Modern Vespa

My first post here, I recently purchase a 2021 GTS 300 HPE. I find that the headlight casts a large pattern of shadows. Has anyone found a replacement headlight assembly which has a better light pattern?

Firstly, Hi, and welcome.

So far, I know of no direct replacement/upgrade for the current HPE lineup, only the previous (<2020, US) models. In my experience, the existing headlight setup works fine, in fact, a good deal better than the halogen step on my 2015 GTS; I don't find an issue with the beam pattern.

Same issue here with 2021 GTS, casts a lot of shadows and light beam is very narrow. I tried adjusting it from behind the lamp, but not much improvement.

Thanks. Guess I'm not the only one who sees this as an issue.

I don't like it either.

If you really think that the GTS 300 hpe LED headlight is inadequate, you could always add an auxiliary light. For example from Clearwater Lights:

https://www.clearwaterlights.com/products/darla-vespa-piaggio

I ride my Vespa a lòt at night time and while I think an auxiliary light might be worthwhile, I really haven't felt this is necessary.

I do have LED switchback turn signals though, like the ones that Robot shows in the video below. Because I care about being seen and for that having more than one light both in the front and rear works really well.



Last edited by giallo on Sat, 27 Aug 2022 22:23:06 +0000; edited 1 time

The only replacement I am aware
Of is this one

https://www.scooterwest.com/black-out-led-headlight-assembly-with-halo-light-bar-gts-super-300-hpe-2020-later.html

Not sure if it's much different from the stock one though (besides the daytime running light bar across the middle).

In the video about installing this light, Robot points out that the changes are in looks not in light output or beam pattern.

Maxx28

How did you adjust the light beam?

I have a 2022 GTE hpe with LED light. I get flashed by oncoming traffic so guessing it's set too high.

For the life of me I cannot figure it out. There doesn't seem to be an adjustment screw!

As you are facing the scooter, there's a screw on the right hand side at about 4 o clock (of the headlight).

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1631378/Piaggio-Vespa-Gts-300-Hpe-2019.html?page=72

There is a screw on the side, also i completely removed the whole light assembly just to check the back. My light was set so high, when i was riding at night, i could flash people living on 3rd floor with my high beams.

My 2010 GTS halogen is 10 times better for night riding.

Regarding the GTS 300 headlight adjustment, this is the instruction graphic from the manual.

Position yourself on an even surface about 10 meters (10.93 yards) from a wall and your light should be visible slightly below the horizontal line.

Best to check first before you adjust anything.





Last edited by giallo on Wed, 31 Aug 2022 21:26:33 +0000; edited 1 time

I will say the first time I turned on the headlight on my 2021 GTS first thing I saw was shadows all over the place. Hit me without even thinking about it.

I would not say that I see shadows.

What I see are bright and less bright areas close by. There's no need to look ten or even 30 feet ahead of you, since when you ride at 25 mph (40 kmh) it's about 37 feet (11m) per second. That means one has to look much farther ahead when traveling even at such a relatively low speed. The Illumination further out is adequate, as it should be.

Thinking back, I used to ride motorcycles at 100 mph with headlights that had a fraction of the power of today's LEDs, the Vespas included.

The headlight on my 2021 HPE casts shadows as well, it's just horrible to ride at night

Why do you guys say these are casting shadows? Objects that get in the way of the light cast shadows. If the light isn't uniform in the first place, it's just poor lens and reflector design. Complain about that, sure. But shadows?

Yes. Besides, if you look at anything that close by, chances are you going to end up in a rather unfortunate situation. One of the rules of riding PTWs is to always look where you are going, not directly in front of you.

sure, but not a hair worth splitting it's really distracting. But most impotently things that are on the road sorta appear and disappear as they go in and out of the light and dark areas. This is really sucky for spotting and dodging stuff on the road. Remember, if you need high beam then ya probably in the country with crap oin the road.

I don't get how they thought this headlight beam pattern was good enough. Thankfully I don't ride at night as much as I used to because it's definitely less confidence inspiring then the halogen headlight I had in my 2015 GTS.

New to the forum and a first time scooter rider. I just started riding my 2021 Vespa Primavera 150 at night and found the headlamp pattern on the road to consist of alternating bands of light and dark that I find provides such poor coverage I will avoid riding at night. I am so surprised how Piaggio would design such a poor headlamp reflector design on what is otherwise a fabulous machine. I read some of the post on this topic from a few months ago and didn't see any solutions...anybody got one?Thanks

Was looking at building my own headlight with aftermarket parts, just not sure what the max watts the wiring could handle for the stock 2021 GTS 300 HPE

Measure the max watts drawn from the standard headlight while on high beam. Probably best to not go far beyond that

The first mod to my '21 HPE was Aux lights hung from a new front rack bought for the purpose.

I rode for an hour or two on unlit roads last weekend, and I was not worried about the "shadows". I was worried about deer and other critters. I worried that I'm not shining into the eyes of oncoming drivers since the bulbs are all rather bright.

so ... anyone have solved this?

does adjusting the light make this good enough to not be annoying?

or have ya'll all given up and added extra lights or different headlight?


although I generally don't ride at night this has recently frustrated me a few times (most recently dodging roos)

Does anyone know if this issue was addressed in the 2023 GTS?

Can we have a photo of your aux light set up?

The light is different in the 2023. Can see in the pictures that the horizontal 'shelf' that goes straight across the middle now has a dip in the middle. But no idea if it's actually better

my light are pretty good no complaint ,they better than my 2003 Ford ranger

I have one of those too! It says Mazda but it is actually a Ranger with horrible lights....I run aux lights on it to watch for deer, elk and semi-wild horses here. But I may try something for the 'areas of insufficient light' that my 2020 300HPE headlight gives. I do agree that the most important view is that down the road at the extreme of the light beam. I haven't ridden at night enough to know exactly how good/bad it is.

If you are talking about the photo Pegasus Prime posted, he says that is a 2021. If there is a different photo, I don't see it.

I'm talking about comparing photos of looking at the headlights themselves not their patterns on the ground (I haven't seen a 2023 pattern). eg browsing pics on spare parts sites and close ups in reviews of the 2023

I've had the opportunity to ride at night the last few days and observed my headlight beam more closely. I've noticed that there is no longer a 'high beam' and 'low beam' with the LED headlight on my 2020 GTS300. The beam remains at the same level, it is the brightness that changes. And it is a wide beam but narrow vertically. Sorta like this:
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But it is pretty bright, I would just like to have it a little higher (must find adjustment screw) to project further down the road (where we are supposed to be looking )

here's how
https://modernvespa.com/forum/post2578571#2578571

There are two new style headlights for the HPE at SIP, a little pricey at $350 for one, but debating on ordering

Headlight Unit ZELIONI Black Edition LED


https://www.sip-scootershop.com/en/product/headlight-unit-zelioni-black-edition-led_ZELHLGTHPB?q=ZELIONI

or

https://www.sip-scootershop.com/en/product/headlight-unit-zelioni-black-edition-led_ZELHLGTHPC?q=ZELIONI

It is not better. I can't tell if it is different, but it resembles the pattern in the photo above.

Sorry for the delayed response. These lights are from Amazon, less than $30 for the pair. I did an IBA ride recently which means that I drove overnight with no visibility issues.


on the DGR recently.

The straps on the luggage rack were to solve a different problem... a place to secure a fuel bladder.

Do you find it feels weird when turning a corner that the main headlight moves but the extras you added don't?

No, not at all.

did you wire them to the high beam circuit (maybe via a relay)?

do you have a link to the same unit on amazon and/or some close up photos of the lights?

Finally got the updated HPE Headlight in the mail today, took a long while for SIP to have them in stock and about a week to ship from Germany to South Florida, will post an update in a few days to compare pre / post install light action


New Headlight

New Headlight Side

New Headlight Box