Modern Vespa

Hi Everyone

I'm age 80 and have owned several Vespa's, the first a new 1958 Allstate Crusaire at age 16. In 2019, I bought a new Ural 2WD Gear-Up, which I love, but I don't like the troublesome maintenance. I am planning on buying a new Vespa GT300 in the spring, and will mount a sidecar for my dog. Any comments suggestion will be appreciated.

What sidecar are you considering? I have owned 2 sidecar scooters and a Ural in the past. The challenge with a GTS sidecar rig is that no one really provides a "plug and play" setup. Brackets for fitting an existing factory sidecar to a GTS are somewhat custom and most don't readily accomodate the necessary provisions for adjustment of tracking/toe-in and fitting of a steering damper. Birdsnest and Richard Lemmon of this site both made real progress in fitting a hydraulic steering damper to a GT/GTS.

Thanks much for that helpful information. Would a different model Vespa work better? I may be better off with a Honda scooter, or maybe a Burgman, but dislike that thought. I ride about 3000 miles yearly, down from an average of 15,000 average a few short years ago.

It is easier to fit a sidecar to one of the P/PX Vespas or a Stella but you now have significantly less power and a smaller sidecar (usually a Cozy or an Inder). It depends on the capabilities you wish to have in a sidecar rig. Companies such as Texas Sidecars have fit sidecars to larger scooters - Hondas, Yamahas, and Suzuki Burgmans. My own experience with the Ural was actually fairly positive. It is a good design for a sidecar rig with good provisions for adjustment and the like. I finally moved on from mine as the rig is quite heavy and you spend a lot of time muscling it around corners with your arms and shoulders.

Spot on, Captain, the Ural is a little tiring to ride, plus, the maintenance seems tiresome too. I like the simplicity of scooter maintenance, plus, I don't need 750cc at this time of life. I do love my Ural, and have had zero issues with it, other than a faulty fuel light.

In reality, I'm wanting a second childhood, back to my 1958 Allstate Crusaire, the scooter my deceased wife an I had such a good time with. I may settle for the Honda. I fully appreciate your kind advice. You are a gentleman.

Sidenote: I have no idea on which sidecar brand to buy, probably a Cozy.

Texas Sidecar Company has made many sidecars for Vespa with mounts of various types. I'd suggest talking to them. I've never seen a sidecar on a Honda scooter for a passenger (including dog) though I did see one on a Suzuki 650. It was a unique build that carried a mobility scooter not a traditional sidecar.

Thanks, Cdwise,

I do plan on talking with Texas Sidecar, and have spoken to them before. For sure, excellent advice, and thanks!

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