Modern Vespa

There is talk of a "new engine" with 310cc and rumors of variable valve timing. Whatever that actually means.

Piaggio recently patented a variable valve timing design. This happened soon after Yamaha patented one with two moving parts. Piaggio took a look at it, and figured out a way to add more moving parts, make it more complicated, and achieve the same thing. Helping Piaggio figure out how to make it work will likely be even more fun for beta testers, aka buyers, than the HPE or ESS were when they first came out.

After working on Piaggio for a few years I completely understand, Italians were no good a wiring or making thing easy mechanically. They will rely on the common man to work out a fix.

It may not be an option for AUS.

There are scooters that have both a CVT belt and a drive belt. The drive belt does last about as well as one on a Harley.
As far as the lifespan of Vespa GTS belts, you need to keep in mind that the transmission in the GTS is, for all intents and purposes, the same one that was in the first Leader ET4 125 back in the turn of the century. So the clutch diameter is 134mm, and on a Kymco 300, for instance, it's 153mm. The variator is also larger, and the belt is longer and usually wider on other makes of scooters with similar displacement. Most people don't realize that the variator on the ET4 125, GT 200 and GTS 300 is the same part. The yellow, green and black slide pieces are interchangeable. You could even put one of each color in and they would work fine, but confuse the heck out of whoever worked on the bike next. The HPE has some strengthening to it, but it's basically the same part. So it takes a beating when you stick it in a 300cc engine. The transmission components from other manufacturers are designed for a 300cc liquid cooled scooter, with more range, and longevity.
The Yamaha Vino 125 had a belt change interval of 12000 miles, and looked almost new when you went to change it. The Honda Forza 300 has a belt change interval of 16,000 miles. Because the transmission components were made for the engine that is driving them.

yet another video on 2025 GTS300 Super again mentioning 278CC. Not sure they are real but they look legit all on Youtube

My gag reflexes are tingling.

Legit? Can't see how the transmission connects to the rear wheel, and the wheel spokes are the old style.

La nuova Vespa 310 sarà presentata ad ottobre. Mentre all'Eicma di novembre, con buona probabilità ma non ancora sicuro al 100%, verrà presentato il nuovo Beverly 310. Il Beverly 310 avrà circa 34 cv effettivi mentre la Vespa sarà depotenziata a circa 28/30 cv al massimo per migliorare la guidabilita che a potenza piena rischia di renderla piuttosto nervosa e pericolosa. 😎

The new Vespa 310 will be unveiled in October. The new Beverly 310 will most likely, but not yet with 100 percent certainty, be unveiled at Eicma in November. The Beverly 310 will have about 34 actual hp, while the Vespa will be downsized to a maximum of 28/30 hp to improve rideability, which can make it quite nervous and dangerous at full power. 😎

Translated by Deepl.com


I think that's strange: The Beverley, which is currently only available with the 400cc engine, has 26kw (35.35hp), so a 310 Beverly would come very close to the Beverley 400... I'm not aware of a new engine (unless the 400 Beverly would be dropped, because it would also have to be adapted to Euro 5+). It will also be interesting to see what power the MP3 310 will have.

First of all, currently the Beverly exists in both 300 and 400 cc versions.

Yes and no… In some markets (including Germany and the USA), only the 400 Beverley is currently available.

I think I might buy a Triumph Speed 400 next spring and get 39.5 hp from it's single, and for what? $3500-$4000 less than a new Vespa 278/310, keeping my 'old' 300 HPE, of course.

Interesting, and thanks for the reply. How about the clutch and belt for the BV400 or MP3 500? Could they fit the GTS?

For the moment these are the latest news, these days I hope to give you more news. 👋

Chrome switchgear?

34 hp

Every day it gets more powerful. It must be going to the gym a lot.

Approx 10% more cc giving 50% more power.

Maybe it has a turbo?

If a new model GTS is €500 more than the outgoing model then Vespa in the uk will struggle. There is currently €850 discount on new 300GTS's to move stock. A list of £7000 uk would put the " new" GTS in the field of lots of 450/600 cc bikes. Tough competition. Scooter wise it would be up against the £7200 Suzuki Burgmann with it improved weather protection higher performance and pillion comfort.

But then again …………………..its not a Vespa is it?

Well, with a new engine able to deliver 10 hp more than the current model, I think that 4-500 euros of the increase there are all!! 😉

was just musing over morning coffee and wondered if 34hp would be legal for a learners permit here in Victoria, AUS.