Modern Vespa

I don't know too much (or anything at all, really) about these beautiful machines so I apologise in advance if this is a silly question. I'm wondering if anyone would choose a PX150 over a PX200 or vice versa? If so, why/why not?

Here in the UK, the main PX models are PX125 and PX200... there are some PX150 floating around, some are imported, others are supposedly Douglas ones (dunno what is up with that) as well as the odd PX80 floating about, again imported.

Here, in the UK, The main reason you would want a PX125 over a PX200 is because it is learner legal, you can put some learner "L" plates after you've done the basic training and ride on your own.

I imagine the reason you'd want a PX200 is because of the fact that the engine has more "oomph" to it, i.e. power.

And in regards to the PX150, isn't there a "Series USA" and "Series Canada" or something which is limited edition? In the case with the US and Canada, they are no recent PX200's (unless imported) so I imagine they ride around on the older P's or on a PX150.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

One more reason you'd want a smaller displacement engine - if you only use the scooter for a small run to the supermarket and a 5 mile commute, would you need the bigger engine? Depending on your situation, you may not.

Lets bear in mind the brand-new retail prices between the PX125 and the PX200 is a fair difference, but for used machines, that gap closes up. If you apply the supermarket+commuting example to this, you can probably understand why someone would want a PX125 - they don't need the bigger engine. If they had a car, they might use the car for long distance travel so don't need a big engine as well.

Hey Junglizt1210, thanks for the reply.

Seems here in NZ the only available versions of the PX is the 150cc and the 200cc and I'm wondering if anyone would choose one over the other, as the pricing of the two as you have noted is very similar.

The 200cc will be faster than the 150cc (I think the top speed is approx 15 mph difference if I remember correctly from reading one of the threads here) but I'm not too concerned about that. Like the GTS 250 vs 300, the 300 isn't meant to be a speed demon over the 250 but is better tuned for torque - I was just wondering if this might be a similar case for the PX 150 vs 200.

I think the PX 200 is also physically larger than the 150? I'm not entirely certain but from a quick glance at the occasional PX 200 that zooms past me I think the 200 is larger.

Anyway thanks for your input!

in the states, the PX150 and the PX200 are exactly the same size. The frames for all the PX/P scooters are the same. I have a P200 and a PX200 and the frames are identical.

Dood, go for PX200. They are basically the same scooter (200 might weigh slightly more) in terms of size and features - why not get the extra 50cc just in case you need it - especially if the prices are pretty much the same? This seems like a no brainer to me.

personally, i vote for the p200 'torque up the ass in first gear' option.

PX200

The power in a PX150 is so weak. It's ok within a 3 mile commute on roads that have 50mph or less speed limit. Eventually like me, you will need to kit the motor and a bigger carb just to get some juice out of it.

My vote..PX200 and you will be a happy camper.

I'm not sure why anyone would choose PX150 over a PX200 besides price - and price is not an issue here...

It just comes down to what you need it for. If you only need to go 50-55mph max, then the PX150 is a good choice and it does cost less. BUT as an investment, I would buy the PX200...even if I didn't need the power, the resale value is much higher and more desired over the PX150.

I like the 150 engine over the 200 for tuning.

Please explain Mr. Patrick

200. I like to drive fast.

The cylinder on the 200 is rotated from the axis of the crank by about 20 deg so the only pistons you can work with are the ones made specifically for the p200. If all you ever want to do is bolt on a kit then the 200 is fine but is you are getting creative then there's much more mixing and matching of parts that can be done with the 150 engine.

Also the limiting factor with regards to power is the strength of the crank and this is equal between the 200 and the 150.

So you could you put a 200 headunit on a stock PX150 engine?

no. The stud pattern is different - square on the lower displacement and trapizoid on the 200

Man...I have no idea what you just said. But I guess the answer is no..haha. I'm done adding value in this thread

Yeah ...but I learned something new!

Got it. Thanks for sharing your knowledge to newbs like me.

I love my three ported 150cc Sprint Veloce.
Price was an issue and availability 8) Rally 200 scoots are rare and expensive. Besides, I hate a battery and hard-to-get ignition electronics.

The largest upgrade for the 150 is a 177cc cylinder. The lower body on such is rather thin but simply has to fit in the enginebody.

I guess I would get a 177cc "VLB1T Circuito" look-alike then
Mine however is original...60 mph is OK

To restate what was said above...

the P125 / 150 engines are the same cases. The P200 is different. The P200 jug is rotated a bit, with the exhaust spigot pointed outwards. The P125 / 150 exhausts point straight down.

The engine stud patterns on the 125 and 150 are square, and on the 200 they are rotated a bit and are in a more trapezoidal pattern.


Also, i think the P200 manifold is of a wider diameter than the P125 and P150.


If there was another reason to stick with the 125/150 cases, it's that the performance parts for them tend to be relatively cheaper than their P200 bretheren.

?

Looks like you dropped something here.

Please PM me and explain this one to me.

Thanks.

Thanks guys for the replies. Although much of it is Greek to me it does suggest to me that the 200 appears to be the oddball design in the PX series and that in terms of availability of parts in the future, Piaggio or not, it sounds like it's likely that the 150 is likely to be more easily available than the 200. I think that's very useful information.

Cheers!

If you are not concerned with top speed or racing your buddies, than you should pick the PX 150!

If you want a newer bike than get yourself a 2005 PX150. You can always find someone who needs the dough and is willing to part with their favorite scooter ever!! Did I say that out loud! My baby is for sale and I don't want to sell but need the dough!! Dang it!

https://modernvespa.com/forum/topic52854

If you want the speed and power you can always slap a kit on the 150?

The scoots are the same body and everything else so don't be concerned with finding parts.

I don't know what else to say about the choice, except that I LOVE my PX150!
If it was a 2005 PX200 with only 1200 miles than I would probably love it a little more? Not sure, I would probably kill myself on the Freeway!

You will really enjoy either...
[topic52854]

Pick the PX200, if price, insurance, licensing and road taxes are not an issue. A PX200 is more versatile and you will get a lot of more enjoyment in your riding. Both use identical chassis, frame...etc, except that PX200 motor is a little larger and more powerful, that's it! I own and ride a 2005 PX150 that I had to mildly kit it up for my local and hilly city and freeway riding.The insufficient power made my Vespa a hazard and I was not able to keep up with the flow of traffic in many places in the city roads. I personally feel the PX150 is a lesser choice over the PX200; and of the two, the least suitable for the North American roads; everything is big here.

PX150!
the parts still easy to find

px200. there is no replacement for engine displacement.

PX200 vibration is much, much worse than a PX150 and as a result, stems on side mirrors tend to loosen more often or worse, snap in half. constant tightening of bolts, screws and cables is a requirement.

that being said, PX200 comes with standard front disc brake and halogen headlamp, two very important upgrades you would have to make on a PX150 (at least the pre-2000 models anyway, I dont know if those made this decade already have these as standard issue).

parts for both models are relatively easy to find, although they would be more expensive for the PX200 in most cases.

hope this helps...

To add something to a 'PX150 or PX200' discussion, I have been looking for an early P version P200e for a while and bought one last week.
It is a 1982 Vespa P200e...reason for that:

- No battery
- No auto-lube misery (plain 2% pre-mixture fuel)
- 12 Hp engine
- Engines are VERY favourite amongst restorations with engine swaps
- Plain and straight forward (like the drum brakes, no battery, no oil pump)

bcoz your in nz i think the 200 is better

px200's are more common than 150's on our part of the globe

The 150 I believe has points ignition while the 200's are solid state so that equals less maintenance

also with all those hills in nz you'll want that extra torque, for example dunno if youve been to perth but nehoo i can do kalamunda hill in 4th gear on my 200 only just, but thats pretty much the biggest and longest hill in the perth surrounds

Are you talking about a new or used scooter. If I am not mistaken, NZ still has some new PXs of both displacements floating around, or at least some of very recent vintage.

If you are talking "new" or "nearly new" and all you are looking for is a dependable daily rider, then the speed you need to be able to maintain is going to answer your question. My 2006 PX150 is more than sufficient for the roads here, but we have 60 kmph speed limits. The mountain roads pose me no problems. Was even able to tour Italy on my PX150 by simply being judicious in road selection (80 kmph max). Wangta crossed the US on his PX200.

There's more to it than size, as the ladies say.

Al

I commute several days a week, 70 miles round trip, on my 2005 PX150. No problems at all running with traffic. Average speed is 40-45 mph.

Hi Al,

Yes you can still buy brand new PX's which are mainly old new stock, although I think the PX150 is more common than the PX200. The local scooter shop here has a brand new white PX150 in the showroom with a price tag of NZD 6200 (about USD 4,628 today) if I recall correctly.

buy it


if your into it


they wont be round much longer . I think my dealer has sold his last couple 200s theyre still in the showroom though

Size matters, everyone who has a Px150 wants to kit it.
More power = more happy.

Mine's still stock and serving me well. Did this without a single problem.

Might go to a Sito+ when the stock pipe rusts a bit more.

Al

exactly .... more power equals more happy

ive got a pm evolution pipe for me 200 coming all the way from pommy land, cant wait

i have both scoots.

i have a 1998 (1st year they came out) px200 in greece and a 2005 px150 in california.

i would HIGHLY recommend getting the 200. just a much stronger, and in my opinion, safer bike. (both my scoots are 100% stock.)

not sure if it's the extra stuff for US emissions on the px150, but it is an absolute dog on acceleration (especially off-the-line), going up hills, and passing at speed compared to my px200. so much so, that i believe it is a safety hazard here in los angeles. in greece, on the island i am on, it is not a problem (if i had the 150 there). there is only 1 traffic light on the whole island. you generally do not stop until you get to your destination!

i am in no way a 'speed racer.' i generally ride around 40mph to 45mph. but, like i said, if you plan on driving in the city i would recommend the px200 to give you that extra power to get out of the traffic situations that ALWAYS arise when riding a motorcycle/scooter in city traffic.

i am just about to put a vintage 226 performance pipe on my px150. i really prefer to leave things completely stock on all my vehicles, but i just don't feel 100% safe with a stock px150 here in LA. i'll report back about this pipe. the guys at stellaspeed love it and i believe it is much higher quality (and price unfortunately) than the sito product.

hope this helps you in making a decision.

john

ps both the scoots suck, in my opinion, to my 1979 p200 i had 30 years ago. that thing flew (completely stock) in comparison. and! don't even get me started on a debate between the drum and disc breaks between the p's and the px's...

Hi John, thanks for your comments. Yea I gathered the PX's aren't the most powerful when compared to other scoots, Piaggio or not, despite being a 2-stroke. I also have this thing about keeping the vehicles stock as well and ideally I'd like to keep the PX (if/when I buy one) stock. I guess for me eventually it will boil down to price and availability since I'm not too concern about the power of the scoots and the PX150 will probably be sufficient for my needs as a city commuter (speed limit 50km/hr or 30mph), which is currently a 50cc 2-stroke.

I find it quite interesting to learn that the PX200 and PX150 has a significant difference as discussed in this thread.

Cheers.

+1, I am very happy with my PX150 and I also like to keep things all stock, at least for the most part. I did add some after market chrome bars. I would rather have reliability and longevity, not speed and noise.

Im starting to think I really scored when that lady wanted me to clean out her garage so she could start parking in it again and I scored that 74 Rally 200 basket case..

Cool.

I've change my mind
why not having both PX150 and PX200?