Modern Vespa

I hope I have immunity to being flamed because I did do a search and couldn't find that much on this particular model....

I'm 20, a student, a guy... have this old Jeep Grand Cherokee that I just put 3 gallons of gas in... and can expect to go 45 miles with those three gallons. Atrocious... I can't afford to drive anywhere!

I've never had a scooter before, and am going crazy with all the different brands... Kymco, SYM, Genuine Scooter Co... But I keep looking at Vespas.. and they're -the- brand everyone talked about when I was in high school.

I couldn't begin to afford the LX50, so I did a Craigslist search and found two scooters that don't look too bad. Specs on the 2003 ET2: 3000 miles, Alabaster (apparently a collectors' edition color), two matching helmets, top box.. and something about high efficiency exhaust. Price for that one is $2800.

The other... 2002, 2000 miles, says it can go 45 mph, recently replaced the battery and spark plug.. some sort of metallic blue or some such. Price on that one is $2600

Are these good prices for these scooters? Can anyone give me some general information on the ET2 in general? I like them both because they both have the ability to carry two people since the seat's large enough... they both come with top boxes, which would be extra if I were buying something new...

Any help would be so appreciated I wouldn't know what to do!

p.s: What's with vintage designs being labeled as feminine on all the reviews I've checked out? Apparently all the ones I don't like are masculine: the Zuma... etc... and the ones I love are all "marketed towards female riders".. Which I consider to be a bit idiotic. I think it comes down to taste and personal preference. It's like saying that a person who prefers a Mustang from the late 60s is more feminine than a person who prefers the mid-to-late-90s Mustang model. Rant:End.

p.p.s: Were the ETs related to the current model LX's? I suppose what I mean is did the LX50 replace the ET2 or sommat.

Considering the price of Gas, and the cost of new scooters, the ET's have been selling a little above the market value. I am selling my 2001 ET4 for $3,000. https://modernvespa.com/forum/topic28703

Sorry, have to post about it every chance I get.

The LX is the replacement for the ET series.

I also have an ET2, it has been alot of fun around town.

LOL. I just think the modern designs aren't as gorgeous as vintage designs are... I admit I'm a bit prejudiced, as my primary writing tool for my classes is a Hermes 3000 portable typewriter, mint-green.


That's a beautiful ET4. I'm liking the color too.

So those prices, they're slightly higher than a scooter with 2-3k miles would be, had the gas prices not gone up? Should I consider them good buys, maybe negotiate down a bit, or are the prices such that asking for lower would be insulting?

Hello! Have you seen pics of the vehicles? The Alabaster IS a special color, but I feel it's more important to get a color you are happy with personally. Plus it costs more

The top case IS a nice feature, I don't have one because I can't find one anymore to match my color, so I envy that situation. My ET2 has been super reliable, and a solid ride. I frequently carry myself and my girlfriend on it. A lot of people have mentioned 45 mph ranges for theirs... I myself am a pretty small guy and mine doesn't exceed 40. But I think that varies from specific bike to specific bike.

The ET2 is the 50 cc predecessor to the LX50. The LX50 is a very different bike, however, and I would personally recommend the ET2 over it. The reason for this is that the ET2 has a 2 stroke engine, and the LX 50 has a 4 stroke engine. The LX50 has a 4-stroke because of better emissions, but that engine type lacks the inherent "pep" of a 2-stroke. I think you will find that even if you don't go over 40 with your ET2, it will carry you around in a generally spritely manner (except up monster hills). The LX50, on the other hand, will be more sluggish in its takeoff, and may not have as high a top speed. Of course, if you drive one without having the other to compare it with...

I would say those prices are fair if the vehicles are in excellent shape. This is mainly because of what has been noted already: Vespa resale values are particularly high at the moment. I'd try to get the metalic blue for 2500 or the alabaster for 2700 for the sake of being fair to your wallet, but your basic descriptions don't make their asking prices sound too unreasonable for the times.

Any more questions about an ET2, feel free to ask. I love mine!

2003 Alabaster ET2 3000 miles $2800
Since I don't understand the whole craigslist posting, here's some of it:

"2003 ET2 Vespa
3000 total mileage
Color: Alabaster (collector's edition color, no longer in make)
50 cc engine (this engine has enough horsepower to easily carry two people while at the same time not requiring a special motorcycle license.)
Paid $4,000 brand new. Since then, I purchased a top box for extra storage, two matching helmets, a high-efficiency exhaust system (for cleaner air and increases speed up to 5-8 miles an hour using less fuel) and a black frame for a duo-tone look (over $2,000 total)."



2002 Blue.. ET2 2000 miles $2600

Something fishy with the "Alabaster" one.... Looks like they just took a black ET and added all the Alabaster panels. Nothing special about that one.

Well, again I would go with your personal taste to a large extent. FYI, the Alabaster is NOT a "stock" alabaster as he says. An off the factory line Alabaster would be one tone without the black.

They both look nice from the pics though! Maybe the two tone works for you, even if it is a custom design?

Personally I would go with the metalic blue for the lower miles and lower price.

I would definitely hesitate to pay extra for the alabaster since it isn't an "alabaster." If you LIKE the two tone job 200 dollars more... it does cost far more than 200 to have a paint job done... but as has been pointed out, it probably isn't an alabaster at all, which has had black paint "detailing" but rather a black with alabaster panels. This bike probably holds no "rare alabaster" value.

Ahhh; I had no idea such a thing could even be done. Thanks for the heads up on that.

I do like the two-tone, but should I be wary of a seller slightly misrepresenting it? Is it a bit misrepresented?

Neither are great prices but as people have said, a good used scooter is getting hard to find. The going rate has been between 1800 and 2500 for the ET2. More on the lower side of that range. The ET2 is a great scooter. Several nice performance upgrade possibilities. But there are a few things to consider. 1) Many ET2s don't have the moped plate in MN due to that they didn't provide restriction to fit the regulations in MN. So there aren't many benefits of a 50cc with a motorcycle plate for the average person. 2) It's not all that fast in stock form, even for a 50cc two stroke. The LX50 is a 50cc four stroke that is very slow. Avoid it. Stop into Scooterville over near the West Bank by Wiskey Junction and the Cabooze. They have some stuff still in stock for 50cc two stroke but not much. They also have some Genuine Rattler 110s at good prices and those are fun too. And keep looking on craigslist. There are a few decent deals on there, but they are getting harder to find. Also, if the moped plate parking benefit isn't too much of a concern consider getting your motorcycle endorsement. It's easy.

The first as correctly stated above is black with alabaster panels. Avoid. The blue is the nicer machine and a great colour. Called Cobalt I believe.

Whoa. $2600? $2800? Really? I must've gotten just barely ahead of the curve when I got my ET2. I can't believe how prices have gone up in 2 months. I got a steal for my $1100.

To be honest though, the ET2 is a much better scoot than the LX50. The older 2 stroke 50cc scooters are just faster. Same goes for the Zuma and Vino, the older 2 stroke ones are faster. If you're going to get a 50cc, get a 2 stroke one. They are generally about 10mph faster than a 4 stroke 50cc. The only downside is the 2 stroke gets generally about 20 MPG less. In real terms, it means you go to the gas station once a week and fill her up with $6 once a week. The 2002 is probably the cobalt blue I have, what a beautiful color.

Ahhh, thanks BGK. I'll be sure and check Scooterville out. I've heard good things about the Buddy 50.

I suppose what I'm looking for can be summed down to:

Something 50cc that I don't need a motorcycle endorsement for, (although I hear it's not that hard to get)

something that has room for two should I feel inclined to carry a passenger once in a blue moon (I don't like being limited to a single seat... I like to "what if") (I see some models have beautiful pegs for the passenger - I rode on a Zuma last week and found the seating position kinda bowlegged because the passenger footrests were tight to the body - so pegs would be a nice option.

And lastly.. I love a good classic look. However I'll take what I can get as long as it has the above. And I'd really like whatever I get to be able to reach 40. I only weigh 140 so... I'm sure that's a factor.

I must admit, those big beautiful pics really show off that Cobalt. I hadn't liked the color in the seller's small pics.. but I was sure in person it would look nicer.

I weigh 135. I go 40-45 regularly.

It is probably worth looking around at the other 50 cc scooters out there to see what really suits you. We'd love to welcome another Vespa member, however!

If you do got for the cobalt ET2, I'd offer 2400. To me that is a more palatable price. I paid 2600 for mine "used" with 200 miles. But that was years ago now. I wouldn't see 2600 as absurdly amiss from what I have seen out on the general market, but I personally would hate to see you pay for one with 2000 miles on it what I did for mine almost new with 200, regardless of the times.

As some have mentioned, you CAN find cheaper deals:
http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/mcy/736708884.html

I'm pretty sure I've seen this bike around myself... but... well it's been dropped lightly. At any rate, you might find some middle ground between this and those you have seen in your area. Or maybe you can talk them down.

Good luck!

There is one scooter for you then. Go to scooterville and look at the People 50. You can get a nice buddy seat for it. They had a few left in Silver last saturday but they will go fast. Next shipment is at the end of August and I think there are only a handful in that one. The buddy 50 is great but riding two up will be cramped and the ergonomics are not unlike the zuma, just lower to the ground.

bgk

I had been thinking of the People 50, as I'd been reading some reviews of it a few months ago and it seemed to have been highly recommended.

Do the larger wheels reduce the acceleration or top speed at all?

I like the look of the People 50, as opposed to the S50 which apparently is 4-stroke. So it's a plus that the former is 2-stroke.

I'd been confused as to whether the People 50 had a buddy seat option because I'd seen some pics without one - Now I realise it's an option that one can have put on. Scooterville's picture shows it with the buddy seat, and I also notice pegs for a pillion.

The larger wheels will not reduce acceleration or top speed, and should help with potholes and bumps. There have been some discussions on MV all about the virtues of big and small wheels, but I wouldn't fret about it

Looks like I have a couple things to put on my to-do list.

Check out Scooterville, and go and have a chat with Mr. Cobalt-Blue Vespa ET2.

I just wish it was easier to find reviews of scooters online. I found thescooterreview.com but no Kymcos are reviewed on it. The SYM Mio 50 looks interesting. One reviewer in my area said she normally wasn't impressed by the performance of 4-stroke engines but in the case of the Mio she was quite pleased.

All in all it's quite sad how spotty reviews are for scooters I could go and find hundreds of them for any car out there...

As a side note.. my family, from when I was about 11 until I was 18-19 used to go at least once a year to Boston. Most of the time we stayed in the Navy Yard at the YMCA, now the Constitution Inn, but the last couple times we stayed in Brookline and also once or twice at the Harborside Inn.

Thanks so much to everyone for your excellent responses and insight.

Yes, avoid the 50S. It's a scooter built for a 125-150cc engine that is powered by a 50cc. It rides really nice, but it's just too slow to be useful in my opinion.

Rode past the Navy Yard just this morning

And you are welcome, I hope we've helped!

My nephew ( 19 years old ) just bought via craigslist a 2005 ET4 with 75 miles on it for 3,000. In the last 2 weeks he has put 500 miles on it and really likes it ( the girls like it too). I would think a ET2 or any 50cc would be a pretty undersized scooter for a 20 year old male especially if you want a friend to ride along. I began my scootering with a 50cc Honda and after a few months was very annoyed with the lack of speed. I still don't travel all that fast, 45 - 50 but with my 150cc ET4 I have plenty of power for reserve. I found my ET4 on E-bay too, it only had 100 miles on it; now 2 years and 3K miles later it still looks like it is brand new and runs perfectly. ( I paid 3,200 for mine)
For the kind of money and given miles on those ET2 I would be more than happy to let somebody else buy them and keep on searching. I know my nephew was also looking at a new Fly 150 and one of the Aprilia models. but didn't think they compared to the ride of the Vespa. I would be patient, keep looking, and seriously consider a 150cc engine... unless you plan on scooter shopping again in 6 months.

For what it is worth, I DO carry passengers on almost a daily basis on mine. It goes essentially the same speed with or without one (just takes slightly longer to get there). I have a 50 cc Piaggio Typhoon I am planning on selling which has essentially the same engine as my ET2 but a plastic body - it's lighter, and I have had it up to 52 mph. Don't expect that from an ET2, but Piaggio made some pretty good 50 cc 2 stroke engines

I agree it is worth considering the possibilty of a 150 non-vespa for near the prices of a 50 cc vespa. Kind of depends on what you are looking for from your ride.

I don't do it daily but definitely stick girls on the back to go out, which is one of the main points of ScooterBeagle's post. It's no problem for running around the city where you rarely hit 35 anyways. The 2 cycle 50's are easily powerful enough in both engine and braking to handle city surface streets. My friend Stace and I always go to Camden yards to see the O's on my scooter. It's a fun way to get there and I can lock my Vespa to the bike rack 15 feet from the box office. Basically, just about anytime there's going to be parking problems, I toss the girl on the back of the Vespa and go.

I too have been taken by the vespa bug .I'm 225 6ft and and can get to 42-43 pretty easy i picked mine up last month for $1000.00 with 2 helmets matching top case and windshield 1600 miles. things i've learned . windshields are nice. 42mph is plenty fast in traffic and the vespa seems bigger then the honda metrpolitian the yamaha vino and the others out there. sit on a few models and compare. you can't go wrong with an et2

yes yes yes!!
im a fan, such a good scooter, absolutely no regrets!!! go et2!!

We love our ET2. If you've got short urban-type commutes only planned you'll be fine. If you want to get out and ride at other times get at least a 150cc IMHO. Price-wise you'd have paid $800-$1000 less a recently as this March 2008. Right now you have two things working against you: It's Summer and a seller's-market.

I find Typhoons going for half as much as ET2's......A much better bargain!