Modern Vespa

i'm brand new to the group. hope you can help. sorry if you've covered these questions a hundred times before me. i'm about to purchase my first vespa (first scooter). think i'm going to go for the 150 as it feels about as large as i'm comfortable with....but somewhere down the line will i wish i had the extra engine power of the 250? are the two models really the difference between strictly surface street-driving, and hopping on freeways sometimes?
also...as i have little money, i'm thinking about selling my pick-up so i can buy a vespa and it will be my sole mode of tranport. any feedback on this? crazy or adventurous? i figure it's now or who knows when, you know? thanks for your thoughts group.... elisa. [/b]

This thread addresses your questions, substitute the 250 for the 200 in that thread.

oops

Vespa 2005 200L or Vespa ET4 150 (Post 983301)

The short answer is yes, you probably will.

I'll let others with more experience tackle your other questions. Welcome to the group.

ok thanks chichikov..
thanks also louisq. the link didn't show up right away, i see it now...

Hi there Elisa. Currently looking at the newest Vespas, you can get either a GTV 300 or a 250. In a similar but not identical style, you can get a LXV 150. There are many here who love their 150's and wouldn't want a larger engined Vespa. The advantages of the smaller bikes is their lightness and nimbleness. This makes then easy to manoeuvre and totally flickable in traffic. The larger 250 and 300 cc scooters are much more powerful and give you that extra horsepower to run pretty comfortably on the highway. What they gain in power and speed, they lose a bit in nimbleness. I have owned a LX 150 and now own a GTS 300 Super. I personally prefer the GTS 300 because I love that extra power from a standstill and do jump on the highway on a regular basis. Jumping on the highway was just something I wasn't comfortable with doing on the lighter LX 150.

So really, only you can answer your question. It really depends on what you think you'll be using your scooter for in the long run.

I would encourage you to buy a lightly used quality scooter (not necessarily Vespa) for a first go around. Modern plastic scoots are less expensive to buy, are generally less expensive to repair if you have an oops, and if you find scooting isn't for you, reselling is less traumatic (both unfortunately, aren't that uncommon).
After a few months riding you'll have a much better idea if you want to buy your Vespa and which one will suit you. Have fun!

... continued thanks for the replies! very helpful. and btw, i have tried posting a profile pic (don't like the word lurker attached to me) but all are too large and i'm not techy enough to know how to shrink down...so working on that.

I support Harvey's comments.

Buying a used scoot is a good way to figure out what you NEED a scoot to do... as well as what you WANT it to do and look-like. It may also make the upgrade or "dumping" of the training scoot less financially traumatic whether you get out of scooting or upgrade.

Make a few most posts and you won't be a lurker anymore.

The LX 150 and LXV are now fuel injected as well. The 150 vs 250/300 choice is really a matter of how you intend to use the scooter. If it's use will be primarily in town then the 150 should be thoroughly satisfactory. If you will need to use the scoot for periodic long trips and expect to do some freeway riding then the 250/300 is the better choice. As others have said, the LXV and GTV are extra dressed up and you pay for the privilege. Much money can be saved if you are willing to go for a late model used scooter.

Not to pick too many nits, Benny, but I think the prevailing opinion of many of us smallbody fans is not that we wouldn't like a larger engine, but rather that we don't want a larger, heavier, more unwieldy chassis.

Witness to this is borne by the numbers of us who have gone to the time, trouble, and expense to convert our 150s to 190s.

But imagine for a moment you were as big as my left leg and had a 300 under control. FAST! Benny rocks on!

Perhaps I should have said small frame scooter rather than just specify the engine size. But I think you get my point nonetheless. Yeppers, I do love my 300 though. Cannot think of another scooter I'd rather ride at the moment.

I say go with the 150 but i'm biased. If i needed more speed/ freeway riding i'd probably find a used Honda Helix 250 like i used to ride. The 150's are perfect. Enough power to get up hills and nimble enough for those 2 lane roads. I guess it's all about what you need it for. I also agree with Harvey on buying a used one first to learn on if you haven't ridden before. A little 50cc is perfect to hone your skills. Good luck and welcome to the forum.

I think you should get the GTS 250. we live in a Freeway dependent area and you'll want the extra power sooner or later.

Again you will need the power for the freeways trust me I live around here.

I have a Buddy 125 and the GTS. I love them both dearly but if someone made me go Sophie's choice I would pick the GTS. I like the versatility. The Buddy (a 125) is easier to park and maneuver in small spaces, but the GTS can go anywhere...looks-wise the GTV is sharper than GTS but that is not everything. I would not "hop on the freeway" on a 150, but with a 250, no problem.

Personally if I were getting a 150 I would buy a S150 or an LX150. I think you get a lot more bang for the buck. And if you are tall you will quickly learn to hate the seat on the LxV. Sure does look good though.

Call me practical, but I wouldn't get rid of the pick-up, I think you will miss it. as money is tight too as you say, the GTV/LXV is way more expensive than the GTS/LX with the same performance just cosmetic differences

didnt know they made a GTV 150

they don't DUH

so why did the OP ask " which one should i prurchase"

dunno

GTS 250 and a spare fuel pumpl

I'm 99% sure they meant LxV 150.

We have forum members riding the quite rare GTV 125--not in the U.S., though.

In UK, where you don't need full licence to ride scooter up to 125 cc

As a first scooter, 125 or 150 is totally fine. But after 2 years you may want more... like I do now

I'm a new (female; petite-ish) rider with a new '09 GTV. There have been several times I've thought that I would've been better off with a 150. The 250 is big, and for a newbie a bit intimidating.

I'm working through it and gaining confidence, but I think less weight would be easier to handle while learning.

Also I don't ever see myself riding on the highway other than perhaps a short burst here or there to get down one exit type of thing.

When you need it, it's there......and you really never know when you may need the extra power for an accident avoidance maneuver.

You GO!!

Hang in there you'll get it...

BTW there's nothing quite as handsome as a lady on a GTV!

This is so tempting to say something here.

Lol

I'd have to say that I do miss the LX150 I used to share with my girlfriend back in 2006,
But I don't miss the starting and battery problems I had with it.

With the GTS 250, I'm a very very very happy rider,
Although I am interested in that new LX150 I.E. scooter.

I loved the flickablity of a light weight scooter,
The LX150 is one of those scooters that I loved driving,
The other one was a Derbi Blvd 150.

I've got both an LX 150 and a GTV 250.

A couple of weeks ago my brother was in town so we took the scooters out for a ride.

I let him ride the 250 and I rode the 150. I usually ride the GTV all the time unless it's raining. I was surprised at how underpowered the LX 150 felt going up the hills following the GTV. I was at wide open throttle and still slowing down going up the hills.

Don't get me wrong. Like others have said the 150 is a nimble easy to handle scooter but you do trade off top end speed and hill climbing ability.

Although some people do it all the time I wouldn't think of riding the 150 on the freeway while I ride the 250 GTV on there all the time.

I think the engine size depends on two things, if you're big or small, and the intended use. For everyday use and commuting I would go with a bigger engine. For size, I am 190lbs and my wife is 110lbs, a 150 is plenty for her to do 65 on a 150, but for me its a little slow to get up and go.