Modern Vespa

I love these full-throttle post discussions!
Many opinions. Some knowledge. Lot's of anecdotes, logical and otherwise. Then we all go ride the way we want, after all, the scoot's are our own.
My senses keep me from riding great distances at full throttle. My knowledge knows to trust the engineers and test facilities at the OEM's to build engines that will operate at full throttle all day with amazing reliability if the engine is properly maintained.

SCTLVR, you are right in what you say. Everyone rides differently and I wouldn't want anyone to think I am trying to tell them how to ride. It's their bike. Just saying there are ways to help your engine survive if you have to go WOT for a prolonged period. To be clear, above 100cc size engine units, or thereabouts, no one actually designes their engine to be ridden at full throttle most of the time. That applies to cars, and mostly any engine except for turbine units. Turbine engines in aircraft use full throttle 99% of the time. As consumers, the fact we can do it is testiment to the quality of the engine components and the engine build techniques used in factories today. Engine designers build in redundant strength to any engine, but it's difficult to take into account every type of abuse folks will throw at their engines. WOT all the time or for very long periods counts as abuse. The engine isn't intended to be used like that, but you can get away with it over a period of time but there is a price to pay in terms of shorter engine life.

Good points and why I have a larger bike for highway riding. The GTV can do it fine but I prefer having an extra 35 mph on the throttle when I'm going 75 mph.

Actually lots of good info in this thread and educational for sure. I do take the Vespa on the highway here all the time but with Toronto traffic I'm constantly on and off the throttle.

Funny how a simple question here can turn into an online debate. But that's part of the charm of MV.

The WOT issue has been at the back of my mind (and part of what makes me a bit nervous) when I consider taking longer day trips of several hours. Like some have said, my gut says too much WOT is bad, while others say it's fine and harmless.

Just when I start feeling at ease with the prospect of trips going WOT much of the way (speed limits are 75mph out here for looooong stretches), I read through a thread like this and start losing a bit of confidence.

Harbinger, you are right the about the way threads develop. I enjoy hearing everyone views on stuff like this.

ETres, don't be nervous about long trips, the GTS does just fine at pretty much any speed within it's limits. But the WOT issue is something worth discussing. You can do it but just ease back now and again to cool the engine upper components. It pays big dividends. We proved it over and over again on our research engines, just like every other manufacturer will tell you. I go 70mph quite often for 20-30 miles when going to the city, and depending on traffic. Top speed on the Vespa GTS/GTV range is 76mph (that's the design speed). But the speedo will show 80+mph. I ease back on the throttle now and again to avoid fixed throttle riding so no harm will be done. Most of my riding is done in the 60-65mph bracket. I expect my motor to last near 100,000 miles. If it doesn't, I'll rebuld it! Incidentally, I base my expectations on the GTS bikes that I service. All have huge mileages on the clock and are several years old. I don't think any of the owners go WOT though.

Good info, Stromrider! I've made several shorter excursions of 100 miles or less, and that's pretty much the way I've ridden - WOT interspersed with backing off some, just because it seemed like a good thing to do.

While my mechanical skills are nil, perhaps my engine intuition is pretty good.

Dear Scooters,
I apologize for "abusing you" as many people here claim. However, Big Red unless you blow up after 65,000 miles of WOT we will continue our WOT life style. And Scoot, the LX 150, after 25,000 mile of WOT including one round trip to the west coast a WAOT (Wide Ass Open Throttle) I am glad you are still starting and ready to go every day. Fred, the GTS 300, I am sorry I abused you on our recent 4000 mile ride to the west coast. What is that I hear? You all loved it and want more. I guess we will carry on and let the local riders cruise at half throttle.

I went 76,000 miles on Rocket, most of them near wide open throttle before replacing the engine.

It was not replaces for any oiling issues. It blew out the spark plug, stripping the threads. And it had a penchant for loosening the variator nut.

And I had a 6000 mile engine waiting in the garage that now has 11,000 of those abusive miles added to it.

As far as I can tell from all three of my scooters, (87,000 miles, 27,000 miles and 15,000 soon to be 21,000 miles), they are the happiest scooters around. They get to go to some great places while stretching their legs with the best of them.

Anecdotal I know, but nothing but facts.

Bill

Worth defining what WOT actually is. It's riding with the throttle fully or near fully open, and generally for mile after mile with the throttle in a near fixed position. Most of us don't do that!, If we did more of you would be picking up pieces from the road. That's how we destroyed our research engines and is the best technique to use.

Bill you certainly have some miles on your 200. I have a GTS250 amongst others, that I service for a guy and that bike has 86,000 miles on the clock now. It's a 2009. I think it's coming near to the point where it will need a strip down.He phoned in the week to say the oil usage has increased exponentially over the last 1000 miles. But still running ok. That's often a sign the rings are about to let go or something worse. I'll take a look when he brings it in. The bike is in pristine condition so he says if needed he is willing to pay for a rebuild. At least that's pretty cheap to do and easy too.

Lostboater, you are duly reported to the Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Scooters...

You have to catch us first. In all honesty I do not normally ride at WOT as I ride for the ride not the thrill of the speed. But on long straight roads crossing america you end up at wot because the angle of the road, the elevation, the winds etc. and do it for hours at a time. And as discussed here, what is WOT. Nobody goes around at wot 100% of the time, though WLeouthold is close it more than anybody I know.

My 50cc is at full throttle all the time...just to keep up with traffic.

Same as me lostboater, I ride for the ride. I'm not that speed orientated these days. I still like to wind it open now and again but generally I enjoy the 60-65mph ride in the country much more. You still get there in nearly the same amount of time but you don't have to stop so often for fuel.

That's ok Frank. It's designed for that, all 50-100cc bikes are. So don't worry (if indeed you are concerned). good fun though isn't it?