How Many Porsche owners also had or still have Vespa Scooters

[Harlan Chinn]

I've noticed from time to time fellow Pelicanites that have listed Vespa scooters. I've had my 2001 Vespa ET4 for three years now. It has been great to use to run to the grocery store or run errands that would normally put wear and tear on the 911 and worse putting it in jeopardy of door dings and even worse a fender bender! For a 150cc scooter and a top speed of over 70mph, it's great to use on the local car ferrys to the neighboring islands for a nice day tour.

[Paco Anton]

I had one back in 1988!!!

It was my first motor vehicle. I was 17 and we moved to the suburbs so I needed some transportation. It was a 75cc (biggest displacement allowed until 18 yrs old) with a top speed of 50 MPh. However I managed to see 65 Mph in the speedo downhill (do not know how I'm still alive). Do not know about newer models but mine had the shifter in the left handle, and was very tricky to operate.

I sold thye Vespa to get a Suzuki GS500, which I sold to get a wife (well, more or less). I miss it al lot (the Vespa).

[Doug Zielke]

With the kind of maniac traffic/drivers we have around here, riding a full-size motorcycle is dangerous enough.

[Harlan Chinn]

Paco, I was in Madrid in the Summer of 2003 and saw more scooters than Porsches there and throughout the beautiful country. In fact I wish I had either the 911 or my Vespa to ride while over there.

[Harlan Chinn]

Doug, I have to agree with you on that one! My girlfriend who lives in Richmond is a great driver (she went to college in Southern Cal). It scares me to no end when I see the numbers of "L" and "N" (Learning and Novice?) labels or tags on the cars that veer over or cut one off on the streets of Vancouver and surrounding "burbs". I drive the P-car up and have had some close calls.
BTW, When are they going to widen that 99 tunnel before Richmond? You don't want to get to it northbound after 3:30 in the p.m. nor southbound before 10 a.m. on a weekday.

[Paco Anton]

Harlan,

You will see more scooters and motorcycles in the Mediterranean coast, where the climate is mild all year round. In fact traffic lights in Valencia and Barcelona look more like MotoGP starting grids

Next time you are here give me a call and I'll show you around!!

[Harlan Chinn]

Paco, will definitely do that next time I'm in Madrid. I wonder how many Porsches we could park in the Royal Palace grounds or in the Plaza Major?

[TSNAPCRACKLEPOP]

does a 1968 puch 250cc "twingle" count? just got one on partial trade on my old 650cc cb honda, they said it ran before the air hose installed in the gas line circuit melted down. its cute, with the ducktail austrian fenders, and is supposed to have quite a top end.

[ronin]

Harlan, post some pics!!

[RickC]

My brother and I rode an old one we rescued from a barn on my aunt's ranch near San Jose one summer in 1975 or 76. Wonder which Silicon Valley worker is restoring it now....

Now please don't get me thinking about motorbikes. I just got the idle working on the 911 3 days ago!!!

[TSNAPCRACKLEPOP]

if you keep the rpm's up, you won't notice the loping idle.

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

Had a P200E. Cool little scooter, but always had problems with the magneto on it. Pretty cool the way those little things were designed. Although I forogt all about the Vespa when i got my Honda 750.

Also, I dont know if it counts, but I had a Rupp mini-bike as a kid. Had a 5HP Briggs and Stratton edger motor. Fun little thing, although I was always having to go to Sears to get those little rubber diapraghm things for the carb.

[Harlan Chinn]

Those scrubber brakes on the minibikes were something weren't they? I had one that I made in Junior high metal shop fashioned similar to the Sears minibike. Had a 5 hp Briggs and Stratton roto-tiller engine in the thing. My buddy had one too and we use to ride with a galvanized straight pipe bought from the local plumbing supply. The blue flames were a riot! I have SSI's on my car now, miss the flames!

[TSNAPCRACKLEPOP]

brakes??? haha just a deadman string on the spark plug wire for us.....right between your legs.......12 hp power products 2 stroke, no speed controll, just keeps going, and going.....till scott hit that car!!!!