Modern Vespa

I'm new to the forum, but have been lurking and learning for a couple of weeks.

I just finished my MSF course and got my license and just bought a GTV300.

Sadly, it's still at the dealership waiting for a top-box and crash-bars. Then it will be mine, mine, all mine!!!

I'm a new rider, and I'm sure it was a mistake to buy a new scooter for my first bike. But I'm hoping I'll be so afraid of scratching it, I will ride that much more carefully!

But. The. Wait. Is. Killing. Me!

Ciao!

Aloha and welcome to the forum from Hawaii. Awesome. Pics when you get it please.

Ah, sweet anticipation. The wait is worth it. Don't sweat it. Yeah, things happen, and they're particularly painful when new, but you did the right thing with the MSF course and you'll likely do just fine.

Welcome! GTVs are divine and one day I'll have one.

Congrats on the new scooter, I know the wait is painful, but it will be well worth it. Please share pics when you get it.

Now is a good time to assess your individual risk appetite by evaluating riding gear choices. I'll try to avoid getting too preachy.

A helmet that fits properly should be the bare minimum. There are a lot of choices for color/graphics, ventilation, and sun shields.

I would also suggest proper motorcycling gloves. You don't want to screw up your hands if you have even a minor slide. They will be much better tailored than hardware store leather gloves, precurved for handlebar grips. Textile or leather, look for some with extra padding on the heels of your hands and hard armor across the knuckles.

And then there are jackets, pants, and boots to consider. But all of that is rider choice.

Good to have a fellow Texan join the group. Not to worry about the scooter being new - that is just added incentive to ride like you always should without considering what you are riding. This is a great group and the source of a lot of good knowledge.

Gyro, welcome and congrats on your new ride!

The crash bars are an excellent addition that will prevent most of the damage from a tip over (don't ask me how I know ). The more you ride the faster you will become proficient. Do you have friends to ride with? If not, join a scooter meet-up, they are a great way to meet like-minded people and learn in the process.

Make sure the dealer gives you back the original bar end weights (the weights at the end of your handlebars) as the top case comes with a heaver set. Also, check your fluids and tire pressure before leaving the dealership, don't take their word for it! When we brought home our new Honda Metropolitans, both were extremely low on coolant, my husband's new motorcycle was low on oil, and my motorcycle's tires were almost 10 lbs low (3 different dealers ).

Ride, take pictures, and post often!

Welcome aboard!

Thanks all for the welcome.

Yep, a friend suggested to me, if I was serious, I should just buy all my quality gear first, then save to buy the scooter, Otherwise I'd buy the scooter and try to get by riding with minimum because I would have any money left.

Side benefit, I had my own gear to wear for the MSF course. I just don't like putting on the helmets 1000 other unknown people have been wearing.

I got a white LS2 full-face, leather riding gloves with hard knuckle, Hi-vis yellow riding jacket with elbow, shoulder, and back protection, sturdy over-the-ankle leather riding boots with non-slip soles, and riding jeans with knee and hip pads and kevlar lining.

Friends at work laughing at me for dressing up like Ironman to ride a scooter. LoL. Let them laugh. I have no desire to become a meat-crayon.

Welcome to the Fold!

Yes, anticipation can be a killer, but the additions to the bike (including the crash bars...yes, worth it) will be worth the wait.

Just contain yourself when the time comes to show up and pick up the dear thing...

Welcome and wish you plenty of enjoyment. The above advice is worth a lot, great insights on the forum.
Ride and enjoy...

Congratulations Gyro. Something I like to do every time I ride is practice a specific maneuver like countersteer, tight turns, etc. It will keep you focused and safe!

Welcome to the GTV club, Gyro! The only drawback with the GTV is the lack of windscreen options. Otherwise, it's a great modern Vespa with that nod to its historic models.

Once you've got it and start riding, you'll get more smiles per mile than just about any other bike...

Cheers

Thanks.

Yep, first couple of rides I plan to putt over to the local high school parking lot and practice basically all the same drills I did in the MSF course. I even got a set of those short cones from the MSF website. I reckon that will be a good way to stay sharp and get used to the GTV's handling and weight. I'm working up my own custom set of range cards: weave, offset weave, emergency swerve, emergency break, brake out of a turn, figure-8, u-turns, brake and escape, 90 deg right turns from stop, etc.

I'm weird, but I can spend an afternoon in the parking lot doing that stuff and have almost as much fun as getting on the roads.


Oh, it's ready tomorrow! But I probably won't get out to ride until Sat morning.

Thanks for the welcome. I considered the windscreen issues. I just don't think that really matters to me. I don't plan to ever ride in the rain or at highwway/freeway speeds and I have a full-face helmet with shield. I'll be sticking to residential and secondary roads. I also won't be doing any long distance riding.

But I took one look at the GTV and new I'd make what ever rationalizations I needed anyway. 8)

Thanks for the welcome.

I needs to do some more training first so I don't embarrass myself, but I mgiht consider a meetup later. The local dealership appears to organize some group rides from time to time.

Expect some pictures Sat.

Welcome to the GTV club! Great scoot and handles very well so with a bit of care you will be fine.

I'm sure the anticipation is driving you crazy

I totally get that. I bought mine from a Cycletrader ad, and headed over the next day, before anyone else could snag it. One look, and I knew that style was for me. Fender headlight? Split leather seats? Front and rear chrome racks? Yes, please!

Hi and welcome from Rochester, NY. You are going to LOVE your new GTV.

Welcome to the club!

Don't worry about getting it new. Even experienced riders will get a few knocks so nothing much changes there.

Gyro,welcome from The Salt Lake Valley Utah.

Got it out this evening after work. It wasn't scary, but it was weird. It was weird being out on a street with cars around instead of just a parking lot. And the GTV was obviously a lot heavier and handled differently than that 50cc I used in class. It also has ton more acceleration than that 50cc. I had to learn to finesse that throttle. I kept having the oddest impulse to put my seatbelt on. I felt kinda naked. LoL.

I can tell you'll never be lonely with a new Vespa. I went a nearby school parking lot to practice low speed maneuverer and this guy stops in the middle of adjacent road for a bit and then pulls in the lot and sits there looking at me. I'm like WTF dude, you're creeping me out. He pulled over near me and got out. He just wanted to ask me about the bike. He had never seen a scooter like that model. I gave him the sales spiel like I worked at the dealership.

Then on my way back home I pulled in to a golf course parking to grab a snapshot with some decent background before it got dark. I was only there a minute or two and I was starting to put my gear back on and a golf cart of old guys start making a bee-line toward me from across the club parking lot. I was thinking "Ahhh crap. They're going to hassle me about being on club property." But they were all smiles when they pulled up and one old guy was like "Hey buddy, that is one sweet ride! Is that a Vespa?" Apparently he had an old vintage Vespa back in the 60's when he was in college.

They all sat looking at it asking questions. Again, I gave them the sales spiel. I bet a couple of them were thinking about it. I warned them that Vespa was a premium brand and you will pay a premium price. I told them how much this bike was and I was expecting the incredulous "You're nuts!" look, but they all just smiled and nodded approvingly. These guys probably had that much in golf clubs in their bags. Heck, that was probable their yearly scotch tab at the club. I probably made my dealer a couple of more sales. They should give me a commission.

I'm sure you're still grinning the next day.

Yeah the GTV gets a lot of attention especially with the retro look. Money is relative, you're probably right that to the guys on the course it was nothing. Want to make it more expensive add Bitubo's front and rear and a Remus exhaust . Actually if you have the scratch swapping out at least the front shock for an aftermarket one is a worthwhile upgrade.

They train you on 50CC bikes?! Here they use 250 CC models so at least the weight is similar depending which ride you train on. Scooter is not an option except for the limited license.

As far as weight goes, all that metal does add up. You'll get used to it in no time and it does handle very well. I have a C650GT as well and trust me the GTV feels like a toy (in a good way) when I get on it. Just keep practicing the slow speed maneuvers and remember you can ride the rear brake. That and learning countersteering I guess is my best advice. If you drop the scoot odds are it will be at slow speed or parking. Crash bars were a good addition

Practice putting it on the centre stand A LOT. It needs to become second nature for you. Learn to walk with the bike as well. I find leaning it against my right hip a bit is the easiest way. Get used to the distance from the rear wheel to the curb when parking and look for obstacles behind you the top case may hit when popped up on the stand. I learned that the hard way but that's why stickers were invented...

Worst thing on the GTV is the clock, but hey that's a small complaint. Ok the speedo kinda sucks too but that's any Vespa ever built.

So keep practicing and enjoy that new Vespa smell. I love the scoot but my opinion is biased

Yeah, the GTV rocks. Some folks don't care for the look, but some folks don't like redheads either. Go figure. Don't let anyone tell you that gear is less important on a scooter than a motorcycle (usually because they don't go as fast). Just tell them to put their hands behind their back and fall face first on the pavement from a standstill. They usually get it.

You fill find great advice and assistance from MV members. Using the search function is sometimes quicker. In any event, ride safe and your skill level and confidence will increase quickly.

Enjoy and welcome!

You know it. I feel like I went on a great date last night. 8) They mostly used 250cc motorcycles at my MSF course. But they did have a couple of scooters you could reserve if you preferred. I was given a 50cc Yamaha Zuma. It was a fun little scooter. I didn't see any point training on a motorcycle since I knew I planned to get a scooter. No problemo. Yeah, I did have a little more trouble getting the stand down after they put the crash bars on. They seem to get in the way a bit when I'm wearing boots. I'll just have to work out the technique.
Yeah, that is REALLY different from the 50cc. 8)
I ran into a little conundrum. I have a little garage unit at my apartment I am storing it in. Originally the delivery guy backed it up in there and that seemed logical. But when my ride ended, it felt really awkward for me pulling the heavy scooter in backwards. There is also a very slight upward incline. Maybe I should have stayed mounted and duck walked it backwards. But maybe I should pull in forward and duck walk it backwards with the incline assist when I'm leaving. I'll have to work out all those little details.

The important thing is the weekend is here and I'm going to ride, ride, ride!

Ah, yes: as I (and others) have said before here to potential new owners, a Vespa isn't the best choice of ride for the decidedly antisocial: it's a bike that seems to naturally attract curiosity, which to me is just part of the fun. It's cool in a non-arch, nonthreatening way. I can't tell you how many supermarket/shopping mall parking-lot conversations I've gotten caught up in since I got my GTS, so be prepared for more of the same.

More important, enjoy that GTV. Not that I think you'll have much trouble with that.

I live in a small town of predominantly retirees. I've heard some fantastic stories in front of the post office or grocery store about back in the day when they had a Vespa, Cushman, etc.You can just see the sparkle in their eyes (cloudy as they may be) as they're walking over to you. It's awesome - unless I'm in a hurry. But I always make time for a good Vespa story!

I'm sure you'll have plenty of stories that will be shared with you soon enough!