Do you just say Vespa?

spd122 · Post by **spd122** » Thu Nov 11, 2010 1:16 am

So when people with no scooter knowledge whatsoever ask what kind of motorcycle you ride, do you just say Vespa rather than Stella and then have to explain that it is a Vespa?

lmyers · Post by **lmyers** » Thu Nov 11, 2010 2:25 am

Only when I'm on the Vespa. When I'm riding the Stella, I tell them it's a re-badged LML Star 150, made in India, distributed in the US by Genuine Scooters blah, blah, blah... no one ever asks twice. But around here, I usually get the moped comment and they get the moped answer.

Post by **ericalm** » Thu Nov 11, 2010 5:02 am

I just tell them it's a Genuine Stella. If they're more curious, I'll give them the spiel, but I'll never call it a Vespa, even for the sake of convenience.

lilmyk · Post by **lilmyk** » Thu Nov 11, 2010 1:31 pm

I tell them it's a Stella, like a Vespa, but not a Vespa.
If they ask more, I give them the LML story.

JoshWED · Post by **JoshWED** » Thu Nov 11, 2010 4:45 pm

I had to make this:

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Post by **ericalm** » Thu Nov 11, 2010 6:28 pm

JoshWED wrote:I had to make this:

Exactly.

spd122 · Post by **spd122** » Thu Nov 11, 2010 7:29 pm

Thunderous applause on the video. I can't have the conversation she is having, so I just say Vespa, and explain if the conversation goes further than that.

JunkyardDog · Post by **JunkyardDog** » Thu Nov 11, 2010 8:04 pm

My Stella has no emblems on it, and if someone asks (I believe it has only happened twice so far) I just say Vespa. In fact I believe one person asked if it was a Vespa, and I just said yeah. I don't have time or desire to discuss scooters with someone who doesn't know or care anything about them. I've even been asked if my Kawasaki Vulcan 750 was a Harley. I just laugh at that one. Jerry.

lmyers · Post by **lmyers** » Fri Nov 12, 2010 2:48 am

JoshWED wrote:I had to make this:

Brilliant

fobbish · Post by **fobbish** » Tue Nov 16, 2010 5:37 pm

I totally call my Scooter a Vespa all the time. It beats having to explain anything. I have a Buddy 125.

It's a lot like calling all cotton swabs Q-tips, all hot tubs Jacuzzis, and all personal watercrafts Jet Skis. I don't really see a problem with it.

Post by **ericalm** » Wed Nov 17, 2010 5:41 am

But we don't call all cars Chevys and all motorcycles Harleys.

I realize that some brands become synonymous with the product. Xerox tried to fight the use of its name to mean photocopying. Rollerblade, Coke, Razor, and so on.

But I want to do my part to spread the word that Vespa isn't the only brand out there. Word of mouth is a huge factor in building interest and selling scooters. Most people do think every retro-styled scooted is a Vespa. If they ask me what I ride, they'll soon know that there are Vespas and Genuines.

Silver Streak · Post by **Silver Streak** » Wed Nov 17, 2010 4:22 pm

I generally agree with you about "genericizing" brand names, Eric, but I take issue with the characterization of Vespa as a "retro-styled" scooter. To me, "retro" implies superficially adopting an old design image for the sake of looking old. In Vespa's case they simply used good taste, ignored stupid trends, and stuck with a form factor that perfectly, tastefully, and stylishly follows the intended functionality of a motor scooter. Sort of like a Mercedes sedan or a Kitchen Aide food mixer... tasteful evolution of a design that works! That's what really good industrial design is all about.

Midnight Drifter · Post by **Midnight Drifter** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 8:50 am

JoshWED wrote:I had to make this:

*snip*

*epic kyon*

That's why I'm just going to rebadge my Stella as a PX150 and be done widdit.

If I get further questioned, I'll just continue, "It's a Vespa, but it's sold through a company called Genuine Scooters." Sure, it's inaccurate, but it helps save one resource that's NOT replenishable on this planet; my sweet, precious time.

Howardr · Post by **Howardr** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 2:20 pm

I've been surprised lately at how many times I've had to explain what a scooter is. People see me with my helmet and ask what kind of motorcycle I ride. I tell them "not a motorcycle, a motorscooter."

Many haven't even heard the word "Vespa." I usually resort to showing them a pic off my cell phone.

I've even had to try to explain what a scooter is to biker types. Very disturbing.

Howard

Mulliganal · Post by **Mulliganal** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 2:45 pm

Midnight Drifter wrote: That's why I'm just going to rebadge my Stella as a PX150 and be done widdit.

I guess I'm just new to scooters but I don't understand why anyone would take stickers/badges from another make scooter and put them on their Stella.

Dooglas · Post by **Dooglas** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 3:50 pm

fobbish wrote:I totally call my Scooter a Vespa all the time. It beats having to explain anything.

I've tried calling my car a Jaguar but that doesn't seem to make any difference.

desmolicious · Post by **desmolicious** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 5:16 pm

Dooglas wrote:
fobbish wrote:I totally call my Scooter a Vespa all the time. It beats having to explain anything.
I've tried calling my car a Jaguar but that doesn't seem to make any difference.

No-one is buying my Range Rover Wrangler either...

desmolicious · Post by **desmolicious** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 5:19 pm

Mulliganal wrote:I guess I'm just new to scooters but I don't understand why anyone would take stickers/badges from another make scooter and put them on their Stella.

Agreed. I have 2 Vespas and the Stella 4T.

No way would I re-badge the Stella as a Vespa. I'm proud that it is a Stella, that LML stepped up and built a 4T shifter that I wished Vespa would.

IMO LML deserves to have their name out there for that. I'm not gonna let another company take the benefit for their accomplishment.

Mulliganal · Post by **Mulliganal** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 5:44 pm

desmolicious wrote:
Mulliganal wrote:I guess I'm just new to scooters but I don't understand why anyone would take stickers/badges from another make scooter and put them on their Stella.
Agreed. I have 2 Vespas and the Stella 4T.

No way would I re-badge the Stella as a Vespa. I'm proud that it is a Stella, that LML stepped up and built a 4T shifter that I wished Vespa would.

IMO LML deserves to have their name out there for that. I'm not gonna let another company take the benefit for their accomplishment.

Damn good point.

Howardr · Post by **Howardr** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 7:29 pm

desmolicious wrote:
Mulliganal wrote:I guess I'm just new to scooters but I don't understand why anyone would take stickers/badges from another make scooter and put them on their Stella.
Agreed. I have 2 Vespas and the Stella 4T.

No way would I re-badge the Stella as a Vespa. I'm proud that it is a Stella, that LML stepped up and built a 4T shifter that I wished Vespa would.

IMO LML deserves to have their name out there for that. I'm not gonna let another company take the benefit for their accomplishment.

Lovelandstella · Post by **Lovelandstella** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 10:53 pm

Midnight Drifter wrote:...That's why I'm just going to rebadge my Stella as a PX150 and be done widdit...

Anyone curious to see what that would look like, here is a photo: (it's been done folks!)
topic12660.html
this topic comes up quite a bit.

desmolicious wrote:..IMO LML deserves to have their name out there for that. I'm not gonna let another company take the benefit for their accomplishment.

A friend of mine gave me a leftover LML chrome lettering to use. I still don't know where to put it exactly yet.

Ironically, I noticed that the new 4T engine has "LML" stamped quite clearly in many places - even sitting under the cowl in plain view, I think. there should be no question where it's from. Their name IS out there!

and its not something you can rebadge, it IS the engine.

Midnight Drifter · Post by **Midnight Drifter** » Fri Apr 01, 2011 4:56 am

No, I actually plan on using the 1980's ' v e s p a ' lettering, and switching to orange turn signals. Give it that 80's look.

Or if the Stella I buy is a beat up example (which it will be since I'm aiming for the bottom half of the price range) and I decide to get creative with the rattlecan and make a military fighter scooter, it'll just be 'PX150' on the side cowls and, uh, front part, in spraypaint white, using military stencil.

Either way, the stock badging just doesn't cut it for me. Too hipster.

BuddyLicious · Post by **BuddyLicious** » Fri Apr 01, 2011 12:47 pm

One reason I would call a Stella by it's name is in case the person wanted to pursue more info later.Every person asking about your Stella is a potential buyer,even if rare.

As much work and dedication as Genuine has done for us and the scootering world,don't you think we owe it to them to call it what it is?

jasondavis48108 · Post by **jasondavis48108** » Fri Apr 01, 2011 2:07 pm

I don't have any issues with someone who removes the badges on thier scooter but to rebadge it as something it's not is just absurd. Are folks ashamed of thier scooters? I can't beleive it's not wanting to explain that it's not a Vespa as that only takes a few short seconds, "no it's a Genuine Stella". To me this is akin to rebadging your Honda shadow a Harley, may fool those who no nothing about the bikes but those who do will write you off as a duochbag-wannabe-poser. The Stella is absolutely beautiful and folks who own one should be proud of thier ride. F**ck Vespa, they are the ones who decided that the P series wasn't worth thier time anymore and Genuine (in partnership with LML) stepped in and brought you the scooter you wanted. Now you want to sell them out by rebadging the thing? I just don't understand how you could be more loyal to a scooter company that discountinued the P series than the company who brought it back in force.

BuddyLicious · Post by **BuddyLicious** » Fri Apr 01, 2011 3:54 pm

Damn Man this thread makes me want to go out and buy a Vespa PE/PX and rebadge it to a Stella.

desmolicious · Post by **desmolicious** » Fri Apr 01, 2011 7:17 pm

BuddyLicious wrote:Damn Man this thread makes me want to go out and buy a Vespa PE/PX and rebadge it to a Stella.

Hmm, I do have a PX 150 and a Stella. Maybe I should swap the badges?

Midnight Drifter · Post by **Midnight Drifter** » Fri Apr 01, 2011 10:11 pm

Admittedly, if someone sold "s t e l l a" emblems, I'd rock one on the front and do my own Pep Boys Special "SX150" for the side cowls.

I don't plan on changing the instrument cluster or rear seat; an observant viewer gets TWO glances at the Genuine logo. Anyway, I look at it the other way. Not as an insult to Genuine but a quiet nod to the legendary P series chassis that was in continuous production for over a quarter of a century. And like it or not, Piaggio IS mostly responsible for the P series even existing in the first place. That's not to say that Genuine ISN'T to thank for our first taste of the PX150 since 1985 (ish), and that I don't appreciate their efforts to death, but really if you wanted to be 'true' to scooter's actual manufacturer, then I say badge it up as an LML Star or LML NV, since that's what the Stella is.

Ultimately, it comes down to this. Piaggio designed everything on the bike but the engine (4T), LML designed the engine (4T) and built it and Genuine imported, legalized and marketed it for sale in the US.

Personally, I'd dare say the Genuine Stella is as much a Vespa PX150 as the SYM Symba is a Honda Super Cub 110. Just different enough that they're not identical, but indistinguishable at first glance.

But that's just my 0.02c. Your mileage may vary.

supermach · Post by **supermach** » Sun May 15, 2011 1:22 am

lmyers wrote:Only when I'm on the Vespa. When I'm riding the Stella, I tell them it's a re-badged LML Star 150, made in India, distributed in the US by Genuine Scooters blah, blah, blah... no one ever asks twice. But around here, I usually get the moped comment and they get the moped answer.

Well you already said it LoL. I would say Stella but if I do they would say what's a Stella now there goes 20 mins of my time LoL... So yeah most of the time it is easyer to this say a vespa

lmyers · Post by **lmyers** » Sun May 15, 2011 2:52 am

supermach wrote:
lmyers wrote:Only when I'm on the Vespa. When I'm riding the Stella, I tell them it's a re-badged LML Star 150, made in India, distributed in the US by Genuine Scooters blah, blah, blah... no one ever asks twice. But around here, I usually get the moped comment and they get the moped answer.

Well you already said it LoL. I would say Stella but if I do they would say what's a Stella now there goes 20 mins of my time LoL... So yeah most of the time it is easyer to this say a vespa

If I were in a hurry, I wouldn't ride a scooter

Dooglas · Post by **Dooglas** » Sun May 15, 2011 5:06 am

Silver Streak wrote:To me, "retro" implies superficially adopting an old design image for the sake of looking old. In Vespa's case they simply used good taste, ignored stupid trends, and stuck with a form factor that perfectly, tastefully, and stylishly follows the intended functionality of a motor scooter.

lmyers wrote:If I were in a hurry, I wouldn't ride a scooter

Two things I wish I'd said!