Love ya work mate.. I was in the draw to win a Vespa back in High School. Out of 3600 students from grades 9-12 I was only 1 of 9 that didn't miss a day of school for the entire year. A lucky girl won a nice red Vespa. She rode it to school for the entire next year. Nice little bike for around the burbs.
I learned to ride on a Vespa in New Zealand in the 80s and 90s. When I got to ride and drive in Italy it was so easy, because everyone else learned on a Vespa too! It also taught me to park as cheekily as possible....
Doubt it very much Only yanks start with “as an (insert nationality here)” Just because your distant relatives were not yanks dosnt mean you are their nationality too
@@highlandrab19 mate I’m actually Italian, just because I don’t drape a tricolour flag on everything and write like-a I work-a in da pizza shop doesn’t mean I’m not. But looking at your profile I guess only overt displays of nationality qualify for status.
@@christga100 you’re absolutely right. The Honda SH is the most sold scooter by a country mile. Vespas are just too expensive now, not to mention utter crap (I had a GTS250, it caught fire).
When my old VFR was in the shop for warranty service they gave me a 150cc scooter for about two weeks... I did much more stupid sh*t on that scooter than on any of my motorcycles. Apart from a supermoto, the scooter is a perfect tool to troll others and eventually yourself.
After getting my full A license, this week I was searching for a new, yet faster scooter, something around 150-300cc, like a Piaggio Medley/Beverly to replace my Chinese 49cc, something as narrower and manageable in the city as possible for that cc and, as they didn't have them on stock in the Italian dealership (Piaggio, Aprilia, Vespa, Moto Guzzi, Ducati etc.) they asked me "but why so much money for a scooter and not a motorcycle?" and I was very honest telling them "because I want to do DUMB things with it and to be IGNORED and FORGIVEN by police, if they wanna' stop me. On a motorcycle I can't turn in tight spaces around cars, I can't get on the red light without disturbing anyone, I can't go the wrong way on one way streets, shortening the car queues on the sidewalk or bike lanes sometimes, switching quickly from rider to pedestrian as I do on my scooter etc. and all of these without disturbing anyone! And also, I wanted comfortable position, GREAT handling at low speed, automatic gearbox, not to sweat on it at low speed in the summer unlike on a motorcycle and to have way less chances of accidents as I don't want to have my legs bounded to a motorcycle, especially from a side impact or if falling occurs" and a guy who was checking his position on a motorcycle was smiling and he fully agreed with me. On a scooter you look way more inoffensive to everyone, almost as riding a bike, unlike on a motorcycle which is not so maneuvrable at low speed and you seem more "legal", you have to consider changing gears, pressing the clutch at very low speed while filtering and you really have to wear the equipment and look like a robot blah blah... because if you fall you are very likely to break one of your legs, which I hate; full-face helmet, gloves, and the party is on 🤷♂️😂🛵. Dry roads to everyone and eyes wide open 🤘 !
In southeast Asia a scooter is mostly treated just like any other motorcycles, it's also a primary commuter machine here, very convenient, practical and easy to use. Bigger CC "normal" motorcycles are considered leisure bikes.
Bought my daughter a Kymco 150, Vespa clone to introduce her to riding…I hop on it when I can, and never stop smiling riding that scooter. So simple, jump on, start and go…and the go to under-seat storage. No it’s nothing like my GSA, maybe that simplistic riding is what is so enjoyable. Thank you for the scooter review, they are a blast.
That would actually be a nice addition to the information. I sometimes think about a certain bike but wonder if i would look like a circus bear on a tiny bicycle. A side view picture of Zack on the different bikes would actually help.
I love that you shared some excitement for a scooter! The scooter was my “gateway drug” into motorcycling, and if we’re going to expand ridership for our hobby, motorcyclists should probably be a little less snobbish towards scooters.
Yes. They can be the biggest buzz kill when out on a scooter in public. I’ve even seen a few bikers get mad after they did the wave before noticing I was on a scooter.
When I ride my R9T I get the nod and a wave from other riders when I’m on my Vespa ,, nothing . Some weird attitude that a scooter isn’t a motorbike for some reason . You can tour on a 300 loaded with soft luggage quite comfortably .😁🇬🇧🏍🛵🦮
@@jamesbatten8659usually it's a difference in mindset, most of the scooter rider ride it because they need something to move that's not a car, most of the riders that ride a bike do that because they want the bike
When I was younger I have had two white vespone 200 and both were stolen. They were absolutely appreciated in Roma. Today I am going to buy a new Vespa primavera 150 “apparently” for my daughter. You have to come up with an excuse to avoid the reproaches of the wife…….Thank you for the wonderful review!!!!!!
There's one additional benefit to the vasper I'd like to point out. For the elderly were those with physical limitations a Vesper is a great alternative. My dad rode a scooter for the last few years of his life because he couldn't handle a full sized bike. He gave him the freedom he desired without unnecessary difficulty.
My dad is in this boat. He still can ride a motorcycle but his go to right now is a Honda ADV. He goes out every day on this for a couple hours at a time. He also has a Triumph but doesn’t ride it nearly as much.
I've been riding motorcycles since 1974. In 2020 I bought my first scooter, a Vespa GTS300 HPE. It's become my favorite set of two wheels ever. I ride it all year round, except in the rain and snow. Even when the temperature is in the low 20's.
Watched this twice. Great as always. I am the target for this review. I live in Alexandria, VA, and commute daily into DC. I am going to sell my BMW K16GTL and looking at a Vespa 300GTL as a replacement. It is more practical, cheaper to maintain, no clutching in our craptastic traffic (no filtering or splitting allowed), great in fuel, and easier to park. I can also wear my suit on it without worrying about road grime. Less crap to carry! Take care and thank you, Mr. Courts!
Great review. For those who may be wondering and to address some of the questions on the video, I've owned everything from a 49cc Honda Ruckus to a Honda ST1300. In between, I've had a Honda Rebel 250 and a Triumph Thruxton and T100 Bonneville. One of the things that I found is the faster I ride, the less I enjoy it. The droning wind noise for speeds over 60mph, I find exhausting. Yes, that can be addressed with a windshield, but I don't like how windshields make a bike look. Scooters are the magical sweet spot for me and Vespas are the perfect blend of style, quality, and reliability. If you're city riding, you simply can't beat the convenience of a twist and go scooter.
Thx for this comment. I'm not a motorcycle rider, but the times I was really tempted I wasn't into "image bikes". I would want something that was actually enjoyable to ride so your comment resonated with me. The reviews I've seen of Honda's DCT bikes are what appealed to me the most. TH-camrs with many years experience loved the DCT in sport mode.
I love the slow bikes on this series, cause it makes people realize that slower bikes are totally viable I bought a 65 2 stroke single cylinder and was very scared I couldn’t ride it anywhere
I swapped my 1290 Superduke R for a Fantic 250 and it's way more fun. A quarter of the power to weight but half the weight and you can full throttle everywhere without losing your license.
I used to own a TZR250SP. As a 2-stroke, low end torque was pretty bad, but when you hit the power band - BOOM💥! - it felt like an aircraft carrier launch on a bicycle. SCARY. (Yet i still miss it !🥺)
recently bought a 2 stroke manual shifting scooter, a 2004 Stella. I have a 128 cubic inch (2100cc) motorcycle but love the braaap braap sounds the Stella makes even though it tops out at 50mph. I ride the Stella more than the harley right now. It is more fun riding a slow scooter fast than a fast motorcycle slow.
I have the Piaggio BV 350 version of a scooter. Of the 40+ 2 wheelers I’ve owned it has proven the most useful day to day. Bought it to haul on the RV to avoid a tow car but have ended up using it nearly every day at home running errands. Buy one you’ll love it, especially when Harley guys wave before figuring out you’re on a scooter😃
Another BV350 owner here. I've been scooter commuting for 23 years and Zacks comments about weather protection couldn't be more spot on. Toss a windscreen and top box on that Vespa and you be rain and 4 season ready. Scooters really do make good commuters.
2016 BV350 owner here. With the top box and the underseat, my wife and I use it as a sports tourer. Before you laugh, consider that the Bv will do 100 mph, carves well and has ASR/ABS.
Recently got myself a 1986 Vespa PK 50 XL with 4 speed grip shifted transmission. No prior experience with any motorized two wheeler yet I learned how to handle that thing in less than a day. Corradino Dascanio did a damn good job at designing the Vespa for people who had never ridden a motorcycle before.
Zack is a Vespa hooligan!!! 🤣 Back in ‘73, in the first OPEC oil shock, Dad bought a Vespa for commuting to work. That thing had the grip shift, and it was a 2-stroke, if memory serves. Dad could wheelie that thing much better than Zack. 😉 I got my first traffic ticket on that scooter, riding without a license (I was 15). I was mortified, because my girlfriend was on the pillion. So embarrassing. That little Vespa was a hoot to ride. Thanks for the rush of memories, Zack! 😃
The older Vespas actually had 4 gears. You twist the grip up for the first gear and then down (passing the neutral again), for the remaining three gears. This kind of shifter was very common for 50cc mopeds in the 60's to 80's (typically with 2 or 3 gears).
@@pleasedontwatchthese9593 Definitely a lot of shifting. The good part is, that you can wheelie them easily. I remember, back in the 80's during an Italy vacation, locals were running up and down the streets on Vespas on one wheel, with music blaring. The older Vespas had a larger glove box up front, where you could install car speakers into the metal door.
Love my 2022 Vespa Sprint 150 Racing Sixties! I have only had it for a couple months, but I have put 800 miles on it, and I have only driven my car a few times for photographing a couple jobs, and larger grocery shopping trips, and if it's pouring rain. Otherwise my daily errands have been maintained by the Vespa, and even just getting out every day for a ride has been so much fun! Thank you for sharing this!
Wow I was just at a dealer here in Serbia and saw the exact model from the video, even the color is the same, searched online to see what people say and your video was uploaded as I left the store... I think that's a sign for me to buy it 🙃
Seeing Fortnine do a video on the Burgman 650, then watching Zack review the vespa has now made me want him to review the Burgman 650 and see where it goes on the board in respects to the other bikes.
While I wouldn't hold my breath for this (I've had a GTS 300 Super - now SuperTech - for some years now, and love it to pieces), I'd love for Zack to get one to put on here.
Great review! After 52 yrs of riding all different bikes, racing etc, I finally came out of the closet. I'm a total scooter geek! MC people take a while to get it, if they do - but when they do, it's a great thing. It's a whole different world. Vespa is the creme d'le creme. The 300 is my win-the-lottery bike. I only do urban areas now, there is nothing better than a scooter in the city. The flat floor let's you carry tons of stuff. I bought my Aprilia SportCity 250 after a guy on ADV Rider would put videos up of him smoking sport bikes at the Dragon. I think people who are open minded enough to check scooters out will come away pleasantly surprised. I hope you have lots of great years on your new scoot!
@@ferrumignis No, not meant in an antagonistic way. To each their own. The point I was trying to make is, motorcycle guys dismiss scooters out of hand a lot of the time, but there is more to them than crazy cat ladies going to the library or whatever the image of scooter riders is. Some scoots are highly capable in areas a person might not realize. A Yamaha t-Max or Piaggio BV400, or even my SportCity can hold their own in any situation. I'm a dedicated 2-wheel commuter. When you are on a bike 5 days a week, in two rush hours a day, you have a very different perspective than someone who is a weekend rider. When I retire I will get another BMW RS and go on dedicated leisure rides, but right now, the scooter is it. All good though, choices are great.
I think many of us ageing riders are starting to see the attraction of scooters. Perhaps the loss of ego as you get older and wiser means you are more free to enjoy the kind of bikes you would have loved when you were ten.
@@wesleycardinal8869 Great insight! I totally agree. That's exactly it. It's quite unburdening, actually! Riding whatever you want and not worrying about what other people think opens up great new worlds and friends.
Full love for the Vespas. I started my two wheeled journey on a 50cc scooter here in the UK, a Gilera Runner 50SP. Vespas are stylish, timeless, well-built, they hold their value and they are extremely competent in their field. I'm absolutely planning to have a Vespa in my garage eventually, alongside whatever larger bike I have at the time.
In 1981 I had a Vespa in Houston that I used for commuting. It is the most fun I have had on 2 wheels. In the days before ATGATT I would put on my helmet and jump on with my khakis, blue blazer, and penny loafers to head to the office. Carefree fun. My wife loved riding on the back, something she will not do on my 1250GS. I'm heading to the Amalfi Coast in March and I plan to rent a Vespa scooter to get around, can't wait.
Had a rental Yamaha 250 XMax scoot a couple years ago for a few weeks. It was so much fun, and surprisingly capable. Including when my Tenere riding buddy challenged me to 'keep up with him' on some sort of medium enduro track...I figured, what the hay, it's a rental!
I bought a Vespa GTS 300 this spring after over 45 years of not being on a motorcycle just because I thought it would be a fun way to get around. It is! I've already put 2K miles on mine in about 3 months and am averaging about 68 MPG. Top speed on the GTS 300 is around 80, but I still try to stay off interstates. Acceleration off the line is probably better than the average car up to about 40 mph but it takes a good long while to get to 80. Could have bought a much cheaper scooter but fell in love with the styling, and there aren't a lot of scooters in the U.S. above 150 CC. One thing worth mentioning is I think all the Vespas shipped to the U.S. are still made in Italy which I'm sure makes them more expensive than scooters made in Asia. If Honda sold the ADV 350 in the U.S. though I would have likely gone with that.
I have the Vespa Sprint and it's just a hoot to ride around town in those days when traffic is so heavy that maneuvering a heavy motorcycle is just a chore.
Finally, a machine that most of the people from Southeast Asian countries can relate with (and probably afford coz Vespa). Keep up the good work, Zack and co.! Shoutout from a Malaysian viewer. 😁
I started out on a Vespa GTS 300 and it was so awesome. I wish I could have kept it, but I can't afford to keep multiple bikes. One reason why Vespas are a bit heavier and more expensive is the metal body. Pretty much all other scooters are mostly plastic on the outside now.
starting @ 24:44, this wide open hold then skidding the back wheel is what makes scooters so fun. I had a ratty ‘87 ch150 (honda elite) that was spray painted and in overall bad shape, but I loved riding it. I would make excellent time through traffic in LA and it completely changed my perspective on the scooter mindset. It becomes pretty easy to outpace the traffic around you with under 10 hp in congested areas, it would hold 60ish mph and 80+ mpg under WOT is hilarious. Try a scoot if you’re skeptical, they’re silly fun. I still want to put a modified 250 engine in a 150 chassis with the obligatory milk crate on the rack. Peace!
I've ridden and owned all kinds of motorcycles. After my father was unable to swing his leg over a motorcycle anymore, he bought a scooter. I was amazed by the versatility and functionality of it. I have four scooters currently but have bought and sold several over the last few years now. In fact, I took my Goldwing out for a spin today and when I got back home, I took an even longer ride on my Genuine Buddy 170i. Keep up the scooter reviews!
The lack of a tank to grip is definitely a game changer when I switched to a scooter; I picked the Yamaha N-Max 155 because it had a center tunnel which helps a lot in motorcycle ergonomics. The point about the fairing giving adequate weather protection is valid - I do wear Indian dresses from time to time and how Yamaha designs the fairing creates a sort of 'downforce' effect on the rider's legs so everything is kept neat with laminar-feeling flow despite the minimal and cyberpunk design of the Yamaha maxis (X-Max and N-Max). One thing you might want to review is how mechanics and enthusiasts often switch to lighter CVT rollers to drastically enhance the acceleration, optimizing it for city speeds and quick acceleration. Accessories for scooters are also very cheap in Asia - often I shop for "bicycle" parts for storage and auxiliary lighting saving a lot of money. Maxi scooters can often have 13-14 inch wheels, they can handle badly maintained roads just fine especially with the right aftermarket suspension upgrade. I would consider a Vespa in future purely for aesthetics but the maxi scooter is much superior, I feel when you want to kit the thing out with storage and aerodynamics - I would prefer a windshield higher than chest level and a more angular front end for lower drag factor. I like to cruise with less than 10 degrees throttle @ 50-60mph which is just about the higher end of a 155cc's comfort zone.
I own the Piaggio (They own Vespa ) Liberty 150 which is basically this (same engine bigger wheels) but cheaper (3k msrp) and more practical. And I love it. I daily it and basically the must get scooter
I also have a Liberty 150 and absolutely love it - very light and nimble, a bit sportier looking than the Vespa but still very scooter-esque. The larger wheels are way better for dealing with crappy North American suburban roads, and it's still relatively easy to make tight turns. The perfect city vehicle IMO
Step through can also be very nice if you have hip or other pain. I know an older gentleman who left the Harley world for Suzuki Burgman 650 and took it from Alabama to Seattle and back. The step through also helps with the wind blowing the bike around. If I were to get a scooter though (bigger than 49cc) I would go for the Yamaha Zuma 125 for $3699.
I LOVE seeing that a scooter made it into a Daily Rider review. As a big scooter fan, I think these are greatly under-appreciated in the USA. On the other hand, while Vespa makes a quality scooter, their scooters are really overpriced. You should review the Burgman 400 or the Kymco 550!
The vehicle I kept the longest (10 years) was **drumroll**..... a Vespa GTS 250cc! It was perfect for everything urban and the odd freeway adventure. Of course I added a custom pipe. It would leave all cars behind at the lights (because that Porsche would never think to race a scooter). I was about to say it was my "gateway drug" to motorcycling, but actually it was it's own special high. And NO chain maintenance! Thanks for the review Zack!
I have a Honda ADV 150 I literally use it for everything within reason. Got on eBay bought a locking tail box and when I make a grocery run I just pull my backpack out of the box. I have gardens and a small vineyard and I make frequent trips to the hardware/Home Depot stores. I filled my truck up in the spring with gas and I just don’t even use it anymore because most everything can be accomplished on the Honda. I own Kawasaki’s and triumphs but the fun factor the ease of use in the city and the absolute mind-boggling gas mileage just makes it a fun great little package that basically pays for itself. I wanted a Vespa but I always look at how a purchase can pay for itself. It takes a long time to pay back a Vespa and the maintenance interval didn’t make me smile. Even if you own liter bikes like I do, get a scooter it’ll make you smile!
My late father used to own a Vespa during the 1970s. I used to stand on the floor board between his legs. It's apple green in colour and that got me started biking many years later.
My first bike was a Honda CBR and my second in the garage is an ‘07 GTS 250. After renting one in Santorini and doing all terrains the Greek islands can throw at you with a pillion I went home and sourced one I could restore. It is a blast to wrench on and mod. My dog and I daily ride it to work now. The CBR still gets to stretch its legs albeit for long rides and canyon fun. For those who are image conscious I can tell you more woman are eager to hop on the scoot than my big bike.
Years ago we found vespa in garbage. We got dad to make sure we got it home. With dad's help by lunch we had it running, by evening it was sweet! We rode that vespa into the ground! It was so much fun, even mom laughed while taking turns riding! Then Honda shop opened within walking distance. That Honda shop cost me some major money over years!
I own a 300 HPE (and have owned a 150 Sprint) Vespa. To feel connected to the bike (especially to go fastest over uneven roads) I tend to push down flat-footed on the floorboards and ride surfboard/skateboard style. It's not a bench motorcycle feel but you can feel more one with the road and the bike (and not get tossed around on it by the bumps) ...and it's pretty fun.
YES! More scooters! I would like to see some rides with some "less exclusive" scooter brands, like Kymco and Sym- as like you mentioned, the price point of a Vespa is not really what I would consider on point for a commuter or someone looking for cheap transportation.
So many years ago, in a city far, far away, I rode a Vespa. The scooter was a two stroke, with a three-speed transmission that shifted with a rotating left-handed twist grip and clutch lever. The front brake was right hand operated, and the throttle was a right-hand twist grip. The rear brake was a pedal located on the right side of down tube and floorboard. The rest of the machine remains the same as what you are riding, even to the head light mounting, though the speedometer was a simple round unit. The rear tire was not covered by the muffler, which comes in handy later in my story. It was a blast to ride. Quick through the corners, and easily shifted. Power was more than adequate, and braking was excellent. And even when the rear tire went flat in a corner, the scooter just wiggled a little bit and stayed upright as I came to a stop. The attached toolkit and the rear mounted spare tire made quick work of a tire change with the well-balanced center stand keeping the rear tire off the road during the change. Ten minutes and I was on my way. My later experience of a rear flat on a chain driven motorcycle, took a few hours longer to get going. (Bike rode on a friendly pickup truck to a service station for repair.) The Vespa was designed as primary transportation and seems to still fill the bill.
I usually ride my vstar 15 miles to work but sometimes I ride my vespa gt200. That thing is so fun and it's priceless to look at people when you pass them on the highway going 75mph. It's got almost 17,000 miles on it and still going strong
Old Vespas did have a mechanical gearbox, with a rear brake pedal, and for changing gear you have the cluch on the left lever and to change gear you twist the left grip, and it wasnt like a gear selector on a mondern motorbike (ie it rest position) you have one position for each gear, so in 4th (yes that was the top gear) you have the cluch lever at 50* angle! Now back to the studio! I love this kind of video, every one loves a croch rocket blasting away, but this is the real daily rider (not just this but versys 650, aprila touareg, etc.)!
I had a Piaggio 150 in between bigger bikes. It was perfect for getting around town. Nimble and plenty quick to leave cars behind. The ladies loved it bc it’s cute and wouldn’t hesitate to jump on the back. The underseat storage is super handy and makes it so much more practical than a typical motorcycle. I used to love trolling other motorcyclists by out cornering them on my scooter. It eventually got stolen and I miss that thing!
I own a sh 125 honda that was 3 grand brand new. It is so unbelievably comfortable, effortless to ride around town and has added luggage space! Not to mention i average around 110mpg. Will never use a motorbike in the city again as long as i have the scooter.
The Vespa Primavera was my first bike! Had it for 6 months before trading it in for Royal Enfield so I could take it on road trips and upstate NY twisties. Kind of regret selling it for a motorcycle because it was really easy to use in stop and go traffic in NYC. I might get a GTS used within the year to fulfill my scooter itch this video has given me and reminding me of the love this little machine gave me.
On my 21st bike (1250GS), but I had some great trips on Vespas (by choice)! No joke the 300cc GTS models are spectacular. At 60+ mph you don’t even get wet in the rain. Modern Vespas are expensive, but high quality. The ‘65 Vespa Sprint that I traded some vintage BMW parts for was three speeds of bullet proof two stroke awesomeness 😂
I rode a friend's Honda Metropolitan and it sort of reignited that two-wheel passion that I had when I was a teenager. The basic-ness of scooters (and other small bikes) really holds the whole motorcycle world together in my opinion.
My Vespa 300 is awesome. The little hook at the front is invaluable for carrying grocery bags or other items. I can carry way more conveniently than my Harley with bags. I have had all sorts of bikes but as for fun to ride, maneuvering and convenience I pick my Vespa for around Long Beach California every time. Also the 300 is as pretty fast and spirited for such a low hp engine.
Congratulations on 50 episodes of Daily Rider - still going strong! Who knew? The ubiquitous Vespa is a great iconic platform for the Daily Ride! A scooter, maybe the most famous mark, a Vespa, was probably the first riding desire for many of us older riders. (Actually, my first desire was the Cushman scooter used by my good friend on his paper route back when daily newspapers were delivered to everyone's front porch! This modern Vespa would run circles around my friend's 1958 Cushman!! Thanks for the fun!
Most people underestimate how fun scooters are. I love motorcycles, but this vespa is closer to a Kawasaki H2 in feel than a Corvette. It's a lot of fun and extremely practical.
Loved this!! The freedom of transportation, especially two wheels is magical. I’m working my way down from litre bikes which no longer serve the goals I need. Fun, convenient & practical are priorities that this vehicle serves well!
I have a 2014 white vespa primavera, that I haven't ridden for a while as I bought a Honda SH125i for work, due to its dual channel abs, keyless, stop start and traction control. My little vespa needs some TLC now having done 42,000 miles. I tested the milage carried half a litre of fuel under my seat, it ran out at 206 miles. People always commented how beautiful the vespa is when I stopped in traffic or up town. Mine only has 11 inch wheels and no abs. May get some 12 inch wheels when I get to work on it. My 125 vespa would manage 65 mph, I'm 5 foot 7 I think that how big you are does make a difference when it's only got 10.7 bhp.
I ride a primavera 150. It's quick, fun and is a head turner on the road. There is something to be said about the classic design of a vespa that just seems to grab everyone's attention.
The old 300cc Vespa I used to have had a manual 4 speed transmission with both clutch and gear shift on the left grip, which got shifted by turning the grip while grabbing the clutch, a foot pedal rear brake was to be found on the platform…. What a machine !!
Bro offroading a scooter is half scooter ownership. lol Like a fast heavy bicycle. Nobody in the US takes scooters seriously so you can do dumb shit on it and nobody bats an eye at it.
One really cool feature of scooters are the crazy amounts of aftermarket accessories for them. If you’re riding in colder weather, they make full front windshields with sleeves that go over the handlebars. You insert your hands like putting your arms into a jacket, keeps you completely warm and the cold wind off of you, even at extreme cold temperatures. I’ve even seen some mods that reroute some of the heat to your legs area, etc. scooters are easy to make fun of but there’s no denying the fact that, arguably, they’re more useful than a full-size motorcycle in the city
Got to love an Italian scooter, I started off on a Cagiva City 50 scooter (I bet not too many of you have heard of that, it's claim to fame was Ducati 916 style headlights haha). I swapped it immediately at age 17 for a 125 Honda MTX and have regretted it ever since. I still love Italian bikes having owned three Moto Guzzis since.
So glad you did a proper scooter episode. There's many other great options -- kymco, Honda, piaggio (Aprilia and vespa brand). The piaggio liberty 150 for instance is just over $3000 MSRP and has larger wheels and all the great scooter stuff) is probably more functional and has pretty nice looks.
Oh, heavens, the day hath finally arrived. And…that's a fair call overall, Zack, and fun to watch. One thing to watch for when comparing scoots like the Primavera/Sprint to e-anything is convenience factor: If I need to get a bunch of places in a given amount of time, the short range and long-ish charge times of an e-scoot (never mind the matter of places to charge up) can loom pretty large. When I'm in NYC without my own ride (rare these days), I usually hop on a ride-share e-scooter (Revel in NYC) which is amazing in its own right, but once in a while I've been caught out by grabbing a scooter with *barely* enough charge to get me where I want to go, and once I get there, I have to send a text to Revel to get the thing taken care of so someone else doesn't hop on it and get a rude surprise in the middle their trip on it. Bikes like the Prima take less than 30 *seconds* to fill the tank and get you back on your way. E-bikes will eventually up their game (quickest way: swappable batteries), but for now, gas scoots win on this count. Me? I've had a GTS 300 for years now, and hit the highway early and often. Fast enough that I don't even think about getting a motorcycle anymore, and yes, crazy-good fun. (Loved your backing the Prima in - three times! - but I don't think I'll try that at home.) 🙂
@@pleasedontwatchthese9593 Not terribly widespread yet. I'm thinking about what one can get their hands on *now* as opposed to sitting on their thumbs. (Although, if you *can* sit on your thumbs and wait, by all means do that.)
After my first ride on a 250cc scooter I sold my 1100cc cruiser. and I have no regrets. And that was about 25 years ago. My 250 , a Honda helix, still running great.
Vespa is not the only brands that make scooters. Honda, Yamaha, and Kymco all have great scoots available for purchase in America. Some of their models are cheaper to puchase and even cheaper to maintain or fix.
I bought my first Vespa Primavera 150 in 2014. You pay a premium but I am stopped at least once a week by someone asking about it. It is freedom and fun on two wheels and very practical. I do the biker wave and nod to any biker. If only motorcyclists who don't believe a vehicle without a clutch warrants acknowledgement, realized what they are missing out on.
Here in italy the vespa is used by literally everyone, my grandpa (78 yo) still uses his and my friends (17/18 yo) also use it. One thing that is a bit strange is that you don’t often see these new vespas get modified, but i went in austria and saw gts300s with sc project and akrapovich exhausts and they sound hella good
No hate on Vespas, but most people considering a scooter purchase should probably look at Kymco, SYM, or Yamaha. Suzuki and Honda make scooters too, and they are nice, but they are harder to come by in most places. Kymco and SYM are both Taiwanese brands and are arguably the most reliable scooters on the planet, while costing less than a Japanese or European brand. I am 5'10" and weigh 220 typically. I currently have two scooters; 1st) SYM DRG158 - 158cc with 15hp. I have hit a top speed of 75mph. It averages over 100mpg in the city (seriously, I have tested it multiple times). 2nd) Suzuki Burgman 200 - 200cc with 18hp. It averages 85mpg in the city, and I have gotten it up to 87mph while being fully loaded up with luggage. Vespas are cool, but they just can't compete with Taiwanese or Japanese brands in terms of reliability. They are also the most expensive scooters you can buy, in most cases, while offering less, being less powerful, slower, etc.
Let's not forget that what also explains the price is that its shell is made of steel in addition to the Vespa icon. Thank you for this beautiful report.
Thanks. Had a ET 4 150 Vespa and loved it. Dependable as could be until it needed service then had to drive 200 miles for any service. In the virus trouble, no parts available and had to sell it. Bought a Buddy 125 and it’s great but not a Vespa. Loved the look of the Primavera with the tan seat. Thanks again.
These scooter bikes are very popular in my place Macau, they are reliable for commuting. Thank you for introducing Vespa Scooters, i hope u guys enjoy riding a scooter too!
I have the 250GTS and find moving your feet forward so your toes are at the top of the rubber floor pads gives a better connected feeling with the bike. Good to see a Vespa reviewed.
I'm reminded of the Throttle Out vespa dirtbike episode when you mentioned not wanting a vespa to snap your head back. Highly recommed if you've not seen it, Zack and Ari doing what they do best.
Ever wonder how Vespas are made? Common Tread can help you wonder no more! rvz.la/3Ade0Pm
i call it a wasp because thats what the Italians named it. ape = bee. vespa ape = wasp bee.
IT CAN GO ON SOME HIGHWAYS!!!
(Can you guess where is this from?)
XD
Love ya work mate.. I was in the draw to win a Vespa back in High School. Out of 3600 students from grades 9-12 I was only 1 of 9 that didn't miss a day of school for the entire year. A lucky girl won a nice red Vespa. She rode it to school for the entire next year. Nice little bike for around the burbs.
So sad to hear Zack confess that he doesn't have anything between his legs! (16:05) Sorry mate - but good on ya for being so honest! 🤣
Sounds like a Wasp rather than looks like a wasp !!
As an Italian it’s such fun to see what is a very commonplace vehicle for us in such an unconventional setting.
I learned to ride on a Vespa in New Zealand in the 80s and 90s. When I got to ride and drive in Italy it was so easy, because everyone else learned on a Vespa too! It also taught me to park as cheekily as possible....
Doubt it very much
Only yanks start with “as an (insert nationality here)”
Just because your distant relatives were not yanks dosnt mean you are their nationality too
@@highlandrab19 mate I’m actually Italian, just because I don’t drape a tricolour flag on everything and write like-a I work-a in da pizza shop doesn’t mean I’m not. But looking at your profile I guess only overt displays of nationality qualify for status.
@@christga100 you’re absolutely right. The Honda SH is the most sold scooter by a country mile. Vespas are just too expensive now, not to mention utter crap (I had a GTS250, it caught fire).
@@highlandrab19 "only yanks" You have a Scottish flag as your profile picture and your name is "highlandrab19" nobody asked you to talk.
When my old VFR was in the shop for warranty service they gave me a 150cc scooter for about two weeks... I did much more stupid sh*t on that scooter than on any of my motorcycles. Apart from a supermoto, the scooter is a perfect tool to troll others and eventually yourself.
true lol, especially the Yamaha Aerox 155 / NVX 155
Rent vehicles and replace vehicles are the fastest in the world.
Proven by Jeremy Clarkson
After getting my full A license, this week I was searching for a new, yet faster scooter, something around 150-300cc, like a Piaggio Medley/Beverly to replace my Chinese 49cc, something as narrower and manageable in the city as possible for that cc and, as they didn't have them on stock in the Italian dealership (Piaggio, Aprilia, Vespa, Moto Guzzi, Ducati etc.) they asked me "but why so much money for a scooter and not a motorcycle?" and I was very honest telling them "because I want to do DUMB things with it and to be IGNORED and FORGIVEN by police, if they wanna' stop me. On a motorcycle I can't turn in tight spaces around cars, I can't get on the red light without disturbing anyone, I can't go the wrong way on one way streets, shortening the car queues on the sidewalk or bike lanes sometimes, switching quickly from rider to pedestrian as I do on my scooter etc. and all of these without disturbing anyone! And also, I wanted comfortable position, GREAT handling at low speed, automatic gearbox, not to sweat on it at low speed in the summer unlike on a motorcycle and to have way less chances of accidents as I don't want to have my legs bounded to a motorcycle, especially from a side impact or if falling occurs" and a guy who was checking his position on a motorcycle was smiling and he fully agreed with me. On a scooter you look way more inoffensive to everyone, almost as riding a bike, unlike on a motorcycle which is not so maneuvrable at low speed and you seem more "legal", you have to consider changing gears, pressing the clutch at very low speed while filtering and you really have to wear the equipment and look like a robot blah blah... because if you fall you are very likely to break one of your legs, which I hate; full-face helmet, gloves, and the party is on 🤷♂️😂🛵. Dry roads to everyone and eyes wide open 🤘 !
@@danielhristov6175 There is no place on the planet that a rental can’t get to.
In southeast Asia a scooter is mostly treated just like any other motorcycles, it's also a primary commuter machine here, very convenient, practical and easy to use.
Bigger CC "normal" motorcycles are considered leisure bikes.
Bought my daughter a Kymco 150, Vespa clone to introduce her to riding…I hop on it when I can, and never stop smiling riding that scooter. So simple, jump on, start and go…and the go to under-seat storage. No it’s nothing like my GSA, maybe that simplistic riding is what is so enjoyable. Thank you for the scooter review, they are a blast.
I've got the same Kymco to go along with my XR. Love my scooter!
And you can leave your helmet locked under the seat. You'll have to squish the rain gear a little bit to fit, though.
More than once I've wondered what Zack looked like riding whatever bike was being tested but especially today 😁
Haha yes. Clearly Revzilla YT channel needs to add a camera shot or two.
He needs to add a ride by some mirrored windows to the Daily Rider route. 😂
That would actually be a nice addition to the information. I sometimes think about a certain bike but wonder if i would look like a circus bear on a tiny bicycle. A side view picture of Zack on the different bikes would actually help.
maybe time to add a 360 camera to see how Zach look while riding.
@@falcn12 l love looking at myself in store front windows! I be like "who is that bad ass MFer" 😎
I love that you shared some excitement for a scooter! The scooter was my “gateway drug” into motorcycling, and if we’re going to expand ridership for our hobby, motorcyclists should probably be a little less snobbish towards scooters.
Yes. They can be the biggest buzz kill when out on a scooter in public. I’ve even seen a few bikers get mad after they did the wave before noticing I was on a scooter.
Scooters are a gateway drug. You’re dang right!
@@ABetterLifeIncI always make a point of waving to folks on scooters when I’m out riding, we’re all on two wheels and we are on the same team!
When I ride my R9T I get the nod and a wave from other riders when I’m on my Vespa ,, nothing .
Some weird attitude that a scooter isn’t a motorbike for some reason .
You can tour on a 300 loaded with soft luggage quite comfortably .😁🇬🇧🏍🛵🦮
@@jamesbatten8659usually it's a difference in mindset, most of the scooter rider ride it because they need something to move that's not a car, most of the riders that ride a bike do that because they want the bike
When I was younger I have had two white vespone 200 and both were stolen. They were absolutely appreciated in Roma. Today I am going to buy a new Vespa primavera 150 “apparently” for my daughter. You have to come up with an excuse to avoid the reproaches of the wife…….Thank you for the wonderful review!!!!!!
The eye appeal of the Vespa is tough to dispute. Art Deco design never gets old. (For me)
The styling of the Vespas and Lambrettas s TIMELESS! I have LOVED these scooters from the first time I saw one up close in 1957.
There's one additional benefit to the vasper I'd like to point out. For the elderly were those with physical limitations a Vesper is a great alternative. My dad rode a scooter for the last few years of his life because he couldn't handle a full sized bike. He gave him the freedom he desired without unnecessary difficulty.
My dad is in this boat. He still can ride a motorcycle but his go to right now is a Honda ADV. He goes out every day on this for a couple hours at a time. He also has a Triumph but doesn’t ride it nearly as much.
@@applec2400thats great man, which ADV ur dad has, the 750? i heard the suspension's real comfortable on those
Great point! After 2 complete knee replacements, the thought of climbing back on my 1,000 lb. Goldwing has kept me of the road...
I've been riding motorcycles since 1974. In 2020 I bought my first scooter, a Vespa GTS300 HPE. It's become my favorite set of two wheels ever. I ride it all year round, except in the rain and snow. Even when the temperature is in the low 20's.
Watched this twice. Great as always. I am the target for this review. I live in Alexandria, VA, and commute daily into DC. I am going to sell my BMW K16GTL and looking at a Vespa 300GTL as a replacement. It is more practical, cheaper to maintain, no clutching in our craptastic traffic (no filtering or splitting allowed), great in fuel, and easier to park. I can also wear my suit on it without worrying about road grime. Less crap to carry!
Take care and thank you, Mr. Courts!
be careful of the potholes lol
Ah, yes. The iconic and classic scooter! I'm gonna enjoy this :)
Props to the 50th episode! I've been here since the 1st one :D
And we’ll be here for the 150th!
@@HardlyaDavidson Damn right, Blake :)
I've been on board since it was MC Commute! 🙂
@@anthonysilvestri4946 Coool! I'm not that old 😆
@@anthonysilvestri4946 Every so often I'll regress, and think: "Another 'MC Commute' with Zack!" [but, I'm getting used to the "Daily Rider" moniker]
Great review. For those who may be wondering and to address some of the questions on the video, I've owned everything from a 49cc Honda Ruckus to a Honda ST1300. In between, I've had a Honda Rebel 250 and a Triumph Thruxton and T100 Bonneville. One of the things that I found is the faster I ride, the less I enjoy it. The droning wind noise for speeds over 60mph, I find exhausting. Yes, that can be addressed with a windshield, but I don't like how windshields make a bike look. Scooters are the magical sweet spot for me and Vespas are the perfect blend of style, quality, and reliability. If you're city riding, you simply can't beat the convenience of a twist and go scooter.
Thx for this comment. I'm not a motorcycle rider, but the times I was really tempted I wasn't into "image bikes". I would want something that was actually enjoyable to ride so your comment resonated with me. The reviews I've seen of Honda's DCT bikes are what appealed to me the most. TH-camrs with many years experience loved the DCT in sport mode.
Great review….I appreciate Zack’s openness to anything with 2 wheels. Very thorough and balanced. I’m a fan!
You can usually expect motorcycle riders to be pretty balanced.
@@derp195 Tis true! The unbalanced ones usually don’t last. 😜
I love the slow bikes on this series, cause it makes people realize that slower bikes are totally viable
I bought a 65 2 stroke single cylinder and was very scared I couldn’t ride it anywhere
I swapped my 1290 Superduke R for a Fantic 250 and it's way more fun. A quarter of the power to weight but half the weight and you can full throttle everywhere without losing your license.
Whole reason I’m praying the zx-4r ends up actually existing
2 strokes are so fun! Have an 80cc Suzuki ts50x and its so fun, the suspension is so jumpy and the bike is so light and nimble, even a bit offroad
I used to own a TZR250SP.
As a 2-stroke, low end torque was pretty bad, but when you hit the power band - BOOM💥! - it felt like an aircraft carrier launch on a bicycle. SCARY. (Yet i still miss it !🥺)
recently bought a 2 stroke manual shifting scooter, a 2004 Stella. I have a 128 cubic inch (2100cc) motorcycle but love the braaap braap sounds the Stella makes even though it tops out at 50mph. I ride the Stella more than the harley right now. It is more fun riding a slow scooter fast than a fast motorcycle slow.
I have the Piaggio BV 350 version of a scooter. Of the 40+ 2 wheelers I’ve owned it has proven the most useful day to day. Bought it to haul on the RV to avoid a tow car but have ended up using it nearly every day at home running errands. Buy one you’ll love it, especially when Harley guys wave before figuring out you’re on a scooter😃
Another BV350 owner here. I've been scooter commuting for 23 years and Zacks comments about weather protection couldn't be more spot on. Toss a windscreen and top box on that Vespa and you be rain and 4 season ready. Scooters really do make good commuters.
2016 BV350 owner here. With the top box and the underseat, my wife and I use it as a sports tourer. Before you laugh, consider that the Bv will do 100 mph, carves well and has ASR/ABS.
Those HD people get so pissed.
every video with Zack in it just lifts my mood. he seems like a really cool dude :)
It's absolutely no wonder why these took off in Europe. I can't fathom a vehicle more suited to some of those beautiful, but tiny towns.
Recently got myself a 1986 Vespa PK 50 XL with 4 speed grip shifted transmission. No prior experience with any motorized two wheeler yet I learned how to handle that thing in less than a day. Corradino Dascanio did a damn good job at designing the Vespa for people who had never ridden a motorcycle before.
Zack is a Vespa hooligan!!! 🤣 Back in ‘73, in the first OPEC oil shock, Dad bought a Vespa for commuting to work. That thing had the grip shift, and it was a 2-stroke, if memory serves. Dad could wheelie that thing much better than Zack. 😉 I got my first traffic ticket on that scooter, riding without a license (I was 15). I was mortified, because my girlfriend was on the pillion. So embarrassing. That little Vespa was a hoot to ride. Thanks for the rush of memories, Zack! 😃
The older Vespas actually had 4 gears. You twist the grip up for the first gear and then down (passing the neutral again), for the remaining three gears. This kind of shifter was very common for 50cc mopeds in the 60's to 80's (typically with 2 or 3 gears).
Considering the top speed of a 50cc scooter is around 40mph you must shift every 10mph lol
@@pleasedontwatchthese9593 Definitely a lot of shifting. The good part is, that you can wheelie them easily. I remember, back in the 80's during an Italy vacation, locals were running up and down the streets on Vespas on one wheel, with music blaring. The older Vespas had a larger glove box up front, where you could install car speakers into the metal door.
@@heiner71 P200e for the win!
@@Roger_Ramjet Exactly. 2 stroke for the win !
@@heiner71 2 stroke 50s are a lot faster than 4 strokes. And the manual shift scooters were a lot quicker than the new ones with CVT transmissions!
I could honestly listen to Zack talk about any topic really. His demeanour and delivery are great! Wish this series was weekly
Love my 2022 Vespa Sprint 150 Racing Sixties! I have only had it for a couple months, but I have put 800 miles on it, and I have only driven my car a few times for photographing a couple jobs, and larger grocery shopping trips, and if it's pouring rain. Otherwise my daily errands have been maintained by the Vespa, and even just getting out every day for a ride has been so much fun! Thank you for sharing this!
Wow I was just at a dealer here in Serbia and saw the exact model from the video, even the color is the same, searched online to see what people say and your video was uploaded as I left the store... I think that's a sign for me to buy it 🙃
I really like small scooters with larger engines. I’d really appreciate a Vespa 300 review.
Seeing Fortnine do a video on the Burgman 650, then watching Zack review the vespa has now made me want him to review the Burgman 650 and see where it goes on the board in respects to the other bikes.
While I wouldn't hold my breath for this (I've had a GTS 300 Super - now SuperTech - for some years now, and love it to pieces), I'd love for Zack to get one to put on here.
I’ve looked at buying one of those 650’s too. They can definitely keep up with some decently sized motorcycles in my opinion.
Great review! After 52 yrs of riding all different bikes, racing etc, I finally came out of the closet. I'm a total scooter geek! MC people take a while to get it, if they do - but when they do, it's a great thing. It's a whole different world. Vespa is the creme d'le creme. The 300 is my win-the-lottery bike. I only do urban areas now, there is nothing better than a scooter in the city. The flat floor let's you carry tons of stuff. I bought my Aprilia SportCity 250 after a guy on ADV Rider would put videos up of him smoking sport bikes at the Dragon. I think people who are open minded enough to check scooters out will come away pleasantly surprised. I hope you have lots of great years on your new scoot!
Is that more a testament of the amount of all-the-gear-no-idea sport bike riders or the capabilities of the scoot?
@@ferrumignis No, not meant in an antagonistic way. To each their own. The point I was trying to make is, motorcycle guys dismiss scooters out of hand a lot of the time, but there is more to them than crazy cat ladies going to the library or whatever the image of scooter riders is. Some scoots are highly capable in areas a person might not realize. A Yamaha t-Max or Piaggio BV400, or even my SportCity can hold their own in any situation. I'm a dedicated 2-wheel commuter. When you are on a bike 5 days a week, in two rush hours a day, you have a very different perspective than someone who is a weekend rider. When I retire I will get another BMW RS and go on dedicated leisure rides, but right now, the scooter is it. All good though, choices are great.
I saw a guy last week on his scooter with a massive crate of beers sat between his legs. Made me a little jealous lol
I think many of us ageing riders are starting to see the attraction of scooters. Perhaps the loss of ego as you get older and wiser means you are more free to enjoy the kind of bikes you would have loved when you were ten.
@@wesleycardinal8869 Great insight! I totally agree. That's exactly it. It's quite unburdening, actually! Riding whatever you want and not worrying about what other people think opens up great new worlds and friends.
Full love for the Vespas. I started my two wheeled journey on a 50cc scooter here in the UK, a Gilera Runner 50SP. Vespas are stylish, timeless, well-built, they hold their value and they are extremely competent in their field. I'm absolutely planning to have a Vespa in my garage eventually, alongside whatever larger bike I have at the time.
In 1981 I had a Vespa in Houston that I used for commuting. It is the most fun I have had on 2 wheels. In the days before ATGATT I would put on my helmet and jump on with my khakis, blue blazer, and penny loafers to head to the office. Carefree fun. My wife loved riding on the back, something she will not do on my 1250GS. I'm heading to the Amalfi Coast in March and I plan to rent a Vespa scooter to get around, can't wait.
Had a rental Yamaha 250 XMax scoot a couple years ago for a few weeks. It was so much fun, and surprisingly capable. Including when my Tenere riding buddy challenged me to 'keep up with him' on some sort of medium enduro track...I figured, what the hay, it's a rental!
I bought a Vespa GTS 300 this spring after over 45 years of not being on a motorcycle just because I thought it would be a fun way to get around. It is! I've already put 2K miles on mine in about 3 months and am averaging about 68 MPG. Top speed on the GTS 300 is around 80, but I still try to stay off interstates. Acceleration off the line is probably better than the average car up to about 40 mph but it takes a good long while to get to 80. Could have bought a much cheaper scooter but fell in love with the styling, and there aren't a lot of scooters in the U.S. above 150 CC. One thing worth mentioning is I think all the Vespas shipped to the U.S. are still made in Italy which I'm sure makes them more expensive than scooters made in Asia. If Honda sold the ADV 350 in the U.S. though I would have likely gone with that.
I have the Vespa Sprint and it's just a hoot to ride around town in those days when traffic is so heavy that maneuvering a heavy motorcycle is just a chore.
Finally, a machine that most of the people from Southeast Asian countries can relate with (and probably afford coz Vespa).
Keep up the good work, Zack and co.!
Shoutout from a Malaysian viewer.
😁
I started out on a Vespa GTS 300 and it was so awesome. I wish I could have kept it, but I can't afford to keep multiple bikes. One reason why Vespas are a bit heavier and more expensive is the metal body. Pretty much all other scooters are mostly plastic on the outside now.
starting @ 24:44, this wide open hold then skidding the back wheel is what makes scooters so fun. I had a ratty ‘87 ch150 (honda elite) that was spray painted and in overall bad shape, but I loved riding it. I would make excellent time through traffic in LA and it completely changed my perspective on the scooter mindset. It becomes pretty easy to outpace the traffic around you with under 10 hp in congested areas, it would hold 60ish mph and 80+ mpg under WOT is hilarious. Try a scoot if you’re skeptical, they’re silly fun. I still want to put a modified 250 engine in a 150 chassis with the obligatory milk crate on the rack. Peace!
I've ridden and owned all kinds of motorcycles. After my father was unable to swing his leg over a motorcycle anymore, he bought a scooter. I was amazed by the versatility and functionality of it. I have four scooters currently but have bought and sold several over the last few years now. In fact, I took my Goldwing out for a spin today and when I got back home, I took an even longer ride on my Genuine Buddy 170i. Keep up the scooter reviews!
The lack of a tank to grip is definitely a game changer when I switched to a scooter; I picked the Yamaha N-Max 155 because it had a center tunnel which helps a lot in motorcycle ergonomics. The point about the fairing giving adequate weather protection is valid - I do wear Indian dresses from time to time and how Yamaha designs the fairing creates a sort of 'downforce' effect on the rider's legs so everything is kept neat with laminar-feeling flow despite the minimal and cyberpunk design of the Yamaha maxis (X-Max and N-Max).
One thing you might want to review is how mechanics and enthusiasts often switch to lighter CVT rollers to drastically enhance the acceleration, optimizing it for city speeds and quick acceleration. Accessories for scooters are also very cheap in Asia - often I shop for "bicycle" parts for storage and auxiliary lighting saving a lot of money.
Maxi scooters can often have 13-14 inch wheels, they can handle badly maintained roads just fine especially with the right aftermarket suspension upgrade.
I would consider a Vespa in future purely for aesthetics but the maxi scooter is much superior, I feel when you want to kit the thing out with storage and aerodynamics - I would prefer a windshield higher than chest level and a more angular front end for lower drag factor. I like to cruise with less than 10 degrees throttle @ 50-60mph which is just about the higher end of a 155cc's comfort zone.
I own the Piaggio (They own Vespa ) Liberty 150 which is basically this (same engine bigger wheels) but cheaper (3k msrp) and more practical. And I love it. I daily it and basically the must get scooter
I also have a Liberty 150 and absolutely love it - very light and nimble, a bit sportier looking than the Vespa but still very scooter-esque. The larger wheels are way better for dealing with crappy North American suburban roads, and it's still relatively easy to make tight turns. The perfect city vehicle IMO
Step through can also be very nice if you have hip or other pain. I know an older gentleman who left the Harley world for Suzuki Burgman 650 and took it from Alabama to Seattle and back. The step through also helps with the wind blowing the bike around. If I were to get a scooter though (bigger than 49cc) I would go for the Yamaha Zuma 125 for $3699.
I LOVE seeing that a scooter made it into a Daily Rider review. As a big scooter fan, I think these are greatly under-appreciated in the USA. On the other hand, while Vespa makes a quality scooter, their scooters are really overpriced. You should review the Burgman 400 or the Kymco 550!
I bought a 2023 Primavera 150 after this review and love it. Should have bought one years ago!
Laughing along with Zack when he backs it in for the 3rd time... Good times, Zack.
The vehicle I kept the longest (10 years) was **drumroll**..... a Vespa GTS 250cc! It was perfect for everything urban and the odd freeway adventure. Of course I added a custom pipe. It would leave all cars behind at the lights (because that Porsche would never think to race a scooter). I was about to say it was my "gateway drug" to motorcycling, but actually it was it's own special high. And NO chain maintenance! Thanks for the review Zack!
Hope to see more Scooter vids in the future, that squirrelly nothing-between-your-legs is what make them so fun to ride hard at low speeds
Can you do a review of those Husqvarna street bikes? Either the Svartpilen or the Vitpilen?
I would get the 300. It still looks cool, it's still practical, yet - it has some go.
I have a Honda ADV 150 I literally use it for everything within reason. Got on eBay bought a locking tail box and when I make a grocery run I just pull my backpack out of the box. I have gardens and a small vineyard and I make frequent trips to the hardware/Home Depot stores. I filled my truck up in the spring with gas and I just don’t even use it anymore because most everything can be accomplished on the Honda. I own Kawasaki’s and triumphs but the fun factor the ease of use in the city and the absolute mind-boggling gas mileage just makes it a fun great little package that basically pays for itself. I wanted a Vespa but I always look at how a purchase can pay for itself. It takes a long time to pay back a Vespa and the maintenance interval didn’t make me smile. Even if you own liter bikes like I do, get a scooter it’ll make you smile!
My late father used to own a Vespa during the 1970s. I used to stand on the floor board between his legs. It's apple green in colour and that got me started biking many years later.
I've tried riding a Vespa and it's just so easy and comfortable
My first bike was a Honda CBR and my second in the garage is an ‘07 GTS 250. After renting one in Santorini and doing all terrains the Greek islands can throw at you with a pillion I went home and sourced one I could restore. It is a blast to wrench on and mod. My dog and I daily ride it to work now. The CBR still gets to stretch its legs albeit for long rides and canyon fun. For those who are image conscious I can tell you more woman are eager to hop on the scoot than my big bike.
Years ago we found vespa in garbage. We got dad to make sure we got it home. With dad's help by lunch we had it running, by evening it was sweet! We rode that vespa into the ground! It was so much fun, even mom laughed while taking turns riding! Then Honda shop opened within walking distance. That Honda shop cost me some major money over years!
I own a 300 HPE (and have owned a 150 Sprint) Vespa. To feel connected to the bike (especially to go fastest over uneven roads) I tend to push down flat-footed on the floorboards and ride surfboard/skateboard style. It's not a bench motorcycle feel but you can feel more one with the road and the bike (and not get tossed around on it by the bumps) ...and it's pretty fun.
YES! More scooters! I would like to see some rides with some "less exclusive" scooter brands, like Kymco and Sym- as like you mentioned, the price point of a Vespa is not really what I would consider on point for a commuter or someone looking for cheap transportation.
piaggio makes cheaper scooters than vespas. they are just the luxury brand but they sell stuff branded under piaggio that much cheaper
Vespas have piaggio engines.
So many years ago, in a city far, far away, I rode a Vespa. The scooter was a two stroke, with a three-speed transmission that shifted with a rotating left-handed twist grip and clutch lever. The front brake was right hand operated, and the throttle was a right-hand twist grip. The rear brake was a pedal located on the right side of down tube and floorboard. The rest of the machine remains the same as what you are riding, even to the head light mounting, though the speedometer was a simple round unit. The rear tire was not covered by the muffler, which comes in handy later in my story. It was a blast to ride. Quick through the corners, and easily shifted. Power was more than adequate, and braking was excellent. And even when the rear tire went flat in a corner, the scooter just wiggled a little bit and stayed upright as I came to a stop. The attached toolkit and the rear mounted spare tire made quick work of a tire change with the well-balanced center stand keeping the rear tire off the road during the change. Ten minutes and I was on my way. My later experience of a rear flat on a chain driven motorcycle, took a few hours longer to get going. (Bike rode on a friendly pickup truck to a service station for repair.) The Vespa was designed as primary transportation and seems to still fill the bill.
Great video! Love Zach, and glad he found this new home to continue sharing his content.
Loved this episode! More scooter reviews, please!
I usually ride my vstar 15 miles to work but sometimes I ride my vespa gt200. That thing is so fun and it's priceless to look at people when you pass them on the highway going 75mph. It's got almost 17,000 miles on it and still going strong
Old Vespas did have a mechanical gearbox, with a rear brake pedal, and for changing gear you have the cluch on the left lever and to change gear you twist the left grip, and it wasnt like a gear selector on a mondern motorbike (ie it rest position) you have one position for each gear, so in 4th (yes that was the top gear) you have the cluch lever at 50* angle!
Now back to the studio! I love this kind of video, every one loves a croch rocket blasting away, but this is the real daily rider (not just this but versys 650, aprila touareg, etc.)!
I had a Piaggio 150 in between bigger bikes. It was perfect for getting around town. Nimble and plenty quick to leave cars behind. The ladies loved it bc it’s cute and wouldn’t hesitate to jump on the back. The underseat storage is super handy and makes it so much more practical than a typical motorcycle. I used to love trolling other motorcyclists by out cornering them on my scooter. It eventually got stolen and I miss that thing!
I own a sh 125 honda that was 3 grand brand new. It is so unbelievably comfortable, effortless to ride around town and has added luggage space! Not to mention i average around 110mpg. Will never use a motorbike in the city again as long as i have the scooter.
The Vespa Primavera was my first bike! Had it for 6 months before trading it in for Royal Enfield so I could take it on road trips and upstate NY twisties. Kind of regret selling it for a motorcycle because it was really easy to use in stop and go traffic in NYC. I might get a GTS used within the year to fulfill my scooter itch this video has given me and reminding me of the love this little machine gave me.
On my 21st bike (1250GS), but I had some great trips on Vespas (by choice)! No joke the 300cc GTS models are spectacular. At 60+ mph you don’t even get wet in the rain. Modern Vespas are expensive, but high quality. The ‘65 Vespa Sprint that I traded some vintage BMW parts for was three speeds of bullet proof two stroke awesomeness 😂
I'd love to see your views of the other end of the 150cc Scooter spectrum with the Honda ADV150.
I rode a friend's Honda Metropolitan and it sort of reignited that two-wheel passion that I had when I was a teenager. The basic-ness of scooters (and other small bikes) really holds the whole motorcycle world together in my opinion.
My Vespa 300 is awesome. The little hook at the front is invaluable for carrying grocery bags or other items. I can carry way more conveniently than my Harley with bags. I have had all sorts of bikes but as for fun to ride, maneuvering and convenience I pick my Vespa for around Long Beach California every time. Also the 300 is as pretty fast and spirited for such a low hp engine.
You’re Just Being Great Blessing!!!
For Josiah D Hanner Gunn
Been riding for about a year now. Ripping an old 1984 Virago 700. To this day I still get weirdly excited whenever I see somebody on a scooter
Congratulations on 50 episodes of Daily Rider - still going strong! Who knew? The ubiquitous Vespa is a great iconic platform for the Daily Ride! A scooter, maybe the most famous mark, a Vespa, was probably the first riding desire for many of us older riders. (Actually, my first desire was the Cushman scooter used by my good friend on his paper route back when daily newspapers were delivered to everyone's front porch! This modern Vespa would run circles around my friend's 1958 Cushman!! Thanks for the fun!
Most people underestimate how fun scooters are. I love motorcycles, but this vespa is closer to a Kawasaki H2 in feel than a Corvette. It's a lot of fun and extremely practical.
Loved this!! The freedom of transportation, especially two wheels is magical. I’m working my way down from litre bikes which no longer serve the goals I need. Fun, convenient & practical are priorities that this vehicle serves well!
I have a 2014 white vespa primavera, that I haven't ridden for a while as I bought a Honda SH125i for work, due to its dual channel abs, keyless, stop start and traction control.
My little vespa needs some TLC now having done 42,000 miles.
I tested the milage carried half a litre of fuel under my seat, it ran out at 206 miles.
People always commented how beautiful the vespa is when I stopped in traffic or up town. Mine only has 11 inch wheels and no abs. May get some 12 inch wheels when I get to work on it.
My 125 vespa would manage 65 mph, I'm 5 foot 7 I think that how big you are does make a difference when it's only got 10.7 bhp.
YEEEESSSS!!!! More scooter content please!
I ride a primavera 150. It's quick, fun and is a head turner on the road. There is something to be said about the classic design of a vespa that just seems to grab everyone's attention.
The old 300cc Vespa I used to have had a manual 4 speed transmission with both clutch and gear shift on the left grip, which got shifted by turning the grip while grabbing the clutch, a foot pedal rear brake was to be found on the platform…. What a machine !!
Love the frequency of videos recently, Zack is putting in some serious work!
Zack is an absolute mad lad, off-road shortcut on the Vespa! 😂
And an attempt at a wheelie no less! I thought he wouldn't even bother with the milkshake engine and drivetrain.
You should watch the video of him and Ari racing off road vespas.
Bro offroading a scooter is half scooter ownership. lol Like a fast heavy bicycle. Nobody in the US takes scooters seriously so you can do dumb shit on it and nobody bats an eye at it.
Wow! Riding a scooter on a dirt road! Absolutely insane! Lol
I have 83’ Vespa p200e that’s 4 speed twist shifter .I have an amazing time ripping around town getting groceries and odd ends very practical !
One really cool feature of scooters are the crazy amounts of aftermarket accessories for them. If you’re riding in colder weather, they make full front windshields with sleeves that go over the handlebars. You insert your hands like putting your arms into a jacket, keeps you completely warm and the cold wind off of you, even at extreme cold temperatures. I’ve even seen some mods that reroute some of the heat to your legs area, etc. scooters are easy to make fun of but there’s no denying the fact that, arguably, they’re more useful than a full-size motorcycle in the city
Zach, I love this series. Thank you!
Got to love an Italian scooter, I started off on a Cagiva City 50 scooter (I bet not too many of you have heard of that, it's claim to fame was Ducati 916 style headlights haha). I swapped it immediately at age 17 for a 125 Honda MTX and have regretted it ever since. I still love Italian bikes having owned three Moto Guzzis since.
Haha I remember a classmate in middle school had a Cagiva City and I dropped it on wet grass trying to pull a slick move :)
@@se7ensleeve there's nothing like the embarrassment of dropping your bike when young infront of your classmates haha
So glad you did a proper scooter episode. There's many other great options -- kymco, Honda, piaggio (Aprilia and vespa brand). The piaggio liberty 150 for instance is just over $3000 MSRP and has larger wheels and all the great scooter stuff) is probably more functional and has pretty nice looks.
I'm a scooter owner in England and I love to ride the 155's or less. Awesome review of an iconic brand Zack!
I also learned that they called it a wasp because of the unique exhaust sound of the original 2-stroke motor. It was said to sound like an angry wasp.
Oh, heavens, the day hath finally arrived. And…that's a fair call overall, Zack, and fun to watch. One thing to watch for when comparing scoots like the Primavera/Sprint to e-anything is convenience factor: If I need to get a bunch of places in a given amount of time, the short range and long-ish charge times of an e-scoot (never mind the matter of places to charge up) can loom pretty large. When I'm in NYC without my own ride (rare these days), I usually hop on a ride-share e-scooter (Revel in NYC) which is amazing in its own right, but once in a while I've been caught out by grabbing a scooter with *barely* enough charge to get me where I want to go, and once I get there, I have to send a text to Revel to get the thing taken care of so someone else doesn't hop on it and get a rude surprise in the middle their trip on it. Bikes like the Prima take less than 30 *seconds* to fill the tank and get you back on your way. E-bikes will eventually up their game (quickest way: swappable batteries), but for now, gas scoots win on this count.
Me? I've had a GTS 300 for years now, and hit the highway early and often. Fast enough that I don't even think about getting a motorcycle anymore, and yes, crazy-good fun. (Loved your backing the Prima in - three times! - but I don't think I'll try that at home.) 🙂
e bikes do have swappable batteries and piaggio/vespa does too just out over the last few years
@@pleasedontwatchthese9593 Not terribly widespread yet. I'm thinking about what one can get their hands on *now* as opposed to sitting on their thumbs. (Although, if you *can* sit on your thumbs and wait, by all means do that.)
After my first ride on a 250cc scooter I sold my 1100cc cruiser. and I have no regrets. And that was about 25 years ago. My 250 , a Honda helix, still running great.
Great episode. My wife got the 2021 model and learned to ride on it. I love riding it too. It's TONS of fun.
Vespa is not the only brands that make scooters. Honda, Yamaha, and Kymco all have great scoots available for purchase in America. Some of their models are cheaper to puchase and even cheaper to maintain or fix.
Genuine’s Buddy fits the bill too!
I bought a vespa 300 and love it. Would think it would be a good contender for best daily rider. Love this video
I rode motorcycles for 15 years and switched to a scooter (piaggio 150) I love it and find it more fun and playful
I miss having a Honda Elite 50 for just around town. Very practical for short trips.
I bought my first Vespa Primavera 150 in 2014. You pay a premium but I am stopped at least once a week by someone asking about it. It is freedom and fun on two wheels and very practical. I do the biker wave and nod to any biker. If only motorcyclists who don't believe a vehicle without a clutch warrants acknowledgement, realized what they are missing out on.
Thank you for adding more variety to Daily Rider.
Here in italy the vespa is used by literally everyone, my grandpa (78 yo) still uses his and my friends (17/18 yo) also use it. One thing that is a bit strange is that you don’t often see these new vespas get modified, but i went in austria and saw gts300s with sc project and akrapovich exhausts and they sound hella good
No hate on Vespas, but most people considering a scooter purchase should probably look at Kymco, SYM, or Yamaha. Suzuki and Honda make scooters too, and they are nice, but they are harder to come by in most places. Kymco and SYM are both Taiwanese brands and are arguably the most reliable scooters on the planet, while costing less than a Japanese or European brand.
I am 5'10" and weigh 220 typically. I currently have two scooters;
1st) SYM DRG158 - 158cc with 15hp. I have hit a top speed of 75mph. It averages over 100mpg in the city (seriously, I have tested it multiple times).
2nd) Suzuki Burgman 200 - 200cc with 18hp. It averages 85mpg in the city, and I have gotten it up to 87mph while being fully loaded up with luggage.
Vespas are cool, but they just can't compete with Taiwanese or Japanese brands in terms of reliability. They are also the most expensive scooters you can buy, in most cases, while offering less, being less powerful, slower, etc.
Let's not forget that what also explains the price is that its shell is made of steel in addition to the Vespa icon. Thank you for this beautiful report.
Thanks. Had a ET 4 150 Vespa and loved it. Dependable as could be until it needed service then had to drive 200 miles for any service. In the virus trouble, no parts available and had to sell it. Bought a Buddy 125 and it’s great but not a Vespa. Loved the look of the Primavera with the tan seat. Thanks again.
These scooter bikes are very popular in my place Macau, they are reliable for commuting. Thank you for introducing Vespa Scooters, i hope u guys enjoy riding a scooter too!
How cool to see a review from someone in the Long Beach/Carson area!
Got the Picnic edition on order and I couldn't be more excited!
I have the 250GTS and find moving your feet forward so your toes are at the top of the rubber floor pads gives a better connected feeling with the bike. Good to see a Vespa reviewed.
I'm reminded of the Throttle Out vespa dirtbike episode when you mentioned not wanting a vespa to snap your head back. Highly recommed if you've not seen it, Zack and Ari doing what they do best.
I have an `85 Vespa PX150E, which can also get to about 60 or 65, but it's really best-suited for