Modern Vespa

Along with my new Corazzo 5.0 jacket today, I picked up a Piaggio/Vespa full-size wind screen. Since I purchased the bike in early August, I've use the small Piaggio/Vespa fly screen. The fly screen is nice enough, but I wanted to see how the other screens functioned.

My first try a month or so ago was with a mid-size Faco screen. I purchased it from a fellow MV member, received it in due course, installed it, and took a ride. I absolutely hated the thing and went back home and took it right off and re-installed the fly screen. Problem was the narrowness of the screen and it's height. I'm 6'3" (about 195cm) and the full force of the wind hit me square in the helmet. Awful! And due to its narrow width, I not only got blasted from over the top of the screen, but from the sides also.

When I got home today, I installed the full-size screen and took the first excuse to get out on the road to try it out. I fully expected to have to cut it down as a lot of fellow MV members have done with theirs.

Bottom line...I love this screen. It is tall enough, even for me, that all the wind goes over my helmet. I do have to look through the screen to see the road. My eyes hit the screen near the top, about four or five inches from the top. The screen is wide enough that the wind deflection goes around my body, and I sit as far back as that stupid seat will allow me, sans modification of the hump.

I can actually hear the engine now! Before, all I could hear was wind noise. Now? Well, it's nice to hear the wind-up of the engine and draw down as the bike coasts and slows to a stop at a light. Kinda cool.

Should note that I live in an area with a persistent wind, but there was none today. My riding today was in calm weather. Another day? Will be another story, I'm sure.

I like this screen and will keep it installed until either the weather turns warm again or the wind makes riding too unsettling. I'm not planning on cutting it down either, (at this time). Those crafty Italians must be on to something! Almost all the bikes you see in Italy have some type of wind screen on them, and the overwhelming majority of them are full-sized screens.

Good review, thanks. I was thinking of getting one myself and was curious how it worked with a taller rider!

Thanks!

You're welcome. Screen is not as ugly as I though it would be either. Has a nice rake to it. Flows with the lines of the leg shield. I'm pretty convinced about Vespas...OEM parts are best.

One thing some have complained about - during the summer, it sometimes gets hot due to lack of air flow. Perhaps too late to test that this season, but might be interesting for you when the weather warms up. How much did you pay if you don't mind me asking?

Fully agree, although I like the full-size looks less than than small-size it is a great ride!
No wind noise, no bugs, open helmet-no glasses, able to communicate with passenger (even on speeds 60+ mph).

One minus, on highways when behind trucks the turbulence is bigger, this gives a more shaky ride

Thanks for the review. Looking forward to your impressions as you experience it in other conditions.

I had almost exactly the same experience yesterday. I had the small Vespa wind screen installed and just yesterday my tall one came in the mail! I put it on in about 10 minutes and was out on the road. I too love it and I think it will probably stay on all the time. I did get enough wind around the sides of the screen that I don't think it will be too hot in the summer. Funny thing is I noticed the same thing about hearing the engine. There was no wind noise to drown it out other than an anoying whistle that I now have. I did take it on the hiway where I could open it up and I did feel some buffetting when an SUV got infront of me and I was picking up his turbulence.

I like the look of the tall screen but I am debating now whether to cut it down or leave it as is. For the time being I will leave it alone until I get some more ride time out of it.

As for price I paid 179.95 plus shipping from Vespa of the Ozarks in Rogers AR. So far they have been the fastest way for me to get Vespa parts.

I have a tall Cuppini windscreen that I cut down to 17". Then, I installed a Laminar Lip on it direct the wind up, over (and around the sides). Works like a charm and I easily look over the top & down the road in front of me which I like. Just a little wind with zero turbulence. I did the same thing on my wife's GTS.............she love's it.

I have the tall Faco shield and put it on as soon as I bought the scoot. Of course that was in December of '06. I thougth I would put on a fly screen in the summer but two summer's have gone by without the change. At 6' I cut around 8" off the top. You should look over the screen. If you don't ride in rain I guess it won't matter. I take some pretty long tours so the tall shield is a back saver.

That seat hump is a real pain. I need about 2-3 inches more room. I'am thinking of getting a Mayer seat made.

Which type of lip did you use?

Thank you for a good review.

I am short - 5'4' and have been worried that I will be banging my head against a tall screen when putting 250 GTS on and off of center stand. So I keep reading and reading.

There was a fly screen on the Vespa that I test rode last spring and at the time I thought all that it did was add a vibration noise to the ride. Any thoughts on that?

I hate mine, and wish it was much smaller.

I may be doing the cut down, or maybe swapping somebody.

Thanks for the review Steven. I think there'll be one of these in my future.

What kind of cup holder do you have on your scoot??

What kind of cup holder do you have on your scoot??

I cut mine down using a Dremel tool with a cutting wheel. (Did it while the screen was on the bike!) It came out okay; the edges did come out a little rough, but since I found it too difficult to sand them smooth, I used car door edge black moulding all around the whole screen. It hides any cutting burrs and smooths out the edges, so the screen now looks rather neat IMO!

It's now about nose high, which allows me to look over it without a lot of wind blast, although of course there is some.

It all depends on your size, I have always had the tallest windscreens
available on all my Vespas, I'm 6'5" at 270lbs. The ride without my
shield is hard on my back and neck. I have had many
rocks bounce off the tall windshield right at eye level.
You can purchase a tall
windshield from SCOOTERWORKS out of Chicago for $125.00
or so, many models to choose from on-line. My first Vespa was a
2003 ET4 and I got 25,000 miles on it within 4 years and then I saw the GTS 250ie I now
ride in Santa Barbara last year during Endless Summer scooter rally.
Within one year I had 9,765 Miles on it. I took my seat into an Upholstery
shop and had them use Marine Vinyl ( which keeps cool during hot days ) and add 1" more foam higher for
comfort of ride. I had them fill in in low area for comfort too.
The shield doesn't slow me down, 85mph too. COST:
$250.00 same day service. In Huntington Beach on Beach Blvd it's BILL
DUNN.

Yardsale 8)

Most people don't like the taller windscreens but I wold not own a scooter without one.

Alright, I am gonna get one probably in the spring. Not to hot on the look, but hell, it seems to be very functional!

Flying Helmets..

Your seat looks fantastic! There is just something so clean looking about yellow and white together. Do I understand that you only paid $250 for your seat modification? If so, I want to take a trip down to the beach to see your bike and seat. Then, I'll drive over to your shop. I too want a "flat" seat that gives enough comfort for a more than one-hour ride.

The beach is fairly cool in the summer. Have you ridden inland? How "sticky" is the seat in the warmer weather? Is it "breathable"? I like the idea of durable marine grade vinyl, but my legs sweated enough this summer with the OEM seat fabric.

I have no idea,

I bought this with 200 miles on it, so the windshield and cup holder were not my purchases. It works great though.