Discussion
I may be in the market for a scooter. Short commute with long 30mph section, alternative is a short blast on national speed limit road.
Drawn towards the modern retro scooters, primarily Vespa GTS 300 or Scomadi 200. I have family across the cotswolds so the ability to go for slightly longer blasts means a 125 is out.
Live just outside a city, chances of theft do exist but will be garage stored/locked up.
Any direct experience of the larger engined vespas, model years to buy/avoid.
£2500 would get me a solid ten year old model, vs 5k upwards for a new one.
Thoughts? Advice?
Drawn towards the modern retro scooters, primarily Vespa GTS 300 or Scomadi 200. I have family across the cotswolds so the ability to go for slightly longer blasts means a 125 is out.
Live just outside a city, chances of theft do exist but will be garage stored/locked up.
Any direct experience of the larger engined vespas, model years to buy/avoid.
£2500 would get me a solid ten year old model, vs 5k upwards for a new one.
Thoughts? Advice?
Opposite story for me. My Vespa 300 was great and the only big problem was it getting nicked for a year.
At 13 years old it needed a new battery, and a year later a new voltage regulator.
It was a 2008, I bought it in 2015 for £1200 and only sold it just before Christmas as my new insurance company wouldn't let me add it to my Triumph's insurance unless I paid a ridiculous amount. Got £950 for it and would have got more if it wasn't so bashed up from when it was nicked.
At 13 years old it needed a new battery, and a year later a new voltage regulator.
It was a 2008, I bought it in 2015 for £1200 and only sold it just before Christmas as my new insurance company wouldn't let me add it to my Triumph's insurance unless I paid a ridiculous amount. Got £950 for it and would have got more if it wasn't so bashed up from when it was nicked.
I had a 2005ish Vespa 125cc Scooter for a while and it was great. Had it for 3 years and it was great. Sold it during covid and got a good return on it.
Currently have a 2009 Vespa 250 GTS as a run about / fish and chip / commuter / mess about bike to go alongside the other normal bikes in the garage.
I love the simplicity of them, it’s fun to ride, uses next to no fuel and will happily sit at motorway speeds if required.
Even though I far and away prefer ‘real’ bikes, I think I’ll always have a scooter in the garage.
Currently have a 2009 Vespa 250 GTS as a run about / fish and chip / commuter / mess about bike to go alongside the other normal bikes in the garage.
I love the simplicity of them, it’s fun to ride, uses next to no fuel and will happily sit at motorway speeds if required.
Even though I far and away prefer ‘real’ bikes, I think I’ll always have a scooter in the garage.
£2.5k will definitely get you a newer than 10 year old GTS300.
I sold my 66 plate 70th anniversary one for just under £3k last summer.
You *might* get a HPE engined version in budget (24 horsepower) but that’s only 2bhp up on the older model.
You can tell them apart quite easily by looking at the central horncast on the leg shield. The HPE version goes all the way to the bottom and flares out like a tie. The older stops a couple of inches up. Either will be happy with 60-70mph A and B roads for a couple of hundred miles in a day.
I’d definitely recommend the Vespa over a Royal Alloy or similar Lambretta clone as they are better build and have handy under seat storage.
I sold my 66 plate 70th anniversary one for just under £3k last summer.
You *might* get a HPE engined version in budget (24 horsepower) but that’s only 2bhp up on the older model.
You can tell them apart quite easily by looking at the central horncast on the leg shield. The HPE version goes all the way to the bottom and flares out like a tie. The older stops a couple of inches up. Either will be happy with 60-70mph A and B roads for a couple of hundred miles in a day.
I’d definitely recommend the Vespa over a Royal Alloy or similar Lambretta clone as they are better build and have handy under seat storage.
airsafari87 said:
I had a 2005ish Vespa 125cc Scooter for a while and it was great. Had it for 3 years and it was great. Sold it during covid and got a good return on it.
Currently have a 2009 Vespa 250 GTS as a run about / fish and chip / commuter / mess about bike to go alongside the other normal bikes in the garage.
I love the simplicity of them, it’s fun to ride, uses next to no fuel and will happily sit at motorway speeds if required.
Even though I far and away prefer ‘real’ bikes, I think I’ll always have a scooter in the garage.
That looks lovely.Currently have a 2009 Vespa 250 GTS as a run about / fish and chip / commuter / mess about bike to go alongside the other normal bikes in the garage.
I love the simplicity of them, it’s fun to ride, uses next to no fuel and will happily sit at motorway speeds if required.
Even though I far and away prefer ‘real’ bikes, I think I’ll always have a scooter in the garage.
Mine was a 2008 250 but the previous owner seized it. Didn't realise what the red oil light was all about so the barrel/piston was replaced with a 300cc.
Was stunning with a matching box on the back until it got nicked.
Was found a year later, in a right mess. I got it back on the road as a rat scooter as it was bashed in and covered in scratches with only half the original rack remaining.
It got good use as a commuter but it's handling was pretty dodgy after the amount of times it must have been crashed when in the thieves hands. They did 3000 miles on it.
As mentioned, check for rust on and under the bodywork behind the front wheel.
Looking at yours I'm tempted again
but I'll stick with my Speed Twin 900.
My fix for broken 'glove box' lock.
Masiv said:
Have a look at Royal Alloy scooters.
Motogb are the importers for the latest incarnation of Lambretta, as well as Royal Alloy, but the Royal Alloy models look more like Lambrettas than the Lambrettas do. 
There's also a grand off the new Italjets, which are sort of retro now, I suppose...
I’ve had 4 big Vespas over the last 18 years
250, 300 and 2x300 HPE’s.
They are brilliant commuting into town.
Higher position than my Honda, comfortable and quick.
I’ve been commuting in recently with a guy on a smaller Vespa who has been keeping up!
Transpires it’s a super sport 150…….worth a look at.
250, 300 and 2x300 HPE’s.
They are brilliant commuting into town.
Higher position than my Honda, comfortable and quick.
I’ve been commuting in recently with a guy on a smaller Vespa who has been keeping up!
Transpires it’s a super sport 150…….worth a look at.
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