Vespa ET4 Great for 12 mile commute and college campus (located in the United States)
Written: May 15 '03 (Updated Apr 25 '04)
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Pros: Gas mileage, speed, acceleration.
Cons: Price, safety.
The Bottom Line: I'd buy another ET4 in a heartbeat. It makes that miserable work commute fun.
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| henrickd's Full Review: 2000 Vespa ET4 150 |
I recently purchased (May, 2003) a Vespa ET4 (150cc) for my 12-mile one-way commute to work (24 miles per day). The commute covers 7 miles of 35 mph and 45 mph pothole strewn back roads, 1 mile of gravel, 2 miles of 35 mph in town, and 2 miles of 50-70 mph free-for-all. The entire drive is full of curves.
Frankly I chose the Vespa because I liked the style, the metal body and the mileage. I've owned motorcycles but have never had a scooter before so was concerned I would find it underpowered and unstable. I can happily say that this isn't the case. During the free-for-all portion of the drive I can see drivers are very surprised that I keep up. I weigh 170 lbs and have had the unit up to a little over 70 mph. Its high-end acceleration is a little sluggish. From 0-45 mph the scoot is capable of keeping up with the acceleration of all but the most determined city car drivers. The ET4 seems to handle the potholes and bumps surprising well and feels very comfortable in a lean. It is as capable on gravel as any two-wheeler I've ridden. My mileage has varied from 45 mpg to 60 mpg.
On the negative side of my commute with the ET4 are the brakes. Much of the road is through woods and along a river. There is tons of wildlife and it's a rare occurrence when I don't have to hit the brakes to avoid skunks, raccoons, or white-tailed deer during the drive. The brakes don't seem to work until they lock up which can be a little unnerving. I'm going to have the mechanic look at them and have adjusted my driving habits to compensate.
One thing to keep in mind. This unit doesn't look like it can go very fast and car drivers seem extra ignorant of the possibility that you're traveling at highway speeds. I've had more people pull out in front of me than with any other motorcycle. I also seem to pick up more tailgaters then I did with a motorcycle. I don't think they realize they're traveling 50 or 60 mph in a 35 zone just because they're following a "cute" scooter. Originally I'd try to put a little distance between us and then signal to pull over. They always stick to my rear wheel. Now when this happens I immediately slow down and pull over to let them by rather then being pushed into a race. I really don't feel comfortable driving over 55 mph because it feels a little wobbly at higher speeds and I question the brakes. On a related note, another poster recommends people take a local motorcycle safety course. I agree and plan to take a refresher course. Because of the cute appearance and its speed capability I believe it might even be more important that people take the safety course before buying an ET4.
I have to add that people seem to love the scooter. On one of my first trips a group of construction workers saw me, pointed, grinned, and gave a thumbs-up (I'm male and have a beard). This is generally the reaction people give. It's very rare for anyone to do anything but smile when they see it. If you're male be prepared for friends and acquaintances to ask why you didn't get a "real" motorcycle though. My answer is "Because everyone already has a Harley."
***Update 12/27/03***
I'm still in love with my Vespa. I've gone back to school, which requires quite a bit of city driving (5 miles one-way). I still drive my regular 12-mile (one-way) commute to work. The city driving is really where the Vespa shines. It's perfect: quick off the lights, maneuverable, no problem keeping up with traffic and able to carry a book bag on the "grocery" hook. Parking is great on campus as opposed to a parking ticket every day if you have a car. For my first time in college (1993-97) I averaged $24/month in parking tickets. I average a big fat ZERO now and it feels really good. My only complaint is I wish I could put full size textbooks flat under the seat. As is they’re at a slight angle and it damages their corners. That’s why I carry them in a book bag hanging from the grocery hook.
One side effect I never expected was I travel to the grocery store with the scooter. If you don’t buy beer/soda you can fit plenty under the seat and on the hook, at least enough food for several meals for two people.
My break problems where fixed. It was a simple mistake when they did the final assembly at the dealership. An hour in the shop, including the warranty oil change/checkup everything was fixed. It made a heck of difference. I tend to drive it harder now.
I parked it for the winter in mid November. I didn't winterize it because I have a heated garage. I run it (idle it) for 30 minutes every weekend. I'll let you know next spring if this works or if I live to regret it.
For the record my consistent top speed is 72 mph. I've heard from other people they usually only get to 62-66 mph (64 mph is what Vespa claims the machine will do). All I can say is I guess I was lucky. I'll race you for pink slips.
After 2100 miles my main regret is the short riding season in Iowa. If you have any questions don’t hesitate to contact me because I’m only covering the issues I’ve noticed. Everyone’s needs are different and I still may be able to help. You can reach me at vespa@strepera.com. I stand by my original ratings for reliability, comfort, handling and control, and quality and craftmanship.
I'm also adding the location country for the search engines. It doesn't seem like there's a lot of scooters in the USA. I'm located in the United States.
***Update 4/25/04***
During April I've been able to get the ET4 out of the garage and on the road again. I didn't have any problems starting it up. Mechanically things ran perfectly.
The only thing I noticed when I actually took it for its first trip was the breaks were a little scrappy. They made some noise and didn't seem to catch well. As I put on miles and burned the crud off of the break pads they began to work normally.
Someone has asked me if it leaks any oil or fluids. I haven't seen any leaks on the concrete under the scooter or on the engine and transmission.
2273 miles and counting.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 4,000
Condition: New
Model Year: 2003
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Epinions.com ID:
henrickd
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Member: Den Henrickson
Location: Marion, IA USA
Reviews written: 2
Trusted by: 0 members
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