Modern Vespa

I trialered my new GTS 300 home from the dealers yesterday,putting it in to the garage,i start work really early so took the car today,once finished work and the shopping done i decided to take the Vespa out for a ride.

The time was 5ish and i set off towards Watford town center,so as i could get involved in urban riding during the rush hour,first thing i needed to get used to was the fact it aint feet forward like my Burgman



and of course i'm not used to the small wheels YET.I was pleasently surprised by the smooth acceleration,i tend to filter a fair bit on the Burgman and the Harley,




so filtering on the Vespa was a breeze.I found the brakes to be good and to my delight the mirrors gave a good rear view.The Vespa has a higher seat hieght than my other rides,which came a a shock,but i can still have both feet on the ground when stopped.I found the seat to be comfortable,although i do miss the riders backrest,once i had done about 20 km's urban riding i headed for the country lanes,i was well behaved and took things easy,the short wheel base of the Vespa will take time to get used to.I am still going to keep the other two machines,so will have to have my wits about me when i use the other bikes as they are all completely different rides.I stayed clear of the motorways as i tend to be a bit heavy handed on the throttle.

I found i could'nt fit my helmet under the seat,but i have got a very large bonce,but i found i could fit 6 bottles of Pear cider and a portion of fish and chips under the seat easy enough

I enjoyed my first 40 km's and look forward to many more,i think a chrome rack on the front is called for and i already have the rubber mat in the footwell to protect the paint work.

Steve

A little something is missing from your post. Let's see, you posted a photo of your Burgman and then a photo of your Harley. Where's the new Vespa.

Benny,

There is already a photo in a previous thread i started.......but just for you,here's another



Steve

by gentleman's bet ... the burger will be gone by spring of next year 8) , ask me how i know

Hmm... You could be right. No 'soul' unlike the HD and the GTS.

Steve, you'd love being tail-gunner on the GTS, even on the more spirited rides.

At this moment in time i intend to keep the Burgman and the Hog,with the little Vespa tucked inbetween them,luckily enough i have no-one hounding me about the amount of bikes i have

Steve

I need to get used to reading the odometer in km's,600 miles should see the odometer reading just under a 1000 km's if i've worked it out correctly,then it'll be time for the first service

Steve

You don't have to work it out Steve, the first service is at 1000km - the 600 miles thing is just a rough approximation for us flat-earthers.

Ooow, sweet HOG

Much better, thanks for posting the GTS photo here. It just didn't seem right without it.

Take the rubber floor mat off, dust/grit and all sorts of shit gets trapped behind it, and knackers the paintwork up big time. Get yourself the genuine vespa screen on too, clear or tinted, makes a lot of difference

oh dear oh dear me......i am getting to like this little gts 300,what a little gem,been out for a few miles after work,just to get the feel of it.Going from a big wheeled machine to one with somewhat smaller wheels is becoming easier now,i am starting to get round corners a tad faster.I am yet to do any motorway/freeway riding,unsure how i will get on with the buffeting as my other bikes have windshields to give me protection.

When i pull away,i am still in the habit of trying to put my feet forward(perhaps i need a set of highway pegs )and the black is nice,but definetly needs to be broken up a bit with either a decal or that chrome front rack,so long as the Vespa chrome is not as dear as the Harley chrome,i'll go for the rack.

I had to take the Harley in to the dealers today for a warranty issue,the lacquer on the front forks was peeling away,so i did a deal with them,they needed to take most of the front end off to replace the off-side leg,so i've got them to put a chrome front end which i paid for and they will fit it for free.

Steve

Your HOG is becoming a bathroom radiator!

Won't be at the Ace on Saturday - hooning about in Luxembourg - but *do* bring the "Little Gem" Saturday next week.

Jim,

Have a good weekend......i hope to be at the Ace this Saturday,but lots going on my end,Barry wants to see the little GTS,the Hog might be on its way out,if i can do a deal with the dealer,looks like i am on the move,so i am having a massive clear out,both trailers are going on e bay soon.This time i am buying a place,so the Hog money will help to go towards a big deposit and a small residue mortgage,i'll tell you in more detail when you do get up in time for an Ace breakfast

Steve