Modern Vespa

All of mine are of the same genre… turns out I am a small displacement guy.

Chris from CLE

Got this one a few months back off my son. Lexmoto Assault.

Absolutely. Just installed new sprockets/chain 2 days ago!

A Ducati Scrambler and pick up my blue Triumph Tiger Sport 660 on Friday

I have just returned from the annual gathering of Airhead R80 and R100 GS riders.
(Type 247E bikes)

I did about 1 500kms round trip on my 1996 R80 GS.

What else do I ride?

Nothing.

Had Vespas for the last 54 years and 3 months. Haven't seen anything else that I like better yet.

Why do you have to like it better though? That's like going to the strip club and keeping your eyes shut until they announce your favorite dancer. There's so much more in life to be enjoyed.

My bikes are all very different, some I love more, some less, but the variety enriches my experience as a rider, lets me learn and develop more skills, and gives me more means of having fun. Life is good, don't be afraid of a little spice!

I just brought home a brand spanking new 2022 Kymco 550 (Blue). It looks nice
in my garage next to the my Dragon Red Vespa GTS300 Super.

Bob Copeland
Spring has sprung in Minnesota - Rain washing the winter salt off the streets.

Yamaha FJR 1300

This past January I purchased a 2022 Royal Enfield Himalayan motorcycle. And now that the weather is warming, I'm getting the chance to ride on the dirt and gravel roads that are everywhere in Central Pennsylvania. It's a far nicer ride on these roads than on my poor old GTS.

Aww man you are making me regret selling my G650gs. It was such a good bike. I could throw it around like it was a little dirt bike. So nimble and such a tractor at the same time.

Nowadays it's a 2015 BMW K1600GTL. Nothing better to make a long road trip fun then to hop on that bike and do a few thousand miles in a few days.

Can be taken just about anywhere a scooter can go


and be taken where scooters aren't allowed

I picked up a Honda CTX700 DCT a couple weeks ago. I was "DCT curious," and after a bunch of research, I find the Dual Clutch Transmission to be all I had hoped for. It isn't just an automatic motorcycle - using the Drive, Sport, and Manual mode makes this bike a delight...

[img]https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEieHGSWLtN6T669Ze1Bk7Fadq6CPXDHi42rrBEJYoReISMd7k7HRIQ55SnBbvQQWQSxdQV-gkZQ6pI9iKsbZqUQSbmEZjKSjBQ_5uVVJ5a0Jd__DIMPRm7_Vcrqza3y2WJSA59XntftnWgS-fdmipZER7lHd5tKws370c9COKoFhKH0CgTMSdj9tOY45Q=s800[/img]

I also did a video on it...

Interesting bike, solid and comfortable. I added some floorboards to it, making it even more comfortable (and some might say: scooter-like)...

[img]https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8emX9sN-JhIX8OtNPvNeaSQVAel8JvSI2J_HJQTOYmXx53JapmdYoCDAadF9UN0nAu5L3IC9BZs-SrwakxPZauCKV3BL9FI1c3Yy4DJecedKDpeyIolrZPobMWnaapWa3BTj6JOLAY2LRo6yLFifPExUL_Eap4F43lVOGvX9SP_2Ha6lwB720WvD5hw=s800[/img]

Nice bike!

I do like the DCT transmission too. The latest I rode was a NC750X, the 'adventure bike' looking model. DCT was very smooth, intuitive and the modes worked well. Definitely one of those things that pull me towards Honda.

DCT sounds like it is much better than cvt. So why are we not seeing it in smaller bikes like out GTS"s? Or even the 300cc dual sports that need constant gear changes? That was the main reason I sold my WR250R, after a couple of hours of fun, my left hand was too tired to pull that clutch anymore. It can't be that it is too expensive, history has proven that we will pay extra for things that are important to us. I would love a small dual sport with DCT so I relive my youth!

This is just a guess based on my research before buying, and thus far short ownership... not just cost, but weight and space. Twenty-five pounds additional on a 500 pound bike isn't too noticeable; I think it would be more significant on a lighter weight bike. Also, the CTX was designed to have good low speed torque, which I think may also be significant for DCT to be best used.

With the CTX in Drive mode, it will try to be in 6th gear around 37 to 40 mph; feels to me like the engine is lugging, but the torque this engine makes handles it with no fuss. Most smaller engines need to rev higher to stay in their powerband. Seeing how smart the design of this whole package is, I'm sure Honda could come up with a smaller engine with DCT, but I wonder if it could be as functional.

I think the DCT works great in a larger, heavier bike, but the CVT most scooters use is more efficient in that size/weight. Riding the Vespa after spending more time on the CTX brings that to light: the Vespa feels "almost electric" in the smooth acceleration, where you feel the shifts (and significantly stronger torque) doing the same with the DCT in the CTX. Each seems to be well-suited in its use.

My new ride

Ha, nice!

Ha, because I was seriously toying around with the idea of getting an exactly similar bike, with this special color too!

In the end, as this would be my only bike, I chose a 'normal' T120.

Still, darn that bike is a looker!

Honda CB300FA

Just got it running after an unexpected engine rebuild.

I'm enjoying re-learning manual shift, and just generally how it's different than a Vespa.

She's a looker alright, congratulations.

2000 Ducati M900 - Purchased many years ago from a fellow MV'er.