Modern Vespa

I'm just curious if anyone takes the shopping cart out to their Vespa to load it up.

I've done it on occasion but it feels silly. I use the cart to rearrange my groceries as I'm packing up my scoot. It beats putting bags on the ground until I get it all packed.

Not me, I just carry them out in my hands. I can only get about 3 bags of groceries safely home. 2 go in the trunk, and one hangs on the hook.
We use only genuine Chico Bags. They're not plastic, and hold way more food than plastic bags. They are washable and come in different colors. These are about a year old, and wearing like iron.
We usually try to do our big shopping in the car, and combine our trips so as not to waste gas.

All of our grocery shopping is via scooter. I always use the cart. I put my saddlebags, jacket and helmet (I lock my vespa to a bike rack and do not want to take up too much space by leaving all of that on the bike) in the cart. I can also get bag credits for the saddlebags, if I bring them into the store. It's always a very enjoyable experience.

When I shop at Aldi, I park right under their awning and load it in right there. I can get quite a bit in the pet carrier, in a bag between my legs, and the rest in a box on my luggage rack.

At other stores, I just bring in a couple of cloth bags and make sure I don't buy more than will fit in those two.

I shop on a daily basis and buy whatever I am going to prepare for dinner. Thus I seldom have more than a few bags per visit and don't need a cart.

I park near the entrance since our local store has a huge sidewalk that is accessible. I frequently use the cart, since I will take a week's worth of groceries home at a time (large items on the rack, two bags in the pillion case, one bag under the seat, and two - three if light - off of the hook). Like others, I use the cart to reorganize what is going to go where and in what bag.

Ok, I'm glad I'm not the only one that has used the cart to load up their scooter. I can get about 5-6 bags on my LX - 2 in the pet carrier, 2 in the top case (with my purse) and 1-2 on the bag hook.

Get a front rack and you can bring home a 12-pack of longnecks, too!

Since I got the S50 mono seat for the ET, I no longer have the slide out bag clip in front of the seat. Really lessens what I bring home from the store.

We need some pictures of the Vespas loaded up with groceries!

I always use a shallow trolley ('cart' if you will) here, if for no other reason than to carry my helmet and gloves quickly and conveniently.

The X9 takes 8 full shopping bags, the Fuoco 6, the GP800 5. All with top-boxes of course.

I go shopping every two days normally, and on the Fuoco. Rarely more than 3 bags though. Did you know a 24-pack of loo-paper will fit in any of those top-boxes?

i only load about 3 bags worth of stuff on the bike.

I usually use a cart. I keep it away from the scooter since a good wind and the metal cart would probably scratch the LX Really stupid to have metal here it just rusts

No, but I now know that your other shopping must consist of a lot of curry spices

I usually just shop with a hand-basket rather than a cart, to keep from overbuying. My pet carrier is usually 1/3 full by default, because I keep my raingear in there most of the time (you never know, and I shop on my way home from work rather than going out to shop specificially). I can fit 3-4 of the environmentally-unfriendly plastic sacs in my milk crate, and hang 2-3 from my bag hook.

On the other hand, if I make a special trip, and I remember to bring my eco-friendly reusable bags (they're a LOT bigger), I can fit 2 in the crate, 1 from the hook, and toss remainders in the pet carrier. I find that this is usually about 3-4 days worth of food, including the heavy juice/milk stuff. I don't need to buy beer as 95% of what I drink is from the Basement Brewing Facility.

I always use the cart. Between the hook, should bags and my son, we can get home 8 to 10 bags of groceries. My wife got these great bags from a trade conference that are like nylon grocery bags but bigger and with longer straps so you can put them over your shoulder & head like a messenger bag and they help a lot.

I've rolled the shopping cart out to my bike. But only when I've had too many bags to carry. Normally, I use two cloth bags, one for my top case and the other for the hook under the seat between my legs. I've ridden with as many as four bags hooked there. If I have to buy toilet paper, I'll secure it on the seat between me and the top case; the same way I bring a pizza home (sadly, never a large).

Hold it in your non-throttle hand, twist the throttle with your right and simultaneously move the pizza to your lap as you bring your foot onto the floorboard. Sit pizza on lap and move hand to handlebar.

Ride home in manner that requires you not to stop.

Always worked for me on the GT. A bit harder to do with a shifter.

If I did that I think I'd have a pizza disaster--talk about feeling silly out in public. I may have to give it a try, though. But with an empty box to see how it'll work out.

I sometimes use a cart but not that often. I am really impressed with how much "stuff" I can get on that little scooter. I can usually put 2 to 3 plastic bags in the top box, 1 or two bags of dry goods and cleaning supplies in the pet carrier, a case of juice or pop and a pizza strapped to the seat with a cargo net and a bunch of cold stuff in my new cooler bag. I take the cooler bag into the store with me and pack it at the check out.

I also have a special bag that I hook to my carabiner hook under the front of the seat where I usually put fresh baked goods. That pesky french bread doesn't fit in any of my carriers!

Oh, and if I have to buy toilet paper or paper towels or anything light yet bulky, I have flannel bags I made out of old bed sheets that I tie onto the seat rail and they ride side saddle. The flannel is kind to the paint and polishes the cowls while I ride!

That flannel bag idea is genius. I would hate to have to buy or carry around saddle bags. But keeping a couple of flannel bags around the house would not be a problem.

I do not have a top case, so I am leery of bringing home milk on the scooter. We buy it by the gallons for my son. Plus, in the heat we have been having lately, I am really reluctant to buy dairy, meat, or fish products. I really don't want food poisoning

I take the sidecar every time I go to the grocery store, I think it is very close to the size of my car's trunk. And yes, I do take the cart out to it.

I still need to do a drive up - maybe this week.

I've often laid a 40lb bag of dog food across the GTS floorboard, no tie downs. I use the passenger pegs to keep my feet clear, and as long as I make sure the bag isn't broken, I'm ok. Additionally, I've stacked other things on top of it, such as a 12 pack (bottles, of course. Good beer doesn't come in cans!)
When doing this,though, I do throw a bungee over it. I removed my rear rack, and it very rarely keeps me from transporting what I need.

It's pretty hot here too. Just this week, I put a cooler bag on my front rack. Quite pleased with my newest add on! (Post 746646) but if you don't have a front rack, you could use a good sized cooler bag and strap it on your seat with a cargo net!

I usually get about 6 or 7 bags of groceries loaded.

2 or 3 usually fill up the top box
1 bag in the pet carrier
1 bag on the bag hook
1 or 2 bags worth of groceries in my rucksack (backpack)

I reckon I could get more if I loaded up the front rack, which I haven't done yet.

I've also used cargo net on the pillion seat for bulky items.

So 7 is my max to date but I could probably get up to 10 at a push.

I take the cart out to use as a staging table and get the helmet on and weight distributed. I put the heavy stuff in the bag for the floorboard and in the pet carrier, then the lighter stuff in my $2.00 saddle bags: $2.00 Saddle Bags (Post 668150)
If I bagged the stuff myself inside that might not be necessary, but works as of now it is easier than trying to explain the plan to the bagger.

This thread needs pictures!

I usually just carry the bags out to the scoot but I wuldn't feel silly using the trolly to assist me! Can usually fit about three bags in the top box and another under the seat.

For cold stuff I keep an insulated soft sided bag under my seat. Bought one at Walmart in the freezer section for a couple bucks and it works well. Depending on how much I stuff in it put in top case, under seat or on bag hook. When I go to Midtown Vespa in Atlanta I usually stop at Trader Joes and have brought frozen food home 90 miles without it thawing in the bag.

I also keep a soft sided 6 bottle wine carrier that Krogers gives away with wine purchase. Full it fits easily under the seat or in the top case and keeps the bottles from rattling together for the trip home.

If I just have a few bags I carry to the scooter. If more or heavy items I roll the cart to the scooter.

I modified an old milk crate with some 1 1/2" pvc pipe. I cut the pipe to fit into the Vespa rear rack.

It fits so the rear pipe goes in first, and then the front pipe. As long as the front pipe is down it actually "locks" the crate in place. I only need one bungee cord in the front.

I use the environmentally friendly green bags when shopping. They hold a lot more than plastic. I can fit 2 in the crate, and one from the seat hook.

The two vertical pipes are fishing pole holders.

my car for beer

+1

I love taking my scooter grocery shopping, me and the Lady go pick up about a weeks worth of groceries at a time, minus some milk products where we like to buy at a different store.

Usually I strap this big ugly salesmen case, which i bought at a thrift store, on the back rack and between that and under seat storage can haul anything we need.

I like using a cheap hot/cold bag for meats, and other frozen goods as mentioned previously, and find it works good even on hot summer days.

Welcome to the forums, Nick. That's one creative solution!

I have 2 Warhol-tribute Piggly Wiggly grocery bags that act as
compartments inside this one:


..But mainly I'm announcing that I've gotten my password back,
but don't plan to post further

Except that's not really beer!

Right, I'm adding duct tape to the list of items I should be carrying in the pet carrier at all times.

It's a lot easier to use a cargo net and it doesn't leave sticky stuff all over your scooter!

I take a hand basket as I enter the store...when it's full, I know all the contents will fit in the milk crate.

jacqui

[quote=
Right, I'm adding duct tape to the list of items I should be carrying in the pet carrier at all times. [/quote]

Ummm, it's not duct tape. That WOULD leave a sticky residue. It looks more like static cling wrap. Easier to use and less destructive (and frankly, holds better too!)

Personally, I find I save a lot of money when I shop by scoot. I'm much more aware of space limitations and don't "stock up". If it does't fit in my top case or my back pack, I probably don't need it.