Modern Vespa

Hi all,

I've been lurking here for a bit, and I think this weekend I'll drive a couple of hours south of town to check out a nearby Vespa dealership.

I'm pretty much set on a Vespa S150, so the hard part is done. They have a white 150 in stock, 2009 model...but it is not fuel injected. I'd read that the newer ones were supposed to have this.

My question is...does this really matter for a commuter? Should I wait, or should I go for the one they have in stock?

While I'm asking questions, I might ask a second DUMB question....which lever operates the front brake on a Vespa? I've been riding/racing mountain bikes (bicycles) for a long time, and I've got a lot of front/rear braking instincts I'll have to break (ha ha) if for some reason the levers are switched around on these machines.

Thanks,
-Raj

The front brake is the right one.

As for fuel injection......
Can of worms!
I like fuel injection, so if I were you, I would find a second hand 150cc scooter to learn on for a season or so, then buy your LX150ie when they come available (maybe next summer??).


Harvey

Your bicycle instincts are safe. Right=front, left=rear brake.

Carb has more manual tweaks on occasion, but isn't nearly so susceptible to 'computer errors' as the fuel injected models are. Though to be fair, most of them report slightly less problems than the carbed ones - allegedly!

The newest incarnation of the 150cc Vespas do have fuel injection... but I don't think anyone knows when we'll see them in the US just yet. It could be tomorrow, it could be next year. Unless your dealer can give you an idea of when they can definately get a fuel injected model in stock, you might as well buy one that's already there.

And what Jim said is right. The fuel injected models should typically have less problems... but they're also more complex. So in the rare case something does go majorly wrong with the engine, it won't be nearly as easy (or as cheap) to fix as on a carb model.

Yup, we don't know when the fuel injected models might actually make it to North America. If you have your mind set on getting an S150, then just go for it. If you are the type to want the newest and best, then as Harvey suggested, pickup a used one now, then sell it when the fuel injected models are released so you don't take such a big hit on the selling of your used bike.

Jeeves

Welcome to the show. I hope you find this web site to your liking.

Paul

Thank you all for the great information. I think I like the idea of "easy to fix" as well. I would eventually like to start learning a little about maintaining the little beastie myself. I suppose it also makes sense not to be the first on the block with a new engine as well!

This weekend will be my first trip to look at the bikes, and if I decide I want one (and costs get approved by my understanding wife!) I'll start down the path of taking the MSF course and getting licensing. I'm very excited about the prospect of a Vespa at the moment.

I am really enjoying my time on the site - I visit it a few times a day now...and I'm soaking in all of the information that I can manage. My thanks to all of you that contribute here.

-Raj

+1 on buying a used 150. There are lots of great deals out there on low mileage scooters. Ride it a year then decide what to do next. My bet is you'll want something faster next time like a GTS 250 or 300. So what I'm saying is don't spend a bunch of $$ on a new 150 when a used one will do just fine and you won't take a big hit in the pocket. Ride it a year and then either sell it or pass it on to your wife. Then go out and get a 250 or 300. My .02:)

You should get a new S150 now... until Sept 30th you will get $500 off from Piaggio automatically, more than you would get at any other time.
So what if it is not F.I?
My 8 year old Vespa is not and have not had any problems with it.

Buy the 150 now. You'll never get a better deal on a new one if you go that route. Prices for low-mileage used ones around here aren't so low that I'd go that route rather than just buying new and getting the warranty as well as an engine I can break in myself.

You will fall in love with the 150. Then, if you stick around on the forum long enough, you can join the legion of happy 150 owners who appreciate them for their light weight, zippiness, maneuverability and small size. Hopefully, like me, you'll just smirk knowingly at the frequent suggestions (usually from someone who paid thousands more for something admittedly faster but bigger that doesn't handle as well and offers few real-world riding benefits over a 150 unless you're getting on a freeway) that owners of 150s all aspire to own a 250 or 300 instead of a 150. We know better.

Aloha and go for the 150. I'm biased of course but they are a great scooter. Good for parking around C'ville. Lived there for a few years in the 80's when i ran the burn center at UVA hospital. I would also go new. Good luck and keep us posted on what you finally get.

I hate to contradict Jim, but on a bicycle (Merkin (Jim-talk for American ) bikes anyway) the right lever is the rear brake, and the left lever is the front brake. When I started riding a scooter, its set-up made sense relative to motorcycles, but awkward I thought relative to bicycles, which had been the only two wheelers I was riding. So be mindful of your instincts. Review lock-up procedures just in case.

Interesting. From:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_brake_systems

I never knew that! Thanks.

------------
It is customary to place the front brake lever on the left in right-side-driving countries, and vice versa,[19] because the hand on the side nearer the centre of the road is more commonly used for hand signals, and the rear brake can not pitch the bicyclist forward. However, a skilful bicyclist does better with the front brake on the side that is less often used for hand signals. In an emergency situation, operation of the brake has to be second nature; an unskilled bicyclist could find reversed brake levers confusing. Fortunately, it is usually easy to switch brake cables. The standard motorcycle configuration has the right-hand lever operating the front brake, and the left-hand lever operating the clutch. The levers are generally not easily reversed, leading to difficulties for a person who has learned on a bicycle with the front brake lever on the left.

------------

Good find Jim C...

I am one of those who still (after 3 years of scooter riding) have to constantly remind myself - left is rear brake, right is front brake - due to my couple of decades of bicycle riding and racing.

Someday (in that magical space of having 'extra time') I would love to figure out a way to switch my scooter brake levers around to feel more natural for myself...

Desi B.

You're welcome. I hope you gave me a thumbs-up. I am campaigning for a full target.

Oh! Good catch! I am terrible with right and left anyway, so I just took the answer at face value. No worries, though, that isn't going to dampen my enthusiasm much - I will just have to keep that in mind when starting out.

It would certainly be interesting if one could swap levers...but I imagine that this would be too involved for me...unless the 150 brakes are cable-actuated.

-Raj