Modern Vespa

I've had my beloved Luigi (2008 150 LXV) for 9 years now. LOVE HIM. end of story.....

but. i live in the boonies. Most traffic is 50 mph plus. If i lived in town, where most traffic is cruising at 35, i would not be having these thoughts. however...the sad fact is....while Luigi can do it, i am short on energy bursts if the occassion arises to need it. And its become (in my mind) a safety issue. in my township alone, in the last 12 months, there have been something like 10 motorcycle deaths on a particular road....i don't ride on that road anymore.

The hubby has suggested that perhaps it is time to trade Luigi in on a 300. It really makes no sense to keep luigi if i go for a bigger scoot. he would sit. and that does not make for a happy scoot.

I'd like some insights/opinions/advice.

Thanks!

Betsey

bigger is better!

I hear you. You could put a kit on it and then it will be a 190. I like the fact that the LX is a noble little scooter but your right on needing the extra oomph at times. The 190 can be the best of both worlds. Good luck

As much as you love Luigi, a GTS would suit your needs better. Rehome Luigi and allow him to continue to be loved.

Go for it! The GTS is bigger, heavier, which should be considered if you're of small stature, but OTOH, there are people here who fit that description and are just fine with it.

I started with an LX, loved it to death, but even a couple of highway (and freeway) miles created some logistical challenges. I still have the LX (er, my wife does ) but I've loved the GTS so much more that I just ride the LX for the novelty/convenience. Being able to move ahead of and within traffic is just so much nicer. The 150s are awesome for cities and roaming the countryside, IMHO, but the GTS wins hands down for any highway riding.

You won't regret moving to a GTS, you might find a low mileage used scoot for quite a discount.

GTS or GTV? they are basically the same bike, but you have much better windscreen options on the GTS.

I would suggest a test ride on a GTS 300 to be sure you are comfortable with the larger and heavier scooter. If so, go for it and free yourself to ride where you have not been comfortable in the past. If you are not comfortable on the larger machine, the 190 solution should give you the extra power you need without the size and weight of the 300.

i have a spouse who, for whatever reason, is reluctant to do the 190 to Luigi. he keeps saying to me "find me one to see"....ok, anyone in the southern NJ, or philly area willing to show the old geezer??? <g>

as i said, my first preference is to keep Luigi. I do need to go see the 300's--i'm not small or petite <g>, and have ridden my nephew's bonneville just fine, so i am thinking i should be ok?

Because you asked. My opinion.

If you love Luigi, keep Luigi.

Then buy Luigi a nice Italian cousin Guido, a faster 300 GTS for those rides where speed is important.

Ride Luigi to visit friends and pick up things close to home.

All will be good.

Bill

After Significant Other (now wife) gently but insistently convinced me that my return to engine-powered two-wheelers be with a scooter over a motorcycle, and I recalled how much I loved Vespas, I very quickly zeroed in on the GTS, because one of my nonnegotiable requirements was No Limits: I wanted the ability to go wherever I wanted, by whichever route, at whatever required speed. I wasn't interested in "stepping up" to something bigger/faster/fancier a few years down the pike - this bike was going to be the bike, so spend the bucks now and get what works now and into the conceivable future.

Two-and-a-half years later, I'm more convinced than ever that I made the right choice. I've ridden Melody through just about every kind of weather one can experience in there Northeast (Hot Tip: keep your excursions over snow.ice to a bare minimum, if you can't totally avoid it), and the bike's come through wonderfully. It's kept up with 75-80mph highway traffic, picked its way through and around crawling traffic, popped in and out of jammed mall parking lots, and has just been an overall ball to ride. The feeling of knowing I can go wherever the heck I want without wondering "can the bike handle it?" is literally priceless.

Yes, it's bigger and heavier then the LX, for certain, but IMO no bigger/heavier than it needs to be, which, besides its inimitable style, drew it to me over anything larger that still describes itself as a "scooter." If you could make it up to our neck of Joisey, I'd give you a look at mine.

thanks for the response!

im in manahawkin tomorrow am for work <g>

Check this place out for lunch. Great crab cakes and beer served out of an old Airstream:

http://mudcitycrabhouse.com/

w.

LOVE mudcity!!! my sister lives at LBI <g>

and dang! got my mana's mistaken. I'm in Manasquan tomorrow am for work <g>

Hi,

I made the move last year from my 2007 LX 150 to a 2013 GTS 300. It took me a little to get used to it since the GTS is definitely larger and heavier and not quite as nimble/agile as the LX. I do love it though, but would recommend you sit on one and hopefully take a test drive. Make sure your feet touch the ground, mine do and I'm 5'6" (my toes do when on the center stand).

Oh my do I ever MISS my Lx150. I sold it a year ago after it sat idle for a few years in the garage! But, it was my first ever motorized two wheeled machine. After riding a while, I did notice that it wasn't meeting my needs. Light, nimble yes. Needing more power to get on freeways/get out of dangerous situations. No. She didn't have it.

So when the opportunity came to buy a 300 last fall, I jumped on it. There's differences. The 300 is heavier. The seats a bit higher. Faster off the line. Advantages, the power is there as needed. Even on the freeway! I notice i'll hit the 65ish mph and still have some room left on the throttle to go faster if needed! (I also currently weigh about 218lbs, if your less than that you could hit better/higher speeds with no issue). Uniform 12 inch tires vs one 12 inch and 1 10 inch.

This bike came with weighted handlebars and a top case. Things I had wanted to do on the LX but never got to it.

I think you'll be happier with the 300 for your commute needs but if you can swing it, keep the 150! You'll miss it and want to ride it when it's gone.

I realized, I basically said the same thing as the person who posted right before me. Sorry.

One of the guys over here kitted his 150 LX. No problems. My mechanics want me to kit my LX. Maybe. Would be nice to have a tad more power at times. Huge difference going from the 150 to a 300. My back can't take me putting the 300 on the centerstand .

Judy, actually does not take any back at all to put a GTV 300 on center stand. Just step down on the lever and it almost picks itself up. No more pressure than walking up a couple steps. But if putting down pressure on the ball of your foot is a problem it might be a different story.

Now if you want some fun try getting a Yamaha XS650 up on the centerstand! I have to struggle at times even on a nice smooth cement garage floor, so most of the time it is on the side stand!

to follow up....last night the hubby and I drove in Philadelphia to go to a dealer and look at 300's.

I want to say I fell in love, that OMG! its perfect! I want to say that...

but, it took very little time between the bike itself and the salesperson (who must have taken the class "how not to sell a scooter") for me to be able to walk away and say "nope". Since it was Philly, there was no opportunity for a test ride. But, sitting on one, it felt "top heavy" and I despised the ergonomics of the handle bar controls. I also really disliked the plastic fairing. Had i loved the 300, i would not have bought there, and would have travelled a couple of hours for a different dealer.

now, i'm going to go research specs on older 200's and 250's. and then perhaps keep an eye out. Also asking the hubby to reread and reconsider the malosi 190 kit.

Sorry to hear about the salesman, but glad you went to check one out. Since you have an LXV you may like the look and feel of a GTV better than a GTS. And quite a few folks on the forum have 200s and 250s and love them.

Good luck on the search!

I have a Bonneville and a GTS and the Vespa is infinitely lighter and easier in the turns. Not sure about the seat height specs on the LX vs GTS but they can't be far off. I think a test ride would do the trick. You're welcome to try mine if you're ever in Union county.

w.

K i couldn't do it. My LX practically goes on it by itself. One of the guys who has a 300 almost threw the LX when he tried to get it on the center stand the 300 takes a bit more oomph.

https://philadelphia.craigslist.org/mcy/d/2009-vespa-gts-250ie-2550/6566282394.html

this looks promising if its still available. You could do a whole bunch stuff to it at the asking price. I wouldnt know who to trust in the tri state area for service... maybe Washington Cycles. Unfortunately the NE is littered with fools in the industry.

Dang, almost glad that one isn't closer to me or I would be sooo tempted!

I had your exact problem. I love the air cooled Vespa 150 and have put thousands of miles on an elderly ET4 which my wife has owned since 2005. I commuted for a year and 11,000 miles on a delightful S150 until I was forced boy the conclusion that car drivers cannot come to terms with a 65 mph "moped." A series of near misses forced me to consider going large.
I have several issues with the GTS design as a high mileage daily rider. I ride a 2007 for a year until the noted fuel pump and assorted electrical issues kept stalling the scooter and reluctantly I sold it. I don't like the exhaust gasket, the rear wheel removal bearing, the inaccesible oil filter the various trim pieces that need removal. It seems a step down from the original design of tough simplicity. Plus you get a tall seat and no great storage for all that you are perched high with a small gas tank.
My mechanic is resolutely oppos d to the 190 idea. He is of thebelief that factory knows best. He also knows how many miles I pile on.
What to do?
I did not go to the Internet fora to be pilloried, I left that for later.
Eventually I decided to keep my keeper the 2004 35,000 mile ET4 And went Japanese.
I have been riding a long time and never have I owned a Japanese banana boat scooter. The little Burgman gets me no style points but it has a nice strong motorcycle profile no chrome to rust and a top speed as close as makes no difference to the GTS. Lightly used it is a fraction of the price it has vast storage and anaccesdory and farkle list of zero if that matters.
One day when I am no longer commuting I'd like a GTS to play with because it was the most comfortable ride ever and I will pay a mechanic for the maintenance. In terms of return on investment that isn't a priority now.
I name my dogs because I cherish them until they die. My vehicles I cherish as long as they fill my needs and they come and go unnamed. Too many to count since 1970.