Modern Vespa

This is serious stuff here I'm tellin' ya so I can take nothing for granted.

Is that a vote for the BV F-Maus?

Well, it appears F-Maus has voted for the BV.

That makes the vote 4-3 in favor of the BV!

Any last votes?

Honda.

All tied 4-4!

Bv

One more vote has been cast and the polls are now officially closed.

My crack team of auditors has informed me that exclusive of any Rooskie interference or hanging chads, the final results are as follows:

BV 350 - 5 votes
CB500X - 4 votes

The masses have spoken and the BV has won in a squeaker!

As a true steward of democracy, I now have no choice but to uphold the will of the people and purchase a BV 350.

MV has spoken!

Aye carramba.

Anyone got a BV 350 they want to let go cheap?

Asking for a friend.

In South Africa, Midas only sells aftermarket parts + accessories.

Chicken sashimi.

Not a good idea.

I thought you found one online?

With a BV that gives you a 150, 300 and a 350? All Piaggio. The BV is a great scoot but if you are going to have multiple bikes I'd say time up the CC's and get something you can get out on the highway on without being blown about. I believe you are newish to riding? A bigger, heavier bike will give you more confidence at highway speeds and leave room on the throttle. You can absolutely tour on a large displacement Vespa but it takes some level of confides especially when a big truck passes you or you hit a crosswind. I take the BMW and the Vespa out on the highway all the time but the BMW is more comfortable by far, like riding a credenza though it corners better than one.

gee...with the Midas poster advertising in the background, seems like they should have provided lunch to live up to their slogan

Can't disagree with you.

The BV 350 (2013 model) found online was for a friend (Steve). We went up and test rode it two weeks ago and he decided it was out of his price range. The scoot did not have ABS so I had zero interest. Steve did end up buying a 2006 BV 200 we looked at a short time later.

As far as my interests go, I would love a Honda CB500X, but ABS brakes are a mandatory for me, and these bikes are currently virtually impossible to obtain used. New ones go for $7,500-$8,000 drive-out, where as a used BV 350 with ABS can be found for less than half that. Couple this with the fact I have zero interest in riding on the Interstate (love me some secondary highways though), I don't really need the additional power or weight a CB500X would provide.

I have test-ridden several BV 350's and to me there is a meaningful difference in the ride, power and performance between a GTS 300 and BV 350, and going by the numbers (which often mean squat), the BV has about 50% more rated HP and over 50% more rated foot-lbs. of torque. So, to me, owning both is not all that crazy as long as a 350 can be had at a very reasonable price. Would I ever pay full retail to own both bikes? No way. I'd be much better off in that instance acquiring a new CB500X.

Never let it be said that Jet Peddler isn't a true steward of democracy.

There, now you've got something to ride next time your truck is at Midas.

Think Bill Dog would mind if I named her Ironbutt?