Day One with Vespa “Rose”
Weather: 73°F (23°C) Under partly-cloudy skies.
Road Conditions: Smooooth
Meet “Rose”, my new 2007 Vintage Red Vespa 250 GTS i.e.
Yeah, that’s right… Mine. It wasn’t supposed to happen this way.
Early this year I set the wheels in motion to obtain a Vespa 250 GTS, on-loan from Piaggio, so I could do a long-term Ride to Work test of their “Vespanomics” concept. I also wanted to experience this legendary GTS, so my scooter testing scale would be properly calibrated with a high-end benchmark, for future Rush Hour Road Tests.
The low-end benchmark had already been firmly established by the rusting hulk sitting in my garage.
Little did I know what kind of long and arduous process this was going to be. I’ve never been a patient man, although I’m getting better with each passing year. But, as I watched the riding season passing me by, scooterless, I finally decided that the time had come for drastic measures.
It didn’t help that I kept going back to the dealership, to gaze longingly at the floor models, and when no one was looking, sit on them making “vroom-vroom” noises to myself. How unprofessional of me! Once those sweeping lines and sexy curves imprinted themselves on my brain, all objectivity was lost. I was overcome with Vespa-lust, and nothing less than a GTS could cure me.
Euro-chic…Rose idles nonchalantly at the curb, in front of the cafe.
Without disclosing too many details, let’s just say that I negotiated a deal which will fit my miserly budget, and finally took delivery of the most beautiful scooter I have ever ridden, -and- I don’t have to give it back at the end of the season.
I must take a moment here to thank Jonathan and Jason at Motoprimo for helping to make this happen. Thanks also to Kathleen Reynolds at Cooper-Katz in New York City; I know you did your best, but I just couldn’t wait anymore. Yesterday was a Good Day.
Let’s Ride!
These modern Vespas are a bit more complicated than the Chinese Barons I tested. They come with two different keys; one is brown, the other blue. The brown key has electronics built in, a sort of boot-loader which shuts off the built-in security system before starting. If somebody tries to punch out the ignition on a modern Vespa, the security system shuts down the scooter until the proper code is reloaded through the key-switch.
Turning the key makes the LCD display come to life. Here you have everything from bar-graph tachometer, temperature, and gas-gauge to a clock and thermometer. It’s a busy little screen, but all of the information is useful, and I’m sure I will get to the point where I can update at-a-glance. While the screen is booting up, you hear the fuel-pump pressurizing the injection system. Wait for it, then squeeze the brake and push the starter button. A couple of cranks to get to the compression stroke, and it lights off with a soft puttering sound.
This scooter is stealthy-quiet with the stock exhaust. Rolling down the parkway at one point, Rose and I approached two bicyclists riding abreast in front of us. One of them glanced back quickly, and then did a surprised double-take. They hadn’t heard us coming, even though we were only about twenty feet behind them. I brushed the horn button with my thumb, “meep!”, and veered wide left to pass them.
I’m going to save the rest of the riding impressions; suspension, handling, acceleration and braking for a future post. For now let me just say that the Vespa GTS is one refined, high-quality piece. It’s in a different league entirely from the bargain scooters I’ve ridden in the past. By the time we finish the break-in period, I should be able to regain my composure enough to do an honest evaluation. But right now, I’m just besotted with the sexy little beast.
My gearhead friend Jeff Weissbach, at home, with camera-shy dog.
On our way home from Motoprimo, Rose and I stopped by my friend Jeff Weissbach’s house in Saint Paul. His place is a Gearhead’s Paradise, with all manner of motorized transport represented. Jeff is a member of the venerable Twin Cities Norton Owner’s Club, and has hosted their Concours d’Elegance at his home in the past. I met him back when we both rode Ducatis, and frequented the same coffee house on Grand Avenue.
These days, his classic Norton Cafe Racer sits in the garage while he concentrates on bringing his vintage Lotus Elan back to life. The backbone chassis required extensive welding and bracing, and takes up most of the floor of his garage. The diminutive engine rests on a stand right beside it, awaiting a total rebuild. The bodywork sits outside, where he is slowly patching and restoring the now-ancient fibreglass. Jeff is a man of many talents.
Rose poses in front of a Gearhead’s Paradise.
He showed me around the house, which he has almost finished remodelling, and we talked long enough to catch up on current events in each other’s lives. He had dinner on the stove, so I didn’t want to intrude, but I thought his garage, yard, and driveway would make perfect backgrounds for photographs of my lovely Rose.
The sky had clouded up, so the light wasn’t the best, but I think these shots are presentable. Rose and I took the long way home, riding through the heart of downtown, hoping to find another urban photo-op, but the traffic was just too heavy on this Saturday night in the city.
We stopped at DeGidio’s Italian Restaurant, where I was hoping to do a review. How better to celebrate the purchase of a classic Italian scooter than with a classic Italian dinner? Alas, the place was full, wall-to-wall, and I would have to park Rose where I couldn’t see her out a window. I’m not ready for that yet. At the very least, I need to purchase a good cable lock.
“Follow the red-brick road!” – Rose and I head for home.
So we rode home, where I tucked Rose into the garage beside her stablemate, Frogwing. The girls had gone to Owatonna, to celebrate Mother’s Day with Amy’s mom.
In keeping with the Italian theme of the evening, the best I could do was a frozen pizza for dinner. I checked the pantry for a bottle of Chianti… no luck. Then I remembered, the official beverage of American scooterists is PBR, and I had a case of that in the fridge. Cheers…!
May 13th, 2007 at 10:18 am
Congratulations on moving to the next chapter in your scootering life. I absolutely love your new scooter and I think the color is perfect.
Welcome to the world of the “Vespisti” my friend. Good call on purchasing rather than borrowing. I would think that you might fall head over heels for this ride, and giving it back might have been tough.
Now, to complete the look…think Fishtail Parka.
Have fun,
Bill
May 13th, 2007 at 12:32 pm
You sound like you’re in love.
The design and build of the modern Vespa puts it into a category by itself. It’s like fine cameras, guns, watches, and tools — elegant to feel and use.
The Vintage Red GTS looks amazing and already you have expressed it strongly in your photos. It looks quite at home on the brick drive with the Lotus shell.
The jacket completes the visual too. Your scooter has a completely different feel from mine and I suspect its your Mojo shining through!
Good luck with Rose. And don’t forget to spend some time with Amy and Emily too! *grin*
May 13th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
Congrats on the purchase of “Rose”. There is nothing like the feeling of bringing home a new family member, especially one as lovely as a Vespa GTS. I’m not ready to give up my V-Strom, but a Vespa would sure look sweet next to my wife’s Yamaha Vino. Might be fun to go to bike night together too.
Ride well
Dave T.
May 13th, 2007 at 4:25 pm
Congratulations, Gary. I have owned a couple of Vespas in the past, both of the 2-stroke twist-grip-shifting variety. My buddy Walt Z recently picked up the last of that line, a P200, new but with a model year of 2003 or something like that.
I’m not sure how I might react to an automatic scooter. I became attached to speed-shifting on the grip. Although it had been over 20 years, the technique came right back when I tried Walt’s last week.
Had I known you were going by Weissbach’s, I would have had you ask how he liked Snake Creek. We ran into him on our hooky ride last week, just suiting up to ride the area for the first time, as I finished my inaugural loop on the DR.
May 13th, 2007 at 6:59 pm
Bill: Vintage Red really goes well with this new green background, doesn’t it? Of course you are right about my loss of objectivity. My favorite motor vehicles of all time come from Ferrari, Ducati, and now Vespa. All Italian, yet I am French. Go figure…
Steve: I like your analogy about cameras, guns, etc. – That’s spot-on. “Rose” is Emily’s middle name, btw.
As for my girls, we did the Mother’s Day thing today, and I’m really trying hard to find a way for Emily to ride with me on the Vespa. Those passenger pegs are just too far from the back of the seat for her short legs.
DaveT: I would encourage you to get a scooter if your wife already has one. Bike nights, dining out, or just sightseeing together… it’s all good. The Vespa LX150 would be a good match for your wife’s Vino, and it wouldn’t intrude on the V-Strom’s turf.
Buster: Jeff told me about that. We didn’t talk about his ride, however. Time was short. As for auto vs. shifter scoot, you and I have talked about that. My view is that, if I am going to have to shift, I might as well have a full-on motorcycle. But for easy commuting in the `Cities, the auto-scooter is the way to go. There is less maintenance to worry about, and the CVT makes the ride so smooth… My offer of a test-ride still stands. How about next Saturday at The Grind?
Ride well,
=gc=
May 14th, 2007 at 10:51 am
Gary-
Pick of the litter. Very nice, that red is so deep. It reminds me of the color used on the old Alfa Romeo’s like the Gran Premio P2 (1924) . Looking forward to the review. Somedays I miss the simplicity of scootering (Stella). At the time I could not afford to keep the scoot and purchase the DS. I have been pondering a old trail bike or even a Honda Ruckus to protect the longevity of Chavez (My KLR) this next winter, studded tires anyone. I can always ask for forgiveness. So, I may be back on a scooter again, nothing as beautiful as that Italian girl you brought home. Speaking of Italian, 250GT SWB, nough said, and I am German.
Jason
May 14th, 2007 at 11:09 am
Your cafe photo with Rose is a classic. Congratulations, Rose is a beautiful scooter. Wishing you and Rose many happy miles together. I look forward to future posts of your Rambling adventures.
May 14th, 2007 at 1:24 pm
I love the color and the style. I look forward to your review, I have always wondered how they command the price they do. Perhaps I will soon find out.
May 14th, 2007 at 2:59 pm
I will be very disappointed if your GTS is reserved solely for commuting. Off roading is not its forte but eating miles in total comfort is something its perfectly capable of doing, and at decent speeds too.
May 14th, 2007 at 6:43 pm
Is Vintage Red a special order color? I can only find it listed in their ad for 2007 as Dragon Red. I was going to purchase the black, but your Vintage Red is really nice looking.
May 14th, 2007 at 9:10 pm
Jason: Are you my long-lost brother? Raised by wolves when we lost you on a camping trip up north? We have way too much in common… I’ll be riding up to Duluth soon.
Betty: I put out another post just this evening. This Vespa has inspired me more than I could have hoped. It’s bringing a fresh energy to my commute, my life, and to this blog that I hope my readers can feel.
SGP: First, go test-ride any Chinese import scooter. Then, go to your local Vespa dealer and test-ride the GTS, IF he has a demo available. That will answer most of your questions. But I will try to do an objective review of Rose’s performance once the break-in miles have passed under her wheels.
conchscooter: Oh, she’s not just a working girl, I promise. I’m planning some really cool trips in the near future where her form will compliment local and distant landmarks. I might even try to provoke reactions at a hardcore biker hangout, just to see what transpires. Stay tuned…
BMWR1200ST: Vintage Red is not a special order. Piaggio/Vespa seem to have settled on bright “Dragon Red”, along with Black and “Excalibur Grey” for their basic colors. When they discontinued Vintage Red this year, they replaced it with Midnight Blue.
I don’t know what their future color strategy is. If enough people ask, I suppose I could dust-off my motojournalist credentials and start asking around. But of course, I agree that Vintage Red is the best color I’ve seen on a Vespa so far.
Ride well,
=gc=
May 16th, 2007 at 10:21 pm
Gary – congrats on the new ride. I am the proud owner of the 2nd Vintage Red GTS to be imported into Canada, a 2006 beauty that I managed to put 5,000km on last season. (and my ride to work is only 1km)
Welcome to the club – enjoy!
Dave
July 17th, 2007 at 3:36 pm
I know this is WAAAY late, but Congrats on the new Vespa!
Hope she’s treatin’ you nice.
August 22nd, 2007 at 7:11 am
Gary-
Is “Vintage Red” the same as “Rosso Vintage”? I looked at a GTS 250 yesterday and the color said “Rosso Vintage”.
August 22nd, 2007 at 5:14 pm
Thanks Dave and Steve.
Lola: I think somebody at your “Vespa Boutique” was trying to be pretentious. Tell me this… was it the same color as my Rose?
Ride well,
=gc=
August 22nd, 2007 at 6:01 pm
Have you tried looking for a top case/back rest for it?
January 20th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Very nice rewiew! I often think to change my X9 for vespa GTS just ecause vespa is so stylish and can be customized.
Hello from Croatia
June 22nd, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Anyone out there know the oil type and viscosity for 2008 Vespa 250 GTS? How often should this oil be changed? Local dealerships seem to vary from one extreme to the other.
Help please.
June 5th, 2009 at 10:35 am
hi, it was great to see a good pic of my old friend jeff weissbach. could you please let him know that martha says hello? thanks, marthabu23@yahoo.com