OP
@kevink avatar
UTC

Addicted
MP3 500 (no - longer); 2008 Victory Vision (gone), 2012 Goldwing (gone), 2019 Wee-Strom (gone), 2024 Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro
Joined: UTC
Posts: 891
Location: Alpharetta, GA
 
Addicted
@kevink avatar
MP3 500 (no - longer); 2008 Victory Vision (gone), 2012 Goldwing (gone), 2019 Wee-Strom (gone), 2024 Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro
Joined: UTC
Posts: 891
Location: Alpharetta, GA
UTC quote
Okay,

My son and I are looking to take a trip next year to ride the Swiss Alps and go through Germany, maybe Austria. My son rides a Vespa and I ride an MP3.

I have searched the forum and found a few threads (most years old) on rental, but the rentals seem to be local to the city.

Are there any rental places to rent Vespa's that we can take through parts of Europe?

Any advice on this?
@jimc avatar
UTC

Moderaptor
The Hornet (GT200, aka Love Bug) and 'Dimples' - a GTS 300
Joined: UTC
Posts: 44566
Location: Pleasant Hill, CA
 
Moderaptor
@jimc avatar
The Hornet (GT200, aka Love Bug) and 'Dimples' - a GTS 300
Joined: UTC
Posts: 44566
Location: Pleasant Hill, CA
UTC quote
Nearly everywhere in the EU will rent 125's - but renting larger cc'd bikes can be problematic. Rental in the UK is practically non-existent, mostly because of insurance problems.
UTC

Member
2009 GTS 250 Super
Joined: UTC
Posts: 30
Location: Atlanta, GA
 
Member
2009 GTS 250 Super
Joined: UTC
Posts: 30
Location: Atlanta, GA
UTC quote
It's the son here, chiming in - We're thinking of starting in either northern Italy (milan area? a nice excursion to the Piaggio Museum?) and going up through the alps in a big loop through Switzerland, southern Germany, Austria, and back... maybe starting in Munich or another city if it's a better fit. Either way, we need to be able to take the scoots across international borders, and didn't know if that would be an issue.

We found several places that rent 125cc scoots, but they seemed more local in nature than what we're planning. I ride a 250 GTS Super, and my Dad an MP3 500. Ideally we could rent those exact models, but we'd be happy with anything in the 250 category (GTS, MP3, etc...)

We also looked at several of the hosted/guided scooter tours, but we're looking for a bit more of an adventure than that. We also need way less pampering

My concern about a 125 is taking it up in the alps... do we need more power and comfort for that big of an undertaking? My thoughts are that we do.

Any advice or connections you can give us would be helpful. Thanks!
UTC

Banned
GTS 250ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 33
 
Banned
GTS 250ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 33
UTC quote
dkimball wrote:
It's the son here, chiming in - We're thinking of starting in either northern Italy (milan area? a nice excursion to the Piaggio Museum?) and going up through the alps in a big loop through Switzerland, southern Germany, Austria, and back... maybe starting in Munich or another city if it's a better fit. Either way, we need to be able to take the scoots across international borders, and didn't know if that would be an issue.

We found several places that rent 125cc scoots, but they seemed more local in nature than what we're planning. I ride a 250 GTS Super, and my Dad an MP3 500. Ideally we could rent those exact models, but we'd be happy with anything in the 250 category (GTS, MP3, etc...)

We also looked at several of the hosted/guided scooter tours, but we're looking for a bit more of an adventure than that. We also need way less pampering

My concern about a 125 is taking it up in the alps... do we need more power and comfort for that big of an undertaking? My thoughts are that we do.

Any advice or connections you can give us would be helpful. Thanks!
My brother and sister in law live just outside Milan I could ask them if they know of anything let me know.
@aviator47 avatar
UTC

Moderator
2006 PX 150 & Malossi Kitted Malaguti Yesterday (Wife's)
Joined: UTC
Posts: 12955
Location: Paros Island, Greece
 
Moderator
@aviator47 avatar
2006 PX 150 & Malossi Kitted Malaguti Yesterday (Wife's)
Joined: UTC
Posts: 12955
Location: Paros Island, Greece
UTC quote
There are numerous agencies renting to the motorcycle touring market, but not as much toward serious scooter touring. You can find maxi-scooters on some of the Italian motorcycle rental sites, mostly Honda Silverwings and the like.

You will probably need the kind of referral that milano offered. Most web based rental advertising is toward the larger, "staying in the local area" market, which means 125cc. These folks mention 200cc Vespas http://www.mototouring.com/index.php?id=17&catId=8

When do you plan to go? If it doesn't conflict with the Bella Italia rally, the agency we are using might be able to assist. Don't know if they have anything over 250cc, however.

Al
UTC

Member
2009 GTS 250 Super
Joined: UTC
Posts: 30
Location: Atlanta, GA
 
Member
2009 GTS 250 Super
Joined: UTC
Posts: 30
Location: Atlanta, GA
UTC quote
Milano - any help would be appreciated. We're planning for next summer... not sure of the exact time, but we would need the alps to be snow-free... so sometime either late may, or later, in July... We can be flexible.
OP
@kevink avatar
UTC

Addicted
MP3 500 (no - longer); 2008 Victory Vision (gone), 2012 Goldwing (gone), 2019 Wee-Strom (gone), 2024 Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro
Joined: UTC
Posts: 891
Location: Alpharetta, GA
 
Addicted
@kevink avatar
MP3 500 (no - longer); 2008 Victory Vision (gone), 2012 Goldwing (gone), 2019 Wee-Strom (gone), 2024 Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro
Joined: UTC
Posts: 891
Location: Alpharetta, GA
UTC quote
Any personal recommendations are greatly appreciated because it let's your local dealer know that good service results in more business.

As dkimball stated, our travel plans are flexible.
UTC

Banned
GTS 250ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 33
 
Banned
GTS 250ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 33
UTC quote
dkimball wrote:
Milano - any help would be appreciated. We're planning for next summer... not sure of the exact time, but we would need the alps to be snow-free... so sometime either late may, or later, in July... We can be flexible.
Sure I will see what I can find out. In my opinion late May early June would be an ideal time to go not to hot and not so much traffic I would not go in August central europe is on holiday then and it can be chaos Crying or Very sad emoticon

From what little i know i think that hiring a bigger ride is not so much a problem but taking it over boarders might be (not sure).If in fact this is the case then maybe my nieces would know friends ect who would be prepared to loan/rent that would leave just the insurance for you to sort out either from home or even maybe local.

I need to ask my brother in law what he knows there is soooo much red tape in Italy to deal with Wha? emoticon but there also seems to be a way around it you just need to know the system

I have done the trip you want to do but only in a car all i can say is it was absolutely stunning !
@aviator47 avatar
UTC

Moderator
2006 PX 150 & Malossi Kitted Malaguti Yesterday (Wife's)
Joined: UTC
Posts: 12955
Location: Paros Island, Greece
 
Moderator
@aviator47 avatar
2006 PX 150 & Malossi Kitted Malaguti Yesterday (Wife's)
Joined: UTC
Posts: 12955
Location: Paros Island, Greece
UTC quote
To cross borders, you would need what's commonly referred to as a "green card" verifying the countries in which the third party insurance is valid. Not a big deal with "normal" insurance, but possibly rental companies do not carry that coverage. You'd have to make arrangements in advance, as green cards are usually issued on a case by case basis. Took us a week to get ours for this trip: https://modernvespa.com/forum/topic34379.

We were stopped by local Italian police once for an illegal turn, and they specifically asked for our "green papers" (both scooters are, of course, registered in Greece).

Plan ahead and it should be possible. All you need to find is a rental place willing to let their scooters be that far away from home.

Or join us for a less ambitious trip that promises to be fun, and does include Pontedera. Laughing emoticon

Al
DoubleGood Design banner

Modern Vespa is the premier site for modern Vespa and Piaggio scooters. Vespa GTS300, GTS250, GTV, GT200, LX150, LXS, ET4, ET2, MP3, Fuoco, Elettrica and more.

Buy Me A Coffee
 

Shop on Amazon with Modern Vespa

Modern Vespa is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com


All Content Copyright 2005-2025 by Modern Vespa.
All Rights Reserved.


[ Time: 0.0157s ][ Queries: 3 (0.0057s) ][ live ][ 327 ][ ThingOne ]