Modern Vespa

Hi everyone - Mongoose has pointed out this new forum to me.
Since I haven't yet joined a Vespa specific forum yet, and am a regular visitor to the US, I hope you don't mind if I join in?

Some of you may know me as admin from Twist&Go Mag's online Forum. Hopefully I can field any queries about the magazine, and learn some new stuff along the way.

I was lucky to get a very early order in for the fabulous 250GTSi.e., and in August got the first black & tan one that came to the UK. Here it is pictured below alongside my 1978 classic Mini. I've put side stripes on the scoot to match the car, and purchased a private number plate which is as close to the opposite of the car's as I could get. I've done over 2500 miles on the GTS so far (I'm enjoying my first Vespa!)

Welcome to the forum, rm. Even though a bunch of us are from California, I don't think we ever intended this to be a US-only forum. You are very much welcome here.

...and, as I said in my PM to you, the boys are going to have a field day asking you questions, I suspect...

Nice job with the stripes--on both vehicles no less! Very classy.

That combo makes for a great drink at the pub as well. Extra points for that.

Cheers!

Hey our first GT250 review !
cool deal

Hi RM! Glad you joined.

Welcome. Who's your football team?

Love the pic of the Mini and the GTS. It's just dawned on my the the rear rack on the GTS would seem to rule out a topcase. True?

Okay, I know I'm showing my Mustang background here, and I'm probably way off base, so correct at will.

Is it just me, or do the stripes on rabiedmushroom's GTS and mini look suspiciously similar to the stripes on the legendary Shelby GT 350H?

This was the so called "Hertz Rent-A-Racer" from the heydey of Mustangs, and the originals are fairly (well, extremely) valuable today.

Welcome!

I love the Mini! Scoot's not bad, either, but the Miniis what caught my eye first. I've yet to get a photo of my Vespa and MGA together. I think they'd compliment each other OK.

Add yourself to our map (well, once it is up and running again), with Vinny being your only countryman on there so far.

Glad you found us!
Steve

It's funny that you mentioned the Mustang thing. I was thinking the exact same thing and at first thought they were Mustang stripes. Then I realized it was England. With that said,


Welcome to America! How much more was the GTS over the GT in England. That might give us an idea of what it will cost when it comes to the States.

Thanks for the welcome chaps and chapesses! To fit the Vespa/Piaggio topbox, I believe you take off the chrome rack, and put on a metal version from a GT (which the box locks onto). Its an optional accessory, but you can't have both on the same time.
I find the chrome rack really handy; the backstop is great for securing loads, and there are so many bars to secure an elastic 'bungee' strap to. It can take a fair amount of weight too; I've been pretty impressed so far. The Vespa 200GT is £2999 here, and the GTSi.e. is £3249. The European ABS version is not available in the UK; dunno what they'll produce for the States. So the difference is surely going to be less than $500?

If there are any other questions I can help you with, I'd be more than happy to share my experience so far! 8)
P.S. Go buy one...

Had you ridden a GT to compare it to? I'm pushing to get a GT, but wondering if I should wait for the GTS.