Twist and Go Vespas

[Ian]

My other half is interested in a new scoot and likes the GTS. I've always been put off these by the looks and the lack of retro style. I must admit the performance of the 250 and the size of it seems appealing, but to buy one would be like selling ones soul...........Would it ?

[mark]

I,d have one and still keep the traditional one as well , the futures here and its GTS shaped

[Ian]

I wouldn't mind test riding one to see what they're like.

[mark]

A couple of the lads in our club have them and think they.re brilliant , they are becoming accepted now and lets face it they,re metal bodied and still vVespas

[jackthekipper]

lets face it,ya did'nt see the mods in the 60s riding around on old scoots,the latest was the best, then comes the big question,d'ya live in the sixties or 2008.i like em,BUT,i still live in the 60s ;D ;D

[Lucia]

I like the black LX 150 - just about big enough to pick up if I drop it. The GTS seems a bit on the large side.

[Ian]

Some people I've spoke to say that if you test drive a GTS you will not want to go back to a PX so I've put it off before now.

They must be good to ride on long runs etc.........

[jetex]

I've got a GTS, and it's the dogs danglies. I'm a Lambretta man through and through and I've never considered a Vespa.I bought it to use while I was restoring my Lammy, but I would'nt part with it now. Everyone who test rides one ends up buying it. There's also a great website for GTS owners.

[sterice (Ricey)]

As a member of the L/pool SC GTS recovery team I would ague the club would be lost without us, we act as sheepdogs on the ride outs making sure the veterans are not left behind – easy when you know the speeds there to catch the others. ;D ;D ;D

Drove one for over a year now in all weathers and its done everything I need. It will happily plod at 45/50 on the ride outs but still take you past 80 on the motorway. Don’t really miss the gears especially on slow runs where changing up and down means the clutch soon gives up.

You can’t really compare the two, the PX is what we grew up on but the GTS is what we always wanted, the main things is its still a Vespa. In fact I can remember when the T5 came on the scene and certain people said its wasn’t a true Vespa and now they call them a classic.

Looking at getting a traditional scoot for the summer but will still use the GTS for most of the long runs as I know it will get me there in comfort.

[Robjack]

Like a few others, I've resisted the temptation to have a go on the GTS. I worked with a bloke who had one and he couldn't speak highly enough of it, but too many people have said that you won't get back on your PX afterwards, and I love my P2 too much for that.
I've got no problems with the auto/geared thing. It's a Vespa and that's good enough for me.
Style wise, the GTS is winning me over*, and I dare say that one day I might have one, but for now I'll stick with my P2.

*That seat's an ugly bugger though.

[Ian]

Yeah I agree the seat is ugly and I wish it was a bit more PX style and the scooter a bit more upright in shape . I think the seat had been designed with pillions in mind, even though the smaller scooters are similar.

Saying that the GTS shape is however starting to win me over too and I hadn't realised how big they were until I popped into a dealers with my wife to look at them.

I just wish Piaggio would design something more like what we're used too with the new 250 engine on board.



I guess time moves on though !!

[mark]

Sadly Piaggio arnt interested in quirky small group of enthusiasts in the UK . Not when they can sell millions of twist and t**ts worldwide ,
I dont believe its an emmisions thing either because Bajaj have developed a 4 stroke engine for thier Vespa clone . Its just a lack of will by Piaggio and market forces .
Vespa have not survived Lambretta by 30 odd years by sitting still .

[jetex]

I love my Lambretta, because I built it from scratch, and so it gives me a big kick riding it, but equally I get a different kick from riding my GTS. It makes my Lammy feel small, slow and agricultural. I think it's the future, and there's even talk of a 300cc version coming out soon ( see the latest edition of Scootering ). If you told me that I'd own a Vespa, I'd say you were mad. If you told me I'd own an auto Vespa, I'd say you were doubly mad. How wrong can you be ?

[retrogirl]

We have got 7 scoots both traditional vespas and lammys but we also have a gt200 it is brilliant! the ride is great, its our workhorse and does a 50 miles trip 7 days a week! we wouldnt be without it! just wish we could update it every year!!

[jackthekipper]

Jeeez ye lot, its what yer into,if yer into vintage cars ya get one .ya don't go out n' get a toyota yaris do you. park a ford cortina next to a nissan micra & see which one gathers a crowd,same with scoots.seen loads of GTSs at rallies & most bods just seem to walk past em smilin'.It's all down to what yer into, if ya want a fast easy ride yea get a GTS,if ya want to get noticed & compliments & people lookin' ,ya get a GS or SX .comments please ;D

[jetex]

It's hardly fair to compare a modern scooter against a classic. Walk past a GTS compared to a modern scooter in 40 years time, and people will look at the GTS and smile and say " They were real metal scooters, not like the plastic throw away rubbish you get now " As Retrogirl says, you use the modern bike for your daily commute, and the classic for your leisure time enjoyment.

[satchmo]

Ive recently spent a couple of hours browsing the boards at htttp://www.modernvespa.com They all love their GTS's and some of them look superb. Me? I'll stick to my PX

[jackthekipper]

the twist & go will never be seen as a classic,and this is why,the current generation of scooterists will evetually be dead,freeing up a rather large stock of geared italian scooters,those not quite dead will become senile,completely forgetting the market value of their cherished GS,SX & TVs.so,over the next decade you should be able to pick one up for the price of a six pack of carling,a large tube of denture glue,or a copy of escort

[Spence]

I like your way of thinking Jack - I think I might get the old grappling hook out and start dragging the brambles on railway embankments again.

[madmike]

I was really looking forward to the new Vespa S 125 coming out until I sat on it.... didnt get the riding position at all and for that money I dont even think I could learn to like it. GTS is the way forward regards practicality and power but your right they aint pretty.

[sterice (Ricey)]

Finally bit the bullet and bought a traditional scoot, you might have already seen it under the For Sale section.

It’s a 1969 Vespa 180 Rally and it now stands side by side with the GTS, and although some people may not like the look of the GTS you can see the family linage.

Ok it maybe almost 50% bigger and it’s an auto, never the less it looks like a Vespa and that’s what matters. People argue that they will never be a classic, which if I remember correctly was what they said about the T5 when they came out – only time will tell.

The driving techniques are totally different and being over 6ft makes the Rally seem small. The GTS is everything a modern scoot should be, easy to drive, ideal in heavy traffic and goes like sh** of a shovel when you need it. The Rally is a different experience all together you need to work at it and treat it with the respect that a 40 year old design deserves. I felt like a 17 year old again and the smell of the two stroke brought back memories, so to did the aching butt cheeks I may add ;D ;D ;D.

I plan to drive the Rally has much as possible but have not intention of getting rid of the GTS, I really appreciated it this morning when I rode it to work.

[jetex]

I agree Ste, the GTS is a different experience to riding a trad scooter. My Lammy is not m.o.t'd at the moment, so I'm using the GTS a lot more. Following the lads home from the club, you can smell the two stroke and I'm jealous, but I too would never part with the GTS.

[Ian]

I think scootering are road testing the new 300 GTS this month

[thetop]

There is a good write up on the GTS 300 in Scootering (June 08) as suggested.

I have just sold my P210 and hope to part X my GTS 250 in for a 300 as soon as i can get my hands on one. The new 300 is the only thing i would part with my GTS 250 for to be honest.

I would never knock a more traditional scoot, they're simply great, its GTS all the way for me now though. Once ridden never parted.

There is plenty room for both geared and auto's on the scene, especially if it's a Vespa.

Cheers

[Ian]

The GTS 300 is now featured for sale on the Italian version of Vespa's website. Also it seems apparent that they will be available in two weeks in the UK.

Here's some useful info and pics for anyone interested.

www.twowheelsblog.com/tag/Vespa+GTS+300+Super