Modern Vespa

I'm looking at buying a Vespa, and at 5'3" I'm almost scad too short for one. I can tip-toe on the ground or one-foot it at stops, but if anyone has any tips for "lowering" a Vespa, I'd be curious to hear them.

Thanks!

The 2 most common responses you will get will be these:

- have the seat shaved down, or buy a lower profile seat

- wear platform boots

Unfortunately, the problem you're going to encounter with the seat isn't just height, but it's also the width. Unfortunately, there's just no getting around that aspect.

It doesn't how tall you are if you're sitting on the back of an elephant - you're still not touching the ground even if it lays down. The good news is, there are many, many people shorter than you by a good 3" who manage to make a Vespa work for them - don't give up hope. Just be prepared to get creative!

And for what it's worth, I don't 2-foot at stops even though I can technically reach.

One footing it should be fine once you get comfortable with that. I'm 5'6" but as a male my legs don't provide most of that "towering" height. I usually 1-foot it. Easy as p.i.e., really. So I wouldn't sweat it if you are tall enough to do that.

Otherwise yeah, you could try the seat shaving option, but as Masala said the seat will almost become wider as you go lower on its frame It might help some though...

...or look at the Genuine Buddy or Yamaha Vino, they are lower...(but not Vespas)

Psst...check the scoot she currently rides under her User Name!

Oh, duh!

Here's what I did: (5'2" with 28" inseam)

https://modernvespa.com/forum/topic36263

Thanks so much to everyone for your good advice! I test drove a 150 a couple nights ago and it was ok, so you guys have just re-assured me!

Bonnie, cute scoot!

I'm 5'2" & have a LX 50. When I first got the bike, I was going to shave down & get the shop to narrow the seat as well. Then I got used to being able to tip toe it when stopped. Never bothered to fix the seat!

I am only 5'1" and I have a 27" inseam. On the stock seat, I could just barely touch the ground with tippy toes. I had Pirate Upholsetery shave down and reupholster the seat on my GTS and I can now touch with the balls of my feet with both feet down when I stop. It's made a big difference to me and overall, I'd say it was worth it to shave the seat down.

It's a personal decision, I think, as to how comfortable you'll feel holding up the bike at stops, etc.

As far as touching the ground at all while the bike is on the kickstand...fuggetaboutit!

To accomodate my shortness and personal injuriesm see opruor threads regarding adding a trike kit to my mp3.

https://modernvespa.com/forum/topic31239

https://modernvespa.com/forum/topic31406

https://modernvespa.com/forum/topic29351

We tried two things when my wife (5'3") got her LX150.

1) moved the rear shock.
This lowers the seat considerable but makes it handle like crap. It was like that for two days and we moved it back to the original mount. I would not go that route.

2) Got a low profile ET4 seat.
This worked like a charm. Bolts right up and the ignition key still works with the seat. With the stock seat she could just barely tip toe but now she can almost flat foot.

At 5'-4" each, my inseam is 30" and my wife's is 28-29". We are on our third LXV150 and have found, through riding friends' LX150s and rental 200GTs, the leather vintage style seat makes the LXV150 an inch shorter than the LX150 and at least that and more (considering the added width of the saddle) on that of the 200GT. I can't recommend the LXV150 enough!! The height difference made a huge impact on the decision to purchase, but as others have mentioned, the Pirate seats are sweeeeeeeeet.

Malinda,

My wife is 5'4" and rides a Vespa GT 200 and does fine. She actually bought a good pair of Dr. Martens to wear while riding because of the sole thickness, and they are super durable.

Also check out this thread..
https://modernvespa.com/forum/topic36263

Inseam makes the difference not height.