Modern Vespa

My wife bought a LX 50, and it is so much fun I decided to get one to. Living in Michigan, I debated whether to get the 150 or the 50, but opted for the 50 for several reasons:

-I've never ridden a motorcycle, and am a bit intimidated by them;
-I'm going to start just riding for pleasure on weekends. I figured having a 50 will keep me near my wife and I won't be getting ahead of her.
-Getting the motorcycle endorsement is a challenge.

I have a couple of questions for the users of this great place:

-How do people like the 50 in general (I've only heard and seen good things about it).

-Are the current 50's still restricted in speed? I can get my wife's up to about 36-40 (max), and was wondering if there was any more speed in the 2007's just in case one wanted it?

I look forward to reading and learning here. Thanks!

get the 150. seriously. you will be craving more speed/pickup before you know. most everyone who starts with a 50cc ends up moving up within a year.

Well if you think about it, there's a reason you don't need a motorcycle license/endorsement to ride an LX 50: they don't go very fast by design.

I mean, that's the whole point of a 50 cc.

If you want speed or the ability to carry a passenger easily or the ability to go up hills or to go faster . . . get a 150.

Oh, and take the Motorcycle Safety Class if it's offered in your area. You'll feel much more comfortable (and be much safer) on a scooter. Good luck.

They should make a LX25 then the LX50 would be an upgrade.

Plus then maybe the LX25 would cost like $900.00 giving all the kids in high school some sweet transportation.

But then maybe a LX10 would be better for high school with a top speed of around 24 MPH.

Then they could sell an engine kit to make the LX10 an LX90 so when you graduate from High School you can upgrade you speed to 40 MPH....

Na they should just make the 50cc forget about the other stuff.

But they need to make a kit to kit that 50cc up to 250cc... Now that would be cool...

Hello, kpc001!
I am a very happy owner/rider of an LX50 going on two years now. It's important that you hear from me, because I'm living proof that "upgrading" to an LX150 is NOT the default action. Modern Vespa is a terrific forum, but there is often a distinct disdain expressed for the LX50 on these boards (not by me!)
I adore my ride. I'm a dog walker and I use it to get around to my clients' homes. My service area is a five-mile radius from my house, so the LX50 is perfect.
I don't believe the LX50s are speed-restricted in the sense of coming from the manufacturer that way...I get 47 mph on the flat. (Not on a windy day, of course.) My miles-per-gallon is 94 to 110. I keep track of it using a handy spreadsheet that someone on this board devised awhile back.

For the record, I have never considered "upgrading" ( I detest that term) to a bigger c.c. The extra thousand dollars of an LX150 will buy you a lower miles-per-gallon, and mileage is very important to me.
In the interest of full-disclosure: the LX50 does has ultra-lame hill-climbing ability.
I live in Michigan too, and getting into the motorcycle endorsement classes is a challenge here...they are always full. But I'm on the list, and when I finally have that long-sought motorcycle endorsement, I will still drive and love my 50 c.c. scooter!

You should get the scooter appropriate for the tasks you want it to perform. If the primary goal is riding with your wife who already has the 50, then the 50 will be adequate.
I purchased the 150, not for extra displacement alone, but because part of my commute to work and other driving in a mixed urban/suburban area involves traveling on roads with a 45 mph speed limit. The 50 just can't keep up, but the 150 does just fine and can handle hills at speed on 35-40 mph speed limit roads. Unless you have a real need for that extra speed, save the thousand dollars.

kpc001,

Welcome to the forum! I started out with a 50cc Honda Metropolitan and loved it! However, my riding needs required a larger scooter 45-50 mph roads to work. I don't regret starting with the 50cc, as I would never have gained the confindence and skills to move up to a 150cc.

If your riding needs are local on slower roads, or just weekends a 50cc should be fine. However, be warned everyone I know that started on a 50cc has moved up to a larger scooter.

Perhaps if you try to find a used Vespa ET2 (model prior to the LX150) it's a two stroke that can be kitted to a 70cc for a little more zip. Or the Buddy 50cc which also can be kitted.

Whatever you chose ride safely and be sure to get proper gear. And most of all enjoy!

Thank you to all that responded. It was a diverse series of responses, all of which helped focus the decision. I decided to start with the 50cc. I'm sure that at some point I'll want a larger scooter, but for this fits with a couple of goals:

-Learning to drive in traffic and getting comfortable with it;
-Turning this into a activity for my wife and I to enjoy together, and I supsect she'll be ready for an upgrade soon as well;
-I'll have time to get my motorcycle endorsement.

Thanks again to all, and I'll be lurking the boards trying to learn as much as possible.