Modern Vespa

I am loving my new GTS300. I can't seem to get off it. From 2002 - 2017 I had a ET4. The seat was unlocked using the key on the back. Easy. My new bike has the battery powered mechanism on the key chain as well as the button on the front. There have been a few times where using the battery powered situation took a while…..like it was struggling to open or something. Eventually it did…..but not on first shot…..made me miss my old fashioned seat! Both of the times it has happened were instances where I may have pushed the seat down too hard or something, but still made me miss the old seat. This happen to anyone else?????

In my Vespa GTS300 review (Why you may (or may not) want a Vespa GTS 300) I mention having the opposite problem: the seat doesn't lock all that well unless you close it and then slap down on it.

I think the electronic seat unlock is a bit of a sales gimmick, I never really cared for it... Less is more.

I mean, in theory it's cool if it works. Less is more, absolutely. I use same thing for my jeep, but I am also able to use my keys to unlock it. It's my only issue……otherwise this thing is dreamy.

Sounds like there is something wrong with your opening motor or mechanism. It should actuate very easily and not struggle.

On my GT200 there is a backup mechanical lever in the glovebox to pop the seat. I thought it is still there on the new GTS300s? If it's there, does it work smoothly?

Berto - yes it is there and it works smoothly

In a word, no.

No, me neither

I don't believe the GTS series has ever had a key lock on the side of the seat like some other models. Both of my GTS, the '08 and the '15, have had an electric release button above the glovebox and a cable release inside the glovebox for emergencies. That seems to work fine. I agree, I don't see much point in a remote release.

LXV150IE has that keyed seat, cuz sometimes I like it and sometimes I don't…. None of my other rides have that, so I need to put the key in the ignition and turn it to open the seat to rob the pair of gloves cuz I put them there and I am riding a different scooter. But I seem to like my silly rides, and the higher the cost of gas, the more I like them.

Seeing as the only two road machines I've ever possessed were/are GTS' (see avatar bio), all I can say is that you can't miss what you've never had.

Regarding the all-mod-cons seat-release tech on the latest GTS models: I've actually come to like it a lot more than I thought I would. Every once in a great while, it takes an extra button-push to actuate the lock release, but otherwise it works fine (coming in rather handy on certain shopping trips), and in lieu of that, there's always the electronic release button just above the glovebox door (which always works, so long as the bike's battery has juice), and of course the emergency mechanical release inside the glovebox for when all else fails. (I'll have more to say in my rapidly-upcoming-and-ongoing review of Thelonica.)

In my opinion, Vespa got it right with the under seat storage and glovebox locking design.

Both always accessible when the steering column is unlocked.

Both locked when the steering column is locked.

Very logical and easy to use.

I sometimes want to get something from under the seat of my Yamahas when poking around in the garage.

I can't, if I don't have the key with me.

But I always have access to the Vespas storage.

Bill