Modern Vespa

If you ever find yourself under-appreciating your scooter, you should consider the alternatives, like an old car for the same money, or do what I did...

I have not had the H-D Roadking out for a while, given that the GTS seemed like a simpler, more convenient ride. And I really do enjoy the Roadking, it is a very nice ride, especially on country roads.

But I did finally get the Harley out this past weekend, and I was both surprised and appalled how cumbersome and loud and cranky and difficult the damn thing was to get up to 45 mph and ride around town and country. The GTS gets up to speed so much quicker and with so much less fuss and with more comfort.

Halfway through the ride, I was jonesing for the buzz of my little single cylinder wasp. I had previously thought of selling the H-D for a couple of reasons, including disuse, but after that Ride of Revelation, it is for sure on the way out. I might get another scooter...old school, or Stella...or...

Down where I live a person can google 'Craigslist', click on motercycles for sale, and find the thing loaded with Harley-Davidsons. Rarely have I seen a Vespa for sale, and I have yet to see a GT, or GTS. A friend of mine who owns a Motorcycle shop (repair and sales) said it had a great deal to do with the mid-life crisis thing. I don't know if that's true or not.

To be fair, there are about 500 Harleys sold (maybe more, Harley owns over 50% of the large bike market) for every Vespa in the US so there would be more in the classifieds.

Interesting. I love my Vespa GTS because it is so relaxing/unintimidating to ride but my Dyna (and Ducati etc) accelerates so much faster I don't even think of them in the same sentence.

What year is your RK? My Dyna is an 09 with the 96cube motor.

I did have a really horrible experience with a rental RK in Hawaii that was pure misery. It was old and just beat up (fault of the rental shop). My GTS would have eaten that thing alive!

Opps my bad muti tasking

Interesting! Desmolicious - do you go for long highway rides on your Dyna/Ducatis? I wonder if it's a comfort thing for longer rides since I see these poor guys riding down the freeway perched in odd ways on their fast bikes because they have been going for awhile...

There is also a cultural thing about harley's and road trips that is more widespread than just about any other bike...

I toured the Harley factory in York PA last month and was quite impressed. You got to sit on the bikes at the end of the tour. My favorite bike was the Road King Classic. Thanks for the insight as to how they ride.

+1
Sounds like your RK has some problems. When I hit the throttle full on, on my 09 1600cc HD, I can barely stay on the bike. I'm passed 45mph before I can even look down at the speedo. I love my GTS too, but there's no way it could keep up with the HD.

The local Harley Dealer let me borrow a 2009 Ultra-Glide for the day a couple of weeks ago. The wife and I put 260 miles on it between 11:00 A.M. and 6:00 P.M. It had more bells and whistles than I could even figure out on it. It was 96 cubic inches and very comfortable going down the road but a royal pain to navigate slowly with the wife on board. The center of gravity seemed too high to even be worth getting used to. I might be tempted to rent one once a year for a week long tandem run but you won't see one added to my stable. My GT200 is just so much more pleasant and convenient to manuever and fun to ride.
I am looking forward to riding the 2003 XL883R Sportster I bought about three weeks ago as soon as the dealer finishes rebuilding the transmission. Once I actually got it on the road after purchasing it I didn't like the way it was shifting between first and second gear and took it right back. They have been attempting to fix it ever since. It is on their dime and I hope they get it right and back to me soon before buyers remorse hits me too hard. The Sportster is totally impractical compared to the Vespa but still a lot of fun if you are prepared to travel light.

Cheers,
John

I've gone on numerous 500 mile day rides on my Ducati. It's the St4s which is the sport touring model i.e. designed for going long distances.
The Dyna - I use that for shorter day trips. I can easily convert it into a distance bike (different seat and shield is all it needs) but seeing I already have the Duc for that, no need.
And the Vespa? That's for when I just want a huge grin on my face and just soak it all in and take it easy. Flippin love it. All 3 bikes are completely different and great in their own ways.

Compare the cost of a late model HD RK to a GTS and ask how much touring are you going to do.

Motorcycles BTDT.

Get a second hand 2.8 Z3 (that will get them going) most probably heaps cheaper than a HD RK and have a GTS for classy local riding.

Stylie

I'm a bit torn on this one. I've recently bought a new motorbike and am riding that all the time - absolutely love it - and I could really do with selling my GTS to free up some funds.

The GTS now feels like a bit of a toy in comparison - but a beautiful, immensely fun toy I'd be *very* reluctant to say goodbye to. It's also much better for getting the shopping in.

If you ever forget just how nimble a GTS is though, jump on a motorbike for a while and then go back to it. It's incredible how tightly it turns - nice to remind yourself.

Just writing this post is helping me make my mind up

+1

I like both rides, but my FIRST choice around town is the scoot.

Completely agree.