The Vespa was designed by a man who hated Motorcycles
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.ค. 2023
- This is the story of how and why the Vespa came and into existence, and then went on to become an icon of the automotive world
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I used to ride large motorcycles and never even glanced at scooters. Then, one day at a motor show, I sat on a Vespa GS 200 and I thought I could live with this. It did everything I needed, it was fun to ride, it was economical, I could carry more with it and it seemed to need minimal maintenance. I also loved the look of the thing. I normally changed my motorbike every couple of years but I ended up with 2 Vespas, the GS200 and then the GS250, for the next 20 years. I only gave up riding them when the thieves in my city worked out how to steal them. Shame, I miss riding them.
I had a vespa 50 with a tuned up 125.
She was a hoot
Practicality is beauty
i hope you get another VESPA! BAD THEIVES!
I can't wait until hand amputation becomes compulsory for thieves.
Yes, twenty minutes on the helix and my 750/4 was on craigslist. Although in retrospect I wish I'd kept it. Who knows?
Anyways the Vespas are wildly overpriced, I stick with Honda
I was fueling my Vespa near a popular biker spot next to a group of Harley riders some time ago. They all looked the part, big bikes, shiny chrome, heavy leathers.
One of them walks up to me and silently looks me and the Vespa over for a while. Then he looks at me and says: "You know, secretly we all want to ride one of these!"
I don’t think he was talking about your scooter……he was talking about you 😂
I feel the same every time I see a Honda Cub, even when I am on my bigger bike.
I reckon they are the coolest bike ever made, yet they are (or were until they made them fancy recently), just a simple, reliable tool.
lmao@@markallen2984
In all my years, I must admit to never being a Vespa fan. After watching this video, I'm still not a fan but I do understand it's significance. Always an outstanding video on this channel!
They're for high density urban situations. The only feel right at relatively low speeds.
@@indonesiaamerica7050eactly!
Drive a vespa in an old italian town, you'll fall in love immediately!
@@indonesiaamerica7050Yo, I had a piaggio scoot just for running errands in an urban environment in the U.S. It just kind of works. Granted, I later traded it in for something that could do highway speeds, but I had to cover the thing in cases and bags just to match the simple utility of the scoot.
Vespa at least looks better than any other motorcycle
A scooter is more like a micro mini car designed for traveling along congested city streets. It can hold a lot of office or grocery stuffs in the lockable underseat storage. In a motorcycle, you need to haul your various stuffs in your backpack if you don't have saddlebags.
One of the most iconic vehicles of all time and when people see a scooter, the name Vespa recalls it for them! Next to the Fiat, its association with Italy is unmistakable.
Cos no one outside Italy would buy such lousy machinery
Fiat was long a bye-word for 'in competition with Lada'
@Farweasel
We got old Vespas on sale all the time in the classifieds.
@@Eduardo_Espinoza In that case - My condolences
Back in the day on a scooter forum, the subject was how people would call your scooter a moped. One guy said the when someone called his Vespa a moped, he would correct them. Saying "it's not a moped, it's a post-war Italian lady's shopping bike". Scooter Boy for Life!
Them hot hatchback cars - granny shopping wagons.
The moped forums are even worse- go asking a question about a *scooter* and you'll be chased right out!
Back in the 70s when I started buying Easyrider magazine, I remember thinking it seemed unusual that Harley-Davidson riders were calling their motorbikes 'scooters' and 'scoots', also they called their engine a 'mill'.
MOPBOYZ
@@WafflePlaneRC There are MOPED Forums?
*Evolution must be running in reverse*
Enjoying a morning coffee al fresco on a Greek island several years ago a Vespa glided past with a family aboard. Father was in control, mother was behind him, cradling a baby. Behind her, on the luggage rack were her two other children, riding back to back with their legs dangling over the engine cover. to complete the load a sheep peered out from between the fathers legs. Six riders - one scooter - no problem!
My Dad rode and Vespa PX-150 and I remember my entire family of 5 riding on it in the 1970s. I loved the Piaggio brand and its associated vehicles. I went on to own the Piaggio maxi scooter X8 200 which shared many of the same design principles of its predecessors. Wonderful scooter to ride! Excellent documentary and great archive footage!
Great video. I've worked at a Vespa dealer in the past and still specialize in vintage Vespa resto. You really fall in love with the old ones. Their like old vw bugs on two wheels, tons of personality
Piaggio had to innovate or die in the 1990's and their decision to redo the Vespa saved the company from cheaper, more modern Asian competitors. These wiped out many US and European manufacturers who simply thought they could keep on putting out the same product, year in, year out.
BTW another movie with a great Vespa sequence is Dear Diary (1993) by Nanni Morietti
You can see Vespas everywhere in Munich. It's easy to spot dozens everyday there.
British motorcycle industry was the classic example of pompous and antiquated attitudes 1969 was the year the bike was Honda cb 750 the day the industry changed ,British literally Would not change and that was it. Whereas Italians absolutely did
He didn’t hate motorcycles till the end, because in the end he made one he liked 👍
My first "motorcycle" was a 50cc Honda Metropolitan. I loved that little scooter! I've always had a soft spot for scooters because of it. Thanks for the interesting video.
In Indonesia it's called ''Scoopy" with 110cc and they're everywhere! Hell, 2 out of 10 motorbike parked in my flat rn is a scoopy
I remember the TV ads back then---"You meet the nicest people on a Honda."
I was a motorcycle guy from 14 to about 40. Then I tried a Honda helix, im 66 now, still have my third helix ( flipped 2 for my 07) also have a reflex and i keep a 750 shadow just for slow cruising. I guess my point is, enjoy the simple practical easy going scooter life
I had a 2019 Z900. Went to thailand last year and zoomed around on a yamaha 155 scooter.
Came home and unowned the z900 and got an xmax 300.
I have some skeletal issue which was making it harder for me to ride the kawasaki.
I love my scooter.
Its fast enough.
It handles well.
I can go shopping and get 4 bags of shopping under the seat. (I cannot over emphasise how much i love having storage on a motorcycle that isnt fucking panniers.)
My left ankle doesnt die trying to change gears ( arthritis).
Love it
@@sugarnads good choice.
I noticed he didn’t mention the Ducati.
THATS GREAT
@LaneAWD_OwO yes, I snatch up any good deals I see on helix/reflex for quick flips. Not ready for the super cub yet, they need a 250cc Cub
Lived in Europe last half of he '50s and Vespas were _everywhere!"_ I loved and still love the form-follows-function art of them. And the sound of the Vespa 2-stroke engine is one of the first of many engine sounds burned into my mind. My first motorcycle in the mid '60s was a 2-stroke Yamaha 100cc "Tin Twin" as they were called. Rode the hell out of it. Tough little bike.
I’ve got to say that was a really nicely presented video. I was a scooter boy myself in back in 1970 and still find them just as interesting today. Thank you for sharing such a thoroughly well researched episode. 👏
Well told Bart. The genius of creation of one person. Not listening to market research or boffins. The mechanical artist.
I have to vote the Honda Super Cub is the most important icon in the automotive industry. Not to downplay the timeless significance of the Vespa, and its earlier attempt at a "polite" motorcycle for the masses.
I ride Chinese a Super Cub replica daily to commute around 80km(~50miles) Despite vibration this bike is rugged and very useful.
@@helloworld963 My actual C50 Supercub does not excessively vibrate. I have to assume that when you say "Chinese...replica" you are probably talking about a Chinese clone of a much newer step-through like the Honda Dream/Wave etc.
To kariudo, you are not wrong, but [insert some insanely long, technical and boring argument here that attempts in its entirety to ignore observable outcomes] something about Japanese mass production scale bludgeoning everything in its path.
The Honda Super Cub is a mere copy of earlier Moto Guzzi Galleto. its only merit is mass production
@@vesparraf No, clutchless gear-shift and 40 million sales to prove you wrong.
@@aaronleverton4221 🤣🤣 so that's your reasoning to prove the super cub is not a copy of the Galleto?? It had a 3 speed pedal operated gearbox and the shape and function was clearly ahead of its time. The super cub only proves 2 things: Japanese back then we're closely payomg attention to (copying) all other European manufacturers and that they had a much stronger production power, selling bikes all over the world.
Two things you didn't say: I heard that the initial vespa engines were starter motors for aircraft engines, and that the wheels were airplane tail wheels
By the power of Ctrl + F i found your comment before making my own comment with the same content. So here i am to support that statement!
@@axelboltz3077 just felt like it's such a shame he didn't mention it cause it's such an interesting curiosity
So it was basically a pony motor that got repurposed.
I believe the motor was from a hoist used to lift bombs into the bomb bay on a Piaggio bomber.
Enjoyed the video. I have owned Vespa's, Cushman's, Honda Cub's and lot's of motorcycles over the years. The Vespa served it's purpose for Italy, until the Fiat 500 came about. The little Honda Cub, did the same thing in Japan, but was able to broaden its' appeal to something more than transportation in the USA "you meet the nicest people on a Honda". I believe that all the different Cubs have sold well over 130 million through out the world making it the best selling vehicle in history.
The first time I saw a Vespa was when I had my paper route. I delivered and afternoon paper which was picked up and folded in the driveway of the route manager. Two brothers had Vespas which they used to deliver papers. The rules said we had to use bicycles, but the route manger relented and let them use their Vespas. I remember how cool they looked and I really wanted one. In all these years, I never bought one, but they are still super cool.
When an average italian thought about motorbike in the mid '40s he did not think of Indian, HD or Triumph. He thought of a Moto Guzzi that has been winning races ( Europe and World Championships and Tourist Trophy) and innovating the motorbikes scene since the 30s.
As a long time BMW motorcycle owner who has traveled across Canada and the US, I have always admired the Vespa for its design and civil attitude. It set itself apart from other scooters and bikes and had no real competition in its class until Honda brought out their version of a scooter. I’m waiting to see if Vespa brings out an electric model. If they do I’m sure it will be special and I will park one in my driveway.
They do have an electric model. Don't know if it is launched in the area you live though.
I think a scooter is inevitable for the US. Can't wait.
No competition? What zbout the Lambretta?
@@stephenburnage7687 I’ll look that up. Never heard of it.
@@LymanPhillips inevitable for urban areas perhaps but, America is too vast for many people to start riding two wheelers. Trucks and SUVs are definitely going to be a deterrent for many you don't even feel safe driving amongst those giants in regular cars.
I love Vespas. I have two. a 1979 P200E, and a 2006 GT200. The P200E is by far the most fun. It is a kick start, manual shift, manual clutch 200cc 2 stroke. It's about as mechanical as it gets. It makes beautiful sounds, has a wonderful feel, and requires a LOT of interaction with the rider. And to me that is what all motor vehicles are about. That's what makes them so much fun. The GT200 is a completely different thing. It has almost none of the qualities that I think a machine should have. It is basically a twist and go transportation appliance, devoid of any kind of character. It is smooth and quiet, it has a shiftless CVT drive, it is electric start, and liquid cooled. I still think the styling is beautiful, and wish it had a 2 stroke manual shift engine. It's one redeeming quality is that it is carbureted. It is one of the last carbureted Vespas made. So while it is smooth, quiet, and fairly boring, it is still, for the most part a machine. Just an over refined one. It serves well as a transportation device, both in town and on the highway, but it's not really a recreational bike like the P200E is. After 2006 Vespa went down the road to scooter oblivion, making nothing but computerscooters. A sad end to something that started out as such a cool idea.
I feel the same way about my two - I've ridden the same 2009 S50 every day since it was new and although l love its loyalty (and it's a 2 stroke) it doesn't feel special or involving like my '79 50N.
When the Mini first came on the road in the UK , a heater and the radeo was an optional EXTRA ,you also needed a radio license .
Bart, I love your videos. You find the best archival footage and stills, and wrap them in knowledgeable and entertaining commentary. You, sir, are the Ken Burns of motorcycle history.
I am 79 now and ride a 2017 Suzuki VStrom 650 XT. However, I purchased a Vespa when I was 17 years old still going to high school. I loved that little escape machine. I can’t remember what year model it was but it had the headlight on the front mudguard. It never gave me an ounce of trouble and I put a lot of miles on it. I remember the day I sold it to a guy at Highgate Hill in Brisbane. I remember riding it to his place as if it were yesterday, but I can’t remember who I bought it off second hand.
I am told that if I still had the Vespa it would be worth a lot of money now.
I had two crashes on it. One when I slipped over with diesel fuel on a corner, and once when riding down a hill at night, a dog ran out at me. I hit the dog and went down. I can still see the sparks coming off the Vespa as it slid down the road. Mum lost her nerve and suggested I sell it. I did sell it after I had it repaired and purchased a 1954 Hillman Minx car with money I had earned myself. I still have many many happy memories of my Vespa. By the way the bloody dog ran off apparently unhurt. I lost some bark and torn clothes.
What a classic.
I have had Vespas since 85 and Lambretta's before that. I've also owned motorcycles alongside scooters. I use the Vespa like most would use a car. Bad weather take the Vespa, short trip, take the Vespa. Parking somewhere where some idiot might knock over one of my nice bikes, take the Vespa. My current PX200 looks like its been to Hell and back but it still keeps going. It gets a lot of use. I can rebuild it in a good weekend. I love my old motorcycles but the Vespa is also special and always puts a smile on my face.
I watched Luca with my niece when it came out, now whenever she comes over she always wants to watch motogp! That movie sparked a fire in her for bikes and I couldn't be more thrilled
Moving the headlight from the fender to the handling bar was the icing on the cake, designwise. It looks 100% better in my opinion.
"The Vespa was designed by a man who hated motorcycles". A very nice documentary about the Mini, I have to say.
Few years ago, driving home from work at midnight. It was cold and raining buckets. Earlier it had been nice, warm and sunny day. I saw this poor fellow riding his scooter without rain gear and open face helmet on a highway. He was going about 50 mph and getting splashed and sprayed from passing cars.
…and
@@leendeen8745 ...and he had a real-world experience, not looking at the world from inside an air conditioned, rain-free enclosure. Riding around in a car is like seeing all around you watching a movie. Riding a scooter or motorcycle is EXPERIENCING everything (wind, noise, smells, etc.) around you - nothing 'artificial".
@@usernamemykel - all though it looked funny. I did feel envy not being able to ride motorcycle like I used to.
I like to imagine a world where they made even bigger 2 stroke race bikes
When I turned 14, 5 years ago, my dad got me a 1980 Vespa 50 special. It’s the most fun thing I probably will ever own
I have a 2003 Genuine Stella, a Vespa PX150 (1982) made in India for the American market. It is now 20 years old and in use every day there is no ice one the road. The last time it was at the dealer for maintenance was 18 years ago. It looks almost like brand new. The spark plug is 15 years old. It starts right up, runs fine and goes as fast as when new. I clean the air cleaner once a year, change the tires every 2-3 years, a new battery every 5-6 years, also clean out the carburetor about then. It comes with a tool kit that will do about anything you could do alongside the road. Around town I get about 100mpg. It will carry ten bags of groceries by putting plastic crates on the luggage racks. It has hauled firewood. A group of kids came from India to our church once, and when they saw it they all piled on and took it for a ride. Their leader saw this and stopped them, he said it was dangerous for 9 to be riding at once, so 2 had to get off and wait a turn. I think it will last longer than I do.
I have ridden Vespas since passing my test on a PX125 in 1982. Helped form a Scooter Club in 1983 and am still obsessed with them to this day. As they say, once a Scooter Boy, always a Scooter Boy. Great video and all the best from the UK !!
P200-E., Grey.
My sister had a PX-125 which was bored out to a 177. ( Navy Blue with chrome chowls)
2- Tone! 2 Rude!
The sheet metal work is great. I can not comprehend how it can be so round.
It's a piece of art & even some cafés have Vespas as decoration, that says it all.
This video mentioned the Mini as iconic, I'd would also mention the Fiat 500, VV Beetle, Citroën 2CV.
All being built post WW2 to move people around as cheap as possible.
This video makes me want another Vespa... Already got an ET4 (first of the 4 stroke autos) but would really like an old 2 stroke PX, I've also got an old skool GSXR750 but the Vespa is so much more practical for my cross town commute and still great fun.
Excellent video, your best one yet! I think this video will be used in design school classrooms everywhere.
In Saigon there are kazillions of scooters - and the Vespa is very highly prized amongst them.
Watching all those clips of people motoring about on tiny machines warmed my soul.
And as always
I was entertained
Nice, thorough and concise. Thank you.
As a motorcycle guy who realy hates scooters, Vespa is a real beauty and so cool
Vespa was not the first enclosed scooter. In 1920 Gloster Aviation built one that looked very similar to the Vespa the Unibus.
scooter are great. with a windshield they give they are basically all weather protection. had great times when i was a kid.
There’s something about the comfort of sitting fully upright with arms lower that really appeals to people.
It was unmentioned but Vespa also took a stab at the Dakar Rally, not very successful I might add. But they did
Another great chapter bart. The mighty Vespa! I am convinced that if riders bought bikes with their brains instead of their hearts, we would all be riding scooters of one sort or another. But the Vespa is both practical and beautiful, one of the marks of a true classic, like the Honda cub. Thanks again 👍🇦🇺
How very true. Many do buy things based off of anything but practicality. Case in point, an estate would be perfectly suitable in place of the crossover SUVs that are out selling everything. But you can't say station wagon without someone going "ew that's a family car." So they buy an SUV for their family. 🤦
It always depends on for what role you want to use the vehicle. For most people in the west (including me) a motorcycle is more of a fun toy. The Vespa practicality works great for short commutes, but they're not made for carving or traveling, unless you like going really really slow.
It can be done, I even saw many Vespa clubs while touring the alps (great guys), but they're clearly not made for it.
Always depends on what role you want your vehicle to fulfill.
We have a PX150 that's sadly been languishing in the garage since before the pandemic. Hopefully, that will change soon.
That *"something to straddle"* is what makes me in control when I am riding.
I still have a 23 years old piece of newspaper which got an advertisement of a piaggio px200. It was my dream scooter but then I was too young to own one and it was much more expensive to buy here in my country.
My understanding was that the Vespa was born out of Piaggio looking for something to do with the large number of nose gears it still had on hand after WWII. They were used as front suspension for the Vespa. No?
I've always wanted one. And it would fit right in my stable since I have two MotoGuzzi's. !
I own a Vespa PX150, Aprilia Mana 850 and now looking for a Moto Guzzi (V85TT or V7 Stornello) to complete my Piaggio collection. Love Piaggio and true Italian motorcycles!🇮🇹🛵💨
Hi. Great video, thanks. My only gripe with riding the Vespa was the very stretchy cable operated gear-change mechanism, and the lack of a positive stop gearbox like my Tiger 100 motorbike. Once into third gear, you had to be double-jointed to pull in the clutch to return to second or neutral. It was worse with the four speed box, the clutch lever went for a walkabout around the handlebar.
However if imitation is the sincerest form of compliment, the Vespa wins hands down. Douglas Motors made Vespas under license in GB. Italian Lambretta, and even Britain's BSA and Triumph made lookalikes. The Triumph Tigress 250 cc 4 stroke twin scooter was intended to burn off Vespas at the lights, but couldn't. The same scooter as a BSA Sunbeam 175 sported a 2 stroke single, but the extra 25cc of British muscle for some reason didn't get through to the back wheel. That's why I was a "rocker", rather than a "mod".
Any "likely lad" today who wants to get a feel for what it was like growing up in the fifties and sixties need only Google the hit song "Just for kicks", by Mike Sarne. "The kicks" were the kick starters of course. (A "likely lad" was any lad likely to get into "the odd spot of bovver") Cheers, P.R.
In Europe the front "mud guards" have to had been a protection from the cold winter wind. I've seen plastic leg covers attached to the bikes in Europe.
My dad in 1986 bought a Vespa Px125 arcobaleno E and still to this day he drives it like he was young again. I really like driving it , im glad my dad bought it
There is an incredible return of Vespas in Europe. I was in Munich a few weeks ago, and the Vespas are everywhere. It's easy to spot more than 2 dozens a day while walking the streets.
Am I the only who's always felt a strong relationship between the Fiat 500 and the Vespa? Kinda like the motorcycle and car equivalent of each other?
Great look into history of Vespa.
Loved it.
Howdy! Beautiful video, but I would like to add a couple of things. The engine at the beginning wasn't designed or build on purpose but it was a starter engine for bombers: as they couldn't build bombers anymore, they had starters engine to reuse somehow. If you happen to know Italian or find an Italian friend to help understanding it, in 2019 the Italian state TV produced a multi episode TV movie on the life of Enrico Piaggio which is called "Enrico Piaggio", it is good and it talks extensively about the Vespa too. If you are in Pisa or Florence, go to Pontedera (by train it is 15 minutes from Pisa or 30 from Florence) and go to the Piaggio museum, which is inside the Factory (10 / 15 minutes walk from the station), as it either costs you €0 (zero) to visit on your own or €5 to get the guided tour.
FANTASTIC concept!..And it's STILL going STRONG!💪👊MUCH respect!🤝
Amazing work with the content! 👍🏻👍🏻
Great doc. I really ejoyed learning the history. Bravo
I've ridden motorcycles for 50 years and always had a sort of condescending view of scooters based on absolutely nothing but bias. I was a little surprised that your video was so positive about scooters and their rightful place in motorcycle history. I'm going to be looking at them a little differently now. Excellent well-researched video..as always.
And a twist, a 400cc scooter... I recently got a Piaggio BV400 & though I absolutely love my 2013 Vespa 946, it's 150cc & a little challenged on hills & freeways (on flat, it can go 65, but perfect for smaller curvy roads), but do now wonder if a few folks were shocked that they were passed by a scooter 😅.
@@sus8e462 Some time in the 80's my wife and I were two-up on a BMW on the Bayshore Hwy in the SF Bay area. It was late at night, I was in the #1 lane and a couple of motorcycles were coming up FAST behind me with the headlights shaking a little from pavement joints. I thought it must be some choppers as they often have shaky headlights. I pulled over one lane to let them pass. It was three guys on scooters doing over 70 mph. I later learned that there were 500 cc scooters so maybe that's what they were.
My Dad used to ride Vespa, we shared so many sweet memories on thay scooter. Personally though I hate driving scooters, I don't trust their tiny wheels and their easy to lock breaks. My dad now rides with me sitting behind my bike and hates it.
Very well put-together video, thanks.
At the end of the opening words, I had expected to hear "Honda Cub", though I knew they would not be spoken.
I certainly agree that there is a beauty in simplicity, and especially in small, round-town bikes.
I first fell in love with Vespas when I had the opportunity to travel to Rome back in university. A decade or so later I bought one, a GTS 300. That was a fun bike!
In the early 1970s, I owned two Vespas. I have no idea what the model numbers were. Both my girlfriend at the time and I took our motorcycle license test on them. Completing the low speed maneuvering course was a little tricky as the engine and transmission were on the right side so the bike was not balanced. Also, the Vespa I had was fitted with a foot operated clutch and foot rear brake. Fortunately, the examiner I had understood the problems with the Vespa and took pity on my in grading my test. They were fun, durable, and cheap.
I had a Vespa 150 back on the early 1960s. It was a great design. You could easily change the tires. It won an industrial design award.
Our first family vehicle is Vespa. I just it. Seeing your is going down memory lane.. liked your video Vespa is a Marvelous Design A Design for Masses..❤️❤️👌👌
I had a 125 cc Vespa when I was 17 years old, I was using it to go for rides to go to school and when was raining I wasn't getting water on my feet and legs while my friends on motorcycles did. It was good in winter all I had to wear was good gloves and a good jacket while my legs were always protected from cold air. Very light and very easy to drive. The good old days very GOOD FUN ! more fun than PlayStation 5.
My friend had found a late 60's red vespa with a 5-speed gearbox while going to garage sales. Spotted in the garage snagged it for $800 in the mid-nineties. I laughed at first, rode it, it was fun. Still love my motorcycles, but it was a complete original experience.
Thanks for putting together a great history video. As a longtime Vespa rider and former Mini owner, I never considered the idea that the two were very similar.
What a great video, I never paid too much attention to the Vespa but this was eye-opening. Incredible how difficult times bring out the best of the human mastermind.
The Vespa's main draw, is the anti-puddle protections and spare tire change?
Best Vespa story on the net
THIS is top quality content. Thank you.
From Reggio Calabria 🇮🇹
At 3:53. The "celadon" color is superlative. The best color in Vespa's history which, btw, is equally as stunning on a Porsche by Singer. Celadon has a muddy base, mixed with equal parts grey, green, and beige, and sometimes with a hint of blue. It's a complex, calming color that's impossible to pin down. Simply perfection. Btw, I hate motorcycles. Broke too many bones and have tinnitus in both ears. So someone, anyone, get in touch with me. Let me design a new kind of motorcycle with you.
The motorcycle didn't make you crash you crashed the motorcycle as for hearing loss again stock exhausts do not lead to hearing loss.
@@othgmark1 How about asking questions instead of making assumptions? My father had me riding on the gas tank of his Bultaco when I was 3, no hearing protection whatsoever. I got my first 50cc motorcycle at 4. The motorcycle didn't make me crash? Try telling that to a 5 year old who was forced to ride long distances in the desert and the mountains on a jerry-rigged parts bike. By the time I was nine, I had broken bones and was hospitalized for hearing loss.
@@davidhunternyc1 sounds like your own old man was responsible. Properly put together and tuned Bultacos were among the best handling bikes of the era. I raced them for years. A poorly maintained Vespa would have had the same results except for the hearing loss. But without the muffler a Vespa is pretty loud too. I am genuinely sorry that your dad was seemingly not concerned with your health and you suffered for it. It's a shame you missed out on motorcycling because of those experiences. I have been fortunate enough to ride around the Americas and Europe including some saddle time on Vespas. Safety wise there isn't a big difference, a motorcycle is better on an open road while a Vespa is more nimble in city traffic.
@@othgmark1 Yes, it was my father's fault. He was a douchebag. He's still clueless about safety but that doesn't matter. My opening comment is, I hate motorcycles. Whenever I hear one I automatically cringe. I do like Vespa's, however. I love the look of Janus motorcycles too but they are noisy.
My scooter mechanic had this to say about motorbikes utility as compared to a scooter "you can't even carry a matchbox in a motorbike".
Great video! I remember first starting to see Vespa scooters and the Honda step through models in the 1960s, along with a few Cushmans that were still out there.
My Dad had two Vespas that he always intended to combine and make one good Vespa. I have an early memory of one of them working. One of them was a Sears Allstate Vespa. I was always saddened when he died b4 he was able to complete the project.
Yes, Sears resold Vepas (in the 60s or 70s?) and placed an AllState badge on the front; I seem to recall it was an outline of the continental US surrounding the AllState logo. If you still have them, they are incredibly simple and I bet you can get it going!
@@259Den3 Yes, there was an outline of the continental US surrounding the AllState logo.
i have a 50s smallframe in Greece....simple ultra ultra ultra ultra ultra ultra reliable ,Brings a smile on my face everytime
There is a club here in LA of folks with vespa's they dress like Hells Angeles and Ride the canyons frequented by car and bike enthusiasts and it's hysterical to see !!!
The best designs are the ones that really solve a problem. The Vespa did it so well it became an icon
This video is BS, the scooter was already 20 years old BEFORE the Vespa, look up the 1921 Unibus
Nice quality content. Keep it up that way bart. Post war machines are proof nothing can break human spirit. If you can't fly, then run. If you can't run, then walk. If you can't walk, then crawl. but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.
GREAT VIDEOS!
I always found it interesting how the Vespa has the exact same design philosophy as the Honda Pacific Coast, it being of designing a sleek motorcycle where all the mechanical parts are hidden similarly to in a car, and it's meant to be more appealing to the masses who aren't necessarily motorcycle fans but will be sold on the practicality of it. However, where the Pacific Coast failed, the Vespa succeeded, because although the Pacific Coast is cool as hell, it is also too big, expensive and intimidating to have any kind of mainstream success, while the Vespa truly feels like a vehicle the average person would ride.
Probably the only motorcycle that has managed to replicate the success of the Vespa is the Honda Super Cub.
Another thing I find interesting is how other brands have struggled to make their scooters cool, something where the Vespa greatly succeeded at. Scooters are typically seen as purely utilitarian by most, some even consider them to be a bit dorky compared to a "real" motorcycle, but Vespas were something people actively desired, they wanted one just because they know they would look cool as hell while riding it, and I don't think I could say the same about any other scooter, I mean yeah they have their fans but I doubt many would buy a Kymco Agility 125 to impress girls.
I ride a Kymco Like 150i, it looks like vespa with basically a Honda engine. Scooters are outrageously fun, approachable and highly practical. I commute on mine everyday in Oregon weather (rain,sun, etc) and I like to say “I’m having the most fun of anyone going less than 45mph.” Score yourself a deal on one and I guarantee you won’t regret it.
Back in the 1970s, you used to be able to rent a Vespa for the day in Rome. I did it a couple of times, and fell in love. There was (and probably still is) no better way to get around a city like Rome. Now, nearly 50 years later, I WANT one! This video just makes the craving worse. Not exactly the most practical vehicle for New Jersey, but still … if you see a 70 year old riding around on a Vespa, it might just be me… 😁
States that require additional motor vehicle endorsements , call Vespas motorcycles. My state (Washington) differentiates between 2 wheel and 3 wheel motorcycles.
Nice! Keep doing such good work! Thank you for all you do.....
Bart, are you familiar with the Lambretta scooter? It may be an interesting topic for a video. I owned one in the late 1960s bought from a man who owned it in Italy where he was stationed with the military for a while. I think he had it flown back to the USA. It was a 150 cc model and was quite good.
Fabulously entertaining and informative in equal measure. Thanks Bart!!
The great thing about ridng a scooter is that you aren't expected to give some kind of cool guy wave to any other two wheelers. And, they are also relieved of the obligation as well.
I ride both scooters and motorcycles and I wave at all motor powered vehicles even trikes ps I also have a trike not on the road at moment.
@@georgeday5901 I know. I was just being snarky. Someone must carry the banner for scooters being nerdy.😁
I have respect for Vespa, I'd like to own a classic original. I miss my restored '50 Triumph Thunderbird. I won first place at Mid-Ohio bike show. Took me over 5 years to restore. Very correct.
I had a '65 Sprint. i want another.
I had a '58 Beezer. My dad wouldn't let me have a minibike or scooter. He said the wheels are too small and you hit a run and you'll go over the bars!
Great video and History Lesson~!! I saw the funniest picture the other day and it showed an old dark green Vespa sitting on it's lift-up kick stand and painted across the back of the big wide seat it said= "No, I don't want a Harley"~! Damn funny~!
I understand that is focused on Piaggio Vespa but there is an iconic iteration of this in India. Bajaj started selling Vespas from 80s as 'Priya'(Dear) and later put out the better version called 'Chetak' that looked far better than the 1985 version of Vespa in collab with LML. The Chetak '97 was that dream 'dad's vehicle' that children enjoyed the rides on.
Every single country on earth made their own Scooters or copied Vespa, India is not special
@@ghost963cz I was only referring to licensed Vespa not any other scooter. And India is special for me.
There is a chetak in front of me rusting
@@ghost963cz Why so salty dude?
@@ghost963cz Mine didn't, we made licensed Lambrettas instead lol
I had a Vespa back in the early 1960's, it was a great bike/scooter.
had a tuned 50 when i was 16, it went 130, i loved it, in summer and deep snow( thatwas 67)
The title of your video made me laugh, I have loved big motorbikes for aslong as I can remember, whereas my dad who in the 60's and early 70's worked as a fitter at the BSA factory in Birmingham UK.. even though he worked on BSA Goldstars amongst other models he himself hated motorcycles, but he loved scooters and actually owned a Vespa. So you see now why I found the title of your video amusing.
The only thing of my dad's Vespa left is the Vespa badge itself, which he had removed to have re-chromed which he had done but then ended up having a accident on the scooter and the Vespa badge was never refitted and the scooter ended up rusting away in our back garden, and as a young boy of about 6 years old I remember sitting on this rusty old Vespa and pretending to ride. And I grew up loving motorcycles but hating scooters.. but I will never let go of the shiny new looking vespa badge that i found wrapped up in tissue paper after he passed away.