What Vespa is Right for Me?

With gas approaching $5 a gallon here in California, many people are again considering purchasing a scooter, exactly what scooter to get isn't always an easy decision. Hopefully this article will help make your decision making easier. The good news is I'm not a scooter dealer, so I'm not trying to sell you anything. If you've already been to a dealership, you already know that many salespeople don't know their product very well. If they sell multiple lines; cruisers, dirt bikes, quads, sport bikes and such, you'll find they're not very good at handling scooter customers.

The first thing you have to ask yourself is- "What is my budget?" For a NEW, Vespa scooter you'll need a minimum of $3299. $2199 will get you a Piaggio FLY 50. The most you'll need for a new Vespa is $8000. This will get you onto a Vespa GTS Super 300. Paying more than that for a scooter is ridiculous. Can't swing these prices or refuse to buy new? Check out craigslist.org and buy from a private seller. You'll save money, usually.

Once you've determined your budget, you'll next want to ask yourself- "What do I need it for?" If it's to use in town, riding solo to school, work, the grocery store and such then a 50cc scooter might be right for you, but, if you are tall, heavy or want to take someone for a ride you're not going to be happy with it. Engine size dictates how much freedom you have. If you want to do all of the above and carry a passenger, consider getting a Vespa LX150 or S150. With the 150 you'll be able to carry a passenger as well as have the extra power you need to get out of harms way. The 50cc Vespa tops out at 40mph, the 150cc Vespa will do 65mph. Here in San Francisco, having a scooter that tops out at 40mph isn't necessarily a bad thing as traffic never goes faster than 35mph on most streets. How fast do cars go on the streets in your town? YOU DO NOT WANT TO IMPEDE TRAFFIC FLOW. Pick a scooter that can keep up with traffic! If you want to go on the freeway, go scooter touring or travel coast to coast via Vespa, go with a 250 or 300. With the larger Vespa you'll get fuel injection, hydraulic disc brakes, dual rear shocks and a liquid cooled motor. On the larger Vespa you will have COMPLETE FREEDOM.

Finally, you need to ask "What scooter do I like the look of?" You have to like what you're looking at. Some people love the LX150 yet don't care for the look if the S150. Same with the 300Super and the GTV300. Personal taste is a funny thing, I like all the Vespa models but if I'm being honest I don't care for the look of the GTV. I like the FLY and Typhoon from the Piaggio line but find the BV and MP3 hideous. Take it from a factory trained Vespa - Piaggio mechanic, YOU DO NOT WANT A PIAGGIO MP3, BV or X9.