vespa tips?

[Michael Moore]

A steal!

http://bakersfield.craigslist.org/mcy/1866485523.html

You may laugh, but it's a well known fact that mid-80s Honda Elites can't be killed. They are immortal.

[Drunken Monkey]

I was about to say, at 25 years old that Elite is just about done with its break-in period.

[BikerGoddess]

Yet another tip I got from MM on buying a scooter: Avoid the Chinese clone scooters (cheap copies of Hondas and Yamahas). They go by brand names such as Tank and Lance and are pieces of crap.

Vespas are nice but you're paying mostly for the name. Vespa and Aprilia are owned by Piaggio, so they're basically cousins. I can't tell you how much I LOVE my Aprilia Scarabeo! I ride it everywhere, including highways. I get such a kick out of passing luxury cars and thinking to myself, "You just got passed by a scooter, sucker!" Seriously, the Scarabeo's big wheels improved my cornering confidence dramatically, after riding my tiny Riva with donut tires for almost two years.

SAFETY: As a scooterista and former D Store employee I can say that "All The Gear All The Time" definitely applies to scooter riders. Every time I get on the highway I dress in full safety gear. I may look like a dork but it's reassuring to know there's something reasonably protective between me and the pavement. Around town, I always wear a leather moto jacket, leather moto gloves, full-face helmet (half-helmets are kind of a joke), and earplugs, which really help reduce noise from wind and sirens--especially when you're running from the . It scares me to see girls riding Vespas around the city wearing only thin jackets, high heels, and skirts. Road rash is a pregnant dog at any speed.

[sfarchie]

It scares me to see girls riding Vespas around the city wearing only thin jackets, high heels, and skirts.

+1 I turn away whenever I see this.

[mstevens]

Vespas are nice but you're paying mostly for the name.

There are different ways of viewing this. Vespas have monocoque metal bodies and a trailing link front suspension. Practically all other scooters use body panels (usually plastic) on frames and telescoping fork front suspensions. There advantages either way.

Aprilia scooters are very nice, but they have more design features in common with asian scooters than with Vespas. There's probably a reason that Vespa is pretty far down the sales list in Italy, where Japanese scooters rule.

[Spidey]

Kinda OT (sorry, pete) but re AGATT, I can't tell you how many scooter cases I have.  They're all relatively low speed accidents (approx 25-30 mph) with the scooter rider hitting the deck.  And they all involve multiple ankle or knee or elbow surgeries that would have been prevented by even minimal gear over the affected area.  I have one case that is the poster child case for why you only wear a full-face helmet.  1/2 helmets just don't cut it.  Almost every single case has 30-100k in medical bills that could have been avoided with a coupla hundred bucks in gear.  

The motorcycle cases are different.  The motorcyclists are generally geared better, but tend to run into objects -- cars, poles, sidewalks, trees.    

[petemg]

It scares me to see girls riding Vespas around the city wearing only thin jackets, high heels, and skirts. Road rash is a pregnant dog at any speed.

Yeah. I can't look away - it's such a damn attractive look - but it's crazy unsafe. Someone needs to design an ejector seat so that hot skirted scooter girls can be launched to safety, parachute down, and emerge unscathed.

Anyway, a Vespa was purchased! She got a 2007 LX 150, vintage green, with crashbars and a rear rack. Delivery is today and excitement abounds. This turned out to be a good little general-discussion topic - thanks for all the contributions!

[Spidey]

Pics please.  Of your girlfriend.  And the scoot, if ya must.   

Pete, so she doesn't have to be all power-rangered out, Dainese has some cool-lookin' scooter gear.  Very limited abrasion resistance, but it looks cool and has internal armor.  For lower speed crashes, it'll get destroyed, but will provide impact protection.  Not cheap though.

Get her some boots. 

A scooter skirt is good for chilly weather. 

[Michael Moore]

Yeah, Dainese has some nice scooter jackets that aren't too Power Ranger-ey. The armor is the same as they use in the moto wear. Ask for the "vertical line" when you go to the shop.

Congrats on the LX (sounds like an LXV though based on the color description) - now be sure to get off it once in a while so she can ride it, OK?

BTW, one thing I found in the Japanese vs. Vespa thing that hasn't been mentioned: the Honda 125 I rented in Italy would freewheel when you were coasting downhill, which meant you were on the brakes a lot more. The Vespa stays in 'gear' so you get some engine braking. I like the Vespa better on that score.

[desmoquattro]

BTW, one thing I found in the Japanese vs. Vespa thing that hasn't been mentioned: the Honda 125 I rented in Italy would freewheel when you were coasting downhill, which meant you were on the brakes a lot more. The Vespa stays in 'gear' so you get some engine braking. I like the Vespa better on that score.

Which one is easier to get sideways?

[mstevens]

I'll see if I can get a pic of my wife in the Dainese gear (motorcycle line) she wears on her Monster and the Vespa. It's pretty flattering, feminine cut. Of course, the bright pink helmet reduces overall butchness levels, too.

Here's one in some non-Dainese gear (and not wearing boots! She'd never consider that nowadays.) on the Vespa:



Corazzo also makes some really nice scooter gear with CE armor, aramid fibers, etc. that somehow manages to look totally non-motorcycley.