Modern Vespa

Don't think this is a duplicate post. Brief article I saw in the Times today.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/05/automobiles/05MISER.html?_r=1&8dpc&oref=slogin

Nice article, thanks for posting.

I didn't realize that the Ninjas were only 250 cc, or 2-stroke, or $3,999.

Ninja is a brand name, they have a 250, a 500 and a 650.


Then you have the Ninja ZX that start at 600 and goes up to 1352 cc

It's 2 Cylinder not 2 cycle.

Wayne B

OK, the 2 cylinder makes a lot more sense than 2 cycle.

I just won't settle for anything less than a Hayabusa

Such a speed demon!

I was looking at the Ninja 250 and a Suzuki GS500. They were listed for $1000 less than my GTS. I still wanted the Vespa for it's style, its a wolf in sheeps clothing with the ability to do 70 mph on the freeway and still give me 70 mpg. I also like the unique cultural/spiritual feel hanging out with fellow Vespa/ scooter riders. Plus I can bolt on my pet carrier and zip down to Dog Park. Don't see many crotch rocket pilots doing that. Still, I'lll probably end up getting some cruiser MC after I get an MP3 and an Aprilia 500, give away my gas guzzling S10 Blazer and fix my Karmann Ghia.

Ahhhh, loved my 68 Ghia convertible. I have said that my Vespa is the first thing I have driven (ridden?) that is as much fun as my Ghia.

Dee

Ridden.

You can partially see my '73 Ghia coupe in my Avatar. The poor thing is rusting to death and an electrical glitch has messed her up. Instead of fixing her up I got my Vespa instead. Maybe with the gas savings on my Vespa and avoiding using my gas guzzling SUV's I'll get her up and running. Just like my Vespa, my Ghia has some Italian in her too!!

Good article but I don't believe for a minute that the ninja 250 gets better gas mileage than the gts. At any given speed the ninja is going to be turning about twice as many rpms as the vespa and in general the higher the rpms the less efficient.