On going to the Piaggio/Vespa dealer, they were like most European vehicle sales people here in the Islands - rude, indifferent & unknowledgeable of the products they sold. Selling their product (Vespas) was just a job and they'd be as happy to sell apples if they made more money and had longer break times - their product was not a passion of theirs. I would never consider getting a Vespa if it were not for the "support staff" of ModernVespa people and I confess that there was a slight nudge inside of me that said, "Ditch the Vespa and go to a knowledgeable, friendly & helpful dealer like Honda or Suzuki." However, I patiently waited as the salesman finished text messaging & calling friends, overlooked his frustrated look when I asked if I might inquire about buying a Vespa and preceded with my list of questions. I confess I considered a 125cc PX as option one, but not a one on the market here in Tenerife. I also considered a 125cc MP3, but its size would have been impossible for parking in my spot under my flat snug tight with an Opel Zafira in the spot too. I was excited to learn that the Vespa LX 125 had not gone up in price in a year and a half when at the dealer! I got nervous when I learned that there were only 3, only 3! LX 125s in the whole Island of one million people, many of which drive scooters! The economy is driving people to buy cheap Chinese scooters or the Vespa dealer needs help in sales! I wanted a white one and thankfully there was one white one at a scooter in shop a ½ hour away! I would have waited a couple months to order one in a color I would like.
I was excited to see that white LX after I made the half hour journey through steep winding roads to a little tiny town in the mountains. This scooter shop focused on modified 50cc racers and seemed rather perplexed that they even had a 125cc Vespa in their shop. They happily let me and my 7 year old son sit on it and play around with it and my 7 year old son too. I was sold! I told him to keep it on hold for me and I would contact the Vespa dealer to come and pick it up and prepare it.
On returning to the Vespa dealer he was happier to see me than before, especially since I had a third of the money in cash. I also ordered the side chrome protectors, front chrome protectors, the rear rack and a tall windshield for the winter. He also let me negotiate a little and through in a Piaggio hat, Vespa clock & Vespa calendar.
I drove to another location on the Island for the actual scooter pick up. The service person gave me a run through on the buttons and I was off on my first scooter trip ever for the ½ hour trip home. I first drove it around the block for several minutes to get the hang of the "feel." I had taken the MSF safety course on a 125cc Suzuki GN and that was really helpful!, but that was riding around on a perfectly flat parking lot, but I did have to manage a clutch! I anticipated the hills and traffic would be very nerve racking for me, but the greatest challenge was the very heavy winds! I have driven for 10 years in these steep hills & the traffic and I found the LX to be easier to handle and maneuver than a car! I really enjoyed its quick take off and its ability to jump into and out of traffic and round abouts.
The economic slump seems to be making scooter/motorcycle shops carry an even lower stock than normal and they barely carry any stock to begin with! I have a 3 week wait for the Piaggio items from the dealer and a 2 week wait for a chain, though I bought a disk lock with the cord doo hicky that connects up above so I don't try to drive off with it on. I bought a dust cover and have a GIVI topcase & soft saddlebags, Strebel horn, mud flap and some other misc. items waiting for me to mount them on.
QUESTION: The Euro version 2008 LX has its light stay on so the service guy said the spot for a "light turn off switch" is just a decoration. Do you think it is possible to wire up the Strebel horn to that switch on the right of the horn cast so I can have two horns? (I would have to buy the 2007 model switch as it is just a black plastic cover right now.) I assume it might not fit behind the horn cover and have to be mounted underneath?
Well, while in the States, I bought reflective striping (red, white & blue) from Canada & made #53 gumballs at Fed EX-Kinkos to convert him into a Herbie LX. With three sons and being a child of the 70s, Herbie was a hands down winner for personalizing the scooter. The reflective stripes were left in the States (bummer), but hope to get them in the mail in a couple weeks. I practiced with stripes on my HJC helmet and brought it with me to the Islands. I am enjoying free moments to get it all set up and now using it for work! THANK YOU all for your input and I deeply apologize for my poor job off keeping up with the website while traveling this last year. I hope to do better now! I will update with photos after I get it all mounted! I have sent along some photos from the first week or so (pre & post decals).
⚠️ Last edited by MATEO on UTC; edited 14 times
