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Post by rockynv on Jun 5, 2013 22:33:00 GMT -5
Well, if you read up on the article of a vespa rider doing cross continent, riding on a 90cc scooter, you'd believe everything is possible. Sure it's possible, but you're just increasing the risk unnecessarily by lowering cc's. Sorry Prodigit this is why I pick at you sometimes. If you actually read the article or even look at the pictures you will see it is a P200E Vespa which is 200cc's of Vespa power. I wonder about what you report having read because you miss easy things like that. There is no additional risk riding a well built machine at or near its top speed. That's what they were made for. Vespa has only made a 90cc scooter for a few years in the 60's and they aren't all that common... to the informed the  is quite different If you are talking about Mike Lynch's ride from Tampa to Alaska it was a Vespa 200 GT with an additional gas tank mounted on the front and two plastic cylinders containing his camping gear mounted like side cases along with a top case in the back. I considered purchasing the bike from Mike who upgraded to a Aprilia Scarabeo GT 500 after that. Mike is now recovering from a bad crash (someone hit him at low speed in the city messing him and a very nice 500cc touring scooter up) and will probably never be able to ride again. I know Mike and was just by his home the other day to see how he was doing. His son Tim is still shook up by the crash that happend about a year ago. |
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Post by bwader on Jun 6, 2013 0:05:29 GMT -5
That's a of a deal. If I had the money right now I'd rent a truck and drive up there. |
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Post by scootnwinn on Jun 6, 2013 8:58:44 GMT -5
Sorry Prodigit this is why I pick at you sometimes. If you actually read the article or even look at the pictures you will see it is a P200E Vespa which is 200cc's of Vespa power. I wonder about what you report having read because you miss easy things like that. There is no additional risk riding a well built machine at or near its top speed. That's what they were made for. Vespa has only made a 90cc scooter for a few years in the 60's and they aren't all that common... to the informed the is quite different If you are talking about Mike Lynch's ride from Tampa to Alaska it was a Vespa 200 GT with an additional gas tank mounted on the front and two plastic cylinders containing his camping gear mounted like side cases along with a top case in the back. I considered purchasing the bike from Mike who upgraded to a Aprilia Scarabeo GT 500 after that. Mike is now recovering from a bad crash (someone hit him at low speed in the city messing him and a very nice 500cc touring scooter up) and will probably never be able to ride again. I know Mike and was just by his home the other day to see how he was doing. His son Tim is still shook up by the crash that happend about a year ago. I was talking this crazy dude from Australia modernvespa.com/forum/topic1145121980ish P200E I hear he did it all on one sparkplug too. Sorry to hear about your friend though we will add his recovery to our prayers. |
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Post by rockynv on Jun 6, 2013 12:15:52 GMT -5
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Post by scootnwinn on Jun 6, 2013 12:56:23 GMT -5
Pretty cool Rocky. It's too bad he was hit. He looks awfully happy I will pray he gets to feel the joy of 2 wheel adventure again...
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Post by rockynv on Jun 7, 2013 5:34:59 GMT -5
Pretty cool Rocky. It's too bad he was hit. He looks awfully happy I will pray he gets to feel the joy of 2 wheel adventure again... He did enjoy riding but has not recovered from the physical injuries to ride again and may never be able to get past the psycological barriers. He did prove that the Vespa 200 was capable of handling a 12,000 mile trip on the interstate. Mike had really wanted to take a ride back up the Northern most road in Alaska and then head down to the Southernmost road in South America on his Big Scarabeo. One other note on the Suzuki 250. Suzuki did send some of their 250cc engines to Aprilia for some colaborative engineering. The 150+ mph Aprilia Chesterfield is what came out of Aprilia's side of it. |
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Post by justpassinthru on Jun 11, 2013 8:54:56 GMT -5
I owned one for a year.
It's a superb-quality piece. Always starts immediately, thanks to FI. Attractive mini-me Triumph styling. Light and easy to through through traffic.
BUT.
It's small. Small in the frame...a big guy (34" inseam) has to push way back on the saddle. Small in power...I couldn't get it over 67 mph with my 245-lb bulk. And that just sucks the joy out of it.
I don't know why the manufacturers can't put some of the power and versatility of the touring scoots, the Burgman-clones, into a bike. But they can't.
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Post by rockynv on Jun 11, 2013 11:53:26 GMT -5
I was up to 265 lbs when I rode one for my MSF class and it zipped right up to 45 mph in the confines of the training grounds giving me the impression that it would take my size 48/50 self up to 80 mph or better. Even my 250cc Aprilia Sport City catches you offguard and creeps up well past if you not paying attention. |
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Post by bwader on Jun 11, 2013 12:40:36 GMT -5
67mph is just dandy! with sprocket change even better. unless theres a taller 250cc other than a dual sport
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Post by rockynv on Jun 12, 2013 0:56:05 GMT -5
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Post by Jarlaxle on Jun 12, 2013 8:16:42 GMT -5
67mph is just dandy! with sprocket change even better. unless theres a taller 250cc other than a dual sport What about a Yamaha V-Star? I vaguely recall the 250 & 650 use the same frame. |
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Post by prodigit on Jun 12, 2013 13:14:41 GMT -5
V-star is a V-engine, twin cylinder supposedly, just like Honda's rebel. Their MPG numbers are in the 60's at best, but have more torque and HP, and go faster thanks to the V-design.
68 is on the low side for a TUX. 70-72 is about the max you'll get out of it.
The person who said he can get 80+ out of it, probably has done mods to it, as I don't see that happening with a stock TUX.
Even my BMS TBX, with a 257cc engine and fuel injection could barely make 80, and that bike is streamlined (aerodynamic), unlike the TUx
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Post by scootnwinn on Jun 12, 2013 13:31:53 GMT -5
V-star is a V-engine, twin cylinder supposedly, just like Honda's rebel. Their MPG numbers are in the 60's at best, but have more torque and HP, and go faster thanks to the V-design. They are both twins but not both V's   and a little love for the TU  When you provide people with inaccurate information it can matter and basically further degrades your credibility. Make sure you're accurate or indicate you have no idea if you are actually right If I bought any of these though it would be this  Ok really just posted cause there wasn't enough pictures in this thread and I love dispelling ignorance |
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Post by bwader on Jun 12, 2013 14:44:29 GMT -5
As far as looks, its pretty much the same.
Its a 2 cylinder so it should have more horsepower than a single cylinder 250cc.
It has a 27" seat height. So I'm sticking with the Suzuki.
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Post by rockynv on Jun 13, 2013 12:08:11 GMT -5
V-star is a V-engine, twin cylinder supposedly, just like Honda's rebel. Their MPG numbers are in the 60's at best, but have more torque and HP, and go faster thanks to the V-design. 68 is on the low side for a TUX. 70-72 is about the max you'll get out of it. The person who said he can get 80+ out of it, probably has done mods to it, as I don't see that happening with a stock TUX. Even my BMS TBX, with a 257cc engine and fuel injection could barely make 80, and that bike is streamlined (aerodynamic), unlike the TUx Major motorcycle magazine review was where the 80 came from. Get 80+ from my 249cc Aprilia Sport City which is 100% stock. V-Star is just a upscaled Virago which although a pretty bike were notorious for starter issues. Some even tried chamfering the ring gear on the flywheel to make them engage more easily but to no avail. The parrallel twin Suzuki are probably the better choice for now. |
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is quite different 
mph. The bike puts out less horsepower than I would have expected being only 16 compared to almost 25 on my Sport City but it is still adequate for a 5 speed bike marketed for mostly city riding.
