The Vespa at 80 • Hacker News Board

Re: The Vespa at 80

#61

Post by guenthert » Sat, Jul 04, 2026, 2:50 PM UTC

tiew9Vii wrote: post #25

xnx wrote: post #2

Iconic design, but way too noisy and dirty. Article doesn't mention "electric" once.

Are you talking about a 1950’s Vespa or a 2026 Vespa? A modern 300cc four stroke Vespa will use 3.3 litres of fuel per 100km and Euro 5 means noise is quiet. As far as things go, modern scooters are great, practical, economical vehicles.

> A modern 300cc four stroke Vespa will use 3.3 litres of fuel per 100km

Uh, I know motorcycle engines aren't particularly fuel-efficient (it's not a priority), but there seems to be, er, room for improvement.

Re: The Vespa at 80

#62

Post by bushwart » Sat, Jul 04, 2026, 2:53 PM UTC

Vespas are fashionable and cute but the coolest thing on 2 wheels award goes to Simsons of all colors and stripes (2-stroke or electric, pick your poison). In Germany, the grandfathered 2-strokes are also the only way you can legally ride somethibg faster than 45 km/h on a moped license.

Re: The Vespa at 80

#63

Post by PunchyHamster » Sat, Jul 04, 2026, 2:56 PM UTC

guenthert wrote: post #61

tiew9Vii wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you talking about a 1950’s Vespa or a 2026 Vespa? A modern 300cc four stroke Vespa will use 3.3 litres of fuel per 100km and Euro 5 means noise is quiet. As far as things go, modern scooters are great, practical, economical vehicles.

> A modern 300cc four stroke Vespa will use 3.3 litres of fuel per 100km Uh, I know motorcycle engines aren't particularly fuel-efficient (it's not a priority), but there seems to be, er, room for improvement.

you can get some 125cc motorcycle/scooter and run on half that

Re: The Vespa at 80

#64

Post by anal_reactor » Sat, Jul 04, 2026, 2:57 PM UTC

weberer wrote: post #30

esperent wrote: post #4

I like Vespas, they're very stylish, but damn they are noisy, and not a nice rumble either but more like a very loud chainsaw. They give off a terrible amount of smoke compared more modern scooters too. I do often wonder why so few other new small motorcycles or scooters have similarly beautiful designs though. However, for me, having lived in a country with a motorbike culture for the last decade, the coolest thing…

It sounds like you're describing a 2-stroke engine, which older Vespas did use. But modern ones use a 4-stroke engine and should have the same emissions profile as any other motorcycle.

I live next to a road and combustion-engine mopeds vary from "holy fuck this is loud" to "I can't wait to move out". I used to live close to an airport and that was much better. The specific noise that mopeds make drills into your head. Funnily, I'm never bothered by nails on chalkboard or cutlery on plate, but mopeds, holy fuck, if hell exists, it's full of mopeds.

Re: The Vespa at 80

#65

Post by MomsAVoxell » Sat, Jul 04, 2026, 2:57 PM UTC

esperent wrote: post #4

I like Vespas, they're very stylish, but damn they are noisy, and not a nice rumble either but more like a very loud chainsaw. They give off a terrible amount of smoke compared more modern scooters too. I do often wonder why so few other new small motorcycles or scooters have similarly beautiful designs though. However, for me, having lived in a country with a motorbike culture for the last decade, the coolest thing…

Switched from Vespa (combustion) to Unu (electric) and Black Tea (electric) .. and the one feature I yearn for, from the Vespa era, is its noise factor.

Electric is damn quiet, damn smooth, and damn fast. (And damn comfy.)

And that can be a problem. Especially in a city like, say, Vienna, where people just do not check before they cross some of these little cosy streets.

I became a much more alert and guarding rider when I switched from Vespa.

Maybe that's a good thing, I dunno, but I am gonna put a whistle on my helmet some day soon, I swear ..

Re: The Vespa at 80

#66

Post by esperent » Sat, Jul 04, 2026, 3:09 PM UTC

MomsAVoxell wrote: post #65

esperent wrote: post #4

I like Vespas, they're very stylish, but damn they are noisy, and not a nice rumble either but more like a very loud chainsaw. They give off a terrible amount of smoke compared more modern scooters too. I do often wonder why so few other new small motorcycles or scooters have similarly beautiful designs though. However, for me, having lived in a country with a motorbike culture for the last decade, the coolest thing…

Switched from Vespa (combustion) to Unu (electric) and Black Tea (electric) .. and the one feature I yearn for, from the Vespa era, is its noise factor. Electric is damn quiet, damn smooth, and damn fast. (And damn comfy.) And that can be a problem. Especially in a city like, say, Vienna, where people just do not check before they cross some of these little cosy streets. I became a much more alert and guarding rider…

> people just do not check before they cross some of these little cosy streets.

Yes, you're supposed to be the one checking that you don't hit pedestrians. Cities are for humans first, machines second. Drive slower. If you want to drive fast, take a road trip.

Re: The Vespa at 80

#67

Post by esperent » Sat, Jul 04, 2026, 3:10 PM UTC

realo wrote: post #58

weberer wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It sounds like you're describing a 2-stroke engine, which older Vespas did use. But modern ones use a 4-stroke engine and should have the same emissions profile as any other motorcycle.

Yes, but still terrible, pollution wise. Electric Vespa anyone?

They did make one for a while but it's terrible. €5000 with similar specs to a €1000 bike from other companies.

Re: The Vespa at 80

#68

Post by esperent » Sat, Jul 04, 2026, 3:12 PM UTC

GenerWork wrote: post #26

esperent wrote: post #4

I like Vespas, they're very stylish, but damn they are noisy, and not a nice rumble either but more like a very loud chainsaw. They give off a terrible amount of smoke compared more modern scooters too. I do often wonder why so few other new small motorcycles or scooters have similarly beautiful designs though. However, for me, having lived in a country with a motorbike culture for the last decade, the coolest thing…

Are you thinking of older Vespas? There's a few modern ones near me and they've never struck me as overly noisy.

I'm talking about the Vespas I actually experience on a daily basis. I don't know if they're new or old, but I can assure you that they are loud and smoky.

Re: The Vespa at 80

#69

Post by xnx » Sat, Jul 04, 2026, 3:16 PM UTC

tiew9Vii wrote: post #25

xnx wrote: post #2

Iconic design, but way too noisy and dirty. Article doesn't mention "electric" once.

Are you talking about a 1950’s Vespa or a 2026 Vespa? A modern 300cc four stroke Vespa will use 3.3 litres of fuel per 100km and Euro 5 means noise is quiet. As far as things go, modern scooters are great, practical, economical vehicles.

Great to know. It seems like most of the ones in notice in the are an older vintage and/or poorly maintained.

Re: The Vespa at 80

#70

Post by asveikau » Sat, Jul 04, 2026, 3:18 PM UTC

realo wrote: post #58

weberer wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It sounds like you're describing a 2-stroke engine, which older Vespas did use. But modern ones use a 4-stroke engine and should have the same emissions profile as any other motorcycle.

Yes, but still terrible, pollution wise. Electric Vespa anyone?

I haven't been following the latest developments but about 10 years ago they launched "Vespa elettrica". It was very expensive and low powered at launch. Not sure if they've iterated on it since.

I suspect that other brands of electric motorbike may be better