Modern Vespa

Hi everyone, I'm looking to buy my first scooter. I've own modern and vintage motorcycles, and a Benelli scooter when I was a kid in the 60s. I'll be moving next week to a town house in Gettysburg Pa. that is within 1/2 mile of my studio (I'm a photographer) so A scooter seems perfect. I've test driven a couple New Vespas. I had my eye on the 150, then I took the 250 for a spin. WOW ! I was really impressed. My wife will be a passenger sometimes, so I figure the extra power will come in handy. I really like the looks of the old 1960s models, is it worth looking into vintage as reliable transportation or are the new Vespa that much better?

Welcome. Personally i think the modern would be a great start with a vintage to follow The 250 automatic like you said is perfect for what you want. In fact a 200 would work as well but they aren't made anymore but there might be some lurking at a dealer in your area. If you have motorcycles you could go for the lower cc scooter to enjoy the back roads at lower speeds kind of pace. I have a 150 which is all i need. I take the long way around and really don't have a need to do freeway riding. Might want to check craigslist in your area since there have been some good used buys out there. Surprisingly! Whatever you get be sure to do a test ride to see if it's the ride for you. Many people have or have had MC'S on this forum. Good luck with your hunt

Welcome! If you plan to commute, I'd think modern would be the way to go. Like Judy said, see if you can find a deal on a low mileage GT200. I see lots of them on eBay and craigslist.org is a good resource as well. The GT200 has an analog instrument panel (except for the clock) and gives you a bit of the vintage look without the need for constant babying that comes along with vintage in many cases.

Later, get a great vintage for the weekend rally scene.

Hi Rob. Welcome! Glad to hear you are looking into the world of scootering. To touch directly on the points you've made, the 150cc (LX or S - differences are for the most part cosmetic in nature) is an awesome way to get started in the Vespa bug. I own an LX150, so I must disclose that I'm a bit biased, but I think it's the perfect all-around-do-everything scooter. It's light, nimble, powerful enough to get you around just about any city road (and many highways), is mechanically less complex than the GTS (carbed and oil cooled vs. EFI and water cooled), and in some ways has a greater storage capacity out of the box. The underseat storage compartment, or "pet carrier" as we like to call it here on MV (from the NO PETS sticker inside), of the LX will hold many full-face helmets and just about any 3/4 or 1/2 bucket. The GTS's pet carrier has 2 ridges that cut into the storage space and limit the helmets you can get in there. As always, helmet size and outer diameter is the big determining factor, but I couldn't get my 3/4 under the seat of a GTS I test drove, and that was a big turnoff for me.

However, because you mentioned that you might want to take your wife as a passenger, I'm going to recommend the GTS, as you WILL want to double-up. She'll want to, as well, and the GTS is just better suited for that duty. I've done 100-mile days 2-up with my wife on the LX and we managed just fine, but I'd be lying if I said there weren't times where I yearned for a little more power. The GTS is moderately bigger than the LX, and they have a few more quirks (a steering "wobble" at certain speeds, possibly due to certain tires from the factory, exhaust manifold issues, and other associated gremlins that pop up in water-cooled, EFI vehicles), but I'd still love to own one some day. The LX/S series of Vespas really just doesn't seem to have any issues, save for a squeaky swingarm bushing that popped up on certain 07's and 08's.

I'll let the folks who have more vintage Vespa experience touch on the questions you have regarding them, but I'd be inclined to say that - when properly set up and maintained - they can be just as reliable as a modern bike. I know many people just up the road in S.F. use them to commute daily. I think it's just a matter of comfort with getting your hands dirty from time to time, possibly on your way to work in a rainstorm.

Thanks for the quick reply, When did they stop making the 200s. Are parts still available ?

GT200s were released up through model year 2008. Parts availability should not be a problem, though it's best to source accessories like top cases sooner rather than later.

Last year and parts are still available without any problems. Here in Hawaii all the gang has 200's but me with a 150 and a 250 on kaui. I would have a 200 if i used the freeway. Personally i like it better than the 250.

Judy, what makes it better.

I have a GT200..It's great for solo or tandem and any speed! I believe it is a modern classic in the making! That said, go with your gut! If you like the "vintage" Vespa (and there is nothing wrong with that) look and feel, run with that as well! you can't go wrong either way. I guess it just depends on if your a "wrencher" or not. IMHO

BOB what QUIPMC said and i like the way it looks better. I look at the extra 50cc you get with a 250 as not that big of a deal. The 200 preforms as well as the 250. I guess when they came out with the 300 this year they got rid of the 200. Seems everybody wants more power. To me it takes all the fun out of scootering. If you want fast get a MC ( which you have). IMHO.

The GTS250 is a restyled Vespa GT200 with digital gauges instead of analog and many folks (myself incuded) prefer the analog gauges for reasons like the more classic look and the fact they're easier to read in bright sunlight.

There are other differences in the body, rack, centerstand, seat, etc. I'll let the anoraks amongst us respond on those elements. (And I say anoraks in the kindest, gentlest, most loving way.)

I'm the person with the GTV 250 on Kauai that judi was talking about. I got the GTV 250 because I like the vintage looks and because the highest speed here on any road is 50 mph. The 250 thinks that 50 mph is no big deal, which is really good for me because our main road is two lanes, and I need to be able to stay up with the flow of traffic without any trouble to get anywhere meaningful here, meaning that sometimes I need to step it up a bit. That is, unless I want to invest in a trailer for my scooter in order to get it to the shop for regular maintenance, which I don't.

So, in a nutshell, I like the vintage styling of the GTV, and the little extra oomph of the 250. But I think that the 150s are super, and I wouldn't mind having one at all if it weren't for this significant stretch of road right out the front gate of the Navy base on which I live where people pass me with visible frustration if I'm a hair below 50 mph.

Hi all, first time poster here.

retro rob,

firstly, like the name dude

now, here's my suggestion...

get a 150 for the wifey (S because that square head is oh so sexy)

and a 250 for yourself (GTV for the single seats and the fender mounted headlamp - to quelch your longing for the classic look)

everybody wins, eh?