Modern Buddy

I got a new toy!!!

2012 GTS300 Super, just turned over to 1000 miles as I was test riding it. Bought it from an exceptionally nice guy who got it as his first scooter but after 9 months decided he really didn't like riding. I've still got to break in the engine! Really, really nice. I've only put about 10 miles on it so far. Needless to say I will be riding ALL weekend!!! Wine tasting in Santa Ynez? Apple pie in Julian? San Simeon? Come join me!

Jury is still out on the custom seat—great quality (Pirate Upholstery) but I may want to modify it so I can sit a little farther back. Need to spend some more time in the saddle first to see how it grows on me. I'll definitely need a stock seat too if I want to carry a passenger.

My dear Buddy, still going strong after 26,000 miles of abuse, albeit sidelined with a gear oil leak at the moment, is going to get to relax now and be my city scooter and daily rider for errands, shopping, and everything else around town. My 300 will be for taking me to points beyond. Psyched!!

All my friends are particularly delighted they will no longer have to listen to me talk about the Vespa 300 I am going to own one day. I'm only talking about the Bonneville now

Congratulations! I dig the color scheme!

I hate to quote Paris Hilton, but "That's Hot!"

Very, very cool!
Also the Titanium is a discontinued color; only built for 2012.

I would love to have my own but I just can't justify the sticker price.

Nice, congrats!

That is sweet! Congratulations!

The Vespa GTS300 is probably what we would've bought if money were a non-issue. The tires are large enough to handle cruising at 75mph down the interstate. People report easily reaching the 80mph advertised. The scooter shop here says it's pretty much the best scooter on the showroom floor. Of course, we're not complaining, being as our Buddy 125 was less than half the price and still hits 65mph actual. Still, to have the extra torque to do it without as much fuss would be pretty convenient. Sweet ride, man. Enjoy, and give us a review once you've gotten a good feel for it!

That's really beautiful!
I'm kinda overcome by jealousy.

The 300 better show it's elder some respect, you know? (Are you Skootz over at MV too?)

Love that color -

You have chosen wisely!

Congrats on the new Wasp!

Looks great, man! Hope to see it at the next LASG ride that I can make it to. Congrats!

I'ma quote myself n say, "You lucky Bastard"! I hope you got a good deal n maybe I'll actually get to ride with you some time..( the bastard part is just me being envious! with a covetus )

Thanks for the well wishes everyone! I got very lucky. If I was a billionaire this is exactly the big scooter i would buy, color and everything. It literally has been driven 10 miles back and forth to the sellers job for the last 9 months. It's never even been on a highway.

Lokky wrote:I would love to have my own but I just can't justify the sticker price.

Ditto! I got it for 35% less than the seller paid. He just wanted to get rid of it. If it was full price there is no way I could buy it. Even at this discount it is a stretch for me. Also helping, I switched from State Farm to Geico and now for basically the same annual rate I have the same amount coverage on two scooters as I previously had on just the one!! So pretty much no additional insurance cost! Amazing. Guess I was overpaying before.

Syd wrote:The 300 better show it's elder some respect, you know? (Are you Skootz over at MV too?)

There's a Skootz at MV???? An two bit impostor!! I was going to join up over there later today. This can't possibly lead to anything good

Snazzy! Congrats

Skootz Kabootz wrote:Thanks for the well wishes everyone! I got very lucky. If I was a billionaire this is exactly the big scooter i would buy, color and everything. It literally has been driven 10 miles back and forth to the sellers job for the last 9 months. It's never even been on a highway.

Lokky wrote:I would love to have my own but I just can't justify the sticker price.

Ditto! I got it for 35% less than the seller paid. He just wanted to get rid of it. If it was full price there is no way I could buy it. Even at this discount it is a stretch for me. Also helping, I switched from State Farm to Geico and now for basically the same annual rate I have the same amount coverage on two scooters as I previously had on just the one!! So pretty much no additional insurance cost! Amazing. Guess I was overpaying before.

Syd wrote:The 300 better show it's elder some respect, you know? (Are you Skootz over at MV too?)

There's a Skootz at MV???? An two bit impostor!! I was going to join up over there later today. This can't possibly lead to anything good

I don't think so, I was jut wondering if you had created an account there yet.

Syd wrote:

Skootz Kabootz wrote:Thanks for the well wishes everyone! I got very lucky. If I was a billionaire this is exactly the big scooter i would buy, color and everything. It literally has been driven 10 miles back and forth to the sellers job for the last 9 months. It's never even been on a highway.

Lokky wrote:I would love to have my own but I just can't justify the sticker price.

Ditto! I got it for 35% less than the seller paid. He just wanted to get rid of it. If it was full price there is no way I could buy it. Even at this discount it is a stretch for me. Also helping, I switched from State Farm to Geico and now for basically the same annual rate I have the same amount coverage on two scooters as I previously had on just the one!! So pretty much no additional insurance cost! Amazing. Guess I was overpaying before.

Syd wrote:The 300 better show it's elder some respect, you know? (Are you Skootz over at MV too?)

There's a Skootz at MV???? An two bit impostor!! I was going to join up over there later today. This can't possibly lead to anything good

I don't think so, I was jut wondering if you had created an account there yet.

Phew. My uniqueness remains intact

Congrats! Have great weekend enjoying your new ride!

Looks pretty fancy. Enjoy the rides!

Congratulations! I'm sure you will enjoy the heck out of that scooter. The Buddy is a solid and reliable ride but, in my opinion, the GTS is the best alround true scooter on the road. Other than cost, what is not to like?

Congrats, I love that color! You will surely enjoy this, and like the many of us out there with the GTS Buddy combo you will soon agree you have 2 of the best scooters out there.

Good luck and use it well and safely, have fun and enjoy it.

thats a bad ass scoot. color is perfect at not being colorful

<--- jealous. love the color.

So happy for you! Not sure about the seat though. I'm not tall 5'5" and I also like to slide back a bit and you're much taller than I am!

We're also with Geico and pay just over $300 for 4 scooters. You'll get a better price every year as long as you don't file a claim.

I hope I can ride with you tomorrow. Working on the details now.

bigbropgo wrote:<--- jealous. love the color.

You beat me to it!

Congrats and enjoy. Ride the crap out of it!

Dooglas wrote:Congratulations! I'm sure you will enjoy the heck out of that scooter. The Buddy is a solid and reliable ride but, in my opinion, the GTS is the best alround true scooter on the road. Other than cost, what is not to like?

I have to say, I could not have been more fortunate than to purchase my Buddy as a first scooter. It allowed me to grow, explore, and do so many things I could never have imagined. And how about all the amazing people I've met?? And it did all this (still does) so dependably. I needed a fun, dependable, inexpensive ride and my Buddy is all that and more. Now I am really excited to learn about a different scooter and travel even farther and wider. But I tell you this, my Vespa sure has a tough act to follow!

teacherquinn wrote:... I hope I can ride with you tomorrow. Working on the details now.

Fingers are totally crossed. Having you and Kevin there would be the perfect first ride!!

Love it! I was toying with getting a 250 or 300 and that was the color I was looking at.

Have fun!

damn I just love that color. I mean, I never knew this color existed in a paint job and now I'm trying to figure out if I can find that color and paint my Like 200i with it.

Just came back from the new scoot's 300+ mile maiden voyage. What an exquisite machine!

Review to come later. I'm pooped!

Congrats on the new ride! That's my favorite color for the 300's. Sounds like you're having a really good weekend!

I've been eyeing these... look forward to your review from a Buddy-rider perspective!

Just please dont forget where your roots lye{ie:Buddy}should you ever be forced to sell one scoot.

A decent amount of MV members are getting excited about the Vespa GTR 350 supposedly coming in the next few years.I say few as its not due to the public till 2014 and probably not the US a year later.

You Lucky You Lucky

BuddyLicious wrote:A decent amount of MV members are getting excited about the Vespa GTR 350 supposedly coming in the next few years.I say few as its not due to the public till 2014 and probably not the US a year later.

So far the talk about a possible 350 Vespa is just that - talk (we all love a good rumor ). Many of us still doubt that a 350 Vespa (if it ever appears) would look much like the GTS, due to the need for different suspension and brakes (50% more HP and more weight), longer body (bigger engine/transmission), and possibly larger wheels (higher speeds). In any case the 250/300 GTS certainly has hit a sweet spot in the design of large frame scooters.

she's sexy! Way to go JP, you definitely earned it. I'm eyeing something bigger in the near future. Gonna do the same and keep the 26k Buddy for local trips inside the Beltway and the bigger ship for exploring and taking my little lady friend on the back. She also needs something bigger to ride the HOV out to her farther away clients and ditch the car.

The color suites you nicely as well!

Now that you have 2, can I claim dibs on the Frenchy for Amerivespa?? (if I'm able to get the time off)

BootScootin'FireFighter wrote:Now that you have 2, can I claim dibs on the Frenchy for Amerivespa?? (if I'm able to get the time off)

lol, you quick thinker you! Done!

Congrats on the scoot Skootz!
4k on mine now, need a new rear tire, and I had to have the fuel pump replaced but that was warranty/recall work. Other than that not one problem with the GTS. Some ass-hat knocked it over the other night, minor scratches in the plastic on the cowls a couple surface on the metal and my shield trim is cracked. I knew it was gonna happen sooner or later. Just didn't think it would be this soon

Enjoy that ride my friend and keep the buddy, I'm kicking myself for having to sell the rat.

aren't you Mr. Fancypants!

Good find, I really dig that and the satin black. enjoy!

No worries, the Buddy is staying right here. It is perfection for getting around town. Especially with all that storage.

As for my GTS300... the adventure continues this weekend. Tomorrow I ride from LA to San Diego. Then Saturday I ride with friends to Borrego Springs, and Julian for some apple pie. Sunday, I'll amble up the coast, maybe check out the Ortega Hwy on the way home. You know, just 'cause I have to break in the engine. That's all. Not cause it's fun or nothin

She's a beauty. Congrats! Guess you're not riding with us up here Sunday, eh?

What are we going to talk about now that your big dilemma has been settled? Glad you went with this. Last thing we need in LA is one more guy on a Bonneville. Also, you'd have to grow facial hair, wear plaid and get some fake Ray Bans. It's a rule.

Then again, now that you own a Vespa, you'll get to learn the secret handshake and you can start buying all-things Vespa branded now. We can't get enough of stuff with Vespa on it. I had a bunch of (unworn) Vespa stuff but I gave it away at the Annenberg ride. We had a trivia contest. No one could tell me where Vespa's HQ is (the city), or the name of the Vespa microcar, or three actors in Roman Holiday. Finally, someone knew that Piaggio made airplanes prior to scooters. I'll give you a limited edition Modern Vespa '09 patch if you want it.

I had to just give the Kymco stuff away. No Kymco riders there. I even had Kymco trivia questions ready!

Also, no one could tell me (in exchange for a SPAZ patch) three rules for survival from "Zombieland."

You should join the VCOA, too!

Stay humble, amigo!

Holy crap, I really should not be allowed to post when I stay up this late.

Skootz Kabootz wrote:No worries, the Buddy is staying right here. It is perfection for getting around town. Especially with all that storage.

As for my GTS300... the adventure continues this weekend. Tomorrow I ride from LA to San Diego. Then Saturday I ride with friends to Borrego Springs, and Julian for some apple pie. Sunday, I'll amble up the coast, maybe check out the Ortega Hwy on the way home. You know, just 'cause I have to break in the engine. That's all. Not cause it's fun or nothin

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Very nice scooter - great color.

Skootz Kabootz wrote:I got a new toy!!! :)

I like the new avatar too! :-)

Christophers wrote:

Skootz Kabootz wrote:I got a new toy!!!

I like the new avatar too!

Heh, seemed like the appropriate thing. Not sure what to do next when I get the Bonneville!

Skootz Kabootz wrote:

Christophers wrote:

Skootz Kabootz wrote:I got a new toy!!!

I like the new avatar too!

Heh, seemed like the appropriate thing. Not sure what to do next when I get the Bonneville!

Buy me lunch, 'cause you must be rich!