Modern Vespa

I own a 2014 Stella automatic and honestly its been a wonderful bike.. I'm curious if anyone has had a bad history with this model....mechanics hate the scooter but I have had no issues with it and other then basic maintenance it's been very reliable ..has anyone else had a good experience other then the typical recall issue the scooter had that is easily fixed...

I always wanted a Stella 4-stroke shifty but I got another Buddy 125 instead and missed my chance on a new shifty. Now when it was time to replace my Buddy 125 I was very curious about the Stellauto but my dealer talked me outta it!? Said they hated them and wanted nothing to do with them. So I got another Buddy 125. I think the dealer got the first run model, Genuine dragged their feet supplying recall parts and all the mechanics despised working on it. If one ever popped up used for a fair price I'd be tempted to pick one up as a stylish weekend run-about, but parts might be a concern. Other than the motor sitting at a weird angle I liked the look of it in person. But I've never met anyone who actually owned one, either past or present. Now we got the Royal Alloy and again, my dealer wants nothing to do with them. Shame as that's a sharp looking scooter as well. I don't have an issue with automatic retros, as long as the quality is there. I envy you for owning a Stellauto!

As a Stella 4stroke automatic owner I have learned one major rule of thumb...its important to remember that (when it comes to parts) is much more popular in other countries and has the logo Star name instead of stella...so when new owners are looking into new parts like air filters and such you will have a much easier time with finding what you need...now if you want more of the chrome bits as I do it's very important to be specific when purching parts (upgraded rear luggage racks and especially side cowls...very important with side cowls because they fit differently then the Stella manual transmissions....when I wanted to replace my simple air filter just typing in basic info I got very little search results but when I gave all the same info but changed the scooter name from Stella to Star I had numerous options and prices to choose from so no long term issues there..but you really need to be the scooters best advocate when care and maintenance comes into play when owning a Stella auto..if and when you do own one expect to have many conversations with people over the scooter and how they have always wanted one but haven't gotten around to it....the bike (in good condition)always brings picture posting people over for there online WHATEVER posing blogs..but honestly that's much easier then to walk back to any scooter you own to find it laying on its side after some one back into it to park... i could go on and on about scooter directions and maintenance but really it comes to daily expectations with all scooters. .. my favorite every day scooters are old school Honda elites.... they handle all types of scooter owners/drivers and most weather conditions...very reliable even as parts go...mechanics always like working on scooters they are familiar with and easy with parts...the Stella needs a mechanic that likes Stellas and likes seeing them on the road AND has a natural talent understanding and troubling shooting electrical components ..SOME mechanics (not all ) can be more looked at as glorified lawnmower mechanics (simple cable replacement , fluid and broken part stuff) not all are created equal..(same with scooter owners too) but if you do come across a Stella auto that's been well cared for..take the side cowls off and examine it..if it looks all Frankenstein parts and such..pass....if it's clean then it's a good start.. ANYWAYS ..yeah, get a Stella if you can and find a mechanic who has a passion for scooters of all kinds..

I have the 4T shifty, and it’s a weird animal. Don’t get me wrong, I like it, but it’s just … weird. Shifts like my P200, but it’s quiet and clean like our other bikes.

I’m still on the fence on whether it’s a keeper or not, but up in 4th gear it is just wonderful. And so far I’m getting right around 90mpg. That’s better than my Aprilia 50.

Because I spend 90% of my scooter driving in the loop area of Chicago as well as the lake shore drive and Michigan ave areas anyone who knows what driving in the city is like can tell you its a lot of short distance stop and go..so I have found with experience that a scooter that I'm not continuously shifting has given me better long term durability and dependability...(at least for me) and too I have noticed that Stella owners who frequently take passengers also deal with gear shifting issues from time to time...especially if the scooter owner isn't paying attention to the air pressure on the rear tire and drives with a passenger while the air pressure is too low...kills the drive belts as well...dont get me wrong..i grew up driving everything manually...i love manual shifting on scooters and cars but in some cases it causes more engine issues then a automatic on scooters when getting around and keeping yourself safe against the enemy "bad car drivers"...keep in mind when I say that cause I'm not speaking for every scooter make and model...some 1970 vespa owners occasionally snub there nose at me when it comes to any comparisons or similarities between Stella and earlier model vespa ( even though there are many important similarities) including engine designs & parts...i love 70s vespas but unfortunately they aren't something that I can simply switch from suburb to city traffic safely...traffic areas can be two totally different monsters....i like city traffic..ive been In accidents and getting hit at 25 to 35 miles a hours has fortunately been better then 45 to 50 miles a hour.. but not being hit at all is preferably the best route...with Stella the previous owner can always make the next owner experience good , bad or just a nightmare.. I should be straight about my scooter..its not kept outside in the elements and is properly maintained during the winter seasons so who's to say how the Stella automatic would be if it wasn't kept out of the everyday elements and wasn't driven on a regular basis..i might have a different experience to post.....so far it's been all good and I always look forward to a stress free scooter ride...hmmm..lets see if I just jinxed myself...

This Is early summer photo...i have added a new front basket since then and have more to add during this winter..i tend to tinker with upgrades during the winter season and just ride during the summer....

She's sweet! Nice looking bike. Over here in the UK we have pretty much all the Stellas or Stars. Mostly everyone likes them. Thanks for posting the pics.

Welcome to MV, and shout out from Uptown!
I have a soft spot for Genuine, since I owned 2 Rattler 110’s. I keep looking at some used Stellas as a starter bike for my wife.
I was excited when the Stella auto came out, but after a couple of sub par reviews, and the recall work they just kinda disappeared. I think it had a lot to do with Genuine going through some changes in owner/leadership, it kinda fell through the cracks.
That’s a nice looking bike, and you have obviously done yer homework. I think if you are dedicated to keeping it on the road, then it should stay on the road.
Any who welcome to MV from a long time sporadic member, fellow Chicagoan, and Genuine/Vespa fan.

I envy the European market for scooters ESPECIALLY when it comes to aftermarket accessories....my goal is one day come out that way and when I do I will make a point to see what I can get for the scooter to send home my way or take back with me if it fits.. so far my own experience with scooter accessories is limited...the occasional rear basket that if your lucky fits the model you have at the time but otherwise scooter companies mainly focus on the turn and burn if your hoping to find something accessory wise in store and not on line...shops get the new models displayed on the showroom floor to sell as fast as possible and make room for next year's models while they start talking about last year's models in a bad way as to focus the sale on the most recent scooter on the floor...and the cycle plays over and over..."last years model, its junk or no good"...this year's model YAH gotta have....and so on...

Shout out to uptown...lived near the area myself a few years ago and its a great area to ride..i have family that works at the tattoo factory on broadway across from the montrose ave target....was just getting ready to ride to scooter works on Damen to pick up some items I ordered...weather looks better so I think I'm going to visit foster beach and take a ride along old marine drive into the down town area...summer will be over before we know it...

^^^This.

The fact that you ride those routes say’s tells me that you are clinically insane. BUT ALSO, you are right about in-town riding on a shifty.

My P200e taught me that each bike has it’s place. It was great for long leisurely rides in the countryside, but my other bikes are just easier in town.

The Stella is the same. Once I’m up in 4th everything is wonderful, but I’d hate stop and go traffic on it.

Also, just FYI stuff. The shifty Stella differs vastly from the CVT model. No belts or rollers. It’s a wet clutch and gears, just like the 2t Vespa.

I am riding 41/12 into Michigan today. I do that whenever I can in the Summer. It’s a nice ride once ya get past east Chicago/Gary. Gary is kinda cool even, if you are into industrial history and urban decay. After that it’s Indiana Dunes Lakeshore, nice ride and no major highways.
I have no tattoos but I have had a Beer or 2 at Drink & Ink. Rock a Scooterworks sticker on my Vespa, (even though not technically a Vespa shop) I get most of my gear from them.
Keep that Shiney side up! If ya see a black GTS with a couple Chrome skull and crossbones on it, shoot a wave!

Your ride route to Michigan immediately reminded me of season 2 Crust Crusaders scooter ride they posted on YouTube starting from Wisconsin to Michigan if you haven't seen it...now that was crazy insane...but I would have liked to have been a part of that...they too drove down 41 on 50cc (49cc) scooters through the city into gary and into michigan...i found that interesting and even more when you are familiar with the route and areas they traveled through..anyways ..have a great ride..

Great weather this weekend for a ride/route to enjoy from Niles to the field museum area (roughly through and around China town) but while my wife was up north in Wisconsin visiting her mom for the weekend it was a great opportunity to plan a scooter adventure.. started from (roughly) waukegan & Oakton, headed east to Evanston, south on Sheridan, then merged to Broadway till I got to Clark, zigg-zagged off of Clark after passing north ave through a beautifully filled beach goer/bicycle riding atmosphere of city calmness before making a south turn on old lake shore (or marine drive) can't recall what it goes by at the point but either way I merged with Michigan avenue traffic with ease.....had a great ride down Michigan avenue eventually making a round about turn around China town after getting gas ( whole trip cost 1.72$ in gas ) decided to stop and park at water tower place for a bite and eventually was back on my way north..seeing all the activity this weekend is a much better atmosphere to see as opposed to what it was like doing this same route last year at this time....anyways no need for me to give a description of my north bound trip back but I can tell you that it was just as nice..only bad part about this weekend was by the end of Saturday (I took my scooter to work) along my work route from Wrigley field area to Niles ( Addison west to Milwaukee ave north ) after stopping to order food and pay I at some point thought I lost my wallet thinking that if I didn't see it in my compartment box I must have left it in my pocket and at some point I guess it fell out...so I drove the entire route back to Wrigley looking for it and just hoping the someone might have just kept the cash and dropped the wallet or maybe I dropped it while waiting for the light to turn green and the homeless guy asking for change found it and decided to head into olive garden for a treat..all this stuff ran through my thoughts as well as making sure I start cancellations on all my cards but WORST of all,, the long line at the DMV to replace my lic&i.d....anyways..after making it back to the Wrigley area and to no avail I stopped..not sure of how much gas I had left and new I was going to have to start grabbing quarters from my glove scooter compartment like a total bone head it turned out the stupid wallet was tucked behind my emergency tool holder where I IMMEDIATELY remembered putting it so as to not fall out if while stopped at a light I might open the compartment door to check my cell....(what a over tired DUMBASS! ) but let me tell you..i had a IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE MOMENT....but the only Clarence I had as a passenger was my thoughts reminding me that it's going to be a long wait at the DMV waiting in line and wondering what homeless guy had for dinner at the olive garden..maybe even French toast sticks at burger king the next morning...he probably didn't have a coffee knowing it would only dehydrate him in the sun back at the Addison blue line station street looking for another dropped wallet..THAT NEVER DROPPED...hot dam I was so happy....so yeah my one hour wonderfull life scene that played out had me so appreciative of my new realisation to my situation that it gave me a great mental ride back home as well as a splurge in cash for dinner...heading back i gave homeless guy 10$ (I mentioned olive garden as a suggestion) picked up a ton of food and brought back lots of goodies for my step daughter who I told NOTHING about this.. anyways the event gave me a greater appreciation on the next few days knowing I don't need to go to the DMV and I don't need to wait 7 to 10 days for card replacments... so yeah...hope everyone else who went on a weekend scooter adventure had the same appreciation of the city as I did on sunday...as a note the photo was actually taken for my son and daughter who both had there first apartments at different times in this building...i just thought to included it randomly with this post but as you can see I did some shopping on sunday..i may not have lost the cash in my wallet but I sure spent it by the time Sunday was over....the other photo was just a beautiful photo of the lake before I stated to drive south on Michigan avenue..

Welcome to MV from Italy. Yes ... The Stella (Star) was also on sale in Italy but it was a desperate attempt, too much competition from other scooter models and then here we have for sale many used "originals" from which it derives.

I didnt know these existed. looks like its scoots quite nicely.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3ANm-lwu44

I had 3 real Stellas and they broke all the time. Granted, it was the first batch of them and bugs needed to be worked out, but man, something was always broken.

When you say you owned multiple Stellas..are you referring to manual shift or automatic?

You still up there in Chippewa Chad?

I have a couple of Genuine scooters produced by PGO (Taiwan), so it might be said I have a soft spot for Genuine as well. It must be added, though, that Genuine does not build scooters. they import and market them in the US.

The Stella was produced by LML (India). The Stella took a major hit in the US when Genuine discontinued the Stella line. It took a second hit when LML went bankrupt 3 or 4 years ago. The Stella 2T shares many parts with the P series Vespas so should continue to do okay. The 4T and the Auto, on the other hand, have definitely become orphans.

Dooglas I met you on MB first.

And we still own a 14 year old Buddy (my SO's ride) which continues to run fine.