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Post by oldchopperguy on Apr 27, 2018 0:22:34 GMT -5
Well, boyz n' gurlz...
Tuesday, I took "Minnie Mouse" to my dealer and had the new Shinko 140/70-12 P-rated rear whitewall installed! John, the owner of Moxie Scooters was stuck working alone lacking his usual crew... So I did "floor duty" greeting customers and showing products... Doggone, THAT was actually fun! During the time, I learned a lot about the various scoots... Lance, Fly, Genuine, Stella, Kymco, SYM, and his new flagship line, VESPA.
I now have a vastly revised view of the pricey little spaghetti-burners...I found the new 300cc fuel-injected Vespas to be a LOT more special than I had expected. Yes, they cost a tad over $7K but close inspection reveals that might not be out of line at all. As I head (all to fast) past seventy, I find my strength and agility waning considerably. Light weight and easy handling are meaning more to me each year. The new Vespa uses the tried-and-true Vespa "monocoque" construction with no steel-tubing sub-frame. The body is it. Period. Nowadays it's made of aluminum and it is feather-light and super-stiff. No wobble, no flex, and you (or me, or a small lady) can lay a new 300 over on its side and pick it right back up like a bicycle... HHHMMMM... THIS gets INTERESTING!  Not only does this construction make the bike easy to manhandle, but makes it go like stink... These new 300's seem a tad bigger and more substantial than past models and sport 12" wheels. Brakes, suspension and all the running-gear are high-end goodies.   While many new 300's are heavier than my old Grandvista, and only a few mph faster... These Vespas are like rockets compared to most (except for the other Italian makes). But it seems to be the unibody aluminum construction that makes the real difference. Add to that the impeccable fit, finish and attention to detail and you pretty much have the "Ferrari" of scooters. The two pictured here are the touring and performance models, both paying cosmetic tribute to early Vespas of days gone by, with fender-mounted headlights, luggage racks, dual seats, etc. The touring version in brilliant gloss lacquer and the "Number 6" Sei Giorni" the same pale green but matte finish. The tourer features an irresistible solo-seat and passenger pillion, and both open together to expose the underseat pan. The luggage racks fore and aft fold neatly. The alloy wheels are TRUE mirror-polished and the entire package is simply first-class.
These scoots are high-quality, fast, nimble and easy to handle. And at $7,000 they equate to $700 in the 1950's... Just what a Vespa cost back then.I love my old Kymco and for me it's a good choice, but she's heavy, not all that quick and down the road, this lightweight and fast Vespa will look better and better... If it's in your budget, I would recommend one!
About the time I might want one of these, a used one should be affordable!My brief duty as salesman taught me a lot about the new scoots... AND, that many customers are more willing to shell out over $7K for the Vespa than $3,500 for something lesser. It all depends on one's budget I guess!
My advice is to NOT test-ride one of these unless you're prepared to pony-up for one, OR be a little disappointed in your present ride... LOL!  Leo in (finally riding on TWO factory whitewalls!) Texas
PS: Oh, and, YES... These Vespas run 120/40-12 tires up front, and 130/70-12 on the rear... SOOOO... You COULD put the Shinko whitewalls on them for a true fifties look... HeHeHe...
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Post by w650 on Apr 27, 2018 16:36:49 GMT -5
Sorry to be a wet blanket Leo but I must respectively add a few points to this. The pressed steel design of the Vespa is not just a rolled, flat sheet of metal. It has numerous reinforcements internally that are tube like. While it may seem like a 300 Vespa is quick its 0-60 times hover around 13 to 15 seconds. A Honda Nighthawk 250, and the Rebel, post 12.2 second runs to the same speed. Never mind that 300cc bikes do it in six seconds. As for the 7K price tag. Feast your eyes on this. powersports.honda.com/2018/cb500x.aspxAdmittedly the Vespa is easier to mount but I know which I would want for a 500 mile day. |
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Post by wheelbender6 on Apr 27, 2018 18:18:14 GMT -5
No DCT on the CB500. Traffic is a fact of life for me, so I lean toward the Vespa.
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Post by w650 on Apr 27, 2018 21:38:56 GMT -5
As Leo can tell you, after fifty years of shifting you do it like walking and breathing. My point outside of that was the 500 Honda costs less, is faster and less maintenance in the long run.
Comparing a bike to a scooter is pointless though. They are totally different beasts and generally attract different individuals to their seats.
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Post by oldchopperguy on Apr 27, 2018 22:02:35 GMT -5
Sorry to be a wet blanket Leo but I must respectively add a few points to this. The pressed steel design of the Vespa is not just a rolled, flat sheet of metal. It has numerous reinforcements internally that are tube like. While it may seem like a 300 Vespa is quick its 0-60 times hover around 13 to 15 seconds. A Honda Nighthawk 250, and the Rebel, post 12.2 second runs to the same speed. Never mind that 300cc bikes do it in six seconds. As for the 7K price tag. Feast your eyes on this. powersports.honda.com/2018/cb500x.aspxAdmittedly the Vespa is easier to mount but I know which I would want for a 500 mile day.
All good points. I need to qualify the post as to meeting my personal needs... That Honda is a fabulous bike for the money, but I'm now totally dedicated to step-through scoots. Arthritis, waning strength, etc. make it a real "chore" to climb on/off and ride a regular cycle, while a lightweight step-through scoot with CVT tranny is a pleasure.
I was really knocked out by the (felt) weight of the Vespa. Maybe an illusion with the heavy parts being very low, and the body (should be aluminum) being very light up top... but it just feels "right" to me... My Kymco weighs around 365 pounds, the Vespa specs say 340, so not all that much actual difference. But the Vespa actually FEELS like a Chinese 150 in my hands... So do some of the tall-wheel scoots too. Weight distribution must make a WORLD of difference! As for speed, the Vespa may not be all that much quicker to 60 than others, but I suspect it gets to 40-45 noticeably quicker. Riders also report being able to cruise at 75-80 which would be VERY good for a 300cc. I dunno, Vespas certainly are not for everybody, just like a Harley isn't for many but after spending several hours with one, I'm seeing why they have that "cult following"... You either love 'em or hate 'em... and think they're overpriced OR "expensive and worth every penny"...LOL! Until now, I felt they were vastly over-priced, but like 'em or not, they do provide a lot of scooter for the bucks... But they're only for those who want a high-end step-through ride. Not too many buyers other than old geezers like me, or ladies.
Now, the limited edition "Vespa RED" 300 at $10,500 really DOES carry a "jacked-up" price tag based on the buyer with extra bucks wanting something new, but "rare". Definitely for the country-club set (those with the Ferrari roadster and the Bentley sedan home in the 8-car garage...); not for regular scooter-jockeys like most of us on the forum...
My instincts tell me you're right about the Honda being better for 500 mile trips. But I have been fooled in this world of scooters... I put a half-century of happy miles on Harley baggers, but have to eat crow as my ancient Kymco is actually better for multi-hour rides than my old Hogs were! I NEVER would have thought that possible of a 250cc scooter...  I can ride the Grandvista for several hours with little fatigue, while my old Harley "Milwaukee Shakers" got downright painful along with numb wrists from the handlebars "buzzing" after an hour on the road.
For a practical Italian touring scoot, my dealer has a couple of new Piaggio BV 350's for around $3,400 out the door. Lots of scoot for the money! Admittedly more all-round useful at half the price of the Vespa but not a true flat-floor. I got on and off them and with my health issues, the Vespa still was a lot more "user friendly".
In a choice between the BV 350 and the Honda cycle, I think I'd actually prefer the Piaggio. But, that's what makes it a horserace! Neither Vespas OR Harleys are for everyone, but for those with a "Jones" for them, I do understand... It's neat that there are SO many choices today at all displacement sizes AND prices!
Add to that all the clean used rides and it could take a new rider YEARS to actually decide...For five seasons I've been mighty happy with the old Kymco, so I'm not hocking the family jewels any time soon for a Vespa... In a few years, when the 2018's sell for $2K or so, who knows? Probably everything will be electric by then anyway.Ride safe! Leo |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Apr 27, 2018 22:04:28 GMT -5
As Leo can tell you, after fifty years of shifting you do it like walking and breathing. My point outside of that was the 500 Honda costs less, is faster and less maintenance in the long run. Comparing a bike to a scooter is pointless though. They are totally different beasts and generally attract different individuals to their seats.
Abso-freakin'-lootley! You get it... Have a big bone on The Old Chopper Guy! |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Apr 27, 2018 22:43:21 GMT -5
It's ITALIAN, made by PIAGGIO and motorcycle-sized and scooter handy... And, it really WILL move!
Only negative for me is no true flat-floor... LOL! Oh, yeah, and, it's half the price of the Vespa 300... Pretty sweet!
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Post by Jarlaxle on Apr 29, 2018 6:41:43 GMT -5
I would take a Forza or Burgman 400 over any Vespa.
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Post by w650 on May 11, 2018 20:00:50 GMT -5
I recently read at Modern Vespa that the OTD price of a 300 Vespa is a mere $8500. That's about the price of two new Kymco 300s. Let's see, can I think about that for a few seconds.
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Post by oldchopperguy on May 11, 2018 23:00:09 GMT -5
Point well-taken... Have a bone!
Yeah, Vespas are like Harleys: you either feel they're WAY over-priced, or else you love 'em and think they're "expensive but worth the money". They remind me of "The Original Jackass Leather Co." who made the holster rigs for "Miami Vice". They had two slogans: "Very expensive, and worth every penny." and "For those who demand the best, and know the difference."
Personally, I'm not a big fan of Vespas, but I honestly DO understand those who are obsessed by the brand. They are so monumentally nostalgic, like Hogs... After all, I spent nearly 60 years addicted to Harley Davidsons... LOL! Different bike, Same disease...Nowadays at 71 and none to sure-footed and battling arthritis, I'm firmly grounded in scooters. My big-bike days are likely over, even if budget allowed. IF I had money for a new scoot, reason WOULD prevail and I'd surely choose something nice, but more "budget-friendly" than a Vespa... But I can understand those who would hock the kids for one... Just not me (or you I suspect)... LOL! That day I spent at the dealer WAS eye-opening. If I had say, $4K to spend, though I love Kymcos, the new, larger ones feel HEAVY and a tad awkward. I believe I'd probably end up with one of the tall-wheel Italian step-through scoots from Piaggio. They are not my "cup of tea" cosmetically, but DANG! They feel light, and are FAST, with terrific handling and are GREAT rides.  But then, I'd be back to painted whitewalls, and my light-up-goose would look terrible on one... LOLOLOL! Saddlebags would be OK though! Good thing I'm happy with the old Kymco.
Ride safe,
Leo
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Post by wheelbender6 on May 12, 2018 12:53:41 GMT -5
I read about a road test of the new Husqvarna Vitpilen 701. It is a big thumper and the price out the door is around $12,000.
-I feel like that kind of pricing will make a company go out of business. Many others who commented about the road test thought Husky would have no problem selling them.
-For me, that is too much dinero for a thumper (very fast thumper) with with no wind protection, very little range and no storage. Time will tell.
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Post by oldchopperguy on May 12, 2018 22:28:43 GMT -5
Wheelbender6,
I looked up the Vitpilen 701 on the net, and while very neat it is SO "foreign" to my old eyes. I suppose in this inflated world, $12K for a quality 700cc performance bike may not be all that much overpriced, but for the same money I could find a number of motorcycles I'd rather have. The Nordic thumper will no doubt have a market, but how large I can't guess. I'm thinking it may sell better in Europe than in the USA... Personally I'd prefer the old thumpers from Japan that resembled English bikes. Still and all though, I'd prefer a V-twin in a large bike. Just me, younger riders likely prefer inline 4's and such.  The Husqvarna IS nice, unique, quality-built and EXPENSIVE... Works for Vespa, maybe will work for Husky too!Just TOO "different" for me. Ride safe!
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Post by wheelbender6 on May 13, 2018 11:43:26 GMT -5
The Vitpilen looks more like a bike you create yourself than a new bike from the showroom floor. It looks like the owner took a standard bike and removed parts until only the essentials remain (similar to a bobber).
-An owner could do something similar with a KLR, DR650 or a Savage/S40, but it will not be as fast as a Vitpilen.
-I did think of a Japanese bike that is priced similarly to the 701 Vitpilen. I think the Suzuki Burgman 650 was priced around $12,000.
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Post by crawford on May 15, 2018 18:47:36 GMT -5
question why would any body compare a watermelon to a orange ? well you you say scooter why compare it to some other type ?
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Post by SylvreKat on May 15, 2018 20:36:32 GMT -5
... As for speed, the Vespa may not be all that much quicker to 60 than others, but I suspect it gets to 40-45 noticeably quicker. Riders also report being able to cruise at 75-80 which would be VERY good for a 300cc. ... Until now, I felt they were vastly over-priced, but like 'em or not, they do provide a lot of scooter for the bucks... But they're only for those who want a high-end step-through ride. Not too many buyers other than old geezers like me, or ladies. ... For a practical Italian touring scoot, my dealer has a couple of new Piaggio BV 350's for around $3,400 out the door. [/b] Lots of scoot for the money! Admittedly more all-round useful at half the price of the Vespa but not a true flat-floor. I got on and off them and with my health issues, the Vespa still was a lot more "user friendly".
In a choice between the BV 350 and the Honda cycle, I think I'd actually prefer the Piaggio. But, that's what makes it a horserace! Neither Vespas OR Harleys are for everyone, but for those with a "Jones" for them, I do understand... ... Leo [/quote] Gotta point out that supposedly my 200cc can go 70+. I still take Piaggio's word on that. As for Vespa's being overpriced, when you consider that the same-maker Piggys sell for so much less than similar Vespas, there's no "felt" about it. They ARE overpriced. You pay for the Vespa branding. And welcome to the Pizza-side, Unca' Leo! No, not a flat floor, but really, not all that hard to get over the hump. Only problem for me with the new ones, I totally dislike the handlebar light. Maybe 'cause I came to this later in life and am too used to a car's fixed headlight, but to me having the light move with every shift of steering would be distracting. >'Kat |
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