I'm going to be helping a friend out this weekend as she looks to buy a scooter, likely a Vespa. She has taken and passed the MSF course but not gotten her M1 yet, so I might get to do some test rides, too. So, for you scooter-owning folk:

When looking at a prospective purchase, are there things I should watch out for? Any particular parts of pre-owned Vespas that might need a closer look or be prone to failure?

Riding tips? (I know I won't be at risk of inadvertent wheelies, but figured it couldn't hurt to ask, since I've never actually ridden one before)

I figure that full Power Ranger leathers shouldn't be necessary. Unless she requests them, of course.

Tip #1: Ride an Aprilia instead. Seriously. Big-wheeled scooters are far easier and less sketchy to ride. It'll provide a nice contrast.

But in general, remember that even though the thing doesn't jump off the line, some of those scooters get up to speed quickly. I find myself doing 60+mph on the streets sometimes while riding Anne's Scarabeo. They can be deceptively fast.

You will pay x2 for a Vespa what you'll pay for comparable Japanese or Tawainese scooters.  I'm not kidding.  It's all about branding.

Scooters are tippy as fack, particularly the ones with small wheels.  Luckily, they weigh about 7 lbs, so you can lean 'em over pretty far without them falling over.

+1 on trying out small wheels v. big wheels.

Pete, if you're riding the scooter, the brakes will feel like they don't work compared to a monster.  You gotta really whomp on 'em.  Remember that the rear brake is in your left hand where the clutch would usually be.  Use the rear.  You'll need it. 

FWIW, a 125 can get up any hill in SF two up at at least 20mph.  Any smaller engine size is too small for SF.  I wouldn't take the Blonder's 125 on the freeway though (besides being illegal).  Over 50 mph, it feels like it's gonna explode. 

BTW, with a scooter, you're more concerned about impact protection than abrasion resistance, so you can get lighter weight stuff, but still with some armor in it.  Boots & gloves are a must.  I see so many ankle injuries with scooters, particularly when they go down on wet railroad tracks or lose it on rough roads.   

Quote from: desmoquattro on July 23, 2010, 11:19:41 AM
Tip #1: Ride an Aprilia instead. Seriously. Big-wheeled scooters are far easier and less sketchy to ride. It'll provide a nice contrast.

Yeah, I always figured that was the case. I'll suggest that she find a few of those to look at too.

Quote from: Spidey on July 23, 2010, 11:27:53 AM
You will pay x2 for a Vespa what you'll pay for comparable Japanese or Tawainese scooters.  I'm not kidding.  It's all about branding.

I think she has the bug, though. We know what that can do to otherwise sane people 

Quote from: Spidey on July 23, 2010, 11:27:53 AM
Pete, if you're riding the scooter, the brakes will feel like they don't work compared to a monster.  You gotta really whomp on 'em.  Remember that the rear brake is in your left hand where the clutch would usually be.  Use the rear.  You'll need it.

I bet they feel like the brakes do on my road bicycle - after being used to the monster, needing to wait before actually stopping was shocking.

Thanks for the tips, guys!

Quote from: petemg on July 23, 2010, 11:53:32 AM
Yeah, I always figured that was the case. I'll suggest that she find a few of those to look at too.

In addition to the 'priller, I think Kymco (at Scuderia) has big wheeled scooters. 

Quote from: Spidey on July 23, 2010, 11:27:53 AM
You will pay x2 for a Vespa what you'll pay for comparable Japanese or Tawainese scooters.

There are no comparable Japanese or Chinese scooters. It's metal body vs. plastic body, original vs. copy, junk vs. not-junk.

Quote from: Spidey on July 23, 2010, 11:27:53 AMIt's all about branding.

Hey, we ride Ducatis...

Quote from: Spidey on July 23, 2010, 11:27:53 AMOver 50 mph, it feels like it's gonna explode. 

I'd never take my Vespa LX 150 on the interstate, but it'll go 70mph (OK, with a tailwind) and feel very stable.

Quote from: mstevens on July 23, 2010, 06:17:25 PM
I'd never take my Vespa LX 150 on the interstate, but it'll go 70mph (OK, with a tailwind) and feel very stable.

And I passed an MV Augusta in the twisties on Anne's Scarabeo 200, plastic body and all

Scooters can be fun.

Quote from: mstevens on July 23, 2010, 06:17:25 PM
There are no comparable Japanese or Chinese scooters. It's metal body vs. plastic body, original vs. copy, junk vs. not-junk.

Whatever. (Edit: that came off much more dickish than I intended.  Sorry.)  It's just like with Ducatis.  You can get a better bike for cheaper (like Duc v. Gixxer).  Petie, your gf should recognize that if she specifically wants a Vespa, she might not be making the rational decision.  Hell, none of us did.  

The Vespas and prillers I've ridden feel much more stable at speed than Japanese/Tawainese scooters, but they've also had larger engines.  That may be a byproduct of engine size.  Or not.  <shrug>

Quote from: Spidey on July 23, 2010, 01:28:23 PM
In addition to the 'priller, I think Kymco (at Scuderia) has big wheeled scooters. 

They do.

Quote from: MrIncredible on July 23, 2010, 10:13:20 PM
They do.

There's a fair selection of used Kymco and Aprilia scooters in the back room at Scuderia. It's worth a look.

Quote from: Spidey on July 23, 2010, 08:42:37 PMPetie, your gf should recognize that if she specifically wants a Vespa, she might not be making the rational decision.  Hell, none of us did.

I quite like my Vespa, but every time I see the prices on Asian scooters I wonder what I could have done with the price difference.

If one really wants a Vespa, other scooters (except perhaps some Aprilias) won't do. If what one really wants is a scooter and the Vespa part isn't very important, a Vespa is overkill.

The parallels with Ducati are pretty obvious.

Used modern Vespas can be very good values, and they never have tank dings.

I test rode every damn brand of scooter before settling on buying a Vespa 250 (for my wife)

The rest suck in comparison, and personally I think it was worth the extra dosh.

What Mr. Monkey said.

All in all the suspension and brakes were better than I expected, but still, you're not going to confuse it with a Ducati.

Bonus on the Vespa is how many perfect strangers will come up and tell you about how they rode one in the old country when they were a kid. Old country might be Italy, Spain, Vietnam or wherever. Well, it's a bonus unless you're not into that sort of thing.

Oh, and once it has been purchased, try to let your GF ride it once in a while. It's the gentlemanly thing to do.

A steal!

http://bakersfield.craigslist.org/mcy/1866485523.html