Iconic design, but way too noisy and dirty. Article doesn't mention "electric" once.
The electric range of Vespas are using the same iconic design.
The Vespa at 80
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Re: The Vespa at 80
#12Earlier quoted context omitted.
Maybe because not everyone cares, while the planet gets destroyed with wars, private jets and AI centers?
Noise pollution is a different issue than "saving the planet".
That is only an issue when driving 50cc and applies to all of them, regardless of which kind of motorbike.
Or those that love "tuning" taking the noise filters out of the escapes.
Re: The Vespa at 80
#13Earlier quoted context omitted.
Taylor Swift just used how many tons to get married?
And that's relevant how? If you live in a city where everyone owns a petrol scooter it's absurd. Can't wait for all of these to be electric, it's just common sense.
When electric will be equally practical (recharge time, mileage) and accessible (we do not have electronic money).
And the noise pollition I hear coming from the electric to me is a million times worse than ICEs.
Re: The Vespa at 80
#14Earlier quoted context omitted.
Noise pollution is a different issue than "saving the planet".
That is only an issue when driving 50cc and applies to all of them, regardless of which kind of motorbike. Or those that love "tuning" taking the noise filters out of the escapes.
Yes, all of them are terrible and should have ceased to exist 10 years ago? Now is just the next best time. It won’t save the industry addicted to them of course, China has long gotten rid of them.
Re: The Vespa at 80
#15Earlier quoted context omitted.
That is only an issue when driving 50cc and applies to all of them, regardless of which kind of motorbike. Or those that love "tuning" taking the noise filters out of the escapes.
Yes, all of them are terrible and should have ceased to exist 10 years ago? Now is just the next best time. It won’t save the industry addicted to them of course, China has long gotten rid of them.
Well, everything is doable when following the same kind of government based "education".
Also lets ignore drilling the planet for rare minerals in the process, that China owns.
Re: The Vespa at 80
#16Thanks I hate it, extremely noisy and dirty. I really wish the brand dies with fossil fuels.
Thankfully all this stuff has been or is being killed by ebikes and escooters which are vastly better technology.
I hate to say it but good riddance! OK to keep as a classic icon for everything on the road but definitely not something that I would want to continue being popular.
Re: The Vespa at 80
#17I 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…
My brother and I restored my dad’s ‘64 Vespa 150S and the thing is extremely loud!
It is very smelly as well as it’s a two stroke engine, but I don’t mind that at all. Quite the opposite
Re: The Vespa at 80
#18Ah ah my youth! I had a Vespa with a 200cc engine, three speeds, from the 80s: this thing would do a wheelie in 1st gear. And very hard to control wheelie for the weight is uneven on a Vespa. My brother had a rare Vespa 125 cc from 1961 or something: when he left the country he sold it to a friend who still owns it.
Another friend of mine --the reason we all had Vespa back then-- could disassemble and reassemble them with his eyes closed, including the engine.
We'd go to flea markets and garage sales around the country looking for Vespa, Lambrettas and even french Solex for sale. Best find was not a Vespa though but a real Honda Monkey Z50.
One day I forgot to put oil in a Vespa and the engine just froze: cylinder expanded in the piston and rear-wheel locked in place. Somehow I didn't crash. I put oil (you typically had oil with you, in a tiny trunk), waited for the thing to cool down: it just started back up (!).
These were the days, thanks for posting that on HN.
P.S: it's really sad we cannot have nice things posted without having the majority of comments being from environmental-jihadists : (
Re: The Vespa at 80
#19Timeless iconic Italian design.
I'm surprised that the article didn't mention the role Vespa (and Lambretta) played in the British Mod scene.
You can see it's influence in the RAF roundel stickers on bikes in the article.
For anyone interested Quadrophenia is still a fun introduction:
Re: The Vespa at 80
#20Cheryl Tunt: "Mopeds are fun, but you don't want your buddies to see you riding one."