This scooter is a scooter you could love. Physically, it feels so good. Solid. Heavy, but not too heavy. Meaty. It accelerates well and feels stable. Feel free to contact me w/ question at sharpjewlawyer@yahoo.com.

I think it will continue to run all right. I've been doing a 50 mile r/t commute on it these last couple weeks and it has operated flawlessly.

I expected trouble (the power of negative thinking, my life philosophy) but have experienced none yet, and don't expect to, as I purchased the 3 year extended warranty); had I not purchased that, I'm sure it would've been in the shop all the time ;^)

Gas mileage is in the 65 mpg range, but I bet I could get more if I didn't accelerate so exuberantly. It's very zippy. There is nothing about this bike I don't like. And I usually have buyer's remorse on most purchases. The scooter has exceeded my expectations so far.

The things I like best are (i) the light green color; (ii) the fact that kids wave at me while I'm riding; (iii)the feeling that i don't think I'll want to sell it, that i want to keep it around a long time; (iv) the zippy performance.
It's kind of expensive for a scooter, but it's cheap transportation, relatively. If you plan to use your scooter a lot, get a good one! I expect resale value to be a little higher than japanese bikes, though I'm not 100% certain about that, and don't plan to trade it in any time. But if you're looking for justification to buy, maybe that'll help!

UPDATE; one month later, 1,900 miles, no mechanical problems; horn got stuck though. Fixable. I've been going to the grocery store and carrying home over 100 pounds of groceries on it, mostly in a lage knapsack on the floorboard between my legs, with heavy items under the seat. Lots of junk on rear rack. It works for me.

UPDATE; 2,500 miles; no problems; rear tire is worn. Seems kind of quick, even for a motorbike tire, but not unsatisfactory.

UPDATE: 3,700 miles. No problems to report. No longer use it ever day because I am at a new work location where I can run to work, but I still ride it 3-4 times a week on errands, to work, etc. Got a scratch on front of bike not from a fall, just a scratch. Rust appeared within a week. Got some sandpaper, and touch up paint. Might want to keep an eye on scratches to make sure you don't get rust.

Have a slight problem opening glove box, but dealer is ordering part under warranty. glove box still opens, just not perfectly smooth. Mechanically no problems though. Must admit though, I am lusting after a larger motorcycle. I know, I know, everybody said I would want a bigger bike, and i ignored them, but I would kind of like a bigger bike. Want to trade?

UPDATE: a couple months pass. about 4,000 miles on the bike now. still no problems. starting to lose my lust for bigger bike. I think this may be enough bike for me. you have to try to suppress the urge to go faster and faster. this bike has been good, loyal and worked well. I don't really need to get anywhere im going much much faster. or even any faster at all. so I am once again content with this bike. I rode my bicycle to work today though, it was so beautiful out.

UPDATE: 4,400 miles. not riding as often but still works. ABout 9 months old now. had a slight problem with starter (didn't start on first try) but then the problem mysteriously vanished and now it always starts on first or second shot. not sure what that was about. Always enjoy riding when I ride.

UPDATE: 5,300 miles. Needs new battery. Otherwise, working fine. No problems. I am buying better quality more protective gear. No accidents yet but I think I haven't been sufficiently geared up at all times. Not an issue unique to vespas, of course....

UPDATE: 7,500 miles. I was wrong, it didn't need a new battery. It was just having a bit of trouble starting in the colder weather. The battery worked perfect once it started to warm up, and never actually failed to work, just didn't start right up.

I have zero problems to report. I don't see how it could be more reliable than this. Also, I am not bored with it. It is the only motorcycle I ahve ever owned or ridden, and while I can see and occasionally feel the draw of a bigger bike, there really is nothing intrinsically boring about this bike even if it is smaller. It goes plenty fast for non-freeway ventures, really, how much damn faster do you want to go, for crying out loud? I like the simplicity of it.

The only thing honestly I do not like about it is not living in close proximity to a dealer, AND THIS SHOUDL EB A FACTOR IN YOUR DECISION. If a dealer is just too darn far, it might not be worth the hassle. My dealer's 35 miles away, which is just ont he cusp of reaosnable.

The longer you own it (or anything), the less painful the initial pricetag is. It's much better to buy something cool and nice for $4,000 say, than something kind of cheesy and lame for $3,000, because if you don't want it in 2 years, you've lost a bunch of money, but if you spent a bit more and want to keep it, you've actually saved money. You don't actually believe that, do you? ;)

UPDATE: 7,900 miles (2 years 3 months old). The front brake pads needs to be replaced. I have asked around and that is not an abnormally short time for a brake to wear. seems kind fo quick to me, but evidently,. scooter brakes wear quicker than Im used to in a car.

Everyone newbie out there considering buying a scooter should read PROFICIENT MOTORCYCLING, by david hough. it's a great book. Im also haveing a problem witht he kickstart. it never really worked, but i'd occasionally try, and I apparently have broken a spring. im going to get it repaired under my extended warranty. I don't think the kickstart ever works well on these 4 stroke bikes. i've never actually got it to turn over with the kickstart. Did you know a scooter is actually a MOTORCYCLE. you need to be careful and prepared on these things folks. they are potentially hazardous. When I think what a clueless idiot I was when I got this thing, it really makes me shudder. Don't be an idiot! BUY MOTORCYCLE PROTECTIVE GEAR> READ AND LEARN. take the MSF course. don't just go for it. prepare....this thing is highly maneuverable. the more skilled I become the mroe I realize what a COOL COOL vehicle this is for in town.

I see lumbering beasts on giant motorcycles afraid to split lanes. not me. I am ZIPPY, I also think it is safer in the sense that if you are looking to avoid accidents proactively and seeking escape routes all the time, you could execute some pretty hairy avoidance swerves on this puppy. it is really FLICKABLE, much more so than a big beastly motorbike. I think the Vespa is SAFER than most bigger motorcycles for this reason. SPEED is not going to save you from an accident except in rare and unusual circumstances, what wills ave you I believe is accident avoidance maneuvers like swerving to a safe spot out of danger (easier on the vespa than on, say a Goldwing) and braking which is kickass on the vespa because it's so light. The VESPA IS A GREAT VEHICLE.

UPDATE 8,400 miles;

still works. use it a lot. still like it. issues that remain; kickstart never worked. starter appeared to be going (that's what the nechanic said (it wasn't starting right up); seemed to be resolved witha new battery, though not perfect. was told that starters are small and don't last very long on scooters; i don't know if that is true.

JUST THE OTHER DAY:

a buncha harley riders on big fat bikes were stuck in traffic cause they couldn't split lanes because their bikes were enormous. me, I zipped right by em, made great time, kept cool because i was moving. let me tell you this: a big fat motorcycle in urban traffic is DUMB DUMB DUMB. a nimble little scooter like this one is SMART SMART SMART. do not be DUMB. a big motorcycle is the wrong tool for most jobs people ride bikes for.

UPDATE 9.500 miles. we're at 3.2 years or so. still works. still occasionally think of getting something else. can't quite figure out what would be more useful. Also, i'm not as broke as I was 3 years ago. I am almost solvent enough to own 2 motorbikes! I think a scooter and a bigger motorbike wouldn't be unreasonable. That would lessen the annoyance of getting it towed to the distant dealer and out of commission for a while (i only ride bikes, no cars). When I think about selling it, it strikes me that (1) I would miss the little bugger, (2) it's probably depreciated in 3 years about as much as it's going to depreciate and will likely stay around what i could get for it now or maybe even increase in value, especially if inflation takes off (as I may have said earlier, I don't think you should expect this bike to 'hold its value", esp. in the 1st 3 years, it seems to depreciate pretty much like any other motorbike, though maybe not as much as a very expensive motorbike) and also consdier that if I bought a new motorbike and sold this one, I'd be buying something that immediately is depreciating as well,a dn if you think about the numbers too much, well, you realize that it's very expensive, and if everyone int he United States really crunched the numbers, they'd never buy anything again and our whole system would come to a halt, but luckily, most people don't really think aboiut it much; (3) it would be a pain to sell it and (4) the darn thing works, and since I know this one works, why get rid of it, and maybe buy something else that doesn't work. I see vespa's discontinued the et4 and substituted the lx 150, which looks a little better to my eye, but which i understand to be pretty much the same bike under slightly different sheet metal. I'm also oddly curious to see just how long the little guy will last, given reaosnable care. Could I have this bike another 20 years or so and have it still be working with just oil changes and such? It wouldn't totally surprise me. I am interested to see how it ages, which seems to me to mean i shouldn't get rid of it, which might also mean that maybe you should buy one!

9,800 miles; it occurred to me that maybe I should ahve ABS brakes on my bike. I don't know why I thought of this. the vespa seems to have perfectly adequate brakes and they seem to me to do a good job of stopping the bike quickly. Still, ABS would be cool adn could save your life under certain limited situations. I think it's just an excuse to get something new. Honda Reflex scooters ar eavailabel with ABS brakes. Hmmm. But they go for $5,700 new (I just don't liek to buy used stuff, makes me nervous). I'd immediately take a 1,500 dollar or more hit in depreciation. I'd sell me vespa at a loss of a couple thousand dollars from what i paid. I'd have to pay sales tax and new title fees. Add it all up, and it's almost what the vespa cost! So, better to stay put and practice my braking skills. Cool resource; check out the scooter section of www.advrider.com for a rough and tumble scooter community.

Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 3,800
Condition: New
Model Year: 2002