A Vespa, a Lambretta... and a Porsche?

nigel911 · nigel911's Garage

Whilst cruising (excuse pun) the forum over the last few days I have noticed quite a few Vespas and one Lambretta included among peoples' sign off / vehicles owned list. Is this common? Do scooter owners wake up one day and have a revelation 'I need a very fast car to balance out my very slow scooter' or is it just a question of style - two wheel classic / four wheel classic?

Many other scooter owners (or ex-owners) out there? Japanese and plastic need not apply.

Just wondering...

Harlan Chinn · Harlan Chinn's Garage

Balance is what is gained at the gas pump. Fill the coupe or fill the ET. The Vespa here in Seattle is great for getting around the city running errands where parking is at a premium or impossible and many times free on the Vespa. A little known secret that many of the downtown parking garages here don't charge motorcycles and scooters. When speed in the 911 isn't needed necessary, the ET works just fine. BTW, I've had 911 long before the Vespa, but the new ET's are styled like their earlier classic models. I just had to have an alternative means of transportation.

Kemo · 03-12-2003, 05:12 PM

I had a honda scooter in college...thats when i saw some really neat Vespas darting around the UT Austin area. They were out of my price range then. Come to think of it, they still are! Harlan, I'm jealous.

slater · 03-12-2003, 11:17 PM

I have an el-crappo honda scooter.. but i have it mostly to do stupid things on with my friends when we cant find anything else to do. It works great for towing friends on rollerblades and things like that... besides that - it was free.

speeder · speeder's Garage

In 2001, I went to a big party in Hollywood for the launch of the new Vespa, dropped in late and won a new scooter in the raffle. Only time in my life this has happened, it was a rush! Couple of thousand people, called my #, got on stage w/ president of Piagio(?), everyone drunk and cheering, etc. I got to go to dealer and pick it out, got a silver 4-stroke model, drove it home and then sold it w/ 11 miles on odometer. It was beautiful, but I guess I am not a scooter guy, they don't feel safe to me in the city w/ low power and small tires/brakes. I prefer motorcycles, bought a 1970 Triumph Bonneville w/ the proceeds.

Then went on vacation to Europe last summer and rented a new Vespa in Paris, we were having a blast on them until I crashed it and broke some ribs. A guy on a bicycle did not hear me approaching at WOT, turned in front of me. (He is OK, miraculously). This is another potentially dangerous thing w/ them, they are TOO darn quiet. I'm sticking w/ motorcycles and cars from here out.

Al G · 03-13-2003, 12:55 AM

OK, so I have a couple of Lambretta's at home:
- 67 SX200 with major engine tune (240cc, 34mm smoothbore Amal, etc).
- 65 TV/GT200, plain vanilla.

Unfortunately they don't get taken on the road anymore, although I do fire up the SX200 once in a while to scare the local wildlife.

Of course my '76 Carrera 3 gets all the time and spare cash these days.

Al G

MotoSook · 03-13-2003, 04:32 AM

Haha.

Denis I agree completely. Scooters are fun on a resort island, but on the streets, I want my exhuast (not so quiet). I have gotten a driver's attention too many times when approaching an intersection by blipping the throttle. Had I not been able to, I might have been a hood ornament (and I ain't pretty)

BUT! I thinkVespas are cool and would still want one for my collection someday.

s_wilwerding · s_wilwerding's Garage

My father has a 70s Vespa. He got it when he found that someone was throwing it out! It wasn't in that great a shape, but for a few hundred dollars he's fixed it all up. I'm not sure what's it worth now, but likely more than he's put in it!

cstreit · cstreit's Garage

I can't stress enough how important it is to be careful when riding the smaller two wheel vehicles.

errr...ummm... how irresponsible towing rollerbladers...

Okay, but c'mon it's our "get around the pits" bike. Goes everywhere the racecar goes!

APKhaos · 03-13-2003, 05:21 AM

Chris,
The board insists you add Yamaha PW80 to your sig. OK to list it below the RSr Replica. Its OK, you'll graduate to a manual shift bike soon

cstreit · cstreit's Garage

LOL Tony... Well it IS air cooled... (I think the Ducati qualifies as a real bike though...)

MotoSook · 03-13-2003, 06:19 AM

Now that is just irresponsible Chris. No helmet, no gloves, short sleeve shirt! No! No! No!

cstreit · cstreit's Garage

I know, I know...

If it makes you feel better I wear helmet, full vanson leathers with back protector and armor, gloves, boots, etc.. when riding the Ducati. Speaking of which, you and I are going riding this year too!

greenmonster · 03-13-2003, 06:29 AM

It's an aircooled kinda thing. I notice the same thing in the aircooled VW world.

There's a scooter BBS that even has an aircooled VW section:

http://www.scooterbbs.com/

racemor · 03-13-2003, 06:54 AM

When I first saw the subject of this thread I thought maybe it was the lead-in to a joke; "A Vespa, a Lambretta and a Porsche walk in to a bar. The Vespa says..."

I really like the vintage scooters but am actually thinking about an old mini-bike for a pit/track bike. You know the ones, like they used to advertise in the back of comic books and Popular Mechanics. Fat seat, fat little tires, B&S motor, brakes that were just a big plate that rubbed against the tire...

cstreit · cstreit's Garage

Tom,

Better yet, get an early YZ80. Paint it to look like your favorite sport bike, you'll be the coolest cat at the track.

We looked at a few before the PW80, but the local ones were pretty well cashed out when we saw them.

THose old Briggs and Stratton mini bikes are perfect.... Just make sure it fits on your trailer... We mount ours right under the tire rack in front.

racemor · 07:39 AM

Chris, wouldn't it look cool strapped to the top of a Yakima roof rack on the 911?

(if it's light enough that is) I could take it to spectator races at Road Atlanta, it's make it easier to get down to turn 7 during Petite LeMans for sure!

Some really cool little bikes here. Chris, you'll like the NSR50 in the bikes for sale section.

MotoSook · 03-13-2003, 07:53 AM

There is a mini bike that I have been wanting to get for the heck of it. It is a 50CC centrifugal clutched mini with fairing that can be painted to match my big bike. I think they even have a racing league for them. I forget what the BRand is, but they can be had on E-bay for 900-1200 new. It'll fit in the backseat of our 911 I think. I even saw it on the back of a Goldwing once (picture). Would make a great pit bike!

Chris, full Vanson leathers!

I hope you don't think I can drag my knees on the corners when we go riding. Maybe if my lady sees you all suited up, I can finally make a case for leather bottoms and good riding boots

mwbaum · mwbaum's Garage

I have had Vespas off and on for 22 years now...the P200E is a pretty powerful scooter. I used to take it on I-5 at 70mph....cars would flip out. They get GREAT gas milage and are nicely designed...chicks dig em

The new Vespas are nice but if you really want to ride in style the older ones are much more desirable. Kind of like a 356 compared to a 996....the 356 will turn WAY more heads......

VWpete · 03-13-2003, 08:34 AM

I've actually been seriously considering a Vespa Et-4. Whenever I'm in the west end of Dallas when I visit my sister, I pop by the Vespa boutique to drool... I would love an old one, but I've got enough maintenance with the Porsche and want realiability in a scoot. It's not practical yet, but I may be moving to a big city in a year where it'd be great. Harlan has giving me some great advice via PM... Thanks man. Once my busses new owner picks it up in a few weeks, I'll have a bit of $ and will get more serious about looking into a Vespa. My friend in chicago has a restored late-50's Vespa he pulls in the back of his '59 VW single cab... They've got matching paint jobs and are quite the show-stoppers!
Pete