Vespa owner is worried

[Stig / Major Tom]

Vespa owner freaking because rain is predicted to fall on his scooter as he trucks it to his vacation spot.
A covering tarp would just beat the finish up at 75mph on the highway.

Vespa owners - they buy the Rolls Royce of scooters - are afraid to get them wet because they do rust - they are totaled by ins. co. if they tip over - scratches are so expensive to repair they just put a big Italian rondel sticker over them and then weep.

I've never once regretted owning a plastic scooter! (some panels, esp. Hondas, are amazingly inexpensive - while Burman's are stupidly pricey)

Stig

[john grinsel]

Vespa today are way overpriced---maybe double of what they are worth and in US not supported by much of a dealer network.....and are they as reliable as the stuff from Asia?   No in my book

I had 4 Vespa 2 stroke scooters, 1 used three, new, great when Sears sold them at $325, I bought new PX200E in Denver, forgot price but must have been under $1000-----last one PX150E in Pirmasens Germany,1984 or so, US model from Army PX for $400 as they were getting rid of them and this was the last.  150 better in daily use than 200---less vibration.   Lots of useful accessories for them available in Europe----great thing they can be made buffet free with right windshield, front and rear luggage racks to balance load.

Current GTS300 with the accessories I need for daily use would cost $8-9000 out the door---stretched 250 just like my Kymco XTown 300i----performance probably same.  Reliability?  Kymco much better.

Guy who was worried about carrying scooter in rain IN PICKUP, just another TRAILER BIKER in my book=Wimp.  I buy my bikes/scooters to ride!

[klaviator]

After reading all my ride reports and seeing all the places I ride my scooters I have two friends who recently bought Vespa's.  One bought a new 19 GTS300 and put something like 8500 miles on it in less than 6 months.  He commutes on it in all kinds of weather.

The second friend bought a used 09 GTS250 and loves it.  It was pretty beat up but mechanically sound. 

For both of these guys it was their first scooters and they both love them.

A lot of Vespa owners are serious riders.  Check out the scooter cannonball and you will find a lot of the riders are on Vespa's. 

[Tromper]

I agree modern Vespa's are a bit overpriced.  Heck even the Piaggio BV I keep eyeing up is a bit pricey.
Far as reliability they seem to want their maintenance and want it now, but do OK if ya keep on top of 'em.
I will note that a friend in FL who was all Vespa picked up an XMAX 300 and has been piling the miles on that an noting how low maintenance it was, how well it handled highway speeds etc. To be fair his Vespas are all 50k+ miles and one of 'em's down for the count.

[WEL]

After I sold my Vespa, I missed having a scooter (I have a Vstrom 650 as well). I have no regrets with the Kymco X400. Does much better on California freeways and the local canyons compared to the Vespa. I considered the Xmax 300 but found the Kymco more comfortable for me.