate what have in the 150 Primavera if nothing else it is a really fun way to get around a small island, The GTV just seems to be a more serious machine than I need.
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RoadRider13 wrote:
You are from out where I grew up (Medford)! My mother lives in Eugene. HUGE Ducks fan.
The back roads of the Willamette Valley are great scooter riding country. My personal favorite. I, on the other hand, am a Beaver.
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I'd get the GTS, or one of its iterations. It handles REALLY well, and I always think it's better to have the extra oomph and not need it than the other way around.
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Although you don't ride fast, you may like the weight of GTS and a sense of "stability" it brings. I was after a light (and lean looking) Vespa last year, bought a Sprint and absolutely love it for in-town riding. I'm a small guy, so my own weight does not add much to the equation.

But I ride also other than silky smooth paved roads, and I'm still always missing bigger wheels when riding faster. With GTS, you get a similar wheel size, but the weight makes it feel like it's more planted at higher speeds.

As I very seldom ride faster than 50 miles per hour, I don't miss the extra power of GTS.

I'll go with the colleagues above - test them both, they are a bit different scoots.
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Quote:
I bought a Primavera about 18 months ago to run around and do chores on Marco island where I live ( about 22 square miles) speed limit is 30 mph with many areas 25 mph.

I absolutely loved it (still do)
Hi Marcodweller! Where did you buy your scoot? I am a temporary Marco Dweller (South Seas Club) when I can get down there. I will be looking for a Vespa speeding by!
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Tripo wrote:
Quote:
I bought a Primavera about 18 months ago to run around and do chores on Marco island where I live ( about 22 square miles) speed limit is 30 mph with many areas 25 mph.

I absolutely loved it (still do)
Hi Marcodweller! Where did you buy your scoot? I am a temporary Marco Dweller (South Seas Club) when I can get down there. I will be looking for a Vespa speeding by!
Hi Tripo ,
I bought my Primavera from John at Naples Vespa up on 4th ave right next to the old Dairy Queen , can't praise him enough , a really great guy.

My Girlfriend and I used to ride around the island 2 up on my white Primavera and she was so enamored we got her one as well I have the white she has the red , you will often see them parked up by NeNes or Doreens cup of Joe on Collier boulevard right across from the south seas Towers at the weekend or spot one or both of us doing our errands around the island.

They are just a really cool and fun way to get around the island and we probably use them 90% of the time ( only summer storms push is back into the cage)

We get a lot of compliments and comments on the Vespas and have both lived on the island long enough to be regarded as locals so get a lot of waves and honking of horns which is life affirming in the best way , feeling part of the wider community.

I am seeing more and more scooters on the Island each year so I guess people are finding as much enjoyment as us in bombing around in sub tropical weather year round.
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Marcodweller
have you ridden up the coast? When I get down to FL I plan on doing a lot of coastal riding. I am an odd person who loves the quirky coastal towns. I actually love the jersey shore because the photo ops with all the kitsch and characters is so hard to pass up. I have been to Marco a couple of times. We usually like to spend a week at Sanibel photographing birds each winter.
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I have a GTS and don't know much about the other models.
But I have always thought its good to buy a scooter/bike that can handle speeds and weight above what you normally intend to do.
If price is no issue, I would get the GTS. Just in case you do decide to go on a faster road, or even a highway.
Although Im sure the other models are great too.
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If the intention is to ride around Sarasota, then the 150 will be fine. But if you want to get out and ride across the state, you will be confronted with a need for more speed than the 150 can handle comfortably.

Both are great, but the 300 is also small (simply look at one compared to a Burgman, Helix, Downtown, etc.)

Getting one onto a center stand is remarkably easy once used to doing it.

And the speed is very useful sometimes.

Who knows. One day you might want to ride one across the country.
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I jump back and forth between my Harley and Vespa all the time. Since you are coming from a larger bike you will be comfortable with the GTS and think it is quite light.

It's always better to have the extra power and not need it. A 150 would feel very underpowered to you. A 150 would be OK going from your house to the beach or the store on a small island, but that's not what you wrote.
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I have ridden all over SW Florida on an Aprilia 300. I agree with the observation of others here. If you want to go exploring you will need to deal with higher speed roads periodically. A 250/300 will give you the extra flexibility to take that in stride.
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Thanks everyone for the replies! i think I am going to look at the GTS. BTW how much vibration does a Vespa have around 50 mph?
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RoadRider13 wrote:
Thanks everyone for the replies! i think I am going to look at the GTS. BTW how much vibration does a Vespa have around 50 mph?
None. They are remarkably smooth.
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RoadRider13 wrote:
Marcodweller
have you ridden up the coast? When I get down to FL I plan on doing a lot of coastal riding. I am an odd person who loves the quirky coastal towns. I actually love the jersey shore because the photo ops with all the kitsch and characters is so hard to pass up. I have been to Marco a couple of times. We usually like to spend a week at Sanibel photographing birds each winter.
Hi RoadRider13,
I have ridden around Naples on the vespa but it would probably be hard to find the quirkiness you desire around there, very few parts of the old naples exist and those that do are tourist attractions, having said that there is a lot of impressiveness to see in downtown Naples and Port Royal.

Heading North from Naples there is Bonita springs a little inland but still has a feel of small town Florida although that is becoming more "gentrified " as each year passes.

Just a few miles from Marco Island is Goodland and there you will find quirkiness in spades,its just a very cool little village that still has a very small fishing fleet ( mostly crab and mullet) along with a few bars and restraunts , the most famous of which is Stans , which would be best described as a tiny part of key west that came north, it holds an annual mullet contest (the fish not the hair style) every January.

If you like to see a lot of custom bikes lined up , Harleys, Boss Hoss's ,trikes and everything in between that would be the place to see them.

Its a place John Bohener ( former speaker of the house) goes when he is down here and he is likely to be stood talking with a dreamer who things never quite worked out for anywhere else, who is now picking up a little day work here and there to buy his beer and rum punch. Its the type of place where millionaires stand shoulder to shoulder with ditch diggers.

Further east is Everglades city which again has a good amount of quirkiness , this tiny place has its own notoriety from the 80's where the majority of adult males including the mayor were arrested and sent to jail for drug running , (bales of drugs were dropped by plane into the Everglades and collected by fishermen, airboat captains infact anyone who had a boat or watercraft and distributed from Everglades city and elsewhere)
They have a fantastic sea food festival every year and a real piece of old Florida real estate in the Rod and Gun club harking back to the days when the wealthy from up North would venture into the swamps for hunting and fishing excursions before roads were here.

I truly love this part of Florida with its old timer tales , history, folklore and often tall tales, exaggerations and downright lies (all the old timers have a claim to fame down here be it they used to play in Jimmy Buffets band, were pro sport players to running drugs for the south american cartels but it all adds to the mix)
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Go with the GTS 300 I think you will be very happy.
Good luck on your move and happy retirement to ya!

Bob
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I have never owned a GTS, but one big advantage I can think of would be that the engine is watercooled. Florida is hot, hot, hot ( born and lived in South Florida,50 years). The 150 would be more flick-able, no doubt. I think you should try both after the move.
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Congrats on your retirement!

I've only been riding about four months and coming back from my third 100+mile ride of the week I realized how glad I was I'd taken the advice to get a larger vs. smaller scooter.

I was originally so convinced I'd never ride a scooter out on the open road I even bought a trailer the same week I got the Vespa...and the Vespa has yet to sit in that trailer even once; I've just been scooting to my destinations.

So, get the GTS!
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I can't speak with much authority on the subject, as I only have had one scooter, but it seems that you need to choose the scoot that exceeds your needs.

I know a lot of people here will tell you that the 150's will do whatever you need, but they are speed limited to 59mph or so. And if you're planning on hitting the open road anytime soon, then you're going to want more than WOT on a 150.

It's not like motorcycles, where bigger isn't necessarily more capable. Anything in the 200/250/300 range (other than an old P200) will be fine on the highway or interstate and is capable of 65+ mph.
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I think the 150's would be good enough. I travel all over the island on mine. Back roads are way more scenic. IMHO the little Vespa's are,well,to little to be riding on the freeways. When i commuted i had a Honda Helix 250. That thing was huge. I'd get knocked around with a 300. Like others have said the 150 is nimble and i can go places that a bigger bike can't (bike lane). Anyway good luck. I'm partial to the LX series. Made much better than the newer ones. Parts are mostly made in China now. If you can find a good used LX i'd go for it. Good lcck
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