Modern Vespa

i am really wanting a bigger scooter than the buddy and have narrowed it down to the gts250 (300 if it's available) or the bv500

i have a list of pros and cons going

i like the big wheels and the fact that the bv500 can go 100mph (not that i'll take it over 80 or so)

but i like the looks of the gts, seems like it would manuever better, more parts available and more accessories exist, etc.

i would like to ride on the highway about 30% of the time the rest will be state highways and city driving.

i know you have an opinion, what is it?

We own a BV500 and a GTS250ie. That is as close to the right comparison as you are gonna get prior to actually getting your hands on a Super 300. Assuming for a moment that the BV500 and the 300 Super have similar performance...the following should hold true when deciding on one or the other...

BV500. It is much better at high speed stability. I ride mine at 70-75 all the time. I have as much comfort at 70 on the BV as I do on the GTS at 50-55. It is much better at 2 up riding. It can also handle baggage cases better. It is noisier, rougher riding (stiff suspension), gets poorer fuel economy (about 60 MPG) and clearly not as good looking as the Vespa. Get the mid height Piaggio windscreen and Piaggio side cases (Givi for the top case) and make sure the fuel hose clamp problem has been taken care of.

GTS250ie. Very smooth, quiet, fuel efficient (>70 MPG). If you get a genuine Vespa trunk (we did), it looks good even with a baggage case. More nimble around town. Has a slight steering wiggle at 30MPH (all GTS's have this) and feels more like a skateboard on the freeway than a motorcycle. Can't beat the look though.

Hope that helps...

Do you have any other pix of the BV500? I like the look with just the side cases. Is that blue or black?

Bob

Get a GP800 - never look back.

IMHO that is a deal buster for the GTS. It's just not the right tool for the job. Get the BV and scrounge up a motor to get your B125 back on the road for putting around town and going to rallies and stuff.

We ride 60% highway on our GTS but I do agree with the poster that the BV would be a much better tool.

I have a 500, the noticeable difference is when you ride 2 up or climb hills. The rpm is lower on 500 because of sufficient torque. If you don't have passengers or flat around your area, you don't really need 500. I ride with my wife many times and San Francisco is a slop city, my 500 gives me all I need.

it isn't necessary bigger is better...

john, you of all people

i'm getting the engine rebuilt right now, so the buddy will be back on the road soon.

The Cannonball Buddy will ride again! Excellent!

Hahaha. How are you doing? Did you get your Cannonball GT straightened out? Whatever happens, don't ever let that bike go. I traded my Cannonball GT and I've regretted it ever since.

I can give you a one picture answer to that.

Does it answer your question? (this happened earlier today actually)

More fun:

http://pics.livejournal.com/oz_gt/gallery/0001b3gy

She's a work in progress right now...

Your confusion makes sense. The bike is "Midnight Blue" and the side cases are a black metal flake. I would have bought blue side cases, but no one seemed able to locate them. The black works fine since the bikes trim is black. I have mounted a Givi V46 top case since the pic was taken.

Jim,

I'm thinking about it...a lot. I am jealous!

-Arjen

I ride both a Maxi Scarabeo 500GT and a Vespa GT200 and my take is this: If you are into fun get the GT300 and don't look back.

Hi Robon,
First you have to decide what is most important to you. Then you have go with that decision. The BV500 is an imminantly capable machine. It can deal with highways all day long. The 300 is no doubt a lighter machine and with the smaller wheels and dimensions is easier in the city. I know Tulsa and the streets are not small narrow euro-like winding roads. I really don't think that size is that much of an issue. But if you plan on traveling to Springfield, or Muskogee you need to consider the 75mph on the Muskogee turnpike.
Also having lived in Gore for some 11 years the roads out towards Grandlake, Tenkiller, and Greeentree, and the Arkansas River lend themselves well to the attributes of the BV500. This is not to say that the 300 wouldn't be fun on those roads but the tire size on the BV gives a much improved ride on the not so smooth sections.
Of course you realize that nobody can tell you what is best for you. Only you know exactly how you will use the bike and therefore you are the only one who can say what is best.
In either case I hope that whatever you get you enjoy it and Ride safe, and Ride long.

If you got a bit of style and passion, it's a no brainer...GTS300!
if you just want a dull looking commuter that your not really gonna love, it's the other one.....forgotton what it's called already...

What would you do if it was about choosing a girlfriend??
Go for the supermodel or the homemaker?

oh yeah, I also own a GTS300 and have no problems riding motorways at 70mph+. What's the speed limit over there anyway?

Oh no! What happened?

The BV 500 is a big scoot just make sure you want it, I don't see either being to bad of a choice. If I were going to do a lot of "touring" long distance I would do the BV. My wife and I have a GT 200 and GTS 250 Super, respectively. They both are super great around town and for the shorter less than 2 hour rides.

But that's just my opinion. Good luck with which ever you decide.

Plug's stuck in the head, threads are galled.
Plug head's threads are too worn to accept either an aluminum cap, or my cannonball work-around which was using an HT cap that clips on to those threads.

Plug's gotta come out, gonna time-sert the head, maybe get it flowed while we're at it

Interestingly, the BV500 due to the shape of the seat, feels 'lower' than than the GTS 250 for most riders. The longer arm on the center stand makes the BV lighter to put on it's center stand, the fuel being held lower in the frame makes the fueled weight of the bikes feel nearly identical, and the larger wheels and slightly different geometry of the fork and handlebars seem to make most riders find the BV to be more forgiving (though still not as forgiving as the X9). I think people often mistake the size and the weight of the BV because it does look bulkier, but it really isn't

PDXSCOOT is right on. We own both models too. I dont do that much highway or Interstate riding so i have a different perspective like everyone out there.

Like stated the 500 is much rougher, accelerates in my opinion slower (in the very early take off stage), has way less under seat storage but is superior in power (of course) and two up ridding for my wife is more comfortable. I think the looks are typical good Italian classic looks and the rear of the scoot is very pleasing to the eye in design.

The GTS250ie is smooth as glass at all speeds, can easily run a true 70mph, is a bit cluttered with the passengers pegs/legs relationship to the driver at stops, operates flawlessly (had one issue with the waterpump on the BV that was a major hassle) and is an all around champ! We have 6 scoots in the garage and the GTS would probably be the winner if we went broke (oh...our 401 just did) so it IS our favorite.

I agree the BV500 is a big scoot. But the key word here is scoot. Next to most any other motorcycle it is small. So I doubt anyone would have trouble driving it in a city (I don't). I bought it because I am large and wanted something more than capable of getting out of the way of a cage doing 80. I can choose to brake or speed up when with a GTS I would be forced to brake even though the situation would not allow it.

I say buy whatever scoot draws your eye. But if you will be on a freeway quite often in traffic I would suggest thinking of the BV500. I love the GTS and probably will buy one in the next year or so. I sold my car for riding a scoot and the bus to work so I wanted something that would be more than capable so I got the BV500. Now when I get something that doesn't have to be practical all the time I will get my Vespa I have always wanted.

Good looking bikes. What is the brand and model of the side cases? They look really sharp.

Good looking bikes. What is the brand and model of the side cases? They look really sharp.

Those are genuine Piaggio side cases. Beware there are two different styles...boxy ones which are designed for the BV250...and these. The BV250 style seem like they fit, but don't be fooled. They will rub hard against the transmission in use (I speak from experience here).

I just traded my gts in on a new Beo 500ie. And I couldn't be happier.

The Beo is definitely less nimble than the GTS, but much more capable and comfortable.

The 500 has gobs of power, just twist the throttle and before you know it you're up to 70 mph with more to go, and thats with a passenger on the back. And speaking of passengers, the Beo/BV is much more suited for riding 2 up. I also think the Beo is more comfortable than my gts was.

The 500 motor is more 'rough' than the 250, but I don't mind it at all.

For my needs (riding 2 up, occasional freeway, and long distance riding) the Beo/BV 500 fits the bill very nicely.

The solution is for Vespa to finally shoe horn a 500cc into a GTS so those of us who want a 500cc but also want a Vespa will no longer be conflicted.

Piaggio doesn't seem to think us Yanks deserve the GP800, so the BV500 is the biggest italian scooter we can get.

Now wait a minute. I would imagine that many of the female persuasion here wouldn't agree with your example above.

You seem to be saying that a homemaker isn't a good looking woman. I would rather have a good looking homemaker, which in itself doesn't seem to be a politically correct term, and eat well than have a supermodel and have to go without home cooked meals most of my life. Add to that the fact that the supermodel would be gone on shoots all the time and where is the fun in that?

I guess now you know the choice I made 30 years ago. And while she's no supermodel she's still a looker. Of course with this group pictures are out of the question

+1000

I am fortunate enough to have a wife that is way out of my league.

Well... I have always had more than one at a time

Thanks for helping me justify having a GTS 300 and a BV 500

Some things in life are not as complicated as you might expect

I would not trade my GTS for a BV500, but I would buy a BV500 as a second scooter.

The GTS is highway capable. I ride mine on highways all the time now, with no problems keeping up with the traffic, and usually I pass the big rigs instead of them passing me.