Vespa Elettrica

Wow, my first post of 2017 and sadly no posts during 2016. Well I have been very busy last year and I think it is about time I rejuvenate this little blog of ours again. I have been following with interest the evolution of the electric scooter for some time now and even wrote the article BMW C Evolution 2016 way back in 2015. Sadly as far as I know it has not reach the sunny shores of South Africa yet.

At the Eicma motocycle show in Milan in November 2016, Piaggio unveiled their electric scooter project, the Vespa Elettrica. Not much is known about this e-Vespa, but it is expected to be available in Europe about the middle of 2017.

So watch this space, as I bring you more on scooters in Africa and don’t hold your breath for an electric scooter here any time soon.

Vespalogy

Oh la la, this is why we love the Vespa

Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

Thanks to the mental patients working at Scooter and Service in Hamburg for building what could be the perfect monster Vespa, the PS 240. You can see that the styling of the PS 240 comes from their earlier Vespa 138N built way back 2012.

This custom built Frankenstein Vespa started life as a Vespa PX but had body parts added from a Vespa GS 160, Vespa VB1T, Vespa Rally 180, Kawasaki ZXR1100, Husqvarna WR 250, and many other custom parts. The 239cc test bed engine is running at 38hp and soon will be ready for everyday road use. No you didn’t read that wrong, I did write 38hp, now compare that to Vespa’s latest GTS 300ie Super which runs at 22hp in standard configuration. This wolf in sheep’s clothing is running scary horse power in a lightweight small Vespa frame. Grrrrrrrrrr.

Please can I have one of these for my birthday which is coming up by the way or even for Christmas? A Vespa PS 240 Pretty Please!

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

Rocking Vespa

It has been awhile since I posted anything. It is the time of the year when you are exhausted and can not wait for the summer break that is just around the corner.

The Posers keep rocking on.

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.

Vespa 946 Quarantasei

Previously I posted the Vespa 2012 roundup at the end of last year. One of Vespa's displayed was the Vespa Quarantasei now known as the Vespa 946. This sexy Vespa 946 aka Quarantasei which means 46 in Italian, has being confirmed for the North American market late 2012 or even 2013. The Vespa 946 represents the new generation of Vespa scooters.

Sounding like a Porsche 946, the Vespa 946 will be way much cooler with a choice of 125 and 150cc single cylinder 3 valve air-cooled powerplants. Piaggio claims that the 125cc produces a maximum output of 11.7hp at 8250rpm and the 150cc version 13hp at 8000rpm.

Vespa 2012

With 2011 coming to an end, Vespa did well with the re-introduction of its iconic PX 150, bringing back the classic Vespa shape packed with up to date technology. Even though it has a 2 stroke motor, the 2 smoker meets all the European emission standards.

With Italy reeling from the current economic crash and Piaggio's stock exchange figures are falling so fast that we can only wonder if Vespa can survive. But Vespa has been here before and have managed to turn it all around. And now the news is coming out that Piaggio will be re-entering the Indian market which hopefully may help.

So what does Vespa's 2012 line up look like? As you can notice no 250's and I am not sure if the rumours of a 350cc Vespa is true but I will keep my ears peeled. Please note that not all these models will be brought in by Vespa South Africa.

Vespa GTS 300 Super Sport and Vespa GTS 125 Super Sport

Vespa GTS 300 IE

Vespa GTS 300 Touring

Vespa GTV 300 Vie della Moda and Vespa GTV 125 Vie della Moda

Vespa LXV 300 Vie della Moda and Vespa LXV 125 Vie della Moda

Vespa Quarantasei 150 and Vespa Quarantasei 125

Vespa PX 150

Vespa S 150, Vespa S 125, Vespa S 50 4V and Vespa S 50 2V

Vespa LX 150 Touring, Vespa LX 125 Touring and Vespa LX 50 Touring