Modern Vespa

That's a great physics experiment. Weigh a car (or scooter) by measuring contact patch size and tyre pressure.

You'll have a great time I'm sure. Having done a few 10 day tours of the western States on hire bikes covering similar or longer distances, I loved it. Just remember plenty of photos to share on here. No photos? It never happened!

Cdwise,

Sorry about your back pain on the Burgman 400 foot forward riding. When I was a youngman it did not matter. I rode straight up on motorcycles all the time pain free.

I retook up two wheel riding 20 years ago at age 55. I did not have the same back. The Burgman 400, for me, was demonstratively more comfortable than straight up on my Vespa GTS300. I do still ride the Vespa long distances. Another secret, as an old geezer, I take Ibuprofen if I am going to ride all day. It is like a miracle. During the ride and after - no back pain. Off the scoots, I have no problem with back pain except the regular quirks of old age.

Okay, I replaced the Burgman barcalounger with a Kymco 550 barcalounger.

Bob Copeland

Pop the pills and ride the Vespa equates to a comfy ride
Don't die wondering !

Did you do it??

Looks like we haven't heard from him here since June '24 - maybe he went native. Or got eaten by a bear.

Reguardless of when, ride often and far. No guarantees in life. Trust me you will get old before you know it. Best to have lots of really good touring/ riding memories.

Good advise right there!

Yes, all the memories when we were young and stupid enough to make these all too long trips.
I'd not making one anymore even with a bus.
I made with friend a 2 trips to Lapland this and previous winter, about 2400km each, and we were with a car and 2 drivers...and "not anymore not anymore -moods"
So the one making a 2-wheel-trip like Stockholm, Köpenhagen, Hamburg, StMoriz, Milan, Geneva, Paris, Amsterdam, Stockholm and back to Finland.
Oh, all the memories and stupidity. Likes of: No tent, no much money etc.
So, that one is not there anymore, that guy is gone ;-D

I don't know, Ozkuk…Stockholm to Milan via all those places sounds like an epic trip under any lodging or comfort arrangement. You're more fun than you sound.

I've heard of St. Moritz many times but didn't know where it actually was. I thought, south of France. Reality is, Switzerland in the mountains on the Italian border. Wow.

For anyone wondering whether it's a good idea to take a Vespa on a trip instead of a much larger motorcycle, take the Vespa. I routinely ride from where I live to a friends place up in the mountains of northern AZ and back, almost exactly 150 miles one way. And it is almost all mountain roads, with lots of curves and uphill/downhill. I have made that trip on my H-D Sportster 1200 many times, and it will beat you to death. Maybe not a young person, but I am 66 and partially disabled. Having to muscle a top heavy 600 pound bike around all those curves, constantly slowing down and speeding up because of traffic is not fun. The Sportsters vibration, which IS fun on a shorter trip, makes my arms and legs go numb on longer rides. I've almost dropped it a few times when coming to a stop because I could barely feel my legs. I hurt all over for 2-3 days afterwards.

Doing that ride on the Vespa GT200 was so much easier. Far more comfortable, smooth, quiet, half the weight, and it does not feel top heavy like the Sportster. It handles the curves like it was on rails, and it handles the 17% grades (approximately 31 degrees) just fine. And after 300 miles on the Vespa, I don't feel any pain at all.

We took over the alps, not by tunnel or highway, so we were up where was still snow in june, cows watching these young fools when passed by. But 3 nights we were woken up with a rain. Even at night the open fire and some brandy were nice, but when your sleping bag is wetting good and you just have to pack up and go...and in the next evening, think what about my wet bag? so fun, soo fun But, getting down via Chiavenna to Lago di Como and when on strand of it some swimming and after that a big beer, it was nice. At Milan we were next to beautiful Cenral train station, side of it was (now there is bus-stops) small a park and kiosk for fresments, we had a sandwich and red vine, and the back up, ended to Varese, where we found a reasonable priced hotel and: yard parking to our 2 bikes, there we were 3 ? nights. Next plan was to telephone to my mums friend in Geneva, and she admitted ugly filthy 4 guys to her house for 2 days, and thne we were after seeing a Paris and di...drive thru after one beer

Milan has 2 nice buildings: Duomo and this station: https://maps.app.goo.gl/RBNNJpdMLjV9yfq69

We did not have any camera with us on that trip, even being a seasoned driver ( as having my first 2 wheeler fot whole 2 weeks!) But the next rip, when it was raining nearly every day, with my future wife to Paris, with of course now a bigger 650 bike and good clothing and everything! ;-D

If I am not mistaken a 17% grade is not a 31° slope.
17% is 17 per 100 or 0.17. Arctan of 0.17 is 9.65°.
Sorry for interrupting.

It rounds up to 31° over beer.

Gettin' triggy with it

We might also surmise that the 31° reflected the proof of the alcohol being consumed - on the stronger side for wines.

Take the Vespa GTS...enjoy the ride! There will always be challenges and time doesn't wait for no one. You'll never have this day again. What I mainly got from reading the threads was the concern of not having a big enough bike. Screw that. There are people who have traveled the world on older Vespas' 50cc to 300cc"s! If the people you're riding with are jerks and just want to show off their bikes, skip it. Go it at alone because in the end it'll be just you and your amazing Vespa with a smile they'll never have. Cheers and God bless brother.