Modern Vespa

I am at a crossroads. I love my Vespa to death - it's fun, it's comfortable, it's delightful, it's PLUCKY damnit. The lime green and pink catches the right people's eye in the right way.

BUT.

I do 95% of my riding WOT. My commute is over a mountain highway (okay downhill throttle is only open enough to keep oil flowing) and other than that it's mostly big chunks of I5. I love getting to places and having people go "wait you drove that from WHERE?" but it's also hard on the poor thing. I wear through the 'consumables' fast. Not helped by being a heavier rider. Spending so much time on the interstate I am starting to look at 600-800cc rides longingly.

I don't LIKE it, and it's not like I really have spare money to buy a new ride, and I'd never get RID of my beautiful green wonder so it'd be crowded in my driveway and I'm sure my partner would hate everything about it but...it sure would be nice to pass trucks sometimes.

Anyone else get a similar melancholy - or do you just double dip? What are your coping mechanisms/justifications?

Anyway, here's Wonderwall.

Pick up another bike for I-5 or be content with the slow lane. I ride the 101 everyday on my 300 Super. I used to have a big harley, and it was better for long hauls.

I don't know how it is in your neck of the woods, but over here I would recommend to rent a bike and feel it out.

Based on your description, I could imagine you'd be right at home with e.g. a comfy Kawasaki Versys 650 or something like that. Kawasakis are green, at least...

Well, seriously - riding a 'normal', big wheel bike at speed, on straight roads, feels almost annoyingly easy compared to a small wheel scooter. And boring.

I have a 1200cc bike myself, mild number of horses, but great low-mid end torque. 70 mph means less than 3000 rpm...faster than that and the wind becomes easily annoying in a naked bike like mine. The bike would go much faster🙂.

Then again, all of that 520lbs is extra when manouvering in a city traffic. And, the 1200cc steam mill right between the legs is darn hot too...not a city bike. The 'around 600cc' class makes a lot of sense.

Yeah I don't want anything huge. There's a Honda 650 Hawk and a Suzuki 800 nearby I'm currently keeping an eye on the Craigslist listings of.

https://eugene.craigslist.org/mcy/d/eugene-1988-honda-nt650-hawk-gt/7777942564.html

https://medford.craigslist.org/mcy/d/jacksonville-suzuki-volusia-800-cruiser/7777610881.html

if you are wanting it for commuting then have you considered something like a Zero?

Zeros seem neat, but waaay out of my budget. Move the decimal kinda situation. Plus, while the range would be fine for my commute I do 300 mile tours decently often and don't really want to have to stop and wait half an hour 4 or 5 times.

Re the price: Fair enough.

Re the range: that's what you'd keep the GTS for 🛵💪

Have you considered a bigger, used scooter? Burgman 400, or Yamaha Majesty? Bigger enough to tackle highway speeds easily, not so big as to be cumbersome. That way, you keep your twist and go convenience, plus big storage.

Both the CL bikes are sweet, though.

Good Luck.

The bigger scooters are a question of style, as I kind of can't stand the design of the Burgmans and the other 5 to 6 hundred scoots. The Scarabeo is a possible exception, though I've heard mixed things in terms of performance and reliability.

I was going to mention a Burgman 400 as well, but the OP seemed to be leaning in the 600cc+ camp. Of the 2 scoots you put up, the GT is the sporty machine of the two.. But it wasn't around for long even though it had many great features and they are not exactly easy to get parts for. The Suzuki is the cruisier if that's what you are going for. If you want something more sporty along the lines of the GT, I would suggest a Suzuki SV650. Fantastic machines, probably the best all around bike ever made.

I can understand that as you already have a 300 - not a maxi scoot, of course, but still capable. The Maxi's are all about cruising easy while eating up the miles. You GTS will eat it for breakfast in the city and the curves, but that's a given. I would stay away from Aprilia, I had a couple and they can be absolute hell to get parts for.

What kind of speeds are you getting on the highway. I just got my 300 a few weeks ago and am not attempting the highway till it's done being broken in. I'm trying to imagine what the wind buck must be like with that front flat wall on the Vespa at 80mph. Not to mention the crazy's on the six lane I95 in south Florida.

Trenchleton,

I think your answer is a larger twist and go maxiscooter. Pick one up used cheap with low miles.

Bob Copeland

No issues. Ran like a top. I kinda miss it.

[quote="Bob Copeland"

Still have my 2013 Vespa GTS300 Super - most fun to ride.
Still have my 2013 Vespa GTS300 Super - most fun to ride

[/quote]

Bob I notice your GTS is on its center stand. Just curious, do you use it more than the regular kickstand? Any reason? I find it a pain to get it up on the center stand.

Brian

You should have lived there when it was only three lanes. Fun times.

I had a GTS 250 here for awhile that belonged to a friend that travels a lot. I had fitted a kick stand on it for him a couple years earlier as it was his wife's scoot and she did not like the center stand. The three months I had it here, I used the center stand once when in my garage, and that was for doing maintenance on the machine. Other than that, it was always on the side stand. I liked it a whole lot better. It's good to have both.

Not to preempt Bob's answer, or to cast any shade your way, but the 300 is the easiest centerstand of any of the dozens of bikes I've owned. Practically lifts itself up. Don't use your arms to lift it or jerk it-use the weight of your feet to lever it up. As you step down, it levers up. Your arms only stabilize it as it pivots.
There are videos on how to do it. Once you get the technique, you'll never think about it again. Best of luck.

Actually, I'll throw the Yamaha T Max in there for good measure.

What a missile.

I did! I miss those day!

I top out around 68, usually (GPS). Any kind of incline and that drops a bit. Honestly I find the ride perfectly stable and comfortable, I just lack the power to have any extra headroom for passing. Getting stuck behind a truck is miserable with the buffetting. Plus, my last Portland trip I'd worn through most of my clutch and could only barely get 65, and my fuel economy dropped by 30-40% so I was stopping for gas every 60 miles.

I appreciate the pedigree of the Burgman, I do. I'm just too vain.

I'll second that the kickstand feels a little too upright for my taste, plus the center stand truly is nothing to engage. I just step on it and up it pops. Granted I've got 300 lbs to press with.

Duly noted! I would lean more towards the GT of the two I listed - I like something peppy, and I'm pretty tolerant of freeway conditions as a rider. I want something with a little zip, a little maneuverability, that is happy hanging out at 70mph but has the gusto to surge forward and pass (not to mention climbing hills - my daily commute is over a mountain). I also would like it to be bulletproof and happily abused, with "normal" maintentance. You know, just a *simple* request 🤣

Ooo now that the SV650 has been suggested, I like the look of this one:
https://goldcountry.craigslist.org/mcy/d/nevada-city-2009-suzuki-650-gladius/7769394723.html

Check out a MP3 500 used 2019 ish, great for passing trucks and going up mountains, here in black forest Germany, some nice steep tight twisties, and unlimited speed highways, heavy trucks pass, I dont even move a bit.

I know there's a large portion of the forum I do not wish to immediately alienate but I like the reverse trikes less than I do the big wind-tunnel scoots. I mean, MP3 >>>>> Spyders but still.

Fair comment I only like mine because it is so useful storage speed, and easy for the wife to get on and off, other option check out the Honda, X-ADV 750 I tried one, it is well amazing and damn fast.

Brian33433,

My 2013 GTS300 Super came without a side stand. I had the local Vespa dealer put one on. When not engaged down and weight on it, it snaps back closed due to the recoil spring.

I do use the side stand much of the time. When I park the scoot back home in the garage or over night on an extended ride, I throw it up on the center stand. I do not find my side stand very stable. It can be knocked over easily and is vulnerable to wind.

Here is my routine. I stand beside the Vespa and push it forward off the center stand. I put down the side stand - lean it over on the stand, then mount the scooter. Fire it up - back out or ride forward. Same when I stop, I put the side stand down - lean it on it and step off the scoot. I do not feel comfortable leg stepping over to mount it without the side stand employed.

As mention by the above post, putting the scoot up on the center stand is more of an art than physical. Although I can screw it up and have to repeat the lift. But as stated, stand on the deployed center stand and swing it up.
I do expect this may be intimidating to a lighter person or lady.

Ride on friends,

Bob Copeland

I commute on my GTS most of the time. I also don't take highways because Maryland drivers are bat-doodie insane. If you aren't doing 75 in a 55 you're getting run off the road.

In my convalescence I've been watching the lightly-used trident market.

Much to the wifey's chagrine.

I am pretty enamored of Yamaha's 700cc engine that they put in the Tenere and MT.

I have no direct experience with it but either of those bikes are pretty high on my list of bikes I would like to try.

In Fortnine's review of the Tenere 700 he talks about how it is a really nice engine beginning at 2:35 in the video. A Goldilocks motorcycle engine. I would imagine either the MT-07 or the Tenere 700 would be a pretty nice larger bike to compliment the scooter depending on riding style.

Check out what Ryan says about the engine in the Tenere review. If he is not exaggerating at all about the reliability it would make a great commuter.

Here is another one on why the cross plane twin is as good as it is, and why there is room for improvement yet.

I loved my old Ducati for the balanced (primary and secondary) engine. Almost as smooth as a BMW horizontally opposed engine for the most part and great for riding hard for long periods of time.

SV650 has a good reputation, never ridden one myself.

One thing to note with any naked bike is the wind factor - beyound ~70mph there's a lot of it without a windshield & fairings. For me, it's mostly the wind noise that keeps my speed moderate with a naked bike.

Aftermarket windshields tend to work poorly in naked bikes, typically removing wind pressure from somewhere, but adding turbulence into wrong places....case by case, it's a gamble. I'm yet to win.

Pm sent, Bob..

From sixteen years ago, here's 120 pound, 5'4" Trixie applying that artistic side of center stand operation on her 625 pound Burgman 650. Of course, the effort required varies substantially depending on the machine being lifted, but 'technique' definitely plays a large part in hoisting bikes up onto that stand.
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That seems like a really good price for a very nice bike! Ryan Fortnine sings the praises of the Gladius years as an exceptional value. It is somewhere in one of his best used buy videos where he breaks down all the specs on this bike. Better suspension than the standard SV if memory serves.

It seems like the value is high because the styling on the gladius was too "flamboyant" but A) it's not that different from other naked bikes and B) same.

I messaged to see if they'd take 2500. That might put me into the range where my partner won't murder me when I show up with it.

Hope you have short legs, the gladius is normally a ladies bike, but is a great bike and quite bulletproof.