Modern Vespa

Hello there! As enticing as the Vespa is for a gal like me, I'm stuck with a dilemma: my height. Even the LX150 cannot accommodate a 5"2 gal like me without modifications.

One of the reasons for wanting the LX 150 is its ability to go on the highway, the weight (big plus as I could barely push my boyfriend's GTS 250!) and the price is reasonable enough for me.

Any advice from those who've experienced my dilemma and still managed to have their dream Vespa without resorting to wearing five inch platforms? I also heard the Buddy is a great alternative for the petite types. As always, would prefer the Vespa though. Thanks for your help!

This might sound nutty, but the Yamaha Morphous has an incredibly low seat. I let a couple go here in the bay area because my garage was full, but with a 28" inseam, I could easily flat foot it.

I'm 5'4", w a short inseam, & have the ET4, the 150cc predecessor to the LX150, and have the low profile "sport" seat which was an ET4 option, oddly not available for the LX150 (which requires a customized lower seat).

The Buddy is great, shorter than the Vespas, and a nice scooter.

The Yamaha Vino 125 also rides short. A friend who's 5'0" rides it easily. I've ridden it too, and it's also worth considering.

Boots w a thicker sole/heel help too!

Good luck-- let us know what you decide. 8)

--Deborah

The Aprilla Mojito 150 has a seat height of 29.5" making it about as short as you will find in any Piaggio-built scooter.

I've had ET4s and a GT - I don't think you'd have a problem with any of the modern Vespas. Remember you don't need to get both feet flat on the ground - one side is fine, even if you have to slide sideways or forwards on the seat a little to do it.

4'-11" 25" inseam answer to your question: Most comfortable on a Vino 125 or a Buddy 125. But those don't go highway speeds. On the LX150, boy it gets tiring having to flex your feet so much, and shifting around like that when you get to an intersection. City driving is a pain in the foot. To make an LX150 work confidently, we got the Corbin seat, which improves the stance by lowering several inches, and more importantly, making it thinner up in the front, so your legs don't have to straddle quite as large a saddle. Thinness makes a huge difference.

The LX, though, hits a max speed of about ~65mph on a flat, and significantly influenced by the weight of the rider/passengers. It is baaaarely able to keep up with highway traffic, which is not ideal. Amusingly, I just slapped a GPS on my scoot, and noticed that while the GPS said I was going 64mph, the speedometer said I was going an "optimistic" 75mph. Best answer for the highway speeds is frankly to pick up the Morpheus with its killer low seat and 250cc engine.

2008 is the last year for the Morphus. In fact I don't believe Yamaha is still importing them, its actually fallen off their web site. You might be able to find used or a leftover.

If you decide to look at 250's, check out the Kymco Grand Vista.
I know a few 5'ers who ride them with no problems at all.
Narrow seat, low center of gravity, narrow distance between the seat and the hand grips, so you don't have to worry about reaching. I'm 5'11" and its way too cramped for me. It's really fast too!

My vote is for tall-heeled boots and a lambretta.


It really doesn't get any hotter....

This partly depends on your experience

If you are new to riding scooters and motorcycles,
it's often a good idea to get a used (beater-type) scooter with a short seat height
until you have more experience

However, if you are more experienced,
or are adventurous and have set aside some money for repairs,
it's really enough to just get the balls of your feet to reach on both sides

That's how I ride on a GT with a 28" inseam

If you go this route, I recommend boots with a stiff ankle and sole,
which help you to get a firm footing with just the balls of your feet

Like:

My wife is 5'-2" and had the same problem. We inquired to Pirate's Upholstery and they told us they would only be able to trim the Vespa S seat down by .75" to 1.00" due to the high shell design. She needed minimum 2" shaved down. The only other way would be to replace the seat completely with a Corbin type

With thick shoes she was still on her tippy toes and it was not the safest position. Also the width of the seat at the front also makes the S seem higher then its 31' seat height. All in all, she was not comfortable with being able to handle the 230 lbs on tippy toes.

So, she got a Honda Rebel Mcycle with a 26.6" seat height and we still have the S as it is just too sexy to sell.

You do have a dilemna as the other scooters just don't compare in terms of build quality and looks. Good luck and let us know what you decide to get.

I'm 5'2", inseam 28" with my boots on and ride a Paiggio Fly 150 (seat height 30.9"). Dont know about the width of this seat v. LX 150. There something out there for you. Good luck!

Am 5 foot nothing & I ride without modifications. Just have to go on pointe when I stop. Vespa is so well-balanced, it doesn't take much to stay up. Don't know if that helps you at all, hope so

The Buddy International (150 cc) would suit your needs the best. Second best would be a Corbin seat on an LX150.
I am guessing in the city that you want a fairly small urban scoot that you can move around and take on the highway once in a while? The LX150 and the Buddy 150 are highway legal, but not highway travelers. I have taken both out on the highway and over the bridges, but would not ride them regularly as commuters on the fast roads. In my opinion, you really need a GT, GTS, Burgman, Silverwing, something bigger for freeway commutes.
I have not ridden a Fly, but they seem like a reasonable buy. Same seat height as LX. All of the new Vespa/Piaggio products have unreasonably (to me) high seats. Especially the LX and S, as they are marketed to women in urban environments. If you have little/ no scooter/ motorcycle experience, the lean or tippytoe method of riding is not ideal. I think it is more important to be able to control the bike/ put a solid foot on the ground than it s to have a pretty bike that you are hesitant or unsure on. I have ridden with people as short as me on bikes that *I* think may be too tall for them, and they wobble on takeoff, they hesitate when stopping, they make me make sure I am not near them when it is time to start or stop.
Oh, and hills.

This is really good advice!

I do enjoy going up on tippy toes when I'm sitting at a light (unless it's windy),
but even with my boots of choice, this is not a fun way to start & stop
You really need well-planted feet for this

Plus, if the scooter starts to lean, you don't want it to go over very far
before you can counter the lean with a flat foot
(and I do mean flat, not flat only because your foot is sitting on top of a 4" heel)

But my GT is a lot heavier, so this stuff may be less important on an LX...

Plus, a point about freeway riding:
Here in the exurbs I do a lot of riding on intermediate roads at around 50 mph
The GT is really much nicer for this than an LX, for a lot of reasons

But I'm not comfortable on interstates
(although I did once get the GT up to 70 in a hurry, when I got on one accidentally)
If you really want to ride them, you'll need a GTS 250 at the minimum

(But this isn't often necessary, MapQuest & Google Map are your friends)

Wow, thank you for all the tips! I really appreciate all your suggestions---very helpful indeed! If you have more recommendations, please let me know. Will definitely update regarding decision. Take care everyone!

I was also wondering if an LX150 seat could be shaved considerably with existing seat basket. A 1/2 inch wont be worth the cost. Also Corbins $350+ is too rich for my blood. Has anyone used Pirate's "seat exchange" option? Is it an even, or "free" exchange? Like a lot of you, I'm a shortie looking for a safer ride.

Without reading first , I would sugest getting a sidecar for your Vespa. 8)

in before the lock

Get lower seat from Pirate

Psst: July, 2008.

This is the guy that should get a whoooping,
mikeLX

LX150
Joined: 01 Oct 2010
Posts: 6
Location: Los Angeles

"This is the guy that should get a whoooping, "

No, Erich, he shouldn't. He is new. As such, he gets a pass on Forum etiquette. You, on the other hand, know better. And to point at another is bad form.

Hi mikelx and welcome to MV. You get a pat on the back from me for using the search function

Lots of folks here have given good reviews to Pirate Upholstery for their lowered and/or recovered seats. Here's a blurb from their website If I understand your question about the exchange, Pirate doesn't do a straight trade of one of their custom seats for a stock seat. You still have to pay for their work. Here's what their site says: Hope you find something that works for you!

The Buddy and the Vino are both set up for a shorter inseam than the Vespa.

Well I am very short. I am only 5foot.. I originally bought a px80 and it was way too big for me, but I got a custom seat and was able to make due. I just recently bought a ET3 and its a small frame so I am hoping it will be much nicer for me.. should be here tomorrow! best thing I can say is get a bike that you can do a shorter and narrower seat, that will make a huge difference in the way you sit on it.