Modern Vespa

Much to my surprise, Saturday there was a knock at my door from a fellow from Vespa Manhattan delivering a shiny new 2019 Vespa GTS Super! My absolutely amazing boyfriend in New York had it sent to me so I could enjoy this spring and summer riding my tail off instead of fighting with my litany of semi-functioning vintage Vespa and Stellas. I'm so excited! (And feel ridiculously spoiled.)

Now I just have to find some friends in the New Haven, CT area to ride with! I was president of the Vespa Club of Seattle and moved to the East Coast where I don't know a single scooterist. Big change! Any takers?

Marry him quick!

I'M TRYING

Lol!

Congrats on the new scoot! A real beauty for sure. You also have a pretty awesome boyfriend for getting you this little gift

Best of luck with finding riding companions. Now get busy, you have a motor to break in!

Congratulations!

Time to start that break-in.

Thank you for choosing a Made in Italy item.

Congratulations!
Check out the Yalies, I know quite a few ride mopeds, maybe a few of them ride scooters.

Go to New Haven PowerSport
At 143 Whalley Av. Ask for Jodi, she sold me my new Primavera 150 Touring back in January. She does ride bikes. She should know who rides Vespas around in the area.
Good luck.

What a great boyfriend, sounds like a keeper.

Mabecane thanks for the tips!

Went for my first legal ride today after swapping out my "all purpose" Vermont plate - haha! Rides like a dream. Nothing beats the smell of ocean on two wheels. Can't wait for spring!!!

Very nice! I have the same color setup but in a 2018 I just got this past December.

Ride safe. Have fun. Smile a lot!

Really nice scoot! I like that you have the sidestand on it. Does he ride too? If not time to get HIM on a scoot. Looks like you have some beautiful environs to ride.
Be safe and enjoy!

Bob

What a beauty! White is the fastest color, too.

He would know, his is white too. If you're ever in Phoenix, we know a bunch of scooterati that will ride with you.

That guy is up to something, lol.

Give him a ring immediately! The guy is a keeper! Congrats on the GTS, but that P200e is a beauty!

Well, that is just too cool! Congrats on the new GTS and the fine choice in your boyfriend. Put a ring on it? This guy put a Vespa on it - he sounds like a keeper! Enjoy riding in your new environment!

Thanks! I'm actually struggling with the sidestand and I guess I have to get used to it. My last GTS had the usual center stand which I liked. This feels so so unstable, especially getting on and off the bike. I almost dropped it last night. I guess it's stable - they use them on thousand pound Harleys. It just feels weird. And I keep catching my pant leg on the base that sticks out when I stop at lights etc.

I know I would have appreciated it living in Seattle since it makes parking on crazy hills much easier!

I LOVE that ring!!!! That's so awesome!

My P200 is definitely its own creature. I originally called it the Battle Cat because it looks like something from the apocalypse. Or, as it's called, "patina." Lol! Now I just call it the Vermonster because it ended up with a Vermont plate due to lack of title. I'll have to post some pics of that beauty soon. I redid it with all black chrome and light guards last summer.

Oh my profile pic is one of my Stellas, btw. Customed up.

Get a center stand if you can, call dealer. Very handy formaintenance checks.

Can you use both? Or do you have to remove the side stand?

Congrats! I know what you are saying about fellow scooter riders in your area as I have the same experience here in Vermont! So if you make it up to VT at all, my wife and I would join you for a ride.

Should be able to have both. Nearly 100% positive on that. All our scoots, with the exception of my wife's Met has both. I use the side stands 99% of the time. They are all in storage right now on their center stands. I only use the center stands for maintenance, long term storage, or if the ground is really iffy. But, that is on a BV, Riva, and Reflex which all came with both from the factory.

Be careful until it becomes second nature or until you get a center stand. Not sure why there is not a center stand already installed.

I remember reading about a guy that got a new Honda motorcycle and pulled up to show his friends and just got off without putting down the side stand- wasn't thinking.... I think of that almost every time I dismount a scooter....

Bob

Oooh! I'll keep that in mind. I love VT. I bet there's some beautiful riding up there - especially in the summer! My boyfriend is getting a ramp installed on his SUV so we can bring the Vespa with us on road trips. Where in Vermont are you? It could be a pretty sweet weekend trip to ride up there. Though it's a big state!

The center stand must have been removed. Weird. The factory in Italy built my Prima with side stand and center stand, but for some US DOT rules the side stand was removed before delivery. Years ago if you had a side stand extended it deactivated ignition (kill switch), so you did not ride away with it extended and take a spill in a turn. I bought and installed a side stand a few weeks ago, that thing retracts as soon as you tilt the Vespa level. You are right it does not feel reassuring. I installed mine so i can do oil changes with the center stand in the up position and ovoid making a mess of it with oil dripping all over it. I would buy one if I were you, it's an easy job.

That's awesome! Enjoy the new scooter.

-Craig

Congrats - fine looking machine. Darn, I just do not get those kind
of gifts. Thanks for the nice photos.

Bob Copeland
Frost Bite Falls Minnesota
Almost thawed out

There's no center stand? I thought that was standard? Don't I see the lever next to your belt cover? Try holding the brake lever while getting on and off. I had to do that with a dirt bike that was so tall getting on. The Harley side stand locks when it's engaged so the bike can't roll. It's called a jiffy stand by Harley fanatics.
Some bikes don't (Ducati) and it's easy to dump them accidentally. I remember trying to look cool while people watched and threw my leg over the Harley...my pants leg went right over the folded passenger peg and I almost dumped it in public. AaaaHHHHhhhhh!!!!!
It's not funny when it's happening to you!

Welcome aboard and congrats! Lovely bike!

The side stand on my Vespa took some getting used to. Every other bike I've had had the side stand stay down, even if there wasn't weight resting on it - my Vespa has to have weight on it for the side stand to stay down... as soon as I take weight off of it (to center the bike upright), the side stand pops up on it's own.

You do get used to it. My technique is to hold the bike upright with my right foot, get my left big toe on the side stand, and swing it into place. Then, ease the weight of the scoot down on the side stand and rock the bike backwards just a bit. That seems to "set" the side stand.

The above sounds like more effort than it actually is. Now that I'm used to it, it is pretty effortless. The Honda PCX I had before getting the Vespa felt very natural and secure with putting the side stand down and having the overcenter feature of that keep it in place.

I will use the side stand when first getting off the bike. If I'm going to be away from the bike for a while, or concerned about wind, I'll pop it up on the center stand. Now that I'm used to the Vespa, the PCX feels like the side stand is in the wrong place. Just a matter of getting that muscle memory working.

Enjoy that beautiful new GTS!

Doesn't yours have both? Mine has the new side stand that doesn't fall over at the slightest hint of a touch (including air) but habit has me almost always using the center stand, Jim that's the side stand you have. The 2018 and later ones have a side stand more like your motorcycles which has a kill switch instead of being self retracting. It is much more stable.

There's no center stand? I thought that was standard? Don't I see the lever next to your belt cover?
I see it too.
look for this on the picture for your GTS center stand.
Mine is a Primavera but it's similar on your GTS.

Maybe I'm wrong, but!

saweet. congrats. 8)

Ohlala, the white and the blue. Hard to make a choice.

My 2018 is the same bianca color and came with a center stand and side stand. Is that a extra cost item for 2019?
Much, actually too much, has been written on MV about these SS's IMO.
I have never had an issue once (like said) I learned it's habits. I did make a side stand foot enlarger for mine but can say that unless one has flip flops on the center stands are easy peasy to use. Far more so than some big machines.

Hey Scooterlust, from the pic of your GTS at the ocean/lake here above, you definitely have a side stand. That is your GTS in that pic, is it? Always use the center stand!

That side stand is a pretty risky thing, quit unstable. I know several who used it and dropped their bike. A little push and he's down. The biggest issue with the side stand is that it retracts automatically with no more than a little bump against the Vespa. And parked downwards on a sloped surface that side stand is pure Vespa suicide. I only use the side stand when I have to park for a second (and with engine cut!).

There's only one situation where it's usefull, and that's when you have crappy soft terrain, where your center stand would sink into the ground and drop the bike. There, you can use the side stand, with a pot cover (lid?) underneath the stand, to have it resting on three points. Otherwise, that thing is not my friend.

In most countries here in Europe, GTS comes standard with both side and center stand, so yes, they can be mounted both at the same time on your Vespa. The smaller vespas all have only the center stand.

Anyways, have fun with that sweet white thing, it's one fine Vespa! Good luck with it!

Welcome from The Salt Lake Valley in Utah. I rarely use my side stand. Center stand is much more stable.

2018 and later have the locking side stand with the kill switch. It is very different from the older model side stand I had on my 2016 GTS. The new side stand is quite stable and doesn't collapse easily. I still prefer to use the center stand though.

First off, serious congrats on that new GTS. Your guy has astute taste, as well as generosity. "Put a ring on it" has a nice ring to it!

Second, yes, your ride does have a centerstand as well as a sidestand. Both are nice, but you'll likely want to use the former a bit more than the latter.

Finally: when I moved from Gotham across the river to the Jersey Shore over four years ago, and got my Vesps less than a year later, I seemed to be the sole scooterist for miles. Fast-forward to today, there are a fair number of freshly-minted Vespisti about, and we have a scooter club. If you ever think about sauntering down this way, I think you'll find a warm welcome.