Modern Vespa

buy a bike, sure!

Laphroaig,

That's good advice about the MSF course, I never thought about it like that. I thought I had to get my bearings or "scooter legs" down first before I even attempted to take that course. I have read some of the feedback some people gave regarding the course and I am nervous about it as it sounds like it could be an easy 'fail' if you're not prepared. Therefore, I didn't want to go in cold and not know what it feels like to be on a scooter. If anything, I want to make sure that at least I remember how to balance! And of course it would be a big plus to learn on their equipment rather than your own!

Would you recommend taking the course on a scooter or on a motorcycle? Seeing as how I would only be riding a scooter, I thought it would be better to take it on a scooter if my local MSF class has a scooter I can use.

Bosco - nice ET4s I saw on the SJ Vespa website, thanks for the suggestion. However, SJ is a little far for me to travel as I hope maybe I can still find one in SF or at SF Vespa. Thanks for the offer of delivery though!

I took the MSF before purchasing my scooter to make sure I actually liked riding. I hadn't ever ridden a scooter or motorcycle before and wanted to avoid making an expensive mistake. I took the course on a scooter provided by the MSF however I wish I had taken the class on a motorcycle. I don't plan on getting a motorcycle any time soon but it would be nice to have already gone through the basics. Good luck!

My GF has a 36" inseam and can hold my GTS up from the passenger's section of the saddle.. 8)

~Drew

I have a ridiculously short inseam even though I'm 5'-6". I can balance the LX 150 on the balls of my feet, I wish my feet were flat, but that would mean a Morphous or some motorcycle like the Honda Rebel (my feet were flat with that "thing" but otherwise it is just an awful ride).

Take the MSF course as soon as possible and take it on a motorcycle. I took mine on the Rebel, a real POS. If you can handle that and pass, riding a scooter with "Twist & Go" will be a dream by comparison. (One thing I noted after taking the course and riding a cycle with a "standard" transmission versus a CVT on the LX 150 is how silly it is for most cycle riders to be stuck with a manual shift transmission. Sort of like why it is difficult or impossible to find a manual shift transmission on many cars.)

Note: I'm not trashing manual transmissions, I've had many cars with them. But in the end, they are a pleasant anachronism, made redundant by a well designed CVT or multi-speed automatic transmission.

If you're basing your freeway usage on simple displacement, you're going about things wrong. If you're going off a legal number in California, I get your point. What I've noticed is that if a bike can keep up effectively with traffic, you're not going to get pulled over for not having a big enough engine. Case in point, there are 125cc scoots (not sold here), that are more powerful and faster than some 250cc scooters. If you are serious about doing a lot of fast freeway riding, you need to start looking at 200 and 250cc scooters or bigger. If the LX doesn't fit, the GT/GTS probably won't either. Much easier said than done. I saw a woman on the press trip nearly veer into the path of a big rig truck doing that while the bike was tilted a bit. Takes an awful lot of practice to get that sort of thing right.

I've said it before...get Smart

Can an ET seat be retrofitted to an LX?

I started riding on a 250cc cruiser motorcycle. It had a low seat and was very light. I moved up to an 800cc and eventually to a 1200 that had a 29.1 inch seat and weighed 580 lbs. I tiptoed this bike. I couldn't have managed this bike to start with. It took a progression of learning and moving up.

I'm saying all this because experience helps you overcome other things. Have you taken the safety course? I would recommend taking that, starting on a Vino or Buddy and once you have that mastered get a Vespa with a lowered or shaved seat.

The LX is a little tall for me too, but because it is so light, it can be easily tripoded at a light. You do have to be more careful where you park and put your feet down, but I also have that concern on my motorcycles. I was concerned about being able to back the Vespa up because I am on my tiptoes. The simple solution was to get off the scooter and then back it up. If I hadn't had the experience on another machine, I would never have felt comfortable enough starting out on a Vespa.

Good luck!

I took it on a motorcycle. The scooter seems easy after that (though my class was two years ago and I didn't get the scooter until last Sunday). Learning the motorcycle wasn't hard either, and I figured it would give me more experience (plus they didn't have any scooters at the class, though I think I could have requested one in advance).

Re: the manual/automatic--love auto on a scooter, but much prefer manual in a car. I drove a 1981 Alfa Spider in San Francisco for more than 15 years (had to give it up when I moved to my present place, which has no parking, hence the scooter). Much more fun to drive than an automatic.

Thanks everyone for all the great suggestions and advice.

I think I will just start off with the Buddy and if someday I will need to trade up then I will consider the Vespa. I just can't see paying more for the Vespa LX150 if the Buddy will keep up in this class just fine.

I won't be doing a lot of freeway driving, but like to jump on for an exit or two. Just want to make sure I wouldn't get dinged for doing so as long as I can drive the speed limit. Some areas here in Marin I can't use the "avoid highway" option as it will take me over an hour as opposed to 9 minutes if I just jumped on the freeway to go to the next exit.

I will definitely be looking into taking the MSF course, now that I know you guys suggest taking it before I get my scooter. They do offer the scooter option in the Petaluma class as long as I give them enough notice since they only have 1 scooter to lend for the class.

My biggest fear about taking the class on motorcycle is that I've never been on one before. Is it pretty easy to learn how to shift and use the clutch? Are the instructors pretty patient with you in regards to practicing this? For some reason, I couldn't seem to get that technique wired into my head when I tried to learn to drive a manual car (many years ago).

I took the MSF class on one of their 250cc 300lbs motorbikes. I've only operated 2 other motorized 2 wheeled vehicles in my life prior to my test riding my scooter.

I passed 100% the course on their bike. Including downshifting/braking simultaneously. I kept thinking about how I didn't need to worry about it on my ride but still did it.

Sounds like your already setting yourself up for failure. Similar in concept to manual shift cars but completely different. Plus, they review how to shift on the 1st day on the bikes. If you take it on their scooter, wonderful!

I took the MSF class with no prior experience. I scored 2nd highest on the riding test. 8) If you go in wanting to learn you can do it. The most important advice I can pass along about the course is to relax.

et seat to lx..
yes.. but!
It will bolt on, the lock will work, all is well in seat land. BUT
you must remove the grab rail. The lock is on the other side and positioned right in the way of the rail.
You can always cut it short like one customer of mine... There was a lot of therapy involved...

I am inseam challenged and can only reach my toes on my GTS. I picked up some "platform" riding boots from Harley which are ultra comfortable and give me a good extra inch and a half over regular boots. I also have a Corbin seat which helped about an inch.
Even though I can only reach toes, I am completely comfortable, but only because of ride experience. I ditto someone's comment they made about the Motorcycle Safety course... it is critical to get some crisis avoidance techniques under your belt and you won't be sorry for taking the time for it.
I went from the MSF class to a Honda Shadow that I was all freaked out because I couldn't quite flat foot (my heels were a fraction of an inch off the ground).
Once I got some ride experience, ditched the bike and picked up my scoot and tip toe feels completely safe for me... but only because of my ride time.
So my advice is try and find something you are comfortable with - borrow, rent, whatever, and then ride, ride, ride... then pick the scoot of your choice so long as you can touch your toes. You won't even notice your heels don't reach.

Don't overlook the Aprillia Mojito 150. It sits substantially lower then the Vespa, uses the same powerplant, and really resembles the LXV, if that look rocks your boat!

Hi Everyone,

Thanks to the all the advice suggesting the MSF course, I just signed up for one and will be taking it next week!

They have a scooter for me to use so I will be taking it on the scooter. I really don't want to set myself up for failure, just nervous as anyone who hasn't been on a motorcycle can be.

Sounds like this will help me be more comfortable with deciding which scooter will work for me, even if I may be on the balls of my feet.

That and a good pair of higher heeled boots ought to do it!

Wish me luck!

we have been able to remove the hump/rain cover from the seat of a GT200 or GTS250 and lower it to benefit the vertically challenged. Botom line, you have to be comfortable to be confident to ride whatever it may be.

You can also change the position of the shock which lowers it a bit! I also recommend the MSF Basic Rider Course. I suggest that you sit on different bikes to see how they feel. Once you have your motorcycle license, some places allow test rides.

HI there you may want to try the Schwinn Graduate 150 the seat is very low on it and the Width is only 26.6 but my first chose for you would be if you could find one new a 06 250cc Honda Big Ruckus I rode one and its fast and low but unfortunately this model has been discontinued by Honda but don't worry you will find something out there ....San new to the Forum so please bear with me if i post more then once just starting to get the hang of it 8)

Hi Everyone,

I passed my MSF course this weekend! Woo-hoo! The course instructors had me use a Yamaha Riva 125 and I couldn't flat-foot it. I was able to get about almost 3/4 foot down.

Many of you were right about me feeling comfortable once I learned the right skills. I didn't mind so much that I couldn't flat-foot it. By the end of the class, I was able to take off, make sudden stops, swerve, make tight u-turns, run over blocks of wood all with ease and confidence. I almost dropped the scooter once and was able to lift it back up before it dropped to the floor.

Now I can't wait to try sitting on the Vespa again to see how comfortable I could be if the seat were lowered (or not ).

Thank you all again for the great advice and encouraging me to take this class. Now I will be getting my "M" endorsement and not feel I should be in such a rush to get a scooter to practice.

Pirate Upholstery shaves seats for Vespa all the time. We had a gel pad added for comfort but I also have the opposite problem? I am 6'5" and I wish the bike were taller. Good luck with whatever you do...

I'm about to get a GTS250 or LX150 next week as it finally arrived at my dealer. It will be my first bike in years and I'm pretty excited.

I'm also inseam challenged as my height is 5'5" but inseam only 27.5" w/o shoes on. I can flatfoot on one side with the scoot very slightly tilted but I just got a custom Corbin seat and I think it should lower and make the seat narrower a bit.

In the few years I've been riding, I've never owned a motorcycle that I can flatfoot (Honda VFR800, BMW F650GS & F650CS, Suzuki SV650, & Italjet Dragster). Cruising and stop&light traffic aren't a problem usually. My biggest issue is parking since I have to be very careful as it will be very difficult to do backing while on the scoot.

I'm just curious, for everone who can't flat foot their scoots on both feet, what other issues have you encountered while riding Vespas? Since it only has center stand (side stand looks very unsafe since it auto retracts and travel is too far), what riding tips can you share?

Thanks!!

Thanks!!

The 08 Buddy Internationals are 150cc.

http://www.genuinescooters.com/scooters/buddy/intl.html

Whenever I'm worried (mostly when I have to ride my husband's GTS)
I use my stiffest boots, which are these Icon SuperDuty ones:


They have stiff ankles, stiff soles and a nice nonslip tread on the bottom.
I find that I can reach the ground with both feet and it feels as secure as if I'm flat-footing it.
But they are not good walking/indoor/work shoes, so I always bring a change of shoes when I'm wearing them.

And I don't try to back my scooter while I'm sitting on it.
Are you guys crazy!?!

I am 5-5....i used my wife's high sandals sole inside my high tennis boots ..i cut the straps and inserted the soles in the boots..

Congrats on passing the course! You've already had some great advice. Here's what I've learned as a shorter rider:

I choose to put both feet down on tiptoe, rather than one foot down flat. That way, if there's a hole/gravel etc under one foot, I've still got the other for support. I also slide forward on the saddle when I'm preparing to come to a stop.

It is perfectly OK to get off the bike and push to park/move it around if you feel more comfortable doing that than paddling with your feet. In fact, advanced riding courses often recommend it for greater control.

Daytona Ladystars give you crucial extra height, as well as all the other advantages of proper bike boots.

The important thing to remember is that every bike/rider combo has a tipping point beyond which it's going to fall over no matter what. Smaller riders and bigger bikes just reach it sooner.

Here is the fix - use on any Sprint or Primavera.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2GFJHT1HOM&list=PLmZN6ewY34hjh9pAZCiZlhJbNLcLgMFQd

This shows the part you need to make your Vespa shorter.
Zelioni - part # 667872RC

I am purchasing this today for my gf's Sprint 150. This is only for the Sprint and Primavera models.

I'm 5 feet tall on a good day, and took the MSF course about 3 weeks ago. I would definitely recommend taking the course on their motorcycles, as they most likely won't have a scooter for you to use, and you wouldn't want to use your own. The motorcycles they have have already been dropped plenty of times; you wouldn't want to risk dropping yours. They are also pretty short, so you'll have much more control, and personally, I feel like motorcycles are much more maneuverable.

The class itself was a breeze, don't worry about it! I had little to no experience riding a motorcycle, and I did just fine!

As for the height issue, I got myself a pair of Harley Davidson riding boots off of ebay with a one and a half inch platform, and while I'd still like to shave the seat down someday, that made SUCH a huge difference on its own! You can do it!