Modern Vespa

I noticed that a dealer in TX is taking orders for 2021 GTS 300s. I haven't really gone to other areas of the US and checked what's going on in sales. I am going to try and price my pretty darn new 2020 because the sad truth is that I jumped into something before really thinking it through. Just because you can make payments on something sure doesn't mean you should buy it. The expression 'middle-age crazy' comes to mind! This isn't a classified ad yet, so please don't flag me!

Vespas seem to hold their value pretty well after that first "hit" a new bike takes.

Inventory is still tight at the dealers I bump around in.

As for "crazy", I don't think I've ever made a major purchase (like a pricey totally unnecessary bike! ) where I didn't have at least some twinge of buyer's remorse.

But I get over it!

Hope you can keep riding - it's good therapy for the "crazies"...

Don't try and price your Vespa at anytime unless you are planning on selling it.
You bought your Vespa for whatever price the market was willing to bear when you bought it. It serves a purpose and provides lots of joy etc, that is not quantifiable.
Similarly what you can get for your Vespa now or in the future will depend on a whole bunch of things and even then it wouldn't matter, the price is the price at which a transaction happens. Enjoy your vespa, there is no such thing as middle aged crazy. Thats all a figment of your imagination.
Enjoy happy safe riding.

I felt the same way, but when I take those beautiful rides that put my mind at peace and slow life down just for a bit, its worth it. It's a mental vacation every time. I think you need to go out and ride some more, the more you use the bike the more it becomes with it

This is excellent advice. I find quiet rides in the rural countryside as therapy of the best kind.

You didn't exactly say why you are considering selling an almost new Vespa.

If it is because you don't like riding after giving it a fair chance, then you might as well let it go.

If you only rode around the block and felt uncomfortable or unsafe, I advise giving it a chance by riding it more in places where you feel more comfortable.

Selling now will probably cost you a few thousand dollars, but these scooters are too cool to let sit in a garage.

Bill

Hi Priscillaj - I recall when you got that Vespa; you were excited about getting it set up and getting out on it. What happened that changed the way you feel about the bike?

In the grand scheme of things, not much on two wheels that is easier and more fun than a capable scooter. Saying that with over 50 years and many miles of riding on mostly bigger road bikes.

You will lose some money selling a nearly-new scooter, even though Vespas hold their value better than most PTW. If the issue is lack of confidence with riding (as I recall, you had a background with riding a motorcycle), that can be overcome with some practice. And an MSF safe riding course. If the issue is getting in over your head with the $$, you will take a financial hit selling it so soon. On the positive side, motorcycle and scooter dealers are a bit thin on inventory these days, which helps the used bike market. On the not so positive side, a buyer who can afford a "nearly-new" bike can also afford a brand spankin' new one with no miles... you may have to make your number very attractive to move the bike.

Another thing to consider: the bike will only get worth less with each calendar month that goes by, even if you aren't putting miles on it. As classic as these Italian beauties are, they are still a depreciating asset.

It is hard to put a value on what riding brings to one's life. If you get no joy from it, you may have to take the hit and move on... consider it "tuition" - money you pay to learn something. I consider my riding time "priceless."

One last thought: you might want to contact the dealer where you bought the bike to see if they can sell it on consignment. Most dealers are hurting for inventory. They may be able to get more for it than you would. A visit with them might be enlightening. You are into the riding season, so I wouldn't put off a plan for too long.

Wishing you all the best as you make these decisions.

Jim

I think those who are describing you losing "some money" are being optimistic. I bought two 250 GTS scooters many years ago when each was almost new (990 miles and 324 miles) and when sales tax, prep, and options were included, each seller lost between $3-4K when they sold them to me.
One thing you may have going for you: when I bought my wife her Sean Wotherspoon Primavera last month and one of the highest volume dealers in the country, the salesman suggested that they were close to sold out of 300s.
I hope you find riding as much fun as we do, but if not, you are far from alone in selling Vespas soon after purchase; no guilt needed.

I live in a town of about 15,000. It doesn't take long to do a little riding around town. My husband made a comment that he wanted to buy an old bike just to ride around on (back roads) . Didn't mention me riding with him, so I felt left out of the plan right away and I wasn't going to be left behind! We both have that weird mindset that when we ride, it is to 'go somewhere', not just in circles so to speak. As in a 'purpose' to go out. We always rode motorcycles to prisons for prison ministry. They were destinations. And so I got the scooter because I wanted something easier to manage. (My poor feet are still looking for something to do when I ride; But they do have the most important job of all! ) Did I mention 'small town and no one to ride with'? Oh well. I think there is a little fear going on, too. If I'd just get out there, it will all be ok.

I remember a comment someone on here said: "They want to be ridden".

The last time I fell hook, line and sinker over something my husband said was when he asked me how many chickens I thought the coop could hold. I said 24. He said "I think we should get 24!!" So I did. I had previously gotten rid of the last 7 because they are a money pit and messy and I didn't like doing all the work. This was near pre-Covid when 'chicken little' thought the sky was falling and he thought we needed some chickens for survival!

I am sitting here remembering when my dad would give me a ride on his scooter on the air base when I was in 1st grade. I'd stand on the floor in front of himand hold the handlebars! I am almost 68 now. Makes me think I will go ahead and order that windshield.


ps anyo
ne having some really weird things happening when they are typing their posts?? my keyboard doestnt respond right at all.
took lots of corrections to get this far

i know it's a brand new bike, but take a look at your sales sheet. all of the items listed as: prep, shipping, set-up, tax, etx (so basically everything other than the base price) take off from the base. then take off another 1.5~2K

that's your starting point for sale. figure negotiating another 3~5 hundy from there.

Wow, Pricilla, are you my long lost twin sister!?

My hometown has about 13.000 people, I'm 68 next birthday, and my first experience on a scooter was standing on the floorboard of my Dad's Vespa, holding onto the handlebars. This was also on an air base (Keesler AFB, Biloxi, Mississippi) Only difference was I was about two at the time instead of first grade, so I don't remember it. I do have home movies, though, and somewhere on here is a still from the movie with me in diapers. 😁

Dad road my LX150 on a visit to our house shortly before he died. It was the first time back on a scooter for him in about 50 years. His grin when he returned was one of my last good memories of him.

Good luck in deciding what to do with your 300!

Beautiful memories, thanks for sharing.

If you don't want to ride in circles you could try riding some where new and using satnav to get you back. I have been doing that a lot as I get bored with the same scenery. You can start by choosing places that you feel comfortable getting to and seeing how much you can push yourself.

Thanks everyone. I'm keeping it and if my husband doesn't get an old bike for himself, I'll just go ride. The Vespa will be the first thing I bought that my husband hasn't 'appropriated' from me! Usually it's tools of some sort that I've bought that disappear! Husband says he's not a scooter guy. Too bad. We could both ride the 300 easily.

UPDATE: Walmart ride. A purpose and a destination. 8 miles round trip. It's a start!

His loss.

Most definitely ^

Dealers with nothing to sell who are taking orders should tell you all you need to know about the market right now. The odds are that your Vespa is worth more than it was six months ago.
If you haven't been in the market for a new vehicle recently, you might not have a clue as to what things sell for. Used cars are up 29% over a year ago and the entire market is higher now than it was pre-pandemic. You should be able to sell it for closer to what you paid for it than was possible a year ago. I just bought a 2019 car (I'm in Arkansas, it was in Oklahoma, and I got to drive through Missouri to get it ), and I can assure you that prices are higher than when I first thought about buying one, about the time Hertz went bk. There are a lot of people with money burning a hole in their pocket right now. A lot of the local dealers are raising prices on their existing inventory, and if you walk onto the lot, there aren't a lot of new or used vehicles to choose from. The local Ford dealer said there are about 200 new Fords on the lot, in the entire state of Arkansas. Had I bought the car when I first got the itch, I could have saved about 15%. List it for NADA dealer retail plus about ten percent and see what happens. Prices are going to go up before they recover and drop, probably for the next six months or so.
A bit of advice would be to put it somewhere in a high traffic area in an upscale middle class neighborhood with a for sale sign on it. Someone with the ability to write a check without giving it another thought, and no idea what Vespas cost, is going to see and want it, and when they call the local dealer, they are going to be told they can get on the list.
Of course, if they get on the internet and ask what it's worth, they will likely offer you $1500 and give you a laundry list of things they want done (change all the fluids, new tires, some weird verification it's not stolen, etc) at your expense. Ignore those knobs. It really is a seller's market.

Are there any resources out there that price older Vespas, that work in Canada? I'm looking at a 2007 GTV 250ie locally with less than 3800 kms (2360 miles) but the seller seems to be asking full retail at $6,200. Just not sure what this scooter might really be worth. Any help appreciated.

When I bought my 2007 GTS 250, it was 10 years old and 4,000 miles and in immaculate condition. I paid $2450.
Tony in Tn. now with 22,000 in the odometer

I know the used bike market is hot right now, but that seems excessive to me (in Toronto). I'd expect it to be closer to 3k or max 4k CAD.

At that age, even a mint bike needs tires and rubber bits replaced. Has this been done?

It's also a 250 (not 300), which I generally see go for less.

That's pretty outrageous.

My thoughts as well. The low mileage actually works against the bike and it will surely need tires, oil & filter, maybe air filter, and all the rubber hoses and gas lines would be suspect. I was thinking $3K with the safety check would be top dollar. Was thinking of messaging him, but will likely not bother as he's up in the stratosphere for price. With the 2022 models around the corner, this is a 15 year old scooter.

You mention there's a little bit of fear going on. It sounds like you have already been a motorcycle rider, but if you were just riding 2 up, then it might help to find a motorcycle safety course. Everyone in my family has taken one, though mine was decades ago. While one aspect of those courses is going through every bad thing that can happen, it's at least good to have them spelled out and how to deal with them. (So far, the only crashes I've had on motorcycle or scooter - actually, they've all be on motorcycles, and bicycles too - have been from loose sand on a road in a turn.)

As for chickens, we have six, and we just don't eat that many eggs. When they pile up too high, I give them to a good friend of mine who cooks breakfast for the homeless on Fridays.

You'll both know when he sells it. There are so few Vespas sold in the US, and Canada that it is difficult to get an accurate picture of the used market right now.

I will turn 65 in a couple weeks, starting riding on a Cushman, with Grandpa George and I was probably 4. Had several bikes over the years..
Ok, more than several but I only have 3 rides now..car does not count. And I ride to work, to the store, to just wind down, cuz I can, cuz it's fun. And I ride alone more than with someone.
I also run down to St. Louis to play and attend a rally down there and will again this year, but don't plan to break my leg this time. I traded in a very nice GTS 300 for that snazzy 150 Liberty and am so much more comfortable with the lighter weight scooter, she's not designed to haul much freight....ok, I can adjust and have the LXV that does haul 'freight' better..or is easier to pack up all I take for several days down in the city or a lot or groceries.
There not many women riding in my area, and those running big bikes are not people I run with or want to ride with, so I do understand that 'no 1 to ride with' but for Mel that's not much of a problem, I like my own company and I like hitting that road before the mist comes up off the fields and watch the day get started.
My scooters are so quiet I can hear the birds on mornings like that..ok, not if I am running that vintage P125x....but ya, the silence and the calm and peace feeds my soul.

My 'not a scooter guy' husband is talking about getting a Honda Monkey! That suits me just fine because I am pretty sure my Vespa can out run the Monkey. It will keep him from excessive speeds. I never pushed my Sportster over 70 mph until we started riding together. Back then I what I learned what WOT was. I found out what it's like to have no power left and it's a dangerous place to be. I've had a lot to do on our little farm but I expect my time to be more freed up to get out more. There is a state part 24 miles down the backroads here. Nice spot to go and get refreshed.