Vespa 2014

With the eTolls implemented in Gauteng, and majority of the Highways becoming Payways, the daily commuters have to either tighten their belts or take to the side roads. Commuters in other cities won't be spared either as this corrupted eToll system will be implemented in Cape Town and Durban too.

With the clogged side roads, will 2014 be the year we see a shift to the motorcycle mode of transport? In preparation, this year we saw Vespa SA bring in the new 3 valve 150cc motor and the eye candy Quarantasei 946.

So what does Vespa's 2014 line up look like? Although only the 125cc Vespa 946 landed on our sunny shores, will we see the 946 with the 150cc 3 valve motor purring inside or even the all new Primavera?

Vespa GTS 300 se Super Sport and Vespa GTS 300 ie

Vespa GTV 300 ie

Vespa 946

Vespa Primavera

Vespa PX 150

Vespa LXV 150 ie

Vespa LX 150 ie

Vespa S150 se Sport and Vespa S 150 ie

Spotted in Maputo

It was another of those late nights in Maputo. I was chaperoning some colleagues from Johannesburg who wanted to experience some of the Maputo night life, and were eager to get in as many places as possible - before the daybreak. We had just called for the last round at Mundo's Restaurant, they quickly brought us our drinks and the bill, and continued to clean down and lock up the place for the night.

Where to next I wondered. The faint sounds of laughter and percussion made their way down the street to where were were sitting on the veranda. Sign of a place that still had the magic of the night in close proximity - we had to go and investigate. Putting down our empty glasses, we lifted ourselves out of the bar stools and began to walk on (somewhat) rubbery legs in the direction of where these sounds came. Walking briskly over cracked concrete pavements, meandering tree roots and the odd water puddle, we managed to locate the source of the sound and discovered a vibrant bar called Dolce Vita.

This place oozed with coolness. Its many patrons sat at neat white square table deep in conversation, gesticulation and laughter. The house music was playing loudly whilst this scene spilled over onto the street. We decided to head for the bar, when, sitting there before me, a most unexpected sight, stood a red Vespa 150 LX! I had finally seen a modern Vespa in Mozambique.

Okay okay, it was NOT the elusive Mozambican Vespa, but it was a beautiful Vespa none-the-less. I quickly checked the speedo and discovered that she had all of 44.7km on her clock. I'm willing to take a bet that many an inebriated patron, in a moment of weakness, has attempted to drive such a beautiful ride home!
(Posted by Paulo)
Dolce Vita
Café, Sushi Restaurant, Jazz Club, Free Wi-Fi
Avenida Julius Nyerere, 822, Maputo, Mozambique

Vespa Goes Green

The letters LX stands for the Roman numeral 60, marking the 60th anniversary when the Vespa LX model was first launched in 2006 and after 66 years of selling over 17 million scooters, Vepsa has come a long way with its latest rendition, the Vespa LX 150 with the new 3 valve motor. Just short of an electric motor, the Vespa LX 150 3v is the greenest scooter yet to come out of Piaggio.

Piaggio has brought the old 150cc engine into the 21st century but adding a 3 valve head and advanced fuel injection system thereby improving fuel efficiency by a claimed 30%. By going green, Piaggio has not sacrificed performance and have increased the power output and top speed upwards. Not to forget service intervals have increased to 10,000km, wow.

This timeless classic has moved into the next generation, way ahead of competition. The best thing is that the Vespa LX 150 3 valve has just being launched in South Africa, so get yourself over to your nearest Vespa dealer.

Cape Town
44 Bloem Street, 012 426 4546
Caltex Centre, Dock Road, V&A Waterfront, 021 425 7944

Durban
33 Churchill Street, Windemere, 031 312 9579

Johannesburg
3rd Street, Wynburg, 011 440 7649
Design Quarter, Fourways, 011 465 0512

Affordable Scooters 2013

How many times has someone asked me what scooter should they buy knowing full well that at over R50,000 the Vespa is well out their budget. This led me to the problem, what scooter should I recommend them?

I always believed that a Vespa lasts a life time but just before 50,000km my Vespa ET4 150 needed a new engine. Okay you might argue that my Vespa has been to places that most bikers would cringe but Vespa is Life. Anyway looking at most of the imports from China whose prices start at about R5,000 which is a 10th of an entry level Vespa, the Vespa LX150, the imports are very plastic and feel like they about to fall apart let alone make it long distance. There was a time when Japanese cars were once so inferior to the US and European cars that no one wanted them but now look at them, they are top of the pile. I do believe China's automobiles are where Japan was thirty years ago but they will take much faster to catch up and then we'll see who is on top of the pile.

One of the founders of the VLV (Viva La Vespa) Club once said to me that he was happy that the Vespa was beyond the reach of the normal people as they needed to keep the plebs out. Oh dear, I do recall that Vespa started out as an affordable ride for the people. Have Vespa lost the plot? I don't think so. The Vespa is built to last but the cost of making a Vespa is strangling. To keep the Vespa competitive, Piaggio has built factories in the East and recently reopened one in India. They are trying but still have a long way to go to keep them competitive.

With fuel going up and up, and toll gates being erected so fast, that commuting to work every day on a scooter is starting out weigh the dangers. So for now, if a Vespa is beyond your reach, here are a few affordable choices to help you decide. I am only going to list the 150cc models upwards as I will be using Vespa as the baseline model and although they do have a 125cc model, none are brought into South Africa. (Please note prices are subject to change and are in ZAR). A lot of the brands use similar engines and bodies which makes it difficult to choose the right model to buy.

Big Boy Pulse 150cc
Retail Price: R 8,450
Warranty: 24,000km/2 year
Max Power: 7.0kw Max Speed: 80km/h
Service Interval: 3,000km/6 months

Zest Z150-1
Retail Price: R 8,450
Warranty: 40,000km/2 year (Extended 60,000km/3 year)
Max Power: 7.2kw Max Speed: 95km/h
Service Interval: 2,500km

Gomoto Citti SI 150cc
Retail Price: R 8,499
Warranty: 10,000km/2 year
Max Power: 7.3kw Max Speed: 90km/h
Service Interval: 2,000km/6 months

Gomoto Yesterday 150cc
Retail Price: R 8,999
Warranty: 10,000km/2 year
Max Power: 7.3kw Max Speed: 90km/h
Service Interval: 2,000km/6 months





            Motomia Capri 150cc
             Retail Price: R 8,999
             Warranty: 20,000km/2 year
             Max Power: 7.3kw Max Speed: 90km/h
             Service Interval: 2,000km/6 months




            

               Motomia Milano 150cc
               Retail Price: R 8,999
               Warranty: 20,000km/2 year
               Max Power: 7.3kw Max Speed: 90km/h
               Service Interval: 2,000km/6 months








Jonway Veterano 150cc
Retail Price: R 8,999
Warranty: 10,000km/2 year
Max Power: 7.68kw Max Speed: 90km/h
Service Interval: 2,000km/6 months

Gomoto Nippi 150cc
Retail Price: R 9,399
Warranty: 10,000km/2 year
Max Power: 7.2kw Max Speed: 90km/h
Service Interval: 2,000km/6 months

Big Boy Revival 150cc
Retail Price: R 9,450
Warranty: 24,000km/2 year
Max Power: 7.68kw Max Speed: 95km/h
Service Interval: 3,000km /6 months

Big Boy Sportflite 150cc
Retail Price: R 9,450
Warranty: 24,000km/2 year
Max Power: 7.68kw Max Speed: 90km/h
Service Interval: 3,000km /6 months

                 Motomia Java 150cc
                 Retail Price: R 9,499
                 Warranty: 20,000km/2 year
                 Max Power: 9.2kw Max Speed: 90km/h
                 Service Interval: 2,000km/6 months

Gomoto Urban 150cc
Retail Price: R 9,999
Warranty: 10,000km/2 year
Max Power: 7.3kw Max Speed: 95km/h
Service Interval: 2,000km/6 months

    Motomia Java 170cc
    Retail Price: R 9,999
    Warranty: 20,000km/2 year
    Max Power: 10.5kw Max Speed: 90km/h
    Service Interval: 2,000km/6 months

Big Boy Sportflite F35 150cc
Retail Price: R 10,250
Warranty: 24,000km/2 year
Max Power: 7.68kw Max Speed: 90km/h
Service Interval: 3,000km /6 months

Big Boy Retro LTD Edition 150cc
Retail Price: R 10,450
Warranty: 24,000km/2 year
Max Power: 7.68kw Max Speed: 95km/h
Service Interval: 3,000km /6 months

Big Boy Revival E5 150cc
Retail Price: R 10,450
Warranty: 24,000km/2 year
Max Power: 7.68kw Max Speed: 95km/h
Service Interval: 3,000km /6 months

Big Boy Sportflite F35 GP Racing Edition 150cc
Retail Price: R 10,450
Warranty: 24,000km/2 year
Max Power: 7.68kw Max Speed: 95km/h
Service Interval: 3,000km /6 months

Big Boy Sportflite T32-SP 150cc
Retail Price: R 10,450
Warranty: 24,000km/2 year
Max Power: 7.68kw Max Speed: 95km/h
Service Interval: 3,000km /6 months

Big Boy Yeti 150cc
Retail Price: R 10,450
Warranty: 24,000km/2 year
Max Power: 7.68kw Max Speed: 95km/h
Service Interval: 3,000km /6 months

Jonway El Ninjo 150cc
Retail Price: R10,499
Warranty: 10,000km/2 year
Max Power: 7.68kw Max Speed: 95km/h
Service Interval: 2,000km/6 months

               Jonway Galaktika 150cc
               Retail Price: R10,499
               Warranty: 10,000km/2 year
               Max Power: 7.68kw Max Speed: 95km/h
              Service Interval: 2,000km/6 months

Gomoto Naked Ballistic 150cc
Retail Price: R10,999
Warranty: 10,000km/2 year
Max Power: 7.68kw Max Speed: 90km/h
Service Interval: 2,000km/6 months

Sym Symply 150cc
Retail Price: R12,500
Warranty: 2 year
Max Power: 7.68kw Max Speed: km/h
Service Interval: unknown

Jonway Master 250cc
Retail Price: R18,999
Warranty: 10,000km/2 year
Max Power: 10kw Max Speed: 95km/h
Service Interval: 2,000km/6 months

Jonway Master 300cc
Retail Price: R21,999
Warranty: 10,000km/2 year
Max Power: 12kw Max Speed: 95km/h
Service Interval: 2,000km/6 months

Big Boy Powerflite 300cc
Retail Price: R 24,950
Warranty: 24,000km/2 year
Max Power: 12.9kw Max Speed: 125km/h
Service Interval: 3,000km /6 months

Gomoto C5 300cc
Retail Price: R24,999
Warranty: 10,000km/2 year
Max Power: 12kw Max Speed: 125km/h
Service Interval: 2,000km/6 months

   Sym Citycom 300i
   Retail Price: R34,500
   Warranty: 2 year
   Max Power: 15.1kw Max Speed: 128km/h
   Service Interval: Unknown

Sym GTS 300i EVO
Retail Price: R39,500
Warranty: 2 year
Max Power: Unknown Max Speed: 140km/h
Service Interval: Unknown

Vespa LX150 3-Valve
Retail Price: R52,950
Warranty: 1 year unlimited kms
Max Power: 9.5kw Max Speed: Unknown
Service Interval: 10,000km




So what scooter will I recommend? A Vespa is my first choice but if you want affordable then it is not easy to decide. I think next year, I will have to test ride the Vespa competition and write some overviews on each so you can decide. Remember Vespa is for Life.

Vespa LX 150 3V and Vespa S 150 3V

Excitement mounts as news arrives that the new Vespa LX 150 and Vespa S 150 with the new 3 valve engines is on it's way and will land at Vespa South Africa mid September 2012. This next generation engine was first in introduced to the world powering the Vespa 946 Quarantasei at the EICMA 2011 Milan Motorcycle show in November.

Although this engine from the outside looks very similar to the previous 150 model, there have been vast improvements. At 155cc this nimble three valve engine (2 intake, 1 exhaust) is claimed to produce 12.7hp at 7,750 rpm with 30% improvement in fuel economy.

With service intervals extended to 10,000km and super low operating costs what more can you ask from a Vespa.

Sophia Reloaded

On the 21 June 2012, Sophia my trusty Vespa ET8 broke down leaving me stranded on the side of the highway. I was travelling at speed when suddenly she lost power with a large bang. At first I thought a wheel had burst but Sophia was stable as we coasted to a stop. I then suspected that she broke her drive belt. So I called for help.

On the 10 July 2012, the sad news came in that I had broken a valve which then had fallen into the piston and made a hole in the piston itself. I was devastated. Sophia was officially dead at just over 47,000km. Looking that the piston itself and the head, I notice a lot of potmarks and it seems that this damage has been occurring for some time and it finally snapped. Poor Sophia must have been suffering for a long time.

Soon afterwards news came in of a Vespa LX150 with only 2,487km on the clock that ran into the back of a vehicle. I went and looked at the bike which steering column was badly bent but the rest had only superficial damage. The owner wanted R10,000 for her but by the time I had made contact with him he had already informed his insurance company to write the bike off. So I then contacted the insurance who then offered the LX150 to me for only R5,800. So the LX150 became mine, now was the discussion of what to do with two broken Vespas.

In the end I decided to take the spanking new LX150 engine and gearbox and put it into ET8 body as it was a close match. I also took across the instrument panel, the larger front wheel mechanism and the seat to Sophia. But it wasn't Sophia so I called the new bike a Vespa LX8 with the name Anastasiya which means resurrection.

My first ride on Anastasiya was into a snow storm, as if hell had just frozen over with the hybrid LX8, Sophia reloaded. So as the phoenix arose from the ashes, the spirit of Sophia brought the snow to cool the fires as Anastasiya took flight from Hades into a new life.