Modern Vespa

Hello,
I am seriously (?) thinking about selling my 4 wheel transport and buying a 250 or 300 cc Vespa to be my daily commuter. I have not ridden an 2 wheel motorized vehicle since college (a long time ago, and it was a honda trail 90). What tips can you give to a hopeful soon to be scooter guy? I live in very hilly terrain, and my commute is only around 6 miles of surface streets. Also, I wear contacts - what are my best helmet choices? Thanks!

I am going to guess you may have a MINI as your 4-wheeled vehicle? If so, don't sell the MINI, just scoot it over in the garage and get yourself a 300 CC scoot. You are going to want to scoot to the beach and that will require a larger, faster scoot to take control on the LA freeways.

In my experience with LA, you are basically required to use the freeway to get some places and a little 150 cc scoot, going 55 full-out is not going to confidence building on your jaunt on Highway 5 with local traffic flowing at 70-80 MPH.

You could get a 250 but some of them seem to be having more than their share of exhaust gasket issues and the 300 is just that much more fun for only a little more cash.

Just my 2 cents.

Hi RPMINI,

I too am pretty new to 2-wheelers. Last winter I was (almost literally) dragged to a motorbike fair, I had no interest what so ever in any 2-wheel motor vehicles. But cha-dang, there was the cool Vespa section and I was in love.

A few weeks later I called the dealer and ordered a GTV. Now that I had a Vespa coming, I had to get my licence, so I took lessons in riding a 600cc motorbike (I believe that no scooter lessons are available here) and after quite a few lessons passed the test and got the licence.

Another practice session began when the GTV arrived, it was something else hopping from a 600cc bike with something to do for all limbs on a 250cc GTV with no clutch, no manual gears, no footbrake, and with a lot smaller tires and not as prompt braking as on the motorbike. Taking it easy has been my motto, and now I'm up to some 3500km, nearly all from daily commuting.

So, my advise is to go for it, but take it easy, slowly to begin with, getting acquainted with the scoot, and once feeling comfortable, taking the practise to the new level. I used to avoid riding on freeways for quite a long time as I was not at all comfortable with high speeks, but now I know how the scooter responds and what I need to do in different situations.

As for the helmet, I recommend a full-face, and I've understood a lot of people here in MV will chime in. Best protection.

If I had a choice, I would not sell the car, but I would have both. Sometimes it's nice to have the option of jumping behind the wheel and letting the scoot have a day off!

Go for it, it's a lot of fun!

I would say that if you have the option, keep the car, at least for a while. I personally can't imagine it myself, but there are a few folks out there who try two wheels and just don't like it. It would be much better for you to have the option to sell the scooter, and still have the car, if you decide that scootering isn't for you.

That said, you can survive in LA with just a scooter, and no car. But you have to plan things carefully, and do make sure you have a couple of friends for backup rides. There will be that one time you can't get the bike started, or it's mudslide season/fire season/flood season, or you're feeling like crap and don't need to be on 2 wheels. There will be times you may need a lift to the scooter shop, with or without the bike. Gas money and a few meals go a long way towards people helping you with occasional rides.

I was in LA for nearly 3 years. One small 2-stroke 70cc scoot. Nothing else. Was a little tricky at times, but it worked out fine for the most part. But I also had quite a bit of scootering experience at that point. Just think things out very carefully. And if you do intend to get rid of the car. you MUST buy some type of topcase, and learn to utilize all the scoot's storage extremely creatively. You will be hauling stuff. Just a fact of life.

Hello RPMini
Welcome to the infected!!
Since your still looking,
1. Take the MSF beginner training as soon as you can.
2. Get your M1
A. What is your inseam length? 32 inches or more your golden with any Vespa. 29 to 31 you can still ride but it will be trickier.
B. Pick out your scoot
C. Find her and bring her home
D. Get Insurance
You can do these in any order, but take the MSF then get your M1 - much easier and cheaper.

check out the schedule for the MSF (Motorcycle Safety Foundation) course nearest you, then get signed up and take it as soon as you can. They may be booked up for a month or more. It is about $250 for the beginner course. With it you will get a discount on your insurance, will not have to take the DMV riding test (much harder to pass than the MSF)
Once you get a scoot, before or after the course, get the feel of the scoot. Take it very slowly. sit on her while she is off the center stand and plant both feet if you can, and lean her a little both sides, feel how heavy she gets, even with a little lean. Have a strong friend on hand if you really want to push it.
Then take the scoot out for a ride around the area, stay on streets or parking lots (empty if you can find one), remember most people drop the cycle or scoot when going less than 20mph. Do not turn on a greasy spot in a parking lot. Practice low speed maneuvers, you can download a few documents here, I think they are in the wiki. I just looked and can't find the one that shows the layout for the slow speed maneuvers. But here are some good links to answers:
https://modernvespa.com/forum/wiki-new-owner
https://modernvespa.com/forum/wiki-safety
Some info to help learn more about scoots in general:
https://modernvespa.com/forum/wiki-publications

As for the scoot size, either the 250 or newer 300 will work well for any riding you do. Just because you have a short commute doesn't mean you have to take the shortest route!! You may only plan on riding short commute stuff for now, at some point your going to want to ride it more. Find a local scooter club (biased for the Royal Bastards myself) join them for some rides and meet-ups, it is a great way to see different scooters and hear great stories, and meet good people.
Your eyes will dry out too fast without some type of face shield or goggles, so the helmet style is your choice. Try on as many styles and brands as you can till you find what fits your head. A Nolan N102 fits me very well, but may not feel good for you. Helmet types are 1. Scull cap (above your ears), 2. 3/4 helmet (covers ears) 3. Modular (has flip up chin bar) and 4. full face (integrated chin bar) I think the modular is the best of both worlds, as I can flip it up at stops to talk, eat, or whatever. It gives me chin protection (most likely to hit the pavement in a bad crash) A helmet is not much use until you crash, then your going to want one. Problem is you will never know when your going to crash. If your claustrophobic, you will not want a modular or a full face, but might be able to wear a 3/4 with a flip up face shield. The options are very many, and it will be a hard decision, but you have to make it for yourself.

So for now research research!! find out what helmet you like, and or can live with. See what scoots are available, there are lots of styles out the The Vespas sit tall, and have 10 to 12inch tires, but have the uni-body metal frame, and classic scoot style. There are a lot of scoots with up to 16inch wheels, which give a smoother ride, so are just as nimble as a small tire scoot. Power ranges from 50cc up to 650cc, Vespas stop at the 274cc GTS300 super. You have to go to the Maxi style scoot to get a 450 to 650 scoot. Then there is the MP3 three wheeled scoots. So lots of choices!! have fun!!

the 300 has exhaust gasket issues as well. i know of quite a few people who have had to replace them around the 4000 mile mark.

i wouldn't let it put you off either model, though - it's an easy enough fix, and there are aftermarket pipes available that dispense with the issue altogether.

Thanks all!

Yes, I will be selling the Mini (2006 S ragtop) to get rid of a car payment to get the scooter, but we will be keeping my wife's Element, and we can carpool under inclement weather, or trade vehicles if I need to haul stuff for work.

Thanks again for the tips!

Welcome to MV!

About Minis... apparently there's a relation between Vespa riders owning or wanting a Mini

Just Looking................................Yeah Right!

I don't know how it is in California, but if you can hold off and buy your scooter in January or February, I've always found that's the time you can get the best deals on a new model.

Aloha and welcome to the forum. Helmet i would go with a FF or 3/4 that has a clear pull down visor. With contacts you don't ant wind to blow on your face. I would go try some on and see what fits you the best. HJC.ARAI' and SHOEI are a few that make good helmets. The key is to buy one that fits you. As for the car i would still wait a bit until you see if not having one will really work. It's a big leap to riding just a scooter every whee so i'd wait until your sure your going to ride it every where. Not to much differance between the 250 and 300. Go sit on them and buy what looks and feels most comfortable to you. Good luck

Congrats on your decision. Yes, you can easily get by with only one car, particularly in SoCal. Since you're not in LA (!), you'll love riding it and will look to find detours, to make your commute longer. I did, when I lived in Laguna Hills, and put on over 12K per year. Funnest miles I ever rode.

I would not worry about the exhaust issue. I firmly believe it only hits a minority of GTSs, and it would definitely not be a reason to avoid a GTS. I would get one again in a heartbeat, but mine is still going strong.

Don't wait for better deals. If you could get them, you'd save what--a couple Benjies, but you'd be missing out on the fun, and you'd have more of those maxi Mini payments. Not a good bargain.

Thanks again!

I'm still a little foggy on the issue of helmets. I assume that a full face shield would be most effective with contacts. Can you have a full face shield on a half helmet? Will a full helmet fit in the storage under the seat?

Also, has anyone had good or bad experiences with any of the dealers in SoCal? I visited Vespa of Newport Beach, and the owner seemed to be a nice guy....

One specific (Vespa) 3/4 helmet will fit under the seat (we call that the pet carrier ) but does not have a full face visor (which I think is a good idea to keep bugs and bees off your face). A FF or a 3/4 with full visor will not fit in the pet carrier but they will fit in a top box on the back rack (which you will likely add sooner or later).

For a newbie, I would strongly recommend a FF, at least until you can consider yourself an experienced rider and know the risks you take with a 3/4. I have both.

I can't say anything about the new VNB. They changed ownership recently.