Modern Vespa

I did a search, but didn't find exactly what I was looking for. So....I'm just curious with regards to a GTS 300 Super, is there a problem with running at freeway speeds (think 65mph+) for sustained periods of time (2+ hrs)? Seems that most of their marketing refers to "urban" riding.

Looks like I'm going to pull the trigger on a 300, so I may want to get out and do some legit long rides on occasion and don't want to tear anything up.

Once you get on the highway it may be hard to keep at 65MPH, when you look at your speed-o, you'll be doing 70, 75 MPH or faster

Yes, it should be fine.

Yes, boredom.

Right....but the egine won't be pissed off is my concern? They don't exactly market these 300's as cross country tourers.

The Vespa/Piaggio 200, 250 and 300s run great on the freeway compared to other brand scooter in the same class, for the best mileage and long engine life, keep the speed bellow 70 mph. Any higher continuous speed, they start to consume oil, waste gasoline with the motor turning at +8500 RPMs.

That's the sort of info I'm looking for. So, even though you could do it, it isn't exactly a good idea for long term engine health by the sounds of it. I didn't realize they rev'd so high once at cruising speed, so it makes sense.

It's only a 250cc (244) engine. It's cruising speed is just a bit less than it's top speed.
For comparison, a Kawi 250 Ninja motorbike needs about 10K rpms to cruise at 75mph.

Sustained freeway speeds 8)



No, it will not clean off, yes it is a groove.

Better image eventually - with belt gunk cleaned out.

I'd recommend putting the 600 break-in miles on it before doing sustained highway speeds for two hours.

Horsepower: GT200 21@8500.... GTS250 21.7@8250.... GTS300 21.19@7500

Torque, lb-ft: GT200 12.9@6500.... GTS250 14.9@6500... GTS300 16.45@5000

My 300ie seems to turn notiecably less rpm per mph than my previous GT200.

As ritchj points out, the variator does eventually wear a groove from WOT riding. Still, it takes some miles to get there, and the part is easily replaceable. The GTS is quite capable of running for 8+ hours at freeway speeds with no ill effects on the engine.

(You might blow an exhaust on a hot day, though...)

I've also heard that switching to a Polini Variator will slightly increase your top speed and will decrease the RPM's. If this is true, this is a good thing.

True. A taller gear would also help, but I don't plan on riding substantial distances enough to warrant the upgrade. Just wanted to know if/when I get a wild hair to just roll out one day if it would be realistic. I know you can go as far as your heart desires on any Vespa, but I like to get places in a hurry most of the time.

About 4k miles @ or around 70mph, over 10 days is a good starting point

Must be doing something wrong: 1588 miles over 2.5 days, in 100+ degree temps, and still no muffler bearing issues.

I have been taking long fast trips on my GT for the past year. Around ten day trips of over 250 miles, mostly between 65 and 75 mph. No problem until last week when I blew out my exhaust. It took the brake line too and was a bit expensive to repair. But it has 15,500 miles on it and still runs like new so I say no problem with the highway cruises.

Thats exactly what happend to Pat's GT200L after travelling from Kingman AZ on I-40, followed by a long, hot trip to Death Valley and back.

Interestingly (knock on wood) my GTS hasn't gone that way despite carrying a (much? ) heavier load on those same trips.

Any input as to why/why not?

Lots of guessing Matt - I had some conspiring issues that I think increased the wear: a failing seal that may have allowed the belt to get sticky, so belt junk, deteriorating roller debris, all collected on the belt and caused extra wear.

Or at least that's what the extended warranty company thinks happened as they just covered all the drive parts, other than the belt. I'm sure I was much heavier loaded with gear on the last 4k than you've been. The extended warranty has paid for itself twice now.

However - here's the same piece in 2008, MV Link, and I have the old parts to do the exact same images with some day soon for comparison (no I haven't ridden it a lot in 2 years)

I said "might".

The wear you see isn't all the unusual. All my worn out variators looked like the one in your picture. I believe it depends on how aggressively / consistently you ride. I've seen a few variators (from other people's bikes) that had random wear spread across the surface, instead of all at the outside edge.

The variator is essentially a wear item. Run it until your performance dips, then replace it.

Pat's started shuddering from a stop about 20 miles from home, prompting a trip to the dealer. Pat is MUCH easier on her vehicles than I, she imposes a lot less static inertia, and her bike has a couple thousand fewer miles on it. Both bikes received new belts a thousand miles or so prior, and the Tech commented on how clean they were inside the cases (I blow them out occasionally to purge the dust) and that the rollers were perfect...neither bike received new rollers with the belts.

That variator had right around 10K on it, so I'm not complaining. I'm approaching 14k on mine and no sign of shudder or a performance drop.

How long do the variators typically last?

You'll be stoping for gas every 2 hours or so also.

13,868 miles. IMO.

Maybe 52k mile guy has some input?

Although this is purely speculation (and the esteemed minds of MV are welcome to correct me!), I would think that the 300 would make a better overall highway bike than the 250 because it operates at a lower rpm (given identical speeds).

And though it is too new to tell, perhaps as a result the 300 engine would last longer than the 250 between major overhauls?

Just some thoughts with no real life experience from my end...

Desi B.

Depends on whether you're bothered by the tapering off performance.

Believe it or not, I prefer the 250 on the freeway.

Haha! That wouldn't be atypical for me! LOL

The only 52K guy I know is on his second variator....almost all sustained freeeway miles too.

About the only part I didn't bring along. dammit, now I'm worried.

For my longer rides, it has been the limits of the gas tank and my bladder that were larger limiting factors on the number of non-stop miles.

I know Cannonball riders address the fuel tank and bladder issues if they are serious about riding longer periods without bio- or gas breaks.

Jess, is that because of more high rpm punch, or smoothness, or?

Don't sweat it. The variator wears but doesn't usually fail. It just lowers your top speed a bit.

It's because the 300 has a steep drop-off in power at RPMs lower than the 250. On the freeway, this translates into a difficulty overcoming wind drag, or "running out of steam". The 250 doesn't accelerate off the line as fast, but it seems more able to sustain freeway speeds.

(This is usually where VEZPA jumps in to tell me that his 300 can do GPS-verified 85mph all day long, and therefore I must be wrong )

if you are interested in getting places fast, buy a fast bike, you will break things much sooner on a Vespa if you try and ride it consistently at American freeway speeds, get off the freeways, ride the secondary roads, all day, all night, all week cruising speeds of 90 to 100 kph indicated. Your variators and brakes will last 50,000kms plus, your belts 25,000kms, your muffler gaskets 20,000kms plus, That is what these scooters are made for, where you will find pleasure, not fighting for space with 18 wheelers and speeding cars, at hang on speeds, beeing buffeted, pulled and tugged. Good luck, I hear Suzuki make good sport bikes.

He didn't ask about sport bikes. He asked whether the engine could sustain freeway speeds.

And you wonder why your karma is so bad.

Thanks Jess.

As mentioned before, I just wanted to know if a 300 is up to the task, not that I'm going to be living on the freeways. I ordered a new GTS 300 Super Sport yesterday, so I want to know what my realistic boundaries are, thats all. 95% of the time I will be riding surface streets, which is where a scooter shines. And by getting there fast, I mean 65-75 mph, as opposed to 40-55 as is the case with my current 150.

So does this mean that the variator lasts longer for those of us
who put on a lot of miles at widely varied speeds?
(Hoping... )

Your pulley surface won't get the deep grooves, but your rollers will wear faster. You can't win!

Dang it!

I'm heading into the 5th day of riding under a high-humidity "heat advisory"
...and now you're punching a hole in my whole "I'm sooo superior to those silly freeway riders" thing!

I think you'll be pleasantly surprised, then. The 300 can do freeways reasonably well and positively shines on surface streets.

I've run my 300 pretty much WOT since I got it, as it's my commute vehicle. It has nearly 10K on it now, and no problems aside from the usual wear and tear (oil changes, new rollers, new belt, etc.). When traveling in the car-pool lanes here in CA, you pretty much have to be going at least 65mph to keep up with traffic. Usually I am doing about 75 per the speedo, but we all know that's an optimistic number. I have gotten up to 85 when I've needed to pass someone.
I would suggest you get a tall windscreen, unless you like road noise and freezing in winter months.

Been on vacation, so jumping in late.

You're local, so you are familiar with my commute. About once a week or every other, I take my 300 Super from the Antelope Valley to Pasadena. There are two routes I can take; over the mountain or the 14/5/210 freeways. Just yesterday, I took the freeway to work and home. The commute takes an hour, one-way, (either route - shorter over the mountain, but can't travel as fast because of the twisties - longer on the freeway, but can go faster).

Right now, I'm at 8,000 on the clock and have not had any issues keeping up with traffic, even the long, sustained hills between the Palmdale and Valencia. The bike really shines when getting through the Newhall Pass, due to the constant traffic tie-up caused by the interchange construction. I save easily 20 minutes or more in commuting time by filtering.

At the 6,000 mile oil change, (I change my oil every 2k), I had the rollers and belt replaced. The tech let me watch and showed me the wear groove in the variator that others have pointed out. He said that is "normal" for freeway bikes, (or those driven WOT).

I need to take the bike in for it's 8,000 oil change next week. Oh, the other thing I have noticed is that I rarely hit the rev limiter anymore, even though the speedometer shows speeds above 90 mph. I don't push it more because ... well, that is fast enough. Have noticed a slight drop in power at max speeds, but not anything to run to the mechanic about.

Capable of sustained freeway speeds? Absolutely! But, realistically ... a bike with twice or three times the displacement is more suitable for long distance, high speed commutes. However, nothing out there, sans a trailer, can haul as much as a Vespa.