Switching from sportbike to Vespa

[Wormwood]

After a few years with my trusty SP, it is finally starting to show signs of unreliability. So, with a heavy heart I will have to let it go.

 

I've been thinking of switching to a Vespa. But I've never ridden a scooter before and am concerned about whether it will be less safe and harder to manouevre.

 

Does anyone here have experience with both sportbikes and scooters? PLEASE ADVISE!

 

1) I am very reliant on the bike. I need to it to start immediately every day, as I can't get to work without it (living in an inaccessible area), so reliability is a must.

 

2) I travel 35 km in rush hour traffic every weekday. I need to be able to lane-split comfortably on normal roads and expressways. Will I have trouble keeping up with the flow of traffic in between lanes on expressways?

 

3) I ride in all kinds of weather. Even in a thunderstorm, I need to be able to lane-split in rush hour traffic for fairly long distances. That means riding over the white strips while trying to travel at a higher speed than surrounding cars. Will the tiny wheels increase the possibility of skidding? Will it be harder to manouevre the bike or balance?

 

4) I am extremely small. I tip toe on my SP, which has a seat height of 77cm and a very narrow body. The various Vespas have seat heights that are approximately 3 or 4cm greater. The base of the Vespa seems rather broad. Does anybody here who's around 155cm tall or has an inseam of about 73cm ride a Vespa?

 

5) I would much prefer a bike with an electric starter, or an extremely reliable and easy-to-use kick starter. My SP has to be kick started and when it's not been started for a few days I sometimes can't get it started at all (even in the most stubborn situations, other people can usually manage to get it started in 10-15 kicks but I can't, must be my leg).

 

Thanks guys!

Edited March 2, 2013 by Wormwood

[WanFazer]

Hi bro.. Which vespa is in ur mind ? The electric start ones or e older version px150/200 ?

 

The newer version r equipped with disc brake whereas e older ones using drums... To ans ur question (take note dat im referring to e older version vespa)

 

1) Its a brisk to start a vespa.

 

2) U wnt have trouble lane splitting but 4 wheelers will tend to "bully" u... I used to ride my brother in law vespa but only in my neighbourhood so i've not tried LS on highway.. But based pn my kakis whom had ride it, the felt intimidated on e expressway..

 

3) The braking r sux to e core. B very very careful coz e braking distance is longer than SP... Avoid e white lines where possible, e chance of skidding is 99.99 % especially in wet weathers....

 

4) Seat if too tall u can have it trimmed to ur preference, so no prob..

 

 

Honestly, i would not recommend u to get e older version... Perhaps e newer ones dats equipped with disc brakes...

[MotoBike]

Agree with WanFazer, u might wanna consider the newer version like LX150.

[Sky99]

Got consider kup kias?

[Maldini03]

You will loves the scooter.

[decouvrir]

if you're lane splitting over such long distance, i really think you should get a bike that comes with a bigger wheel base

 

naked bikes like fz 16, bajaj pulsar, ktm duke etc.

 

as for height, can ask shops lower the fork for you?

[GuiNNeSS]

Girl.

 

I am 1.5m

 

The problem with the Vespa for us with short legs and inseams is the 'floor space' of the bike. It can be too wide for us to put both our feet down.

 

For the older versions of Vespa, the engine is one side, making it heavier on the right side, and you might more often drop the Vespa. I've done Vespa, Phantom, Nake Bikes, Sports Bikes, Scooters and Kup Kias.

 

And much as I will liked to ride Vespa again, its going to be for me, a Luxury item instead of daily necessities. Consider Yamaha Fino too if you prefer the styling.