Modern Vespa

The seat was from a 300.

Purely a case of editing...but thanks for catching it...going to watch it again...gotta admit the production process was impressive...and to tools...

As with the other "How it's Made" segments, they are showing a variety of models being made, using various clips and putting them together (as in the 5 different models of waterheaters). The processes are similar enough and the average person isn't looking for differences between 150s and 300s. For an eight minute segment, give or take, they did all right.

Just think of it as a school field trip.

great episode/story on vespas without ever mentioning the name. there were definitely several scooters being shown in production. though the later scooter looked like a 300 with the body and trim, i noticed on some european vespa sites, ie. italy, uk, that they build a 125 looking like the US version of the 300. it seems like they don't need or want all that power in many countries.

we in typical american style like things larger and more powerful. since i'm on the west coast the episode started at 6:30 pm yesterday.

I don't think it played here in the Bay Area...

If someone ever has a link, please post.

The white scooter that the camera was following also had venting in the side cowls (in addition to the front end) made me think it was a 300.

Yep. I'm on my third one now.

They did - I watched it on the Science Channel (Comcast) last night @ 9:00. Decorative wooden boxes & hot water heaters were the other items featured on the show. The Vespa factory was the last one before it ended.

It's probably more to do with the licensing laws in a lot of Europe. Many countries there have multiple classes of motorcycle licenses. I'm not sure exactly where all the boundries on these classes are, and how many they have, but I know one of the most common is a license that goes up to 125cc. Many people don't want to bother with the testing that would allow them to get a larger scooter, so the scooter manufacturers make sure those riders can get the biggest engine they're allowed.

Here in the US, some states have laws about no bikes under 150cc being allowed on freeways. So they send us scooters juuuuuust big enough to comply with those laws.

It was just OK to me. As noted; too short, jumbled editing, and super clean assembly line. BTW, did it look like it was in China? The rumors around here was that the 200 was the "Last Vespa made in Italy".

Pretty cool, if brief.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94aBbj3XrUs

cheers

I just bumped in to this over at http://whoridesavespa.com/2009/08/15/vespa-how-its-made/ and I was going to post it here, then I realize you already did so. Great little video.

Thanks WoodenHead, and Tunin for posting the link to the episode, I do not get that channel so I missed seeing the episode. how it is made is re-aired on Discovery but no telling when it will air. It probably did and I missed it. So now I have seen the episode, and your right too quick, and messed up on the engine. It was a liquid cooled engine going into a 300. They just got the narrator script off.

and Pres. Obama is a Muslim and was born in Africa too, right?
Unless they imported a boatload of Italians to Bejing, it sure don't look like an asian factory.

You can also buy this episode on iTunes for .99 cents, I think. I bought it a long time ago, so I don't remember the exact price.