Buying a Vespa
 

So I was looking on ebay.com, and I got a huge result when I looked up 'vespa'...what do you all think the best model to get is, and what would be a good price for it?

if you don't get alot more commentary, send a pm to the original king... he's gonna know loads about this.

yah... original king will be able to tell ya a lot...

ive always thought scooters were pretty neet... if i didnt need a vehicle that could move my stuff around i would definently get one...

What do you want to do with your Vespa? Some of the newer ones are cleaner running, but can't really hit freeway speeds. If you need to go at least 60mph look for an older 200 series. Most major cities have a shop that specializes in older vespas. Go talk to them.

Yeah I would say ask the resident mod (as in quad mod) OK.

La Petite Moi... are you looking for a Classic or a New Vespa? What do you plan on using it for (i.e. distance travelled, small roads or highways)?

I own a vintage Vespa (1971 - 150cc Sprint Veloce) and while I love it it can be tempermental.

If you aren't completely stuck on the vintage scooters, go for the newer models.

The 50cc is has two stroke engine but is relatively cleaner running than the vintage bikes. These retail for about $4,200 Canadian.
http://www.motoretta.ca/images/produ...ers/ET2B-a.jpg

The 150cc one has a four-stroke engine and runs much, much cleaner. If you were to get any of the new Vespas this is the one I would recommend. It gives you enough speed and isn't too big. This retails for 5,500 Canadian.
http://www.motoretta.ca/images/produ...55012222-a.jpg

There is also the 200cc Gran Turismo... a very nice scooter with a lot of power. If you want a bigger scooter with a lot of power go with this... This one goes for 6,900 Canadian.
http://www.motoretta.ca/images/produ...ters/GTS-a.jpg

As for the vintage scooters, it really is a matter of taste and performance... Many like the 50cc bikes because they are small frame and don't go too fast. Personally, I never feel safe on these because they don't go that fast... I always feel like I am struggling to keep up with the traffic (the new Vespa 50cc have more power because they are tuned differently).

You can also get 100cc, 125cc, 150cc and 200cc Vespas. Once you have decided whether you want a small frame or a big frame and what size of engine you want it really comes down to the looks of the scooter...

The next hurdle is price... The scooter shop that I go to for service (www.motoretta.ca) has Project Scooters (junk heaps in need of love), Ready to Ride (fine ridable scooters) and Fully Restored (gorgeously restored, usually hard to find models)

The ready to rides are often from the early 80s (they are easy to find in relatively good condition) and they range in price from 2,200 to 4,000 Canadian.

The Fully Restored usually range from 5,000 to 10,000 Canadian.

http://www.motoretta.ca/images/produ...A1T57639-a.jpg
1959 - VBA - 150 (fully restored)

http://www.motoretta.ca/images/produ...9A1T9098-a.jpg
1964 - Vespa 90 (fully restored)

http://www.motoretta.ca/images/produ...1T145403-a.jpg
1984 - Vespa ET3 - (ready to ride)

http://www.motoretta.ca/images/produ...X1T36559-a.jpg
1979 - Vespa P125 - (ready to ride)

Let me know if you want anything more specific...

Hello La Petite
Vespa's are great, but you will pay through the nose for the chic factor. If you are , as I suspect looking for cheap, reliable transportation, you can't beat the japanese scooters, Honda in particular makes, well priced, time tested, economical, powerfull scooters. You should be able to find a Honda Elite 150 cc for under 1500 dollars. Good luck

IMO the Honda Elite just isn't as good looking as a Vespa:
http://www3.telus.net/dougsimpson/85_150b.jpg

LPMoi are you in California? If not, you could also look at getting a Stella:
http://www.scooterworks.com/fp/stella-4colors.jpg

These are based on the Bajaj (an Indian made Vespa compatible scooter) and are very reliable (electric start, solid power, etc.) The retail for about US$2,800.

You could also look at getting a Vino (this is what The King rides)... You should be able to get one for about US$1,600 or so... Used even cheaper.
http://b.im.craigslist.org/wG/Pj/twI...GXrsC5Qvgg.jpg

You've mentioned you're nervous about driving. Do you think you'd be comfortable in a Vespa/Scooter?

I know I'd be scared out of my mind on one of those things

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.

And a few quick top tips on riding:

1) Don't ever ride a bike if you're preoccupied, tired, emotional or angry

2) Always wear proper gear. You don't have to look like a Power Ranger, but you will need a decent jacket that doesn't ride up if you fall off, ALWAYS wear gloves, and something that covers your ankle. Contrary to popular opinion, it's loss of skin ('de-gloving' as they call it) that causes the problems in bike accidents, because skin and the layer below it carries a lot of blood supply.

That, and getting run over of course.

3) If the shit hits the fan, don't look at the car pulling out on you or whatever, look for the gap. On a bike, you will always end up where you are looking.

4) Take the time to familiarise yourself with the effects of the controls. Go to a car park and see how hard you can jam on a Vespa front brake. it's amazing. You can actually stop that sucker in the dry in about 5 bike lengths from 60mph. That should never be necessary if you look ahead, but it's interesting to find out in a car park while practicing.

That is by no means all, but they are a few good rules to live by.

But don't let it get you down, Vespas are fun and motorcycling is the BEST!

I work for a guy that restores Vespas amongst other cars and trucks. The old ones sell for more than new ones.

I'm not a biker but have ridden one around briefly. At barely over walking pace it feels fast enough. 30 mph feels like 100. Highway speed would probably kill me just from the sensory shock. And i've been 150mph in old rattletrap cars.

Also on a bike, you are invisible to cars, no matter how pink it is.

Haha, Geeza, I don't think I'll be picking up any skirts if I got a Vespa. I'm a woman, and I'll soon be happily married to a man. Harharhar.

Anyway, thanks for the advice everyone. I'm not sure I'll get one, since I'm still a poor student...but, you know...

I like the older ones so much more. The newer ones just try to look all old, stylish and retro but you can get the original as well! Has anyone been to a big Italian city? Those people go crazy on those things. Well, maybe because they hate to walk and you can't drive a car there. It's gonna lose a mirror the second you drive out of the dealership...

I live to think of the old vs. new like this:

The old Vespa is to original Volkswagon Beetle as the new Vespa is to the New Volkswagen Beetle.

Same cool ride, new styling design.