Modern Vespa

Hello Everyone

I hope you are well. For 12 years I happily owned an ET4 and it was great fun. 4 years ago I sold it and have the ache again to buy something fun. I was a 300 model because I like the idea of having more power. I basically want to just cruise around during my time off on windy roads and also will use as often as I can around town. I just don't know what I should get - what is the difference between a GTS HPE and a SPORT and SUPER?? I want to make sure I buy the right one - any help?

First question I suppose is do you want a new Vespa or a used one?

If used what is your budget?

I am a big wheel fan (Liberty 150), so if I were buying a larger scooter I would get the BV400 or an XMAX300. I have a thing for Piaggio, but the Yamaha is so much less $$, I would probably go that way.

If you want smaller displacement, then go for a Sprint 150 or Liberty 150. Same engine-drivetrain. It is just about style. Pay twice as much for the Sprint if ya like that, otherwise get the same thing with the more practical Liberty (big wheels = pothole buster).

I want another Vespa

get any HPE. all current 300s are HPE

The Super, Sport, Touring, Racing 60s, etc flavours are the same engine and frame etc, just different trims with the minor exceptions that of the Sei Giorni which doesn't include ASR (traction control) and the 75th GTS and Supertech have LCD dashboards.

I want a GTS 300…….I love the ideal of the bigger wheels with the BV however, I am just hooked on the old fashioned look. That is what I am after. I wish I could find a used one with low miles, but that is hard to come by it seems. Any intel?

My advice: watch Facebook Marketplace like a hawk, and include in that hawklike behavior a willingness to pounce immediately when you see what you want.

Pouncing means dropping everything to go see the machine in person with cash in hand, and being ready to deal hard right away if you like what you see.

I got two of my three scooters exactly like this. Had I waited another hour I would have missed them. (The third was a Beo 500 that had lingered on the market in upstate NY all winter. Different acquisition strategy.)

I have ridden around 150,000 miles on 12" wheels on five different Vespa GTs.

Not one pothole problem.

Maybe 12" wheels isn't a real issue.

Bill

My wife and I both ride 2021 GTS 300 Supers and love them. Great cruising scoots. Good luck with whatever bike you choose.

BTW, I looked at your profile because I thought your username might be connected to NY. Sure enough, I noticed that you live in the same NY town my wife is from. Her parents sold their house there two years ago and moved full time to Florida. Small world…..

I'm on my third GTS and never had a pothole or handling problem. The tires will wear out a bit quicker than a 15 inch. But Vespa is classic, everything else is, something different.

Maybe so. I came from small motorcycles (Honda XL100 & CB125S, Yamaha DT100, and multiple Honda CT90's). I also had a cheap dirt bike (Orion 150, a larger pit-bike). So I am partial to wheels about that size (16-17").

I do appreciate the vintage Vespa type. When I ended up with the CB125S back in 1980, a new PX200 and a 60's Zundapp were in the running.

My gig is...riding as much as possible, year around. Ultimately, wheels size wouldn't make a difference to me. I guess I am just partial to the "big wheel" thing...as a look, much as Vespa folks like the vintage look.

Wow! Yeah, I love it here. It's a great town, however, once my kids are through the schools I'm outa here! The taxes are crazy

That's why we moved out of NJ two years ago and relocated to Virginia. Taxes were outrageous.

This. Deals come along all the time. If you are first with cash in hand, people are more willing to deal

My opinion only. If you are thinking used GTS, focus on a '15 or newer. That means it will have ABS and be no more than 7 years old. Don't worry too much about mileage. I don't think 10-15K is a lot of miles on a GTS, for example. The experience of members here shows that the GTS can go the distance. Also don't worry too much about individual models. The differences are mostly cosmetic. If you decide you want a GTS with the new HPE engine, you are unlikely to find much used, and probably need to buy new.

My TGS 300 only likes very small country roads - very often in poor condition - and its 12' wheels have never given me a problem; if necessary I slow down
Indeed, 10 or 15k km is absolutely nothing for a GTS (mine has more than 20k km and its engine purrs admirably without worry).
You are looking for comfort, speed and efficiency: the big wheels are perhaps more interesting. You prefer pleasure, strolling and dawdling according to the direction of the wind: small wheels are more fun.

Yeah, I have decided to just bite the bullet and get a GTS 300 from the dealer. They have good financing options and will stand behind the machine - i checked Facebook marketplace and there were many, but I would be too anxious about buying a lemon. Now what color to get! Either Grigio delicato or midnight blue.

Anyone on this site from NYC or surrounding area?? Once weather gets better I will want to do some rides.

And that's the same reason I moved out of North Jersey to Virginia too. I was pretty close to Rockland County.

I have a Vespa 300 super 2012 and love it. Now that I am in AZ I am riding a fair bit and it handles the roads very well and the roads around here are 40-50 MPH. As far as color goes I was planning on buying a dark color but just before I bought mine I was driving on a foggy day and a black Vespa was in front of me and I could barely see it, so I went with a white one as I wanted to be very visible. Just something to think about it. Best of luck and be safe

You might consider joining the NYC Vespa Club. I do many of their events from Westchester.
https://www.nycvespaclub.com/

I have driven motorcycles for years. I think that bigger wheels are probably better. Millions of people ride small wheel <13" scooters every day in all conditions and manage to return home safely. I have always tried to avoid potholes when operating any vehicle. If I were you and I really wanted a Vespa (as I do), I would not worry about wheel size.

As others have said, there are deals to be had. My wife has a 2018 GTS touring and I have a 2020 Supertech HPE. Both were bought off Facebook marketplace for several thousand less than msrp. They both had between 500-600 miles and were in excellent condition. It takes a lot of patience to find the right deal and you have to be willing to move on it quickly.

if you *want* a vespa, nothing else will suffice. you'll just keep chasing the dragon.

it may not be right for you, it doesn't fit right, it doesn't suit your riding needs, you don't like how it rides/handles, whatever. but, at least now you know and you can sell it and get something else that meets your needs.

but here's the deal: patience and CASH

troll FB marketplace, CL, offerup and local dealers. when the one comes up that you want, strike fast. don't pussyfoot around, show up on time with cash and while negotiating is part of the deal don't lowball.

if there's ANYTHING funny about the tags or the title or it appears to have been in a wreck or there's some lame excuses just walk away. there's another one waiting. right now is a buyers market.

As someone who "bit the bullet" for the second time day before yesterday, I'd say you've made a good choice. Smaller wheels may have their challenges here and there, but for me it's never been anything unmanageable. In fact, I'd wager the GTS is probably one of the very best bikes around with small(ish) wheels. I've ridden from central Jersey up to NYC/Gotham (my birthplace), and down to Philly, with no incidents on account of road conditions. Besides road-handling characteristics, the GTS has a nice bit of pep: my normal NJ-NY jam takes me along the Garden State Parkway, which certainly turns a few heads.

I'm in the NYC area frequently, and I'll be resuming my rides in after I've broken in the new bike: feel free to PM me.

^^^^^^^^^^this^^^^^^^^

If you left your money at home because you just knew you had "Vespa-buying-impulse-itis" AND it really is a good deal. By the time race back with cash, it's gone. Just say'n for a friend.

I often hear you find the best deals when you aren't shopping.

One day I rode my Ducati Monster to a Yamaha shop, and the sales guy asked me to consider a Ducati 900 SS he got in trade. The service guys declined to do maintenance on it so it was as is, no warranty. I rode it a while and passed on it. He called me at a Chinese restaurant with a price of $1700 OTD. My fortune cookie said "Don't worry take a chance". I rode the bike home that night, and weeks later met the former owner who had upgraded the hell out of it at some expense. The best bike I ever owned.

Took the plunge today! So excited. I got a Vespa GTS 300 - Midnight Blue. Super psyched,

the 300 is a great machine have fun be safe

Pictures or it didn't happen, and don't forget to change your avatar status

Goob, if he were to spend a half hour on a big wheel scooter....the little wheeled Vespas might not look so good to him!
There's a reason so many more Europeans ride big wheel scooters....rather than small.
L.S.

Still have to name my machine, but I am psyched. Will pick it up next week. I had an ET4 for 15 years, sold it 3 years ago and have been dreaming of this one ever since!

ROCKLANDDAD and SCOOTDAD are both me! I didn't realize that I setup an account months ago......

You must get scooters for each of you, then!

Congratulations!! Enjoy!!

Perhaps you should ask an administrator to merge these back into one account.

Silver is the fastest color. Blue is a close second. 🤣

ScootDad,

Great fun anticipating that new Vespa. I know you will be pleased.
It is the Vespa for all purposes. Great color choice.

Come on Spring,

Bob Copeland
Still Freezing here in Frost Bite Falls

Gotta love blue.

Not anymore, I've seen 2014 LX, admittedly in excellent condition and kitted to a 190cc go for $5,600 sold on facebook in 6 hours. Thought they were insane to ask that. You may occasionally find a deal now but I know fools who have been looking for a reasonably priced, not a great deal for a long time now. What they though was too high a year ago would now be considered a low listing. Maybe when gas prices go down and Ukraine is resolved some of those who bought scooterscnow or during covid (some employers wouldn't allow public transit to commute to work on) will want to sell but I see posts from folks who have a motorcycle license but haven't had a PTW in years are looking to buy one now. Unfortunately that has lead to a lot of dealer fees breeding much higher. A friend was quoted $1,800 on the purchase of a new Liberty and $2,800 on an Xmax in shipping, dealer fees and tax/licensing ($the latter in his state was $300 or less for either scoot).

wild times. I was trying to run some comps on GTS250's so I could price my project bikes accordingly and literally there was nothing out there. admittedly I didn't check FB, but the only things I saw were 2~3yr old bikes in the 6~7K range and GT's in the 4's with a few 10 yr old 250's clocking in at 5~6

now all of a sudden a beater 250 at 2500 doesn't sound too bad!