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Post by scrible88 on Jun 10, 2004 0:59:50 GMT -5
Ya, they've been around for a long time but.... What's so great about them over other scooters? Like the Vespa 150? Some people would rather pay $2000+ more for one of them than a Honda elite 150. Why??? They don't look nearly as comfortable and they are loud noisy 2-strokes. They seem to have a cult-like following. I just can't stand the people who are over-obsessed with their Vespa's and Piaggios and if you mention anything to do with any other scooter to them they go crazy about why any thing else is "bad, unreliable, and slow" Heck, I would much rather have a helix 250 than any italian scooter. I have ridden one and it is the most comfortable scooter I have ever sat on. It is whisper quiet and very fast. It's almost like a lazy-boy recliner. I currently have my eye out for a good deal on a used one. So, what's so great about the italian scooters? Does anyone know? I just can't comprehend the idea of being so over-obsessed with one or two types of scooters and being so closed minded about everything else.  |
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Post by scooterman222 on Jun 10, 2004 2:18:41 GMT -5
Its the history behind them. They have a cult following. They are beautiful in their style and function. I love my ruckus but I think the vespas are really cool
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Post by scrible88 on Jun 10, 2004 2:24:02 GMT -5
Personally I think they are very ugly  I think the old elite series looks better than them... Personally my favorite scoot of all time is the Helix and I don't think that will change anytime soon. Btw: scooterman222, you have a user account... Why don't you use it? You always post as a guest!!! |
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Post by Keystone on Jun 10, 2004 5:35:47 GMT -5
The Italians score big points for style. They also have a long history with these things and now they are on a big scooter upswing.
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frosty
Junior Ruckster
Take your Ruckus to the Woods!
Posts: 62
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Post by frosty on Jun 10, 2004 8:53:21 GMT -5
Italian scooters are basicly the pivot point around which the "Scooter Culture" revolves. Piaggio makes good engines, many people like the all steel monoque(sp?) frame construction and the "retro" Italian styling is what people most associate with a scooter. But, they also have a history. Vespas and Lambrettas were what the "Mods" rode in the "Mod vs. Rocker War" in England (late 60's - early 70's). It was more a media invention than reality but it did provide the culture with another example of "youth gone wild" and got a lot of press. Scooter chat rooms still talk about the movie "Quadrophenia." A story based on those two groups. Scooters in America have long been an image thing, Hollywood stars ride Vespas. Only fairly recently have they been thought of as practical transportation. That may change with exposure, the rising price of gas and people like us demonstrating the scooters utility and fun potential.
frosty
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Post by Tigermon on Jun 10, 2004 12:46:34 GMT -5
No offense, but if your idea of a good scooter is something that resembles a lazy-boy chair then you will never understand the apeal of a Vespa. A Buick Century is definately more "comfortable" than a Ferrari or Porsche but I know which one I'd rather have. As the owner of both Hondas and Vespas I can honestley say the apeal for them are vastly differenty but they both have their place.
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Post by Tigermon on Jun 10, 2004 12:49:41 GMT -5
BTW. My Vespa ET4 is a four stroke and does 65mph with no modifications. That is adequately fast for a scooter in my opinion.
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Post by scrible88 on Jun 10, 2004 13:00:33 GMT -5
BTW. My Vespa ET4 is a four stroke and does 65mph with no modifications. That is adequately fast for a scooter in my opinion. That's the same as the Honda Elite 150 from the 80's. Now, if it was a 50 or an 80 I would say that is fast. |
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Post by Tigermon on Jun 10, 2004 13:09:47 GMT -5
How fast is a new Elite 150?
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Post by scrible88 on Jun 10, 2004 13:24:24 GMT -5
65mph with a 200+ pound rider.
Very quick acceleration also.
I had the chance of riding one for an entire day and I managed to get it up to about 68mph on level land. I only weigh about 125 though.
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Post by Tigermon on Jun 10, 2004 13:59:34 GMT -5
So what you are saying is that from the '80s, the honda has gained about 3mph in top speed. How is this better than a modern Vespa? I weigh about 165 and can easily do 65 on my Vespa. Rider weight isn't really what limits top speed though. It is more a matter of power along with gearing and air resistance. Although it seems a bit unintuitive a heavy rider does not necessarily create more wind resistance than a lighter rider.
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Post by scrible88 on Jun 10, 2004 15:15:59 GMT -5
I am not saying its better at all.
All I am saying is that I can't stand people who are like:
My Vespa pwnz u all's scoots and anything else sucks "edit profanity".
That was my point. That Italian scooters aren't necessarily better than their Japanese counterparts but have a very similiar performance.
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Post by abe on Jun 11, 2004 5:03:13 GMT -5
OK guys stop fighting  I have gone to ride with the italian boys with my Ruckus. I must say those scooters are slow for the most part and are like old volkswagens. If you spend lots of money to make them like new they are great but then you also need to consider they require lots up keep. If you do all that great but if you don't people will hate you because your junk will break all the time  My sense of adventure is running out of gas or going places without knowing where I'm headed. I'm not too interested in paying for the sins of old tech or bad engineering. I was at one point but money doesn't grow on trees, at least where I live ;D |
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Post by Tigermon on Jun 11, 2004 8:59:21 GMT -5
Have you ridden with a Vespa ET4 before?
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Post by scrible88 on Jun 11, 2004 10:21:56 GMT -5
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Post by Tigermon on Jun 11, 2004 11:44:33 GMT -5
That was some good detective work. The ruckus is for my bro who posts under the name nicad on this board. I've had my share of hondas though. My last one was an '87 elite 50 with the malossi 72cc race kit, 24mm carb, gears, polished pulleys, Daytona variator plate and chamber pipe. That thing was faster than the ET4. Problem was you could see the gas gauge moving toward empty when you had the throttle wide open.
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Post by justsurfin on Jun 11, 2004 22:59:31 GMT -5
I looked at the Vespa's before deciding on the Ruckus-They are beautiful, all metal bodies, and have nice "extras" like an alarm system stock-but price wise-I just couldn't justify the cost. I could have bought 2 Ruckuses for the price of 1 Vespa-plus my husband swears by Honda...
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Post by abe on Jun 12, 2004 20:32:46 GMT -5
Have you ridden with a Vespa ET4 before? Me? No. I live near a scooter shop and sit on and ride some newer Italian scoots. I just don't feel right on a fancy bodied scoot. I prefer the bare bones look, It's just my style ;D To each his own. I'm glad the newer Italian scoots are going watercooled and some are 4 stroke, reliability is here  |
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Post by AnthonyKovic on Jun 13, 2004 0:50:16 GMT -5
My first stop was at Vespa Soho. I'm sure the ET4 is a well designed machine but please don't design a bike to look like it's 1950's counterpart. I don't understand what all the fuss over riding an Italian scoot is all about nor do I wish to be part of the "romanticism" associated with it just by owning one. Quadrophenia was terrible movie  I like the Roockus because of it's eye appealing simplicity and industrialized function over form design. Although, a bit more power never hurts. |
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nicad
Ruckster
Posts: 174
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Post by nicad on Jun 13, 2004 1:21:06 GMT -5
Its 2 completely different schools of riders. Me and my brother (Tigermon) are borderline antiscocial so we never go on rides with any of the Vespa "Elite."  But from what i hear it can be a pretty stuck up scene, on the upside to that, we are pretty objectionable when it comes to bikes. The ET4 is a pretty reliable machine, and for a long time me and my brother frowned upon the whole vespa scene, but the modern scooters are pretty nice, dead reliable and a fair bit of power. I do agree that they are completely overpriced, but hey, it is a luxury scooter and goes after a crowd that seeks such comforts. I actually like the way they have retro'd the style of the et4, although overplayed these days, they did a pretty good job with it on the et4. considering the hideous design that modern euro scooters have these days (Peugot metal-x anyone?) My dad grew up riding lambrettas and vespas in vietnam, and he can relate to the look of the bike. Its fun to watch him tool around on the vespa, he moves like a teenager on it. On a side note, he likes the look of my ruckus better than my brothers ET4. ;D -Ian |
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