is this too much $$ for a vespa scooter?

[vash]

thinking of buying one for my wife. she likes the coolness of the vespa models. i was searching a newer clutched bike and came across a restored 1966 bike. crazy? i also posted the newer bike i was interested in.

1966 VESPA VBB

2005 Vespa PX150

[jyl]

That is a good price for the VBB - but you better take it to a scooter shop that knows vintage Vespas and make sure it is not a Vietbodge - a scooter that was cheaply and poorly "restored" in Vietnam and sold to a sucker in the US. The "new" motor might be a real Vespa motor, or might be a LML (Indian-made) motor, nothing wrong w/ the latter but raises suspicions, normally you wouldn't stick an LML motor in a VBB that you also took the time to strip to bare metal (like sticking a 914 motor in a concours 356 restoration). If he has documentation showing it was restored here then buy it. If it is a Vietbodge, avoid as the next buyer certainly will.

I think that is an okay price for the PX150, not really sure there.

There are some vintage scooter shops in SF, ask there. Also spend some time on StellaSpeed forum.

Finally, check out the new four-stroke Stella, if they are available in California. No mixing oil, quieter, more torque, lower emissions, "should be" more reliable, the purists will sneer but there's plenty of advantages to a four-stroke. Plus disc brake, electric start, manual shift, steel body, mostly a clone of the PX body.

I have a 1979 P125X, kitted to 150cc, Sito+, various mods - nice way to get around town, though hardly "fast". An idiot in a car will kill you just as dead on a cute Vespa as on a bad-boy sportbike, though.

[xbrumossalesman]

A 1966 Vespa is like a 60's Les Paul or Strat- vintage is better- have it checked for authenticity & the rebuild- like his ad says bring your cash & go for a test ride.

[scottmandue]

Darn you vash!

Do you need a motorcycle license to ride a Vespa?

[Mr.Puff]

Genuine rebrands Vespa clones in the states.

Stella 4-stroke
Stella 2-stroke

I think they are PGO's.

[vash]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

Darn you vash!

Do you need a motorcycle license to ride a Vespa?

i think you do. my wife and i both have M class. we are good to go.

[Normy]

Well, I'm not sure what it is like in....

"Hard to tell with all the sticking and moving"

But here in Fort Lauderdale, I sold my motorcycle three years ago. Why? I just DID NOT feel SAFE anymore! I bought my motorcycle in 1994, and rode it from Michigan to Florida, to Dallas, and back, and all over Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Texas. I kept it in my living room in Orlando for 8 years. When I moved to Fort Lauderdale...I realized what CELL PHONES had done to the sport of motorcycling, so I sold the thing on eBay. For 350% what I bought it for! A classic '76 Honda CB-750-four, it ran perfect.

You can do what you want, but I will NOT own a motorized two-wheel vehicle any more. People are all on their phones, and the streets are not safe enough for motorcycles or mopeds or scooters. Really, not safe for bicycles either. I dodged four cars today driving my 928! I put a grand total of about 19 miles on the car, and it seemed like people were constantly trying to kill me!

Sorry, but while I applaud your desire for a classic Vespa scooter...I recommend parking the one you buy in your living room. Let your cat sleep on the seat-

N!

[Steve Carlton]

I bought a Piaggio LT150 for my wife about 7-8 years ago brand new for around $2,200. Seems like the equivalent now lists for $2,900. Have you spoken with Darrah, who owns the scooter dealership in Walnut Creek and Rockridge? I'd also suggest talking to Don Lemelin, the owner of Scuderia West in SF. He's a great, stand-up guy. They sell a few brands of scooters there as well.

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

Had a 1979 P200E for a while. I put a big bore kit on it with a pipe. Was pretty fun until I blew up the gearbox.

Honestly, unless you grew up with two-stroke bikes, get the newer one. The two stroke bikes are loud and smoke like crazy. You'll always be working on the old one, and be paying a premium for basically nothing more than hipster bragging rights.

4 stroke motorcycle engines have come a LONG, LONG way in the last 10 years.

[gtilove]

The 66 in the ad is definitely a Viet-bodge. The dead giveaway is the front glove box and the spare tire holder, extra chrome trim ect... Stay clear of that one.

[jwasbury]

I love the look of the vintage vespa scooters, and even the new ones are styled well to stimulate my nostalgia nerve...BUT...

I just can't see spending that kind of dough on a piddly scooter than can barely get out of its own way. You can buy all varieties of cool second-hand, real, honest-to-goodness motorcycles for that level of coin. I've seen Ducati 900 monsters trade at prices lower than that.

[vash]

Originally Posted by gtilove

The 66 in the ad is definitely a Viet-bodge. The dead giveaway is the front glove box and the spare tire holder, extra chrome trim ect... Stay clear of that one.

thanks.

[craigster59]

Saw this in Auburn at Raley's. A 150cc scooter, runs around $1300.

[nota]

I busted a leg on a lambretta at the time 60's it was the top model
200cc and a front disk but still no stopping power
never really liked it and it was given to me

for city street rides I like a small dirt/street bike
so you can really dodge cars by going off road
that will never work on a small scooter

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by jwasbury

I love the look of the vintage vespa scooters, and even the new ones are styled well to stimulate my nostalgia nerve...BUT...

I just can't see spending that kind of dough on a piddly scooter than can barely get out of its own way. You can buy all varieties of cool second-hand, real, honest-to-goodness motorcycles for that level of coin.

A look at my local craigslist shows lots of 400-600cc Japanese bikes for less than those scooters. Probably a lot safer and cheaper to keep running too.

I know... your wife wants one because it is "cute"... just like I will own a VW beetle some day because my wife feels the same way about them.

[gtilove]

If you buy the right Vespa it will hold its value (ex. a nice P200, GS 160, SS 180, any original paint, unmolested bike)
They are super easy to work on, and if they are set up right, are very reliable.
Parts are cheap, especially for the P series.
There are tons of performance parts available if that is your thing. (Expansion chamber pipes, disk brakes ect..)
They are a blast to ride.
I have had about 40 Vespa's, so if you have questions about a specific model, fire away.

[EarlyPorsche]

Vespa VNB and VBB bikes are considered to be the most beautiful scooter and potentially motorcycles ever built. You can't go wrong getting an original or non-asian restored VBB or VNB. With that said, they do not have all the safety and handling features a newer model would have but they are bulletproof and fun as can be to ride.

[gtilove]

Note that both the VBB and the VNB have 8 inch wheels. Most adult size people feel more comfortable on a 10 inch bike.

[Racerbvd]