Modern Vespa

Could I get some suggestions?

I've got my first job not long ago and my first monetary goal is my own personal vehicle. I know I could buy a used car or the like, but my family has had dificulty over the years with used vehicles. I'd like to start my vehicular independence with something new.

Thus, given that I'm not ready to go so far as to purchase a new car I've decided to go with the two-wealed option.

The reason I'd rather get a vespa then a motorcycle was initially a matter of price, but through a little research I've descoverd that not only are they cheaper, but they're cleaner and more protective, (because of the hood thing in front and the leg space) and while I'm at it, they fit two people, where most motorcycles only seat one.

But my goal is true independence. No more, "No, we need the car today" or, "We don't like going to the mall!" (seriously, who doesn't like the mall!?) I want a vehicle that can take me anywhere I want, on the highway, etc.

The weaker vespa models like 50cc and 100cc have speed limitations and are obviously meant for driving around town, not highway action. But the 200cc can go 80mph+ which at least matches all the highway speed limits I've seen.

What I wonder, though, is if that's what they're meant for. Is the 200cc meant to be going 60+ for long amounts of time, or is it still just a scooter, that shouldn't be pushed to hard. Can a 200cc vespa be treated like a motorcycle, and go wherever you want to?

The prices I've seen say that a cheap motorcycle will cost me $10,000 and a good 200cc vespa will cost me $5,000.

Plan on spending another $1-2K for all the other stuff you'll need: helmet, jacket, MSF school, stickers, mods to the scoot, etc.

as long as they are properly maintained, the 200 and 250cc vespas will cruise happily all day at 60+. heck, i've cruised all day at 60 on my ET4s and they love it.

Well there is a ton to consider in your questions. I guess I'll make a pass at the 200cc topic - The GT200 and GTS250ie are very sporty scooters. If you want to do 2-up riding on the freeway, however, the GT200 will probably not suffice. At least for me, I want to be able to keep up with the pace if traffic. On many 65mph freeways in these parts traffic will easily be going 70-75 mph. The GT200 won't be ideal for that for prolonged periods and/or roads with inclines, certainly not with two people. I don't own one, so someone please correct me, but this is what I've gathered from the other threads on this topic over the year.

That said, the GT200 IS very fast and capable, so if you are talking 55mph highways you should be able to break the speed limit with the rest of the hooligans and cruise at 60-65 mph happily

The GTS is more appropriate for higher speed travel, obviously.

On a related topic, riding two-up. All modern vespas in my experience are great for riding two-up. They are capable of hauling two people almost as well as one for most speeds. You will see the differences on hills and top speeds. That is where the target speed comes in. If the scoot tops out at 70, and you want to go 70 2-up, don't buy it. If the scoot tops out at 70 and you want to go 60 2-up, it should be fine. Does that make sense?

Shoot for a Vespa with a top speed a bit above your planned riding, so that it will be able to accelerate in dangerous situations at your goal-speed, hold speed on inclines at the goal speed, carry a passenger at goal-speed, and generally not get outgrown too fast!

I ride a 50cc ET most of the time. This is fine for me as my needed speed around the city is 35 and my ET will go about 40. Because of that, I don't wind up hating it or wanting more. If I needed to regularly go 40 or 45, the ET would feel too small for me.

Good luck in your decision and welcome!

All of this is optional, but a helmet is a good idea. I've spent less thatn $300 for my "gear."

The MSF course is a good idea, but if you have riding experience, all it does it give you cheaper insurance, in my opinion.

True enough, but once you've got it you'll be tempted...it slowly adds up as you get addicted.

What the hell kinda motorcycle are you trying to buy? I found a brand new Honda CBR (it was some sort of crotch rocket) that cost less than my Vespa.

I got the Vespa becasue I wanted something with storage for trips to the store (read "mall.") I have a GT200 and it will not do 80+. I had it at 82 once, and that is "indicated." Which means the spedo is off a smidge, they're very optimistic.

Make sure you know how to ride it before you go 80 on it. If not, you won't be riding very long.

The GTS 250 meets your requirements; the 200 maybe.

Whatever, with fees, taxes, licensing, gear, farkels (topcase, front rack, windscreen, maybe kickstand), & battery tender, locks, chains, alarms, etc., plan on separating from about 9 gees...

Yea, sorry, I hadn't looked at a lot of motorcycles, I'm sure there are cheaper ones then the price I indicated.

I'm thinking now that maybe the gts250 is the best option. It's only $1,000 more than the 200 and it looks beautiful.

The 200 IS in my speed range. I don't intend to be driving my family around a lot (they don't even trust me in a car) but I remember now that before the road construction around here, the speed limit was 70. With a top speed of 80 that'd kind of cutting it close. I don't speed, on principle, but it is nice to have a little leway.

But one of you posted that with all the side-costs of owning a vehicle it could top 10k. Can you confirm this? I'm not so fancy, I don't need a lot of frills, just the bike, a helmet, gloves maybe...

less than $5,000, 200cc or over motorcycles with good customer support in the US:

http://powersports.honda.com/motorcycles/cruiser_standard/model.asp?ModelName=Nighthawk&ModelYear=2008&ModelId=CB2508

http://powersports.honda.com/motorcycles/cruiser_standard/model.asp?ModelName=Rebel&ModelYear=2009&ModelId=CMX250C9

http://www.starmotorcycles.com/star/products/modelhome/589/0/home.aspx

http://www.suzukicycles.com/Products/TU250XK9

http://www.suzukicycles.com/Products/GZ250K9

http://www.suzukicycles.com/Products/DR200SEK9

http://www.kawasaki.com/Products/Detail.aspx?id=359

http://www.buell.com/en_us/bikes/blast/

If your looking for something inexpensive, don't look at Vespa. If you don't want a motorcycle, try other scooter companies that sell 200cc or above scooters (because you won't find a new 200cc vespa for $5,000):

http://www.kymcousa.com/showroom/index_onroad.html

http://www.apriliausa.com/modelli/scooter/modello.asp?id=117

http://www.apriliausa.com/modelli/scarabeo/modello.asp?id=122

http://www.piaggiousa.com/pScooters/BV200.cfm

good luck

^...but I see a 200cc for 5,299 on the vespausa website...?

Don't expect to hit 80mph very easily, if at all, on a GTS. And definately don't expect to hit it on a GT200. They might come close, but 80 is not the top speed of any stock Vespa that I'm aware of. And at least in my opinion, the closer you get to maxing out the top speed of most scoots, the scarier it is. They're not designed to go faster than they can for a reason. (I modded out a 50cc scoot that wasn't designed to go more than 40 or so, and it got a little freaky when I started hitting close to 65.) Also, be aware that pretty much every scooter speedometer on the planet is optimistic to some degree. I know for a fact one of my scoots topped out at 67 (checked with a GPS), but it indicated I was going 75.

Just wanted to point that out to you so you don't get suprized. There are scoots out there that can hit those higher speeds, even over 100mph. There aren't a ton of them, but most of those bigger scoots are bordering on being motorcycles as it is.

All that being said, I'm getting myself a GTV (same engine as the GTS). I feel that for the most part, it should have a high enough cruising speed to go on the freeway occasionally, and still have a little power left over to get out of someone's way if I need to. I don't care much for freeway driving, so I'm not planning on needing that power very often. For my uses, more would be overkill, but less wouldn't be quite enough.

Good luck with your choice! Definately do a few test rides before you buy, and research everything you can. This forum is a great collection of info.

The very same thing that makes scooters fun and agile to ride around town, like shorter wheelbase, smaller tires, and lower center of gravity works against you on the highway. I can ride my 250gts on the highway, but I don't enjoy it at all.

At speeds up to 65 mph the 250gts is about perfect. If you want to cruise faster on a daily basis get a scooter with 16" wheels, like a Scarabeo or BV250.

That is before the dealer prep fees, taxes, and license and without insurance.

Sorry, a website I looked at said that 200cc could go 80, but I see now on another site that the 250 may even have troubles with that...

Well this will require a bit more thought and many more questions.

Maybe downhill with a tailwind!

Yes, you definately want to know more info before you buy! Vespas are awesome scoots. But if you think you'll be doing a fair amount of freeway riding, you might want to consider other options.

Decide what kind of riding you're going to be doing the most. Then research the bikes that fit that category, and narrow it down further by price and features.

Again, this forum is a great resource. Plenty of members here have other scooters besides Vespas, so they'll be able to give you input on lots of different bikes.

If I might add some more thoughts:

If you want a scooter easily capable of 80 mph, you probably want to look toward a larger displacement scoot than a Vespa - say a BV? The 300 Super should be pretty darn slick, but there are even larger displacement options with bigger wheels which might give you more comfort at very high speeds.
Something to consider.

IMHO the Vespa isn't about the top speed as much as the versatility in a more local or urban environment. That is JUST my opinion, but if I wanted a real beast machine I would go for a large scoot with bigger wheels or go for a motorcycle. The beauty of the Vespa lies in 1) heightened maneuverability, 2) heightened fuel economy due to NOT having a 1 Liter engine 3) more built in storage than most motorcycles, and 4) legacy, quality, and so on.

Sure, these might come at the cost of not being as fast as your family car. But for most folks, it's well worth it.

Well the problem is that there's a 3 mile stretch of highway between my urban area and the urban area with all the restaurants, stores and mall. And storage is a plus, because if I'm going to buy things I need a place to keep them.

Is that 3-mile stretch of highway an 80 mph traffic highway? Is it necessary to take that 3 miles of highway or is there a 50mph road running roughly in the same direction? Sounds like a short stretch of highway to NOT buy a vespa for

If you found a decent way around you might not even need a GTS (though most will say go for the fastest anyway )

I don't mean to piss in your corn flakes but I think you are considering a Vespa based on a whim. You recently got your first job and are looking for independence. You probably haven't considered the long term effects of your choice of a Vespa. With a Vespa as your exclusive form of transportation, you will have times when it isn't suitable for the task at hand. You will be exposed to the weather all the time. You will be limited on carrying capacity for shopping trips. It could affect your love life if your date/companion isn't keen on scooter riding. Your new job may not last or you may decide to work somewhere else, further away.

Now I know there are people who have a Vespa as their only means of transportation. Most of them probably owned a car at one time, but likely had a handle on their life and routine prior to going to two wheels exclusively.

I would suggest getting a beater cage and establishing yourself in a routine that is somewhat predictable. After a time, you might pick up a good used scooter that can be a supplement to your transportation needs. I would hate to see another slightly used Vespa hit Craig's List.

3 miles is nothing for a 250gts. That's just 3 minutes or less.

If that is all you are worried about the GTS would do fine.

I ride a 21 mile stretch on highway 95 some times, and the trucks blow me around. I much prefer US 1 because the view is better and no semi trucks to deal with.

I HATE semi trucks. I always feel like I am getting hit by a brick wall of wind everytime one passes me. FREAKS me out! Maybe I'm just a baby. *shrug*

If you wanted to get a brand new GTS250 or GTV250 You're going to be looking at around $8300 w/warranty and thats without gear or anything else cosmetic you may want to add to it. It does get a little pricey. As some nice people pointed out there are alot of other routes to go. It's good you're doing research though. I hope you find what you're looking for.

3 miles can be almost ignored - I was expecting you to need to do 20 miles or more.

Any of the 250's should do you just fine IMVHO. However if you ever need to do 400 miles+ in a day, then a larger wheeled larger displacement bike my be needed.

Please don't buy new - buy a used bike, because you *will* drop it at least once, probably at a standstill, in the first few weeks. Plan to buy a scrappy used one that can be cosmetically done up (even just cleaned) a few months ahead - that way you will have gained experience cheaply. Then buy the new one.

Also, bearing in mind the above, buy a smaller engined model than you think you may need eventually - this will help you realise what and why the larger bikes are there for, and hopefully prevent too much loss of enthusiasm.

Just my personal take, don't put too much store by it.

I think a 2002(ish) Scarabeo 150 with the Rotax engine would be perfect for a first bike.

to the cornflake pisser:

Yea, I haven't thought about it a lot, and it's not something I'm going to just jump into, but allow me to rebuf most of your post.

First in reference to my job. Recent would not be the best choice in wording, I suppose. I've been working there for about six months, and they don't seem to hate me, so I imagine I won't be fired. I'd actually be less surprised if I was promoted.

And weather. I live in texas. It's warm and sunny 29 days out of the month here and when it rains people get their snow chains on and drive 30 miles an hour on the freeway because it NEVER rains. I feel pretty good about wether.

Yea, limited carrying capacity, but if I really need to buy something big I can just borrow my parents car. I'm more of a gamer anyways, so unless I'm buying a new TV I won't need huge amounts of space.

Love life...don't know, never had one. If my vehicle really mattered to her she's being a bit shallow, but if she's more understandingly scared of it, we can use her car.

If she doesn't have one...well...who cares...

I don't disagree, it's very 'whim' like at this point, but I like the way they look, and the main character of my favorite show rode one (lol, had to throw that in) but I won't do this unless I'm sure it will work, no craigs list for me.

and to everyone else...I don't know about any 'back road' but there are roads snaking all over the place, I'll check a map. I don't mind the scenic rout.

Buy a used 250 cc Ninja motorcycle... Learn to ride on a piece of crap bike. Buy it from Craigslist...

It sounds like you can definitely make it work

About a month ago I got my GT 200 up to 76 mph and still had room on the throttle. My husband has a GTS 250 super and also hit the 76 mark w/ room to go

Mine was $6790 out the door. But I got a topcase. It's not the correct matching color, but whatever. It's unique.

http://flickr.com/photos/sibertater/sets/72157606285856155/

Witch has a mile of elevation to deal with. Sea level scooters go faster.

If you need information or have questions, don't hesitate to ask here. The people here are pretty level headed and won't steer you in a direction they think is not right for you. We have a wealth of information, because we've all been in this situation of trying to find the best bike for our needs, and as someone else said, some of the users here have multiple bikes. Good luck.

There are many motorcycles that will seat two people (just look at all the Bi-otches on the back of Harleys) and also many that cost less than Vespas (I've had numerous people ask why I would spend $xxxx on a scooter when I could get a motorcycle for less new).

I had a GTS and I got it so the speedo said 80 on numerous occasions. They're are usually about 10% wrong (speedos are off), but I still had room on the throttle, so I know it could go faster.

My GTS out the door in 2006 cost $7000 with a windscreen and a helmet included. Vespa dealers usually add a bunch of fees onto the price as well as TTL.

You can find GREAT deals on GREAT used scooters and motorcycles on Craigslist. I agree with the previous poster, with no experience (or with experience), you're likely to drop it and then it won't be pretty and new any more.

The MOST important thing is --- take the MSF course FIRST. With no experience it is a great introduction to two wheels. Take it on a motorcycle, not a scooter. Then, if you decide on a motorcycle, you're set. If you stick with the scooter, you're "over"set. Or, you could decide that it's just not for you and save thousands of dollars.

If you buy a quality used car, like a Honda or Toyota, you can get it looked at by a mechanic first and probably avoid the bad luck your family has experienced.

TAKE THE MSF COURSE!!!

3 miles of Freeway??? Must be a back road to there someway.....You are what, 16 or 17??, get a newer 50cc 2 cycle scoot with a pet carrier, derestrict it, and take the back roads.....
We have derestricted 50cc Yamaha Zuma's that go 50mph, and Aprilia RS50's that go 55-60mph in our club....My 70cc Typhoon goes 55mph....
Do a search here on the good brands, don't buy a cheap Chinese one...
Is your parent's going to sign a loan for $6000 for a 250cc Scoot if you are not 18? What about insurance, plates, maintenance, and your loan payment(Interest and principal) costs....Got to figure that out if you can afford it with your job....You still need money for clothes, entertainment, dates, fast food, and walking around money, remember....
Save your pennies, and buy a almost new 50cc Two Stroke when you spot a bargain this winter....in the local paper, dealer, craigslist or Ebay when you have the cash saved....
Gee, kids saving their money these days....a new concept!

+1 on the MSF course. Maryland requires it for engines over 50cc and I couldn't imagine riding my Vespa without having had it first.

What is that?
Age restrictions?
The nerve of them !!!!
I have the urge to give them a piece of my mind....

oh, nightwing!

Anyway, Hiro.....
the 150cc's will do SHORT distance freeway. Like 5 miles or so without too much trouble for me.
the 200's...I've know people to go from San Francisco to Fresno, which is a few hundred miles, with a passenger too. But the top speed is somewhere in the high 70's.
I currently have a 250cc, and that one can do 90 on GPS after all the mods. Stock it was more like 82-83mph. I ride the Golden Gate bridge in a 15 mi each-way commute, and love love love how it performs.

You said you are doing a 3 mile stretch of highway. I would suggest starting with a 200 cc. Be aware that the out the door price on those is usually around $6500. A good used one will be a few thousand less, and generally, a used vespa that has been serviced on time is as rock solid reliable as a new one. Some times moreso, because you don't have to break it in

It seems like you are a very motivated guy and your reasons are sound. I am sure you will not be disappointed by a beautiful GTS250. I ride since the age of 14 (now I am 42) and still find it funnier and more practical to ride than drive a cage (as you yankees call them ), which I own and use very rarely.
In the future, you will very probably have time and money to buy a second-hand car for those occasions you can't do without.
A GTS 250 is comfortable, fast enough for commuting and travelling two-up, cheap to run and maintain, environmentally more friendly than 99% of the cars you can see around. Less parking problems. Good resale value. The girls generally love its looks (it's sooo cute...).

Safety first. Take a course, as others suggested, if this is your first experience on two-wheels.
Get appropriate gear and your ride will be comfortable and safe. These days you do not have to look like a Power Ranger to be safe and comfortable. Bike wear is getting more and more practical and elegant, and some of it is particularly meant for scootering and everyday usage.
Get a topcase for everyday shopping.
Get a mid-sized windscreen for comfort and for those rare rainy days in Texas (wow, you are lucky, I get under 0°C sometimes in winter, here...).
Join a club and ride happily!