Modern Vespa

Didn't realize how much I disliked the reflectors until I replaced with the colored plugs from ScooterWest. So much better!

Don't forget the unsightly warning stickers too.

Good point - "unsightly warning stickers" are long gone and forgotten

Those reflectors serve very important purpose. They are reflective. You have just made your scooter lesh visible to others.

Max6200 the rest of the world (other than the US) seems to get along fine without them.

I feel your pain. I have removed a lot of reflectors from several scooters. But those plugs they have a tendency to fall off and just leave a hole which to me is unsightly.

To each their own, I say. But mine are staying on.

Staying off until you need a inspection

Glue them in FFS.

I like them off but Virginia says they have to be on for inspection

This response is so vitriolic. Gosh! Why can't I make any friends?

Silly Billy - you have loads of friends on MV, especially those who've met you in RL. It's friends who can give a semi-exasperated response.

I'm afraid I'm probably the odd man out of this one. I loved Vespas for over 55 years before I finally got one. I've never had any desire to make it look different from the first day I saw it. It's still as polished as the day it left the dealership, and every day I go out to ride it's like getting that brand new Vespa from the showroom all over again. I left all the stickers and everything just because I like seeing it like it's brand new. One day I may remove them and the reflectors too, but for now I'm still loving my "brand new" Vespa.

Those "ugly" reflectors could save your life one day. Just sayin......

No inspections in California - and again, the reflectors are not native to Vespas except in US.

Because in the USA, the government knows what is best for you.

Much cleaner look. I did the same when I painted my wife's ET4. Since I was repainting, I filled the holes and then painted so you'd never know they were there.

and so does every idiot who has done no research apart from reading forums and social media


PS, this is a general statement not a targeted attack

Or the unsightly windshield.

My windshield, I'll have you know, is very sightly indeed

I did banish those terribly non-sightly sticker thingies, though.

I always replace my OEM wedges ('cause they seem to get broken too easily) with flat, self adhesive trailer reflectors of the same size and color. Still reflective and visible, but not so big and plasticky, and they cover the holes.

Very cool move. Dig the WWII deco as well.

Those reflectors are NOT on my 2014 GTS Super Sport. There are rivets there, filling the holes, instead.

I've never liked the reflectors much, but do appreciate the visibility they offer. so we will leave them on. One thing I've thought about doing - is to remove them and grind/sand the edges of the chrome plastic part...to make them fit the finders better. On my wife's previous Vespa one of the original reflectors actually fell off as the anchor-pin broke off, so we ordered a new one - which had a terrible fit up to the fender. So I carefully re-shaped it so that it fit the contour of the fender perfectly...and it looked pretty good then, not "great"....but "good".

I actually just bought replacements from ScooterWest as two were broken on my new to me 06 GTS.

The broken ones left some scarring in the paint as they moved about. I do prefer the cleaner look and I considered buying the plugs, but this would expose the damage which is even more unsightly than the reflectors. Catch 22 for me...

I liked my reflectors and stickers when I had my LX.

I drive home from work late at night and I have to snake through a college town with many students and many bars.

I have to be on constant guarded watch for pedestrians or bicyclers crossing my path. Crosswalks mean nothing. Kids cross anywhere convenient to them, invariably wearing those damn black hoodies. Absolutely no visibility until they are dangerously close. I was always told to wear light colored clothing when out at night on foot.

If I was ever unfortunate enough to hit one of these young people, (unfortunate for them too), my response to the Officers and Medical crew would be "I didn't see them in time."

So, I am a 100% supporter of light colored jackets with reflective stripes and side reflectors on scooters. Anything to make you more visible to motor vehicles and reduce your chances of being hit and the driver telling the cop that he didn't see you.

Your mileage may vary.

One of the first things I do to modify a new Vespa is to remove the reflectors and install the SW plugs. I've never had one fall off. Possibly they fall off due to reaming the hole to large?

In Australia the scooters come with side reflectors. I remove mine, and plug the holes with cut-offs of a knitting needle that was just the right diameter.

Before anyone asks, I now do my knitting with one needle and a finger.

There was a time decades ago when the USA would only allow ROUND headlights of two specific diameters...

South Africa mostly follows the Euro spec, except for left dipped beam headlights.
No side reflectors required here.
There was a time when we had a white front reflector requirement,
but I have not seen them in the last decade or two.

(My BMW GS was festooned with truck size reflectors on the rear and side of the pannier cases for night travelling.
I have a white reflector strip on the back of my white helmet)

IN NY State you need the reflectors for inspection( annually) and if the cop feels like it they can give you a ticket for not having them.
On my Vespa, one of the reflectors broke off & I just got some red reflective tape and put that on, covered the holes & passed the inspection. The other three are still on and if I get my act together & feel I need to make it all look pretty I will get some 3M reflective tape, cut it out in a shape that would do justice to the look and be done with it that way.
The other idea floating is to buy the LED reflector and turn signal and add that instead.
The idea of having led bulbs that are flush mounted with a reflector just on the surface around the led bulb seems more elegant but would require some work to get it all wired and working correctly.

Took mine off 12yrs ago. Filled the holes with pop rivets, barely noticeable on my silver scoot.

Never an issue with law enforcement.

I like being seen so they stay. I also upgrade lights as soon as I buy a new bike... I just don't trust car drivers to see me and I'd like to avoid being hit... again...

I replaced the rear reflectors with reflective tape, because the reflectors were in the way of a crash bar install. Also no issues with multiple NY inspections. The added bonus for me: the total reflective surface has increased and it looks better now

Took mine off a long time ago.
Got some plugs in there, they stay in place.