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geeza · 02-05-2005, 08:52 AM

Go with the newer one if you actually need dependability. They are also a lot safer. The brakes and handling are outstanding. I do a little road racing of large bikes, and I am always amazed at the way that bloody Vespa handles (in europe we have the ET4 which is a four stroke 125cc, but I believe they upped it to 150cc for you guys due to all the smog junk choking them).

That Vespa is the fastest way across London known to man, helicopters included.

It's faster that all my big bikes, and even a supermoto. Why? Because it punches off the line, and you can leave the gas wide open around every corner thanks to the amazing dynamics. Frankly, I am still amazed by the thing 5 years of hassle-free, cheap motoring later.

A few of my mates flirted with the old classic ones (very trendy etc) but they all overpaid for them (very trendy etc), the reliability sucks if you have weather where you are, and the handling is very poor. The brakes SUCK: front brake is wooden, floor mounted rear brake is frankly hazardous, and the left wrist-operated gear shift nonsense is... ...nonsense.

OK, OK, it can be charming. But screw charming on the mean streets of london. That charm will see you on your ass in no time, or falling under the wheels of a bus as you pull out onto Hyde Park corner and conk out or miss a gear.

Get yourself a new 150cc or 200cc four stroke, and the little storage locker on the back. Bloody marvellous package.

I have got two now, that have 28000 miles on them over 5 years between em, and all I have ever done is change a relay on one, and the oil on both. I have raced them against EVERYTHING (and I mean everything), I have done jumps off pavements, ridden down staircases, off-roaded through London's parks, and depended on them to get me between appointments that should not theoretically be possible in this mad city. They have always delivered.

So if you want safety, reliability, and low cost: get the new one. Chicks LOVE poppin around on the back of them too (when the sun actually comes out over here), more so, I must say, than being on some of the other expensive bits of kit I have (fancy european stuff)

if you want the old one: get the old one.

02-05-2005, 08:52 AM	#11 (permalink)
geeza Crazy	Go with the newer one if you actually need dependability. They are also a lot safer. The brakes and handling are outstanding. I do a little road racing of large bikes, and I am always amazed at the way that bloody Vespa handles (in europe we have the ET4 which is a four stroke 125cc, but I believe they upped it to 150cc for you guys due to all the smog junk choking them). That Vespa is the fastest way across London known to man, helicopters included. It's faster that all my big bikes, and even a supermoto. Why? Because it punches off the line, and you can leave the gas wide open around every corner thanks to the amazing dynamics. Frankly, I am still amazed by the thing 5 years of hassle-free, cheap motoring later. A few of my mates flirted with the old classic ones (very trendy etc) but they all overpaid for them (very trendy etc), the reliability sucks if you have weather where you are, and the handling is very poor. The brakes SUCK: front brake is wooden, floor mounted rear brake is frankly hazardous, and the left wrist-operated gear shift nonsense is... ...nonsense. OK, OK, it can be charming. But screw charming on the mean streets of london. That charm will see you on your ass in no time, or falling under the wheels of a bus as you pull out onto Hyde Park corner and conk out or miss a gear. Get yourself a new 150cc or 200cc four stroke, and the little storage locker on the back. Bloody marvellous package. I have got two now, that have 28000 miles on them over 5 years between em, and all I have ever done is change a relay on one, and the oil on both. I have raced them against EVERYTHING (and I mean everything), I have done jumps off pavements, ridden down staircases, off-roaded through London's parks, and depended on them to get me between appointments that should not theoretically be possible in this mad city. They have always delivered. So if you want safety, reliability, and low cost: get the new one. Chicks LOVE poppin around on the back of them too (when the sun actually comes out over here), more so, I must say, than being on some of the other expensive bits of kit I have (fancy european stuff) if you want the old one: get the old one.