Modern Vespa

Silly Question. I enjoy the way my body feels on a GTS. I often feel like I am just sitting at a table but flyin down the road with absolute comfort. The handful of times I have ridden motorcyles (and it's been 20+ years since) I feel cramped and hunched over.......So I never contemplated it. Lately I have been fantasizing about a Moto Guzzi or a Triumph, but fear my body is just too used to the VESPA......I like the nimbleness and the way my body is positioned. I wouldn't ever get rid of the VESPA, but just add to my collection.

Might be worth test riding a Moto Guzzi V7. Comfortable riding position and not scary fast.

The Moto Guzzi V7 III, and Vespa GTS are close.

On the V7, you'll lean forward to reach the handlebars more, but the seat height and foot position are nearly identical. The Vespa is about a hundred pounds lighter, several inches shorter, and more agile. At idle, the vibe is about the same, but the Vespa gets smooth while the Guzzi stays a bit rough.

I owned a Moto Guzzi V7 III Special for about three seasons.

It was, in my opinion, an excellent all-round motorcycle with a neutral 'standard' riding position, 'good enough' performance for 95% of my riding needs, and I thought it was a classy Italian motorcycle with a solid and interesting history.

It's engine had just enough 'thump' to remind you that you were astride a motorcycle and not an appliance, and was coupled to an excellent 6-speed transmission that was a pleasure to use.

The Guzzi V7 engine is dirt simple to maintain with only two valves per cylinder, and relatively easy access without having to take half the motorcycle apart to get to them, and they are screw adjustable, so no shims to mess with.

You could do a whole lot worse than getting a V7 for a casual, fun, economical bike to compliment your scooter.

It doesn't hurt that some of them look great too.

The V7 III I owned....and miss...

Like many other MV members, I have owned and ridden quite a few motorcycles as well as quite a few scooters. Each has had its own unique characteristics. And all the motorcycles have had 2 characteristics which were different than all the scooters - you throw your leg over the motorcycle when getting on and off, and all my scooters have been CVTs. My motorcycles have all had fairly comfortable riding positions - I selecting them as meeting my needs after all (no sport bikes, for example). Interesting enough, the only exception to this generalisation is the Ural sidecar bike I owned for a number of years. It was also certainly comfortable for me as the rider/driver, but it was a completely different riding experience than any PTW I have ever owned. I would encourage you to consider a motorcycle, not for its similarity to a Vespa but for the different riding experiences it offers. But yes, carefully select one that is a good ergonomic fit for you.

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A mid-control Sportster has good ergonomics. Forward control Harleys put too much pressure on my spine, but the mid control Sportster is easy to mount and flat foot at lights, has upright seating, a low center of gravity and, with normal wheels and tires, is nimble. Within the Harley tribe, though, it's often dismissed as a "girl's" or starter Harley.

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Is Kevin Cameron still writing? I haven't seen him on the web lately. Amazing guy.

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I've owned two Sportsters, a 2004 Roadster and a 2015, both 1200's, and both mid foot controls (and both retained the stock mufflers as well).

I enjoyed both of them quite a bit, and both were dead reliable and being Sportsters, they were motorcycles with a capital 'M'.

Both were the rubber-mount engine models (2004 being the first year for that immense improvement in rideability) and were the first Sportsters that I could ride down a highway on at 70-75 mph on and not be shaken to death by excessive engine vibration.

There are few machines out there that are less 'maintenance intensive' as the Harley Sportsters with their belt final drive and virtually maintenance-free hydraulic valve system.

Sportsters aren't especially known for their long range, but that is primarily due to the rather low fuel capacity of most of them, and not due to poor fuel economy, because even the 1200 Sportster will usually return at least 50 mpg if not overly hot-rodded.

Any misgivings I might have about the Sportster being suitable for someone used to a Vespa/scooter would be just the sheer heft of them, which is probably in the 580 lb range, and they universally ride like lumber trucks due to the stiff, stupid-short-travel rear suspension Harley inflicts on this bike. I replaced the stock spine crushing oem rear shocks on my 2015 with aftermarket units that leveled the bike and gave it another 1-1/12 inches of travel back there...but even though the ride was improved, it was still nowhere near plush.

The 'girl's bike' nonsense concerning this model HD originated with the riders of the larger displacement HD twins who encouraged their wives and/or girlfriends who wanted to ride their own machines to buy Sportsters due to their relatively smaller physical size and initial cost.

Contrary to the 'girl's bike' BS, the Sportster was, for much of HD's history (since the mid-late 1950's) THE performance street machine of their lineup...and for many years it was lighter, faster, and quicker, than anything else in their line.

The 2015 1200 Sportster that I owned...and liked very much...

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The problem I had riding a scooter long distance was the bolt upright seating bothered my back. I helped it by wearing a kidney belt (back support belt to non motorcyclists). I don't need it on a bike. A scooter is fun around town but I miss shifting. The bikes make a run to the Milk store a trip.

Any JSM, touring or dual sport/adv touring bike will have a good seating position. The dirt inspired seats on some of the dual sports are often too narrow though. Bikes like the Guzzi and Harley have a much higher center of gravity than a scooter, that you will notice at low speed or duckwalking the bike backwards out of a parking space. One of the 300-400cc classic style bikes should be fairly close, but with much better performance than you might be used to.
Form follows function. What do you want to do with a motorycycle that you aren't doing with the Vespa? If you want to live on the bike for a few months, you're going to want a different seat, which will still be as or more comfortable than a vespa, than if you want to carve canyons.

I had a V-Strom that had a very comfortable, up right and natural riding position, fairly similar to my gts. Much more top heavy but the weight disappeared immediately once you got it moving forward.

It's hard to beat a Vespa for the qualities you described.

I spent quite some time hunting myself a motorcycle a few years back.

I'd say two important factors are how tall are you and how much weight you'll tolerate from the bike when moving it around at standstill. Oh, and the thickness of your wallet is one too.

If you're tall, so called 'Adventure' (ADV) bikes would probably provide the best comfort. Most have fairly neutral riding position = not crouched forward nor 'feet up' like in cruisers. Tall enough to have room between the seat footpegs for a neutral knee angle.

If you're on the short side, the seat hight of ADV bikes is not practical.

If you are tall and willing/cabable of handling lots of weight too, and paying ridiculous amounts of money, boxer BMW GS bikes are about the most comfortable bikes that exists. If you're on the short side, it is good to know that the 'lower seat' options are mostly rubbish in all ADV bikes, BMW included - they make the seat-to-pegs distance too cramped.

A bit lower, a bit lighter and a bit less costly, but also a bit less comfortable would be e.g. a F900XR BMW. Oh, and it does feel (and is) quite 'top heavy' compared to a Vespa.

Yet downwards and you'll meet Honda CB500X. Does not excell in anything, but is good in everything.

Classic looks - well, I have a Triumph Bonneville, so you'll know what I'd say To be hones: the knee angle is at the best for shortish/medium size folks. Also, it does weight quite a bit. Riding position is a tad forward leaning....all in all very similar to Motoguzzi V7, although they do feel and handle a bit differently. I'd say the Triumph is more 'refined', some say they have less character

I've posted on this thread with remarks about several specific motorcycles, but in an honest response directly to the OP's original question, I can't think of any motorcycle that could 'feel' like a Vespa GTS300 (what I own and am familiar with).

Aside from them sharing the general motion dynamics that all single-track motorized two-wheeled vehicles do, the relatively small-wheeled, short wheelbase, very low center of gravity of a Vespa type of scooter is just SO different from almost all the motorcycles that I have experience with, that they both have seemingly sprung from a separate branch on their evolutionary tree. The 'same', yet very, very, different.

And to that....

Vive la difference!

In answer to your question: Nothing is going to feel like a scooter ("sitting at a table") except another scooter. The bikes mentioned - the V7 and the Bonnie have what is called the Standard seating position, with your knees up higher, than a scooter, thighs grabbing the tank, feet in front below the knees. The ADVs have more emphasis on keeping the hips inline above your feet so it is easier to get up on the pegs. Just a few more thoughts on Sportsters - The main difference on the ride between the pre 2004 non-rubber mounted engines and the later models happens at idle and above 65 mph. Other than that, much the same. Right now, there are a lot of them for sale, so the prices are down.

This ^^^

Not entirely in the "feel" category but perhaps still pertinent, my Guzzi is amazing on open roads where you can set your own pace, but not as much fun when people are in front of you. For example in 3rd gear, it really likes to go about 42 mph so when you get to about 46 mph, you want to shift, but when you get it into 4th, it wants go go at least 50 so you downshift back to 3rd but the guy in front of you still wants to go 46 and it again feels over-revved so you want to upshift, but when you do it starts lugging again...scooters don't have that problem.

My PX does.

play games with a virtual model of yourself, seating position, knee angle, forward lean, etc.

http://cycle-ergo.com/

it's very useful. they do have the gts, so you can compare them. you can have multiple tabs and scroll between them to see the difference.

An excellent answer. What is the same but different? A manual shift Vespa scooter.

cycle-ergo has a PX too.

afterthought - the reason I mentioned those BMWs is that with the limitations given, they give both neutral riding position AND surprisingly nimble behaviour once on the move. Not quite like a small wheel Vespa, but they do feel easy to ride in tight spots too.

Bonneville and V7, although beautifull and nice bikes, do lack the feel of 'nimbleness' as such. They are more....well, stable

If a Bonneville and V7 are judged in comparison only to a GTS300 (or similarly sized machine) yes, they will feel less nimble in their handling, but this impression is dependent on the point of reference.

My V7, for one example, felt like a skateboard when compared to some of the other bikes I owned with it, as did my Triumph Truxton, which was 'light' (460 wet?) and had a relatively short wheelbase. Go ride an Indian 111 or a Goldwing for a while and nearly everything else feels 'nimble'.

I must admit, however, that my GTS300 is definitely THE quickest handling, most maneuverable bike that I've ever owned, and almost any comparison to a motorcycle of any size in that regard is a tough call.

Fully agree with this.

Wow, great stuff. Simply a whole lot of riding experience input from everyone. I have preciously indicated that I like the foot forward comfortable riding position of my Kymco AD550 for longer rides. I like my Vespa for zipping around town. At my age, 74, the upright position on the Vespa wrecks my back if on a extended ride. I no longer want to throw my leg over anything. So motorcycles are a fond memory - but no more.

I also found it insightful that moving the bike around in the garage was brought up. Heavy bikes - no more of this for this old fart.

I leave all the painful stuff to you young bullet proof youngsters. I was there once. Rode all day sitting straight up on a motorcycle without a windshield. Yahoo, lets go again.

Bob Copeland
Less than half the man I use to be - but still on two wheels.