does anyone consider a Vespa 150 a ....boring scooter? allow me to elaborate
cutting out color schemes, not really any "special" models like Genuine has. its "nice"
is it that people feel special riding them. sort of like when bikers finally get a Harley? is it a goal scooter? is it simply a Vespa?
when i finally ride one will trumpets blare and bugles blow? i am truly interested now it sounds like a real luxurious item
now i am just going by what a long time VESPA rider told me: he said LX 150 = not fun compared to Buddy. he said his Vespa 250 and 300 is great for going in a straight line and its comfy
I don't have that reaction to the LX 150s, but I do with the GT250s. Just not fun to ride for me. Much prefer the smaller scooters in general.
Fast is good, but the 250s aren't SO fast that they overcome the almost numbing smoothness and stability of the ride. I know that's supposed to be a good thing but at a certain point, it feels like "cruising" rather than "riding."
I haven't ridden a 300 so can't say if the extra displacement compensates for this.
Several Vespa 250 riders who also own smaller scoots agreed with me about this, which kind of surprised me.
Eric // LA Scooter Meetup Group // Stella 4T // Vespa LX // Vespa LXS // Honda Helix // some, uh, projects…
well i think i am just going to have to rent one, i guess. seriously. curiosity is killing this cat since i have been riding more, and the longer i ride....i just have to know. i mean it is thee scooter. irritating as that can be for a non Vespa owner like myself
i am M1'd now so i can test ride. but i think thats sort of tacky with no intention to buy. but renting one is going to happen. and probably sooner then later
I don't get the occasional remarks that we see here that the Buddy doesn't feel very stable at higher speeds. I've never felt that it was anything but. There was even a comment here that a Stella at 60 felt more stable than a Buddy. I disagree, I've ridden my friend's Stella at 60 and it felt no different than my Buddy and another friend's 170i. In fact, I rode all 3 of them back-to-back on the same ride. The only difference was the Buddy's could ride circles around the Stella at slower speeds. At high speeds? No difference.
I've never ridden a Vespa though. So maybe if I did, the difference would be readily apparent.
I must say to be truly appreciated aesthetically a Vespa must be approached and looked upon carefully. Is it pretense to say they are beautiful scooters, or at least can be?
I saw two today parked outside a lunch grill in Pasadena. This is just East of In 'n Out Burger on Walnut in case you are familiar?
As it were, however, these two scooters were parked right out front in the little motorcycle space for parking. Or some sort of sectioned off space. And in a little lot? Perhaps the owners of this place ride them?
But sure, a gray 300 and a really nice, white 150S with a real neat paint scheme. It included minor swathes of blue and red all along.
However from a distance and not knowing....they look like scooters. Any scooter. But up close and personal as I had to get? The white 150S was simply stunning like other scooters are not.
The 150S is aesthetically my favorite modern scoot. Actually I like the look of the 50 even more, though I can't quite put my finger on why.. The seat maybe? Anyway, I can't justify the cost just now. Hopefully someday I'll see a great used one for sale that I just can't pass up.
k1dude wrote:I don't get the occasional remarks that we see here that the Buddy doesn't feel very stable at higher speeds. I've never felt that it was anything but. There was even a comment here that a Stella at 60 felt more stable than a Buddy. I disagree, I've ridden my friend's Stella at 60 and it felt no different than my Buddy and another friend's 170i. In fact, I rode all 3 of them back-to-back on the same ride. The only difference was the Buddy's could ride circles around the Stella at slower speeds. At high speeds? No difference.
I've never ridden a Vespa though. So maybe if I did, the difference would be readily apparent.
Having driven the 170i going 60 for long distances, I'll have to respectfully disagree a little. Now, I'm not saying I felt unsafe or unstable. But it's got a lack of stability and weight compared to a metal body like the Stella, or a bigger scoot with bigger wheels MEANT to go those speeds (or tour). The 170i is just kind of pushing the Buddy's outer limitations if you ask me (mind you, I think it does so perfectly).
Tom wrote:The 150S is aesthetically my favorite modern scoot. Actually I like the look of the 50 even more, though I can't quite put my finger on why.. The seat maybe? Anyway, I can't justify the cost just now. Hopefully someday I'll see a great used one for sale that I just can't pass up.
I believe the 150S lags behind the LX in sales, if I am correct? I used to understand why, as the LX appears fresher, as it were. However judging by design and style alone I have grown more fond of the S. Again, I have no experience riding these fine scooters, but I do have eyes to see with.
The rectangle headlight is something which used to turn me away. But now I think it's great. What sold me? When I finally saw the complete package and understood what I was looking at. And the gauge cluster? That and the headlight go together like apples and pie. The leg shield is also very well done imho. Very subtle yet striking the eyes just right when taken with the headlight, handlebars, and mirrors.
I'm a big fan of the LX S with one big caveat: I think the gauge cluster looks cheap ass encased in all that plastichrome. A little of that stuff goes a long way.
The new titanium S (not on the website yet, but already in dealers) is stunning. It may replace my LX some day.
I love Vespas with trapezoidal headlights. The SS180 is at the top of my vintage "want" list (for a scooter I'd ride a lot, not just admire and polish).
As far as sales, it's hard to tell. I think the LX is more popular overall; the S is no longer available in some countries. For the USA, Vespa reports some sales figures, but they lump the LX and S together. The 150s are their most popular models of anything they sell in the US, though. (Vespa N. American sales are now so small that they no longer warrant their own category/listing in Piaggio Group's sales reports. North America gets lumped in with Europe!)
Eric // LA Scooter Meetup Group // Stella 4T // Vespa LX // Vespa LXS // Honda Helix // some, uh, projects…
ericalm wrote:
I love Vespas with trapezoidal headlights. The SS180 is at the top of my vintage "want" list (for a scooter I'd ride a lot, not just admire and polish).
I knew I wasn't the only one who loves the SS180... now I wonder if I'm the only one who loved it before FLCL
ericalm wrote:
I love Vespas with trapezoidal headlights. The SS180 is at the top of my vintage "want" list (for a scooter I'd ride a lot, not just admire and polish).
I knew I wasn't the only one who loves the SS180... now I wonder if I'm the only one who loved it before FLCL
Ha, not at all! The Supers, GLs and others with trap headlights are also cool, but the SS has some extra style and that engine is great.
Eric // LA Scooter Meetup Group // Stella 4T // Vespa LX // Vespa LXS // Honda Helix // some, uh, projects…
ericalm wrote:I'm a big fan of the LX S with one big caveat: I think the gauge cluster looks cheap ass encased in all that plastichrome. A little of that stuff goes a long way.
The new titanium S (not on the website yet, but already in dealers) is stunning. It may replace my LX some day.
I love Vespas with trapezoidal headlights. The SS180 is at the top of my vintage "want" list (for a scooter I'd ride a lot, not just admire and polish).
As far as sales, it's hard to tell. I think the LX is more popular overall; the S is no longer available in some countries. For the USA, Vespa reports some sales figures, but they lump the LX and S together. The 150s are their most popular models of anything they sell in the US, though. (Vespa N. American sales are now so small that they no longer warrant their own category/listing in Piaggio Group's sales reports. North America gets lumped in with Europe!)
The plastichrome looks as if it can be removed and painted, perhaps. But sure, it seems out of place and somewhat garish.
I wonder if it can be removed and simply discarded without affecting the gauge set up? Or maybe trim the cluster out some other way? A custom job. I do like the look of the gauges and layout. But the bling does have to go.
Then again I favor blingless scooters. I think if Vespa offered same matching color racks and what not, that would be very nice for customers.
