Bring Vespa to Work Day

[JeffOlson]

Today, at least for me, was Bring-Your-Vespa-to-Work-Day. I usually ride my Norge (MG content), but today I wanted to give my other girl a bit of a work-out.

What a glorious ride! Sunny, dry, mid-50s. I took the winding back road to my office, through fields and gentleman-farmer mansions. Little traffic for the most part and brisk riding. A refreshing start to my work day!

The Vespa GTS 300 is more than capable as a commuter. I have a top case and a large windscreen, and the Vespa literally scoots! It has no trouble accelerating faster than most cages (at least up to 50 or 60 MPH), and it is agile enough to flick around curves and dodge angry Prius drivers. Plus, the CVT does not complain when LA, I mean Portland, traffic slows to a snail's pace.

The blue one is mine; the red one is my wife's:

[cruzziguzzi]

Proper scooters went through a real boom here in Phoenix a few years back but then waned a bit - maybe cheap fuel.

I thought it was cool seeing so many - they just kinda have that "happy" vibe and make my wife and I smile damn near every time we see them. Like an old Beetle or British sports car... just happy.




Todd.

[PJPR01]

Very nice combo!!

[Jerryd]

Wow! Those are some massive windscreens!

Remember, this is Vespa's 70th Anniversary!

[JeffOlson]

Wow! Those are some massive windscreens!

They are indeed, and they look a bit odd at first. However, they are incredibly effective, and they are the ones real Vespa riders use in Italy.

[JeffOlson]

Very nice combo!!

Thank you! My wife and I have great fun riding them around the farm country in which we now live.

[oldbike54]

 That's so cool 

 Dusty

[Cool Runnings]

They are indeed, and they look a bit odd at first. However, they are incredibly effective, and they are the ones real Vespa riders use in Italy.

lol - seen that.

[guzzisteve]

For some of us it's get Vespa out of work day, although I don't have to wrench on them.

[jas67]

I bought a GTS250 for my wife a 2 1/2 years ago.    She has finally gotten her permit, and will be taking the MSF Basic Rider's Course, and getting her license in a few more weeks.

So, in the meantime, I've adopted the Vespa as my short-haul errand bike.    It is a lot more fun to ride than I would've ever imagined, very agile, and fun on twisty roads.  Also, being a small, 249cc water cooled engine, it gets up to temperature quickly, making it much more suitable for short errands than my air-cooled Guzzis, esp. in colder weather.   I don't worry about condensation in the oil from riding it w/o getting the oil up to normal operating temp.


IMG_8367 by jay_snyder67, on Flickr

[JeffOlson]

^ That's a beautiful bike and a beautiful scene.

[Tom]

Under-rated ride.

[Cam3512]

Love the Vespas, but those tall windshields are hideous.