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The Vespa at 80

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Re: The Vespa at 80

#131

Post by tiew9Vii »

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.

Scooters main priority have been cheap practicality. Fuel efficiency is part of the “cheap” part.

Yamaha’s blue core engine used in its mid sized 300cc scooters can do 2.8L per 100km. It’s 125 engines can do 1.8L per 100km.

They’re incredibly efficient little vehicles

So far electric scooters can only compete in inner city with the equivalent power of a small 125 and limited range/speed due to size/weight constraints

Re: The Vespa at 80

#132

Post by jjtheblunt »

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.

the elettrica motors are (obviously) electric, too, and for some models come in a couple versions.

https://www.vespa.com/en_EN/electric-range/

Re: The Vespa at 80

#135

Post by ziofill »

In my 20s I tried with two other friends to raise some money from local businesses to sponsor a coast to coast trip in the US on our vespas (I had 1968 150 Sprint Veloce in red). It didn’t work out, but now that I’m in my 40s I understand it would have been a terrible idea ^^’

Re: The Vespa at 80

#136

Post by bootlooped »

mulmen wrote: post #129
bootlooped wrote: post #123

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not disagreeing with the origin of the word, I'm just saying it's expanded and changed. Have you ever "shipped" something that at no point in its journey was carried on a floating vessel? Do you correct people when they say they're shipping something by ground or air?

I’m a big advocate of two wheeled transportation. The differences between bicycles, e-bikes, mopeds, and motorcycles are important and meaningful. The misuse of terminology by entitled car drivers and the ignorant public literally kills people every day. Yes, I am aware people are wrong. No, I don’t care to compromise.

I'm not sure the difference between moped and scooter is killing people everyday. I don't think it is. Can you give an example?

Re: The Vespa at 80

#137

Post by bcraven »

jcims wrote: post #82
esperent wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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.

What a goofy comment. Pedestrians are *also* subject to right-of-way rules, just like everyone else on the road. Many examples of people running between parked/stopped cars and getting smoked when they hit an open lane with a vehicle they did not expect to be there. Not the driver's fault.

UK law says if you hit someone, it's your fault.

If you're going fast enough in an area where someone could step out, and someone does step out, if you hit them then you were clearly going too fast.

Re: The Vespa at 80

#138

Post by johnea »

Um, sorry. If you've ever sat behind a poorly maintained vespa at a stop light, and in it's cloud of exhaust when it takes off, then you definitely don't think it's cool...

Same thing for old beetles and VW buses. Total smog creators.

Electric is where it's at.

Can the cool kids catch up?

Re: The Vespa at 80

#140

Post by CommenterPerson »

elevaet wrote: post #78

There's a culture for modding Vespas in Indonesia that I think HN folks would find interesing - check out "Vespa extreme"/"Vespa gembel" - sort of like if mad-max was in the jungle culture of chopping and rebuilding old Vespas into all sorts of wild road machines. Pretty interesting kind of hippie/punk subculture.

These are wild, very creative, Thank you for the reference!

https://youtu.be/uVeVZ-Iugkg

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