The weather was beautiful today and the temperature climbed to near 60 for the ride home. I took a detour through some farm fields where this picture was made.
With the scooter odometer turning 3000 miles today I thought it a good time to review performance, construction, quality and riding characteristics after months of use. Here goes….
I have to mention the selection process I went through in acquiring the Vespa LX150. I had my heart set on a new Triumph T100 last summer. I had been looking at it for months and I had decided to purchase one. My friend Paul suggested I try his Vespa ET4 over the Memorial Day weekend just to try out a scooter. I wasn’t really interested but he offered enough times that I felt it rude to not take him up on his offer. I hadn’t ridden it more than a mile before I was hooked. I thought I would hate not having a clutch and being able to run through the gears. The twist and go automatic transmission was a delight. Having both brakes at my fingertips was nice as well. The scooter was extremely nimble on the road with it’s small tires and I did not notice any stability issues at the speeds the scooter was capable of producing. During that weekend I dismissed any thoughts of the Triumph and decided on the Vespa.
I should add here that if you decide to purchase a Vespa (especially if you are a man) you had better be sure you have the courage to own one. It amazes me how many other men pick at the scooter, at me, at both together, as some sort of less than manly contraption that insults at a primal level. Or so it seems. Again, if you want one, you better be sure of your masculinity.
The Vespa LX150 has a 149cc Leader engine manufactured by Piaggio and has been a solid performer since I bought it. The only problem I had was at 12 miles the thing would not start and the dealer had to pick it up and take it to the shop. Turned out there was a tiny piece of rubber from the fuel line that must have been nicked off during assembly and clogged the carburetor jet. They removed the clog and the scooter has run flawlessly for the next 3000 miles. It starts immediately in all weather. I’ve ridden down to 5 degrees Fahrenheit. The engine runs smoothly and provides surprising acceleration for such a small scooter. The automatic transmission is smooth as well. Gas mileage is consistently around 68 miles per gallon. Top speed for me at 190 pounds is around 64 miles per hour on the flat with no wind. A bit faster if I tuck down. The brakes are exceptional with the front disc brake providing great stopping power. The body assembly is tight with no rattles or noises. The Vespa is a quality machine. The only complaint that I can muster is I wish the glove box were watertight. I have not seen any leakage while riding in rain but when I wash it and spray the hose in that direction I’ll find water inside.
The real positive points for me are the styling and the ride. The look of the Vespa LX150 is classic. Piaggio has done a fantastic job bringing the style to the new scooters and you either like them or you don’t. I like the fact that it stands out and is not something you see everyday around here. The ride is pretty amazing. I feel as if I am flying through the landscape but at speeds where I can actually appreciate what I’m seeing. It’s not a cruiser or sport bike but it is fun. I’ve ridden it on trips of 100 miles through back roads and farm lanes and I feel like I’m aware of every sight and smell. It is not a freeway machine though I have ridden it on the Interstate at times when traffic is low but a good general rule would be to stay on two-lane roads. I would have no fear riding it for hundreds of miles; I just need to accept that the ride will not be the fastest. The scooter is a rambling and meandering machine.
The only accessory I’ve added is a folding rear rack for $150. It allows me to add some luggage when the need arises. This spring I plan to add tent and sleeping back for a little scooter camping. Maintenance costs have been what I would have expected. At 600 miles and the end of the break-in period I had the dealer change the engine and hub oil and check all the other things they check. At 2500 miles I had a rear tire put on (those little tires wear fast), oil change, valve lash adjustment, check brakes, etc. Cost for that was a bit over $200 dollars. The next service will be in 1000 miles.
Final thoughts—- The Vespa is a well-built, solid performer. It is reliable and will last for years. It is not cheap as scooters go. Mine ran $4500 out the door with tax and license. The decision to spend on a Vespa for me was tied to styling. I wanted the Vespa look.
How far do you think you could go on the Vespa? Could you do a week long, 8-hour a day trip?
I don’t know about the Vespa. In 1988 I went on a ride out here called the Western States 1000. Basically a 1000 mile run in two days. A fellow did the whole thing on a Honda Reflex or some similar scooter. It was probably a 250. I was amazingly impressed!
My first bike had a Piaggio Leader engine, they’re great engines, very hard to break.
james,
Personally, the only limitation I see is my own physical limitations. I can’t see myself holding up under a weeklong 8 hour a day trip even in a car but that’s probably more mental that physical. If I had to I’m sure I could ride for a week. I have ridden all day and it was fine save for a little back stiffness that’s a result of a pole vaulting injury in high school…
The scooter would handle it without any problems. There is a cross country scooter race called the Canonball Run. You can look at it here.
http://www.scootercannonball.com/
irondad,
Scooters are pretty durable machines. Weight and power might mean speed and comfort but are not requirements for durability or reliability. I read a site that a guy rode 20 thousand miles through northern Canada and the Arctic in the early 1970s on a moped. This was back when the Alaskan highway was all gravel and dirt. He just had to go slow….
mad,
I’m hoping my Leader engine goes on and on….
Keep an eye on your drive belt and I’m sure it will!
Steve: In preparation for purchasing a Vespa I’ve been reading your blog and have enjoyed every word! Thanks so much for your thoughtful and insightful postings.
I’m considering whether to buy the LX150 or the PX150, the difference being whether to go automatic or manual. I’d love to hear anything more you have on that subject and why you chose the auto over the manual transmission.
Finally, I encourage you to continue writing and riding!
kc: I’m glad you’ve found some value in this blog and your consideration of a scooter. I looked hard at the PX150 —at that time it came in the vintage green and was a fine looking Vespa.
What swayed me to the twist and go LX150 was ease of use and engine sound. I don’t like the sound of the two-stroke engines.
while the PX150 would out-accelerate the LX the LX would have a higher top speed which would be more useful for the kind of riding I do. Either way I did not purchase a Vespa for blazing speed or acceleration.
And I didn’t think I wanted to be bothered with shifting anymore.
I’ve had no regrets at all about choosing the LX over the PX.
Hope this helps and let us know what you get!
steve
Thanks for the info everyone. I am a vespa geek! I’m picking up a LX150 today. I can’t wait to hit the west coast this weekend. I love Vespas!
take care,
Bryan
Congratulations Bryan! The Vespa is a great machine. Keep us all posted on your riding and experience.
steve
I bought a 2006 LX 150 from someone who only put 102 miles on since ownership on Sept 05′. He never took it in for service because he only used it for a total of 102 miles. He had purchased an extended Vespa 2 year warranty. They tell me it’s void since he never serviced unit a proper intervals. Is this true? By the way, with two Vespa helmets, rear top case and what I thought was a 1 1/2 years extended warranty. In brand new shape, not a scratch on it, I paid $2,700. I think that’s a great deal.
Hey, one more thing. If it’s the original tank of gas, there’s 1/2 tank in it, and he never serviced it in 1 1/2 years, is the gas in there bad? It rides fine and no sputtering. I have a service scheduled for this weekend. Being that he never rode it much, is there something special I should have the dealer clean out? The battery needed a charge to start and he included the trickle charger he got from Vespa dealer. Love that Plum color!!!
Hello Steve and all Vespa enthousiasts! Your page is very inspirating and opened to me new horizons of this tiny machine ‘s capabilities. I am the proud owner of a ’97 ET4 125cc. Before it was gifted to me, two years ago, it belonged to a friend of mine with only 16500km on the odometer. It now counts 37000km after less than two years. As like Steve, I enjoy almost every moment on the scooter, when going to work, even when driving past the jammed SUVs of the very heavy Athens traffic.
The thing I like the most is the absolute reliability and mainenance free nature of this scooter. And I think that there are two key reasons for this: first, it is air cooled; second, it has an optional kick starter, should the electric one fails. The first, means that a whole subsystem (lack of radiator, pipes, valves, pump, thermostats and, of course, liquid) reliefs the engine from a crucial and complicated life-giving circuit. It only relies on the air running through the grills. Just think if just one of the above parts fails…
Second, the kick starter means that with (almost) no battery, you can continue your trip without bothering.
And finally, something that (sadly) my ET4 doesn’ t own but makes the vespa the real travelling bike: the spare tire! If any other bike gets a tire punctured, first of all means road assistance! While in the (old) Vespas, you only have to change the tire and simply go on!
Last summer I traveled from the Athens area to the island of Corfu, in North western Greece, about 400 km away. Keeping steadily a 70-80 km/h rate (45-50mph) I made it in 9 hours, stops for photos and snacks included.
Unfortunately most people think that riding a scooter for long trip is insanity. Nobody talks about the ability to see and enjoy the views, the landscapes. When riding a bike at high speeds, you miss all of these things.
libero: I agree with you about how nice the Vespa is on a long trip. You get to see and experience things you would miss if riding at higher speeds that a bigger bike sometimes brings.
Since I have moved up to a GTS I no longer have a kick starter and that worried me a bit. I guess I will have to surrender to technology…
Good luck on your ET4!
I’m going to look at a Vesper LX150 this weekend. I like the Graphite Black one. I just brought my Jetta in for an inspection and they told me it’s junk. The bottom is all rusted out (I live near the ocean and winters are bad here). I live close to work so I figured I’d get a scooter to make the commute.
The problem with my getting one is the dealership is over an hour away. The back roads are slow going (once again, beach community). I know they weigh 225 pounds so I can’t put in the back of my Xterra… can I? How often do they need service.
There is a dealer close by that sells Honda and Yahama scooters. Is the Vespa that great that it’s worth going that far out of the way?
juggo: I think your decision about Vespa vs. the other scooters would have to be based on your desire for the classic look of the Vespa.
I want that appearance enough that I would make the 1 hour drive or ride for service. And for many services I think you local Honda or Yamaha dealer can handle them. You would only need to go to the Vespa dealer for warranty work. The warranty does not require a Vespa dealer to do the routine stuff like oil changes, belt changes, etc.
They need service at 600 miles and then every 3000 miles. You may even want to do your own oil and filter changes.
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Just bought a black granite one. Man, is it fast… for South Beach scooting. Do states vary re: motorcyle license requirements when it comes to engine higher than 50 ccs?
Lucullus: I think every state requires a conventional motorcycle license for anything about 50cc. In Pennsylvania you need a license for a 50cc scooter. The only thing you don’t need a motorcycle license for is a moped. The define that as something 50cc or smaller and has pedals.
Check with your Motor Vehicle department for sure in your state.
Good luck!
I have decided to trade my mustang in for a vespa for college. I am stuck between the LX150, and the new S150 they are introducing next month. Does anyone have a take on which one would be best? After reading your article I am leaning toward the LX…but I have to say I love the look of the new model.
I was completely happy with the LX150 but I don’t know anything about the S150.
I would suggest visiting the Modern Vespa forum and checking what information is there. You can also post a question and people can give you firsthand information.
Good luck!
Hey Steve, let me start out by saying, great blog!. Your posts have answered every question i had when i first started looking at the possibility of purchasing a Vespa. That was almost a month ago and now as of 12:38PM I am a proud owner of a brand new LX150 and i couldn’t be happier. I was able to stop riding for just long enough to write this comment. Thanks again and good luck in all of your riding adventures
Does anyone know about the performance of LX150 when you have a pillon passenger? Would you have difficulty going up hill for example? Thanx in advance for the tips.
thank you everyone for all the info! i just lucked out today and won an LX150 in a raffle i had signed up for a couple of weeks ago. And it couldn’t have come at a better time. About two weeks ago I was in a collision that totaled my Kymco. As if not being too badly hurt wasn’t lucky enough, being given this much better replacement will truly be a blessing. I hope to get as much enjoyment from this scoot as you all seem to have!
dj: Thanks for the kind words. The Vespa is certainly seductive when it comes to riding and using up time.
anonymous: Depending on the grade the LX150 would certainly slow down going up a steep hill. One road here that goes over a mountain I can go between 40 and 50 MPH. With a passenger I bet I would lose 10 MPH.
steven: Congratulatons! I can’t think of many things cooler to win. (Except maybe one of those 100 million dollar lotteries…)
I’m in the market for buying a used vespa. ’06 LX 150 available…any update on your experiences/recommendations? Thanks.
I’ve been riding a Vespa GTS250ie for a little over two years now so my direct experience with the LX150 is old. that said I feel now as I did then—the LX150 is a solid machine, well built and reliable. I would think you would have no problem finding a used one.
I suggest you check out ModernVespa.com and pose any concerns you have there. There are lots of experienced people monitoring and posting. I find it a fantastic resource for all things modern Vespa!
suggest you check out ModernVespa.com and pose any concerns you have there. There are lots of experienced people monitoring and posting
Hello all,
Thanks for your experience explain here. This nicely running scooter is fitted with a Givi rear box, which is capable of handling. Keep it up always!
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