Modern Vespa

Hi Gang, Greg here. I lurk on this site all the time, have only posted once before, but I read your stuff all the time!

My wife and I have had an LX-150 for a couple of years now...I bought it for her birthday, she didn't like it much (was scared), but then she started liking/riding it a lot more. When the 300 Super came out, I went out and bought one, and have put about a thousand miles on it in the past few months. Some impressions:

- I love this scooter, but have seen some of the same quality problems others have noted... my chrome horn covers are peeling off, no rust problems (I'm in Sacramento, CA), but the paint doesn't look quite as snappy as the 150's, etc.

- There is no way you will do a wheelie on this thing. It's got good grunt, and you'll almost always out-accelerate cars from the lights, but you're not going to get the front wheel up.

- I ride with a messenger bag over my shoulder with my laptop in it. This works great... even on the freeway. I was concerned about wind and buffeting, but it just sits solid back there and is happy.

- I have an open faced helmet (I know, I know...), and buying earplugs was the best investment I made. My commute is only 12 miles on the slab, but the wind noise (no windscreen) was unbelievable.

- This scooter can keep up in traffic and keep you out of trouble, but you have to help it by avoiding trouble. I don't go in the fast lane much, I stay out of blind spots, I avoid the wakes of big trucks. The little wheels just aren't all that stable, and I get a little wobbling sometimes. It's unnerving at first ... that pavement is going by really fast. But you get used to it and it's part of the "charm".

- I might get a small windscreen for my scoot if I keep taking it on the freeway. Even at 12 miles a day, the wind is impressive. The Harley guys all look cool with their fists in the air on the ape hangers, but it's tiring the be leaning into that wind all the time. Helps the abs though.

- Speedo is optimistic. And that's fine... it seems to be 10-12% fast. It's hard to get an accurate comparison because my GPS watch has a little bit of a delay in its readings.

- The freeway was really scary/unnerving at first, but not anymore. It just takes practice and some confidence building to get used to it. Get used to the wind pressure, get the ear plugs, accept the wobble, and everything is good.

- Something was off in the Suspension/tire pressure when I first got the scoot. It felt like a lateral movement over the rear wheel. It happened more with a passenger, and especially in turns. So I cranked up (stiffened) the suspension, and inflated the tires properly. I haven't felt it since.

I think that's it for first impressions! I figured it was time to stop lurking and start contributing.

Now, off I go in search of a snappy Avatar.

Greg

Welcome to MV...

These are just my opinions only:

1. Full face helmet, this is going to start a debate...please it's my opinion only. Earplugs yes...it does help reduce the ambient noise level but not to a point where you block everything out.

2. Windscreen: I have a flyscreen and although I thought it really wouldn't help it does deflect the wind from my chest and buffets head a little. Am considering a mid-size as I believe this would deflect up and over head. I attempted to get confirmation on this and perhaps more will chime in...I'm 5'8".

3. According to most posts...speedo is ~ 10% high.

4. Aside from freeway riding...would recommend practicing winding roads to condition yourself on using your head and eyes (looking into turn), postion in lane upon approach of a turn and counter steering.

5. Armor? / riding shoes (ankle high)? / gloves?

hi greg, glad you've finally started posting

a short to mid-sized windscreen makes a huge difference at freeway speeds. i don't have much upper body strength and i couldn't ride for any distance without one

Genie may be right.

My BV 500 has only the tiniest of windscreens and I am always on the freeway. It takes some getting used to but once you get there, it feels pretty good.

After being beat up the other day in high winds, I am now seriously considering getting one.

I only hesitate since I know the dang thing may cut off my view of the road.

I sit tall and most windscreens just annoy me by creating a line right through my vision and I need to see!

I may have to get a tall windscreen and cut it down to custom fit my height. Does anyone know where the windscreen should be in your field of vision? Should the edge lie above the road or should it obscure it at all? Kinda a weird question, I am sure. But I am afraid I will have to have a tall screen and it will dork up my ride.

Also, the whole, "windscreen becomes a sail" idea kinda puts me off. Is there any merit to that thought?

I fully agree with the others that a flyscreen makes the ride at highway speeds much more comfortable. Without the flyscreen the wind makes you feel like you're going to fly off the scooter. I've never tried mid sized screen so I cannot compare but I know that I wouldn't ride on the freeway without at least a flyscreeen.

Things that will make a difference:

1. Windscreen/Flyscreen; will shield your body from the wind.
2. Helmet: at least a 3/4 helmet with ears and full face shield will cut down on noise and wind resistance.
3. Top case and bar end weights: will help with stability and decrease the "jet wash" from passing cars & trucks.
4. Adjust suspension on both rear shocks to the firmest setting (you already did this) and it will keep you from bouncing over the bumps in the road and make the ride firmer.

Good luck and enjoy! I really like the 300S and take it everywhere!

OK, let's consider this thread Hijacked...

Below is a pic of my old BV 500 with the Piaggio windscreen. If you measure the size of the headlight (height) and multiply by 1.5, that figure is about where the top of the windshield was in relation to the top of the headlight.

Measure where a windshield should sit in your field of vision by following the link below (about the middle of the linked page). You should be able to get a pretty good idea how that windshield would work for you.

I'm about 5'9" (and don't sit with the best posture all the time) and found that windscreen to do a terrific job. It never displayed any 'sail' tendencies, just made the highway ride about 500% better. It wasn't so big that it blocked too much air on hot days either.

http://www.calsci.com/motorcycleinfo/Fairing.html#Windshield





Dave

I'd been driving my 300S on the highway without a wind screen, but have now added a standard vespa fly screen and it has made a world of difference. The ride is so much more comfortable. I considered a mid-size but the reports of a big increase in noise is what made me choose the fly-screen instead.

You will be impressed with the speed increase and the "tuck in behind" the flyscreen.
have fun , ride safe.

Thanks Chetwynder,

Once again you have saved my butt. That link on fly screens was awesome and all the info you could ever want.

Saving butts is what I do... I've got a big box of 'em out in the garage.