Modern Vespa

I'm really disappointed in the colors of this new GTS. I've been officially in the market for one since about May 2022. There were a few colors in the 22 lineup I liked but couldn't find any in stock locally. I thought about buying long distance but after adding shipping cost was looking at another grand to get color of choice.

So figured may as well wait to see what the 23's look like. When they posted the new colors I was a bit surprised at the options, as they got rid of a lot of nice ones. But I really liked the Blue Super Tech and felt like the Beige was a classy color I could probably love in person.

And now that the pre-orders are up, I see the only two colors I really liked are the two colors they removed!! I really don't know what they are thinking. If you don't want a black/grey/silver, you're left with the Super orange or gold which, in my opinion, look a little busy and I dunno, like they're just trying too hard to get attention.

So if you want a '23, you have very few options to get a nice "classic" Vespa color, if you don't want white, red, or black. (I love the Verde Amabile but don't think it suits me. Would be prefect for my wife but I bought her a verde Pic Nic so already got that color!)

I just don't get why they limit the US markets options so much. I've seen many Vespa colors in other countries I would love to buy that are not offered here. Now not sure what to do. My local dealer has a new '22 Touring and though I was hoping to get an actual color and not grey, do like the brown saddle and the classic style to it with the rear rack and windshield. But no discount is being offered so hard to justify paying full price for last years model that wasn't even my first, second, or third choice!

Anyone else in the market for a 2023 GTS as disappointed as I am?

I'm in the same boat as you, funny enough. Loved last year's orange, yellow, gloss gray Super Tech, 60's racing, etc, but none were available locally.

The beige GTS and blue SuperTech for 2023 are about the only color combos that I really liked, but they both have disapeared from the US site.

Vespa seems like they're going all-in on flat paint and black trim. Already a fad that had jumped the shark a few years ago on cars and motorcycles IMO. Just not my cup of tea...at least for a Vespa. I keep thinking, "well, I could get the orange one and put the chrome pieces on it." But, that'd end up being a ton of money to just get to something I'd be "ok" with :-/

Another option is to take the white SuperSport, take off the cheesy orange stripes and fake carbon fiber tie, and make it into a 60's racing. Just a lot of money on top of an already crazy-priced 2023 to justify!

I hope Vespa isn't going to start following the lead of manufacturers like Honda by sticking the USA with its blander colors.

I don't even have a sense of what Vespa colors are popular, because for the last 3 years it seems people have been buying whatever's in stock.

I'm really surprised they limit the colors by market. Since they're all handmade* and shipped anyway, seems like it would be trivial to let you special order any color you want.

this country is the 2nd biggest land mass in the world.

I once had a discussion with a Vespa mechanic who said Vespa was difficult to deal with and only pay a fraction of the time required to do a repair. This would mean a dealership would have to take a hit on warranty issues.

If true it might explain why no dealerships want to touch a Vespa.

No one is able to pre order online today as the USA Vespa Store checkout goes to a 502 error.

Seems we're of the same mindset, down to the specific colors! If they had offered the Matt blue SuperTech, it would have been a guarantee pre-order today. And if they offered the beige, pretty high chance I would have pre-ordered that one! Instead, I actually started to look at non-Vespa options. I figured if I'm not going to be "Love" the scooter I buy, I may as well save some money - because at that price point, it's too much to spend to just be "ok" with your choice. And I agree, to buy a new one just to modify it to look like last years models is not a great option either.

I guess you could go with the white Super (non Sport) if you like white. I may try to consider that or the red. They aren't unattractive colors, but just a little too common compared with some of the colors I've liked such as the Blue Energico, the Arancio Impulsivo, the British racing green of the touring a few years ago, or even the cement grey from the 2020 SuperTech..among others. First world problems to be sure, but still a little bummed not being able to find "the one" for something I've been looking forward to for a while.

Looks like there are 117 dealers left in the US, with 7 in Northern California, 7 in Southern California, and similar concentrations in NY/PA, the Great Lakes, and FL. Not surprising that distribution favors urban areas and good weather.

One more fun industry fact from Canada that may or may not apply down there, and may or may not reflect North America's status in Piaggio's eyes:

Back in 2008 (yup, that year), there were 70+ authorized Vespa dealers in Canada.
Today there are only about 20 authorized Vespa dealers in Canada.

Less than 1/3rd of where we were at pre-recession. Several of those dealers are within about 200 km of each other, which is pretty clustered considering this country is the 2nd biggest land mass in the world.

Has the US seen a growth in Vespa dealers since 2008, or are your number of dealers also shrinking, while the number of dealers in other countries may be growing?

... or maybe sales volumes has nothing to do with it, and across all market Vespa is just offering this year's models in colors no one likes. I dunno. Just sharing info

Knocked their socks off yesterday though, picked up a low mile 2015 Sprint in a vibrant blue metallic

FYI it's illegal to say you bought a Vespa and now show us a picture. You should do that before the feds get on you. Also, congrats!

That's a real nice color blue... unfortunately, not one blue color is offered for the New GTS...what a shame... I just pre-ordered a BV400, I'll get my Blue GTS used when one comes up. I don't know who Vespa was marketing their new GTS for, but it wasn't me..

Did you try new BV400 yet? I did and it is horribel, especially for tall people.

I'm guessing it may have been too small for you? I am a vertically challenged Italian guy and fit on it fairly well @ 5'6" ish
Besides not fitting on it well, what else did you find horrible?

--> Are these the same as the US or different options?

I'm in exactly the same boat... total disappoitment over colors. Boo hoo. Poor me.

Question: is white reasonably visible to other motorists? I really was hoping they'd carry over yellow or orange, but alas, it's every shade of boring imaginable.

there will also be a heated comfort seat and heated grips, each with adjustable heating temperatures. In order to be able to use the heated grips and/or the heated comfort seat, an additional control unit + installation kit must be used, and the vehicle must also be equipped with Vespa MIA (standard on SuperSport and SuperTech, optional at an additional cost on Classic and Super = 607687M for 129 € + 1D004440 price still unknown). Based on the requirements mentioned, it can be assumed that pre-facelift models CANNOT be equipped with it.

Unfortunately there are no photos or prices for the comfort seat, the heated grips, the control unit and the installation kit.

Of course I'm wondering cause i want to know if my app will work 😉

you can clearly see Nissin on the front caliper in the pics

That's a real nice color blue... unfortunately, not one blue color is offered for the New GTS...what a shame... I just pre-ordered a BV400, I'll get my Blue GTS used when one comes up. I don't know who Vespa was marketing their new GTS for, but it wasn't me..

They offer the map blue on the super tech

It doesn't look like they do in the US, though....

Question: does anyone know when Vespa releases their new helmets…want one that matches the new Matt blue of the Supertech I just ordered.

I'm not a fan on Vespa helmets. Read why: https://modernvespa.com/forum/post2570191?highlight=#2570191

Thank you sooooo much for this article!