Modern Vespa

Not looking for reasoned arguments or technical checklists here, just vibes. What's your gut reaction to the question "Is a Vespa a motorcycle?"

Yes, according to California DMV.
Miguel

Mostly but not always.

States exhibit A:

No, it is more than that...

In Australia yes its a motorcycle.

when somebody sees your helmet and asks "what do you ride?" what's your answer?

I tell people I ride a big Vespa scooter.

yes, sub category scooter
I don't know why, but it grates my insides when someone calls it a moped....

Is a tomato a fruit?

I consider it a type of motorcycle. It has an engine and 2 wheels. In some ways it meets the common definition of a motorcycle, in others it doesn't. Is a Honda Super Cub or Trail with a semi step through frame a motorcycle? Some call them underbones. Some call them motor driven cycles. To me it doesn't really matter, what they are is FUN.

As for mopeds, I currently own two mopeds, and have owned over a dozen since 1975. Actual 50cc PEDAL mopeds. Scooters are NOT mopeds. The word moped actually means MOtor and PEDals.

Legally is different to common parlance.

Legally a 50cc Vespa in Victoria is a Moped not a Motorcycle

https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/-/media/files/documents/safety-and-road-rules/vsi-s-october-2021/ptvh5189_stu_02895_vehicle-standards-information-4_v7_web_fa.ashx

Moped.

me i tell them with my french accent i ride a vespa! ,they look at me weird and say what is a vespa then i say is a scooter .in my area central PA they don't know vespa,at work they call my ride a moped .2022 GTS 300 hpe touring .moped???

Definitions differ between countries and, within the US, between states. The OP is from California so I presume (s)he's asking about California laws. Here's California DMV's webpage defining MC, motor-driven cycles, scooters and moped

• Motorcycles: 2 or 3 wheels with engine > 150 cc, requires M1 license.
• Motor-driven cycle: 2 or 3 wheel with engine < 150 cc; requires M1 or M2 license. I have no idea how M1 differs from M2 license.
• Moped, also known as a motorized bicycle has 2-3 wheels and an electric motor with an automatic transmission that produces less than 4 gross brake horsepower
• Scooter: stand on while riding it. No registration or license required.
  

So depending on the engine size, a Vespa is either a Motorcycle or Motor driven cycle.
Miguel

that's a new term to me

I bet 9 out of 10 riders could tell you what it is either. California's definitions are so confusing. I still don't know what an M2 license is. Most have an M1 (motorcycle) license
Miguel

I've always wondered what a "motorcycle" would be in CA if it was 150cc on the nose...

so many people who write such things clearly failed Math class. Sad

:narrows eyes:
Are you a Mod...or a Rocker?

It is a step through frame motorcycles. There are other categories of motorcycle fro Amex including, standard, cruiser, dual sport.

For a complete list of types see: https://www.motorcyclelegalfoundation.com/types-of-motorcycles/

Every powered two wheeler over what're the jurisdiction defines as a moped is a motorcycle. In most places that is anything above a 49.9cc engine with or without as a moped.

Ah but does it go in fruit salad?

It's a motorcycle in Ohio too. But I would always call it my scooter. No step-thru bike is a motorcycle imo

Except, as the DMV page says, motorcycles with 3 wheels or a sidecar only requires a Class C driver license. This is the weird exception that allows MP3s to be driven without a motorcycle license, which exists in several places around the world.

https://www.vitacci.com/motorscooter/falcon-250cc/

The bigger question. Is this a motorcycle or a scooter.

Erm, potentially.

As for your original question, my first response is no, but then I'll have to admit that generically, legally, it is indeed. But that's not my gut response.

Well it's not a moped

I need a motorcycle endorsement on my drivers license to ride mine in N.J.

Seems simple to me.

All the 125-650 cc step through/step over scooters I've owned in Texas (including 2 Vespa GTs and 2 Indian Shifties) have been titled as MC, or motorcycles. My MP3 was titled as a motorcycle, as well.

Personally, I call them all bikes amongst other riders, and scooters when I'm with my non-riding friends.

Regardless, they go, stop, steer and countersteer, lean, sound, and feel like any other motorcycle. They just do it with a lot more style.

The Scootster. Motorcycle or scooter? Miguel

My MP3, in California, is registered as a motorcycle, it says motorcycle on the VIN plate, and it rides like a motorcycle.

I have tried calling it a scooter, but everyone corrects me, saying "It's a motorcycle."

So I guess it's a motorcycle.

Both.

Maybe a scooter can be a motorcycle, but a motorcycle can't be a scooter?

Depending on the conversation, I'll frequently reply that yeah, it's basically a kind of motorcycle with a funny-shaped frame. A lot of details are different between the two of course. But as far as the rules of the road, most licensing laws (for the 150cc+ ones, anyway), and how you need to handle one as a rider... most of the main stuff is functionally the same.

Of course, I still think scooters are better than other motorcycles, but I'm not biased. Not at all. Nope.

This is how it is

Around here many with large(ish) motorcycles call them 'mopeds'

I can't even pinpoint when this started, but it is kind of a counterreaction to bragging with big bikes. Also emphasizing that riding a bike, any bike is the common thing.

I'm not personally well accustomed to use this term, mayby I'm just a bit too old generation....but can immediately think of four friends who ride a 'moped' (Yamaha Tracer, Kawasaki Ninja, Triumph Speed Triple, BMW GS) and two colleagues who rides a 'moped' too (Vespa GTS 250 and BMW GS).

Officially Vespa is a motorcycle over here.

Sometimes my answer is "a Vespa".

Sometimes my answer is "Mongo".

I really don't know how I feel about this. part of me says kill it with fire. the other part of me admires the vision and craftsmanship and wonders how it rides.

both parts of me think that it looks like a modern Harley topper that they totally screwed up trying to modernize it.

at any rate, it need a sparkly unicorn sticker for sure.

Surely the MP3 is a tricycle.

I just comprehend it when people call my beautiful GTS 300 a moped….really?