OP
UTC

Member
Vespa GTS 300 Super HPE
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Location: London
 
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Vespa GTS 300 Super HPE
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UTC quote
I bought my bike brand new about 6 months ago, having not ridden for a few years after I was bored of Vespa's getting stolen or written off.

All of my old ones were sub £2.5k bikes.

This is number 5 for the 300, having also had a 200 and a 250 a few years back.

Here are my thoughts having commuted 50 miles each way for the last 6 months.

The paint isn't the best given the £5k price tag.

The rev limiter is a bit annoying the way it works, feels a bit unsafe the first few times you hit it.

Sometimes trying to pull away fast from the lights, it feels like it hits a flat spot.

The paint underneath has literally started coming off revealing metal work - I don't think it is rusty, which I know older models are known for in the seams, so it has gone to the dealer today for them to refer to Piaggio (fingers crossed).

It uses more oil than expected too.

All of the above has taken the shine off of the bike I have always referred to as the perfect London commuter bike - so now I am conflicted about whether to keep it and its imperfections or trade it in for something that is less perfect for the commute...
@steelbytes avatar
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Veni, Vidi, Posti
2019 GTS300 Supertech E3 57,000km
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Location: Batmania aka Melbourne, Australia
 
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@steelbytes avatar
2019 GTS300 Supertech E3 57,000km
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Location: Batmania aka Melbourne, Australia
UTC quote
fusionsplice wrote:
Sometimes trying to pull away fast from the lights, it feels like it hits a flat spot.
Turn off the ASR
OP
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Vespa GTS 300 Super HPE
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Vespa GTS 300 Super HPE
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UTC quote
Oh really?
@steelbytes avatar
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Veni, Vidi, Posti
2019 GTS300 Supertech E3 57,000km
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Posts: 5117
Location: Batmania aka Melbourne, Australia
 
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@steelbytes avatar
2019 GTS300 Supertech E3 57,000km
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Location: Batmania aka Melbourne, Australia
UTC quote
fusionsplice wrote:
Oh really?
Yes really
OP
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Great tip - going to try that out...that'll be one less thing that annoys me about it - thanks.
@rocklanddad avatar
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Hooked
VESPA GTS 300
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Location: Pearl River, NY '
 
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@rocklanddad avatar
VESPA GTS 300
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UTC quote
steelbytes wrote:
Turn off the ASR
What is the point of this ASR? I am not sure WTF it does.
@jimc avatar
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The Hornet (GT200, aka Love Bug) and 'Dimples' - a GTS 300
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@jimc avatar
The Hornet (GT200, aka Love Bug) and 'Dimples' - a GTS 300
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UTC quote
RocklandDad wrote:
What is the point of this ASR? I am not sure WTF it does.
Stops wheel spin.
@steelbytes avatar
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Veni, Vidi, Posti
2019 GTS300 Supertech E3 57,000km
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Posts: 5117
Location: Batmania aka Melbourne, Australia
 
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@steelbytes avatar
2019 GTS300 Supertech E3 57,000km
Joined: UTC
Posts: 5117
Location: Batmania aka Melbourne, Australia
UTC quote
RocklandDad wrote:
What is the point of this ASR? I am not sure WTF it does.
Very handy when the road is anything less than perfect.
@fledermaus avatar
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2007 LX150 2015 GTS (on the bench) 2017 BV 350
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@fledermaus avatar
2007 LX150 2015 GTS (on the bench) 2017 BV 350
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UTC quote
Be patient with the oil consumption. IIRC, it eventually levels off...just remember to check levels frequently until it does.

Good luck with the paint. That certainly doesn't sound typical.
@amateriat avatar
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Ossessionato
2015 GTS 300 Super (Melody: 2015-2021, RIP), 2022 GTS SuperTech (Thelonica; bit the dust 02-22-23)
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@amateriat avatar
2015 GTS 300 Super (Melody: 2015-2021, RIP), 2022 GTS SuperTech (Thelonica; bit the dust 02-22-23)
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Location: Asbury Park, NJ
UTC quote
fledermaus wrote:
Be patient with the oil consumption. IIRC, it eventually levels off...just remember to check levels frequently until it does.

Good luck with the paint. That certainly doesn't sound typical.
This is the general consensus regarding more-recent models of the GTS HPE (like mine, and, presumably, the OP's). After the the first few thousand miles things should improve on the consumption front.

One bit of advice I'd give in the name of keeping an eye on the oil level: switch out the oil pan for one with a built-in sight-glass. The only complaint I have about the HPE is where they decided to relocate the oil filler, closely adjacent to the exhaust. Not exactly helpful for a quick level-check.

As far as the paint goes? Yep, definitely check that out.
New Oil Pan: Just like the original, but better.
New Oil Pan: Just like the original, but better.
New Oil Pan, Installed: Oil-check at a glance.
New Oil Pan, Installed: Oil-check at a glance.
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Vespa GTS 300 Super HPE
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UTC quote
The oil pan with sight glass does look like a good mod, but assume it would invalidate any warranty?

Talking of which does anyone know where to find the warranty details for the bike? I don't have it anywhere and Vespa's site doesn't seem to be much use.
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2007 LX 150 (memories)
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UTC quote
Isn't there warranty info in the manual that came with the bike?
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No, the manual is tiny and I couldn't find it in there.
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2007 LX 150 (memories)
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@mpfrank avatar
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2020 MP3 500 HPE Sport ABS/ASR
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2020 MP3 500 HPE Sport ABS/ASR
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UTC quote
RocklandDad wrote:
What is the point of this ASR? I am not sure WTF it does.
It stops the wheel from spinning when road surface is slippery (rain, gravel,etc.).

Unfortunately, it engages when it's not really needed, so you flat spot when you try to accelerate. I experience this mostly when I try to accelerate out of a turn.

I turn mine off when it's dry out - which is almost always where I live. (I do this in my car as well.)

Your ASR may need to be calibrated. Here is a YouTube video: https://tinyurl.com/y25btlo2

UTC

Hooked
PX 150 and GTS 300 HPE Super Tech
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Location: Dublin, Ohio
 
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PX 150 and GTS 300 HPE Super Tech
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UTC quote
fusionsplice wrote:
The oil pan with sight glass does look like a good mod, but assume it would invalidate any warranty?

Talking of which does anyone know where to find the warranty details for the bike? I don't have it anywhere and Vespa's site doesn't seem to be much use.
No, it won't invalidate your warranty. It is actually a genuine Piaggio part that is modified to install the sight glass. Great mod.
@coddy avatar
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2021 GTS 300 Supersport, Triumph Tiger 800
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UTC quote
apex wrote:
No, it won't invalidate your warranty. It is actually a genuine Piaggio part that is modified to install the sight glass. Great mod.
Indeed it is a great mod that won't invalidate your warranty, only annoyance is that it should be a factory standard fitment and they are not cheap.
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Molto Verboso
2007 GT200, 2008 Yamaha C3, 2009 BV250
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@abner_bjorn avatar
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It's an improvement for the place that sold it to you. Belt, rollers and valve adjustment every 6,000 miles. Hell yah.
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2019 MP3 500 Sport
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Abner_Bjorn wrote:
It's an improvement for the place that sold it to you. Belt, rollers and valve adjustment every 6,000 miles. Hell yah.
6k is not a bad service interval for motorcycles these days. Of course they want to do a lot, The dealer will do (supposedly) early on, but ask them to see the parts... They recommend a lot of stuff based on worst case, every day, riding on salty and muddy and wet roads.

I always recommend establishing trust with a good, trustful service person over the years. Not the official dealer (although some are great).
@amateriat avatar
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Ossessionato
2015 GTS 300 Super (Melody: 2015-2021, RIP), 2022 GTS SuperTech (Thelonica; bit the dust 02-22-23)
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@amateriat avatar
2015 GTS 300 Super (Melody: 2015-2021, RIP), 2022 GTS SuperTech (Thelonica; bit the dust 02-22-23)
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UTC quote
Coddy wrote:
Indeed it is a great mod that won't invalidate your warranty, only annoyance is that it should be a factory standard fitment and they are not cheap.
Ironically, Vespa apparently used to have this feature in the not-so-distant past. Luckily, someone outside the company remembered this.
PabloLie wrote:
6k is not a bad service interval for motorcycles these days. Of course they want to do a lot, The dealer will do (supposedly) early on, but ask them to see the parts... They recommend a lot of stuff based on worst case, every day, riding on salty and muddy and wet roads.

I always recommend establishing trust with a good, trustful service person over the years. Not the official dealer (although some are great).
I do trust my dealer, who did a good job with Melody (my previous bike), as well as Thelonica (my current ride I bought from them). I'm the high-miler of all their Vespa customers, so they seem fairly keen to hear my take on what does (or doesn't) work, as well as understand that mine isn't a fair-weather/just-for-fun machine.
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2020 Liberty 150, 2020 MP3-500
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UTC quote
mpfrank wrote:
It stops the wheel from spinning when road surface is slippery (rain, gravel,etc.).

Unfortunately, it engages when it's not really needed, so you flat spot when you try to accelerate. I experience this mostly when I try to accelerate out of a turn.

I turn mine off when it's dry out - which is almost always where I live. (I do this in my car as well.)

Your ASR may need to be calibrated.
I'm considering an auto off circuit for the asr
A time delay relay [TDR], the coil hooked up to the headlight, normally closed contacts hooked up in parallel to the ASR switch
The headlight doesn't turn on until the motor is running, activating the TDR, set for 2-3 seconds, would simulate pushing the ASR button
The regular ASR button would still work
The TDR could be under the tupperware
A switch to turn it off could be added to disable it
Here's a relay, for cheap
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09L4B738X/ref=sspa_dk_detail_1?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B09L4B738X&pd_rd_w=ZdUqP&pf_rd_p=ed02e65e-bf3f-46c8-aedd-152f4fca56ac&pd_rd_wg=VB1pk&pf_rd_r=K6KTXA5YANDB3VMNK9KF&pd_rd_r=6e80a5e6-cb31-44b7-8f17-e378228e1704&s=kitchen&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExWUY3S0YzRzUxRDlNJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNTc2MTE2MVBLVExOM1YwMUxLMSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwOTQwOTUyM003VUFXSDk1T0JNUyZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2RldGFpbCZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=
@jimc avatar
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The Hornet (GT200, aka Love Bug) and 'Dimples' - a GTS 300
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@jimc avatar
The Hornet (GT200, aka Love Bug) and 'Dimples' - a GTS 300
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Location: Pleasant Hill, CA
UTC quote
And here's one that's 12V DC not 110V AC:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CV4G9QC
OP
UTC

Member
Vespa GTS 300 Super HPE
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Location: London
 
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Vespa GTS 300 Super HPE
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UTC quote
Turning the ASR off has transformed the bike!
@garthhh avatar
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2020 Liberty 150, 2020 MP3-500
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@garthhh avatar
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Location: Reno
UTC quote
jimc wrote:
And here's one that's 12V DC not 110V AC:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CV4G9QC
The product description is confused
The one I posted is 12v, the contacts are rated for 240vac 5a
@jimc avatar
UTC

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The Hornet (GT200, aka Love Bug) and 'Dimples' - a GTS 300
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Location: Pleasant Hill, CA
 
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@jimc avatar
The Hornet (GT200, aka Love Bug) and 'Dimples' - a GTS 300
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Location: Pleasant Hill, CA
UTC quote
Garthhh wrote:
The product description is confused
The one I posted is 12v, the contacts are rated for 240vac 5a
And the picture shows "Source 110V AC". Very confused indeed! Whatev's.
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