Modern Vespa

First off a nice hello to everyone. Somehow I just found this forum and am thrilled with it!

I am the original owner of a GT200 2005 vintage green purchased at the end of 2004. I was recently at my local dealer and saw a 2010 GTV250 Siena Ivory and absolutely fell in love (and the end of model year US promotion definitely helps matters). I have been thinking vintage for several years however I decided that the reliability and usability of new is too much of an advantage. The GTV gives me what I want - vintage ivory color and vintage looks.

Several questions - will there be much of a difference between the 250 and the new 300 engine in the 2011 models? I don't expect there to be much difference between the 250 and my 200 although the injection might change the feel of it. Any other changes in the 2011 model GTV?

Finally - am I crazy for getting rid of my GT200? It has low miles (2500) and has been flawless - but that damn GTV in Ivory was just too beautiful.

One last question - I have read about the two piece seat moving people a bit forward. I am 5'10" - when I sat on the GTV250 I even commented to the dealer that I felt a touch forward (although the bike was on the center stand) - and then it was funny to get home and read this forum and see that my impressions were correct. I guess that my single piece seat allows me to scoot back if desired - but the two piece brown leather seat is just too nice!

Thanks to all

Buzzlulu

Not an answer but a question.

First congratulations on the new baby.

When you have had the GTV for a while please post how different from the 200 you found it.

I moved from a Sym 150 (my wife's) to a GT200 which I love and it was so much better in every way.

I got rid of my 1100cc road bike because I rode the wheels off the scoot and left the behemoth in the garage.

Enjoy it every day dude .

GJN

I just changed the title of my post. I already own a GT200 - I am lusting for a GTV and wanted feedback on that.

Thanks
Buzzlulu

PS same as you - my BMW R1150 has gotten little use since owning my GT200 (and Aprilia Scarabeo before that).

Yep me too. I was hoping after you get the 250 you can tell me if its worth trading up for (apart from the nice retro look) I notice the Vespa advice area says it recommends the GT 200 for sustained speeds of 100kph with shorter commutes of 110kph. It says the GTS/GTV 250/300 is recommended for sustained cruises of 110 kph.

I do note my GT is doing 102 by the GPS when the speedo says 110 so I assume they mean then actual speed not the indicated speed.

Anyway Vespas are an addiction are they not?

No answers?

I have a GTV 250 and have never ridden a GT. In general, people post nothing but positive statements about them. A key diff is that they are carborated vs fuel injected and that gives the 250 a little more oomph. Most posts I've seen recommend keeping the GT when upgrading to something else.

Some think the 300 has great low end torque over the 250 but that the 250 has better high-end performance.

I put a J. Costa variator into my GTV and made a world of difference. I was considering moving up to a 300 but decided against it once I got the new variator installed.

BTW, there was discussion a couple months ago that the new GTV300 does not come in the P. Green but that was never confirmed (far as I know). In your research, does it in fact come in green?

Best
Miguel

Dont put any store in the fuel injection. People usually give this as an advantage. It is but very slight. The only reason manufacturers bother is that it allows them to better meet the hardening emission regs in California and Europe. It means little to an on the road rider. There are many motorcycles that are or have just gone through this mod update. Testers ride them and have to really search to find a point of difference between the carb and efi model of the same machine. It makes a good engine slightly (1%) better.

The top end has about 30 something cc more in a 250 and about 78 more in the 300 that's the real difference there.

I think the 250 and 300 have lower ratios and therefore can cruise at lower revs for the same speed. They spin out to a higher top end according to owners but Piaggio quotes 122kph for both as a top speed. As far as I know the bottom end / crank is identical. My 200 would be struggling to maintain 122 on the GPS. (On the speedo easy)

The 300 is a real charger off the line but I know Jess said in another post that the 250 was better at cruising because... cant remember why you might need to ask him. He would know as he rides everything.

I love my GTS 250, but the problems reported with the fuel pump have me more than a bit concerned. I have both the Vespa and AMA road service coverage, and I hope I never have to use them. I was initially considering the GTV, which at the time was a 250, but the nice-looking seat was a problem from the git-go. I'm 5'7", but the seat was just...weird (I can't describe it any other way), and I can't imagine it being comfortable for any distance. If you like the headlight-on-fender configuration, buy the GTV, but seriously consider the option of buying a GTS seat, and even having it improved by Pirate Upholstery.

Try an air hawk seat to go over the top on long trips. You can remove it in ten seconds so you can still see the cute oem one when your but is not abusing the view. (No offence to your but)

Personally I think the GT200 is THE bike to have. Now, most of that is due to the engine having many more options performance wise, and I care about such things. Other than that it really comes down to ergonomics and style.

I own a GT200, and was offered a gorgeous GTS250 at a silly price earlier this year ... I turned it down. The performance gains would have to be huge to change my mind, and they're not - I ride with 250s and 300s all the time and have never had any trouble keeping up. The GT200 is a modern classic - if you've got one in immaculate condition, I'd hang onto it.

I`ve had my GTV300 3 months now & done over 2000km mainly with the wife on the back,never had a problem with the seat or anything else for that matter.The scooter is a dream to ride after having geared Vespa`s and Lammies in the past.
if your going to get a GTV,go for the flagship model which is thse 300.
up to now they only come in black(UK),maybe next year other colours will appear.I hope so because IMHO it`s the best looking Auto Vespa on the market,but then `i am bias.
Good luck on your next Vespa.

Martin



I never miss an opportunity to post a pic.

No! Go 250cc!!

Heheh

Is the 250cc even available in 2011?
Best
Miguel

Want to know where you cannot get the answers to this and other questions? The Vespa USA website, that's where.

It's a mess. An absolute mess.

The pictures do not match the descriptions and vice versa.

Hell, they still have a picture of the "GTS 250" digital display on the GTV (in a color that's no longer available):
http://vespausa.com/scooters.php#/gallery/Vespa%20GTV%20300/images/9

No wonder potential purchasers are confused. GTV 50ie Super Sport anyone?

I suspect that new, unsold 250s will still be available at reduced prices.

I almost never get a good picture of my scoot with a castle in the background.

Stanny,thats not a castle but Beverley Minster a 12th century church of cathedral proportions.My home town.

same position of original shot with a x30 zoom.



St Mary`s church,wooden carving`s inside said to have inspired Louis Carroll to write Alice in Wonderland



I`m full of usless crap.

The two best pieces of advise in the thread. I'd have a GT200 and be very happy. The Malossi kit for the GT specs are pretty enticing.

Not quite true in Vespa's case. The power delievery on both the 150ie and 250/300ie is significantly smoother than on the carburetted equivalents. They start more easily (on the button) as well without any twisting of the throttle. They are also very economical. The GTS250 is just as economical as an LX 150.

Goes without saying. They are Italians. Best sense of style in the world, make the most beautiful products. You need an Italian to design the appearance of anything but a German or a Japanese to make it run right.

There is a joke that goes heaven is a place with

French cooks
Italian designers
German engineering
and British cops

Hell has
German cops
British chefs
French designers
and Italian engineering

Well - a big thank you to all who have replied to my thread.

The dominant theme seems to be that my GT200L is a classic and I would be crazy to get rid of it-especially with only 2500 miles and so clean you could eat off of it.

I think that to satisfy my quench for the "vintage" look I will go to Pirate Upholstery and recover my black bench seat in vintage look brown leather. I already have a Vespa brand fabric top case (I did not want the leather one) so the brown seat will match it - and then with a chrome front rack I might be good to go.

Are there any headlights which can be mounted on the GT200's front fender. I seem to have read that the electrical system cannot handle two headlights.

Thanks
Gregg

Okay please tell what are good performance mods for the GT200 and how much extra go do you get. And about how much cost please?

I know its no doubt been discussed previously but there are about a bazillion topics in the history and searching threads does not often cut it down much.

tks

GJN: I have Dr. Pulley sliders in my variator, instead of the regular variator weights. It's made the acceleration much smoother and given it a bit more grunt from a stop. I've also got a Leo Vince pipe, which doesn't really improve the performance but sounds like it does, which is almost as important

I have a brown GTV seat available that would look gorgeous on your green scoot

Chichikov
Sent you a PM
Buzzlulu