Modern Vespa

I'm looking to purchase a GTS300 at the dealer but have a question about some inconsistency on my research.
I has digital gauges with black wheels, doesn't have a foldable rear rack.
So does this mean it's a 300gts or a 250?
How can I be for sure?

Thanks,
Joel

It looks JUST like a 300 sport on the Vespa site but it has a digital display. This is the only difference I see between the one i'm looking at and the one on the Vespa website.
I like the digital display.

Sounds like the GTS Super 300. It has black wheels and I don't think it has a rear rack.

Here is a photo of it.
It has a digital display on it.

The vin decoder web site will tell you what the vehicle is. Black wheels and no rear carrier means GTS300.
However the vin will tell you for sure what it is.

http://www.motoverse.com/tools/vinDecoder.asp

Just noticed it has red front shock covers- good thats a 300 thing
However has no slots in the engine cover- bad thats a GT200/gts250 thing
get the vin number- maybe it was in an accident or was a 250 that has an engine swap?

Alright I'll check the vin.
I has 10 miles on the odometer.

That's a GTS 300 Super.

Are you getting a good deal on it? I would hope so, because it looks like it has been damaged and repainted (and a poor job at that). Cowls and the rest of the bike do not match.

GJN--slots in cowl are on the other side.

Doh sorry I fall back on my usual excuse. Incompetence.

They are selling it as new so no i'm paying sticker price for it.
I don't see any mismatch but then again i'm color blind. Not sure what's going on now.

You are right about the paint. That engine cover is a very different shade of whit to the rest.

How come when you go to the vespa site the Super doesn't have slots in the engine cover?

Digital display means it is likely a rebadged 250, pretending to be a Super. There were some of these that made it to the US before the 300.

If in any doubt, ride Super with analogue gauge.The performance difference should confirm it.

Yep. It could be lighting, but I don't think so.

There's no way that thing leaves the factory with mismatched paint. They may install faulty fuel pumps and self destructing wiring harnesses, but they are damned proud of the paint, and it doesn't leave unless it is perfect.

It's a 2009 Vespa GTS 250 Super.


An oddball and somewhat rare scoot.

Digital gauges give it away. The Super 300 was supposed to make it to the USA for 2009 but Piaggio couldn't get the new 300 motor past EPA in time so they stuck the 250 engine in the new 300 Super body and created a limited number (500) GTS 250 Supers. If I'm correct the only other difference with the 250 Super is there is no chrome tip on the exhaust like the 300 Super had. How can the rest of you not instantly tell what it is by the description given?

The rest of these people are smoking crack. That bike hasn't been repainted, its just not the best picture. WTF pictures are you guys looking at? The lower cowl trim piece looks slightly off because it is picking up the dark color from the pavement. And if any of you think Piaggios paint is perfect please read some posts here on MV.

Exactly. The bike is a 250 Super, not a 300! Do not let the dealer pretend it's a 300. It is also a 2009 model year bike.

Vespa does now offer a 300 GTS and a 300 Super. The GTS has the digital gauges and rack, the 300 Super has the analogue gauges, no rack and black rims (as well as other cosmetic differences). You can see the difference between the two at vespausa.com

Look at the transition from the floorboard to the metal parts (right in front of the battery cover). It appears to have a tannish tint to it. It could be the lighting. It could have been repainted. I might be wrong, but at least the OP will be able to scrutinize it when he goes to make the deal.

And BTW, I think that any white GTS looks odd without an Adidas sticker.

True That !

Both the GTS300 Super and GTS300ie have analog gauges, but the Super has black face and the 300ie has white face.

The 300ie lacks the right-side grill and ships with a rack [and costs less]. It also has the GTS250 suspension.

new model GTS300ie

Thanks for the correction. I got my info off the Vespa website:

http://vespausa.com/scooters.php#/gallery/Vespa%20GTS%20300/images/4

Very weak that Vespa doesn't have the correct info on its own bikes on its website...
I actually was happy to see the 250 instrumentation on the 300, as that was what was holding me back from getting a 300. I'm one of those weird people who think a trip meter is a necessity not a luxury, especially given how unreliable the fuel gauges are.
And no, I don't think writing mileage on the headstock with a grease pencil is acceptable on a $6200 scooter...

I took delivery on my GTSie 300 Super a week ago today. The instrument cluster is NOT digital. The cowl vents are on the right side only. The red front shock is one of the marks of the GTSie 300 Super. It does not come with a rear rack, you can buy one as an accessory. Though mine is dragon red the white is VERY nice IMHO.

Kate is right GTS Super body with digital display = GTS 250 Super, imported to the US while the 300 engine was getting EPA approval.

Vespa have stopped producing the digidash unfortunately and both the 250 in the UK and the 300 in the US (non-super versions) come with all analogue, non trip meter cream displays. Which is a shame.

My 2011 GTS300 SuperSport says GTS250 on my insurance card, which is generated from the VIN.

I know its a gts300 super because it is the new matte grey titanium finish which is only available on the gts300 super.

red front shock is an indication of gts300 super and not standard gts300.

I'm also in the camp of people who think that a trip meter should be standard on every two wheeler due to limited gas storage and in the case of Vespa: many inaccurate gas gauges. Unfortunately, none of the 300's come with a trip meter. I have a GTV (no trip meter and I hate this fact) so I carry a small, reporters notebook in the glove box and record the mileage each time I fill up. I consistently get between 67 and 70 mpg so I calculate that when I have gone around 135 miles from the last fill-up, I need to buy some gas so I don't get into trouble in the middle of nowhere. This leaves me with enough gas to go at least 25 more miles before I go bone dry.

I know we are in agreement here, but it is just mind numbing to think that one has just spent $6200 on a scooter but has to carry paper and pencil to record mileage.
Especially since that wasn't the case with the 250 GTS.

The lack of a trip odometer on one model of scooter shouldn't be an issue, really. Those of us who own lesser bikes, like the LX, have lived without a trip odometer from day one. Personally, it hasn't given me heartburn. I can function fine without it. I have TO in both my cages and never use them. When the gas gauge gets low or the warning light comes on, I fill up.

Would it be nice to have? Maybe, but I would probably end up ignoring it in the long run. Of course, your mileage may vary. Contact your doctor immediately if you have headache, cramps, nausea, heart palpitations, skin rash or if you can't get it up.

Nightwing: I've owned over 40 motorcycles since 1969 and this is the very first PTW that I've owned that didn't have a trip meter. It may not bother some people but to me it's just plain stupid for a company like Vespa who has been manufacturing scooters for so long to ignore a basic requirement for any PTW due to limited gas storage and especially, their own inaccurate gas gauges. YMMV

It took my insurance company (State Farm) a few tries to get mine correct too. I had to send them a pic of the title and vin plate before they agreed on the make and model.

Them's fightin' words, partner!

I've been looking to buy a 300 Super myself but of the 2 brand new ones I've seen, the paint on the metal doesn't match the paint on the plastic. It's only noticeable on the white model but it's enough that I think it would bother me (especially for the price they want) and I've been holding out for a white GTS since they came out. Now I'm trying to decide if I could live with the Titanium one instead. I just thought white would be more visible and cooler in the summer sun.

the titanium is very pretty...

Really?

That seems odd. Do you think it's a function of the chemicals in the plastic altering the paint over time?

It doesn't make sense to me that they would have different colors of white in the paint area . . .

Joel, guess maybe I'm smoking "crack" -- actually, never tried -- but that left side cowl sure looks like it's been repainted. Good luck with your purchase. These 300 Supers are loads of fun to drive.

I think it may be a difference in primers they use on the plastic and metal showing through. I was really excited about the white but now I'm not so sure.