Paperwork and Patience
The amount of paperwork necessary to commence a transfer of a motor vehicle in Pennsylvania is daunting enough to make you think the State would really rather it wasn’t done. And that doesn’t even begin to include processing the paperwork through the byzantine system of the Department of Transportation. I have to remind myself that if this represents the sort of problems I have in life, then I’m one lucky man.
Paul and I traveled to Altoona, Pennsylvania to gather up a 2004 Vespa ET4. Simply put — it’s a beauty.
Passing the Torch
Paul was the original owner of the Vespa ET4, buying it new back in 2004. A few years later he sold it to my father-in-law Bob who fell in love with the scooter and riding. From time to time we would ride together. He rode it for over ten years until he died suddenly almost two years ago. Bob wanted my wife and me to have the Vespa.
To keep it in the family.
A New Old Vespa
The scooter has sat in the garage for a couple of years. And Bob hadn’t been riding a lot for the past five. I expected some issues related to getting the carburated scooter running. First was the installation of a new battery. Then some fresh fuel in the tank. A little starting fluid in the air intake and it started right up. It ran a little rough for a few minutes but then idled fine and ran ok. I had gotten some advice that I would have to rebuild the carb, replace the fuel tap, the vacuum and fuel lines, and a host of other things.
So far though the scooter engine runs like new. My fingers are crossed that it will stay that way. After assessing the scooter I decided to change the oil and filter, air filter, hub oil, belt and roller change, and flush the brake fluid. The tires look new but sadly they’re not. A quick look at the DOT codes shows one tire to be 15 years old and the other 5 years old.
So a quick order online with ScooterWest had everything in my hands in a few days.
Not Quite Legal
While the insurance and registration are in order, the scooter needs to have the Pennsylvania Safety Inspection. It’s scheduled for early August along with some other services at the beginning of August. Until then I just ride around the neighborhood to work out any bugs in the scooter. It’s been a long time since I had ridden a 150cc scooter. Man, it’s fun.
Breakfast Ride
Part of running around the neighborhood is a trip to the Pump Station Cafe. It’s just down the street. Normally, I walk down with one of the dogs. With the “new” scooter around, I’ve been riding.
I think I’ve seen one of the dogs biting on the front tire of the Vespa ET4.
There’s a lot going on and I’m also mired in the summer doldrums. I don’t like the heat and I become lethargic about riding when the temperature gets to 80F. And I’m preoccupied with producing videos for YouTube. I’ve resisted admitting it but I’ve gotten tired of writing.
Who knows what tomorrow will bring though..
Wow…been awaiting your writing about this bike. Sad to hear the process of officially getting thi thing in your hands went like a scene from the movie Brazil. Now I’m looking forward to your adventures and observations as a result of this addition.
I’ve been in a non-productive funk regarding the blog. Like so many experiences in my life, the shiny object syndrome related to making YouTube videos has taken hold. It’s a different, and dare I say “easier”, process than writing. Staring at a blank page or screen never happens to me when making videos.
So that’s why it’s taken some time to write even this short post. But once I start riding it more I’m sure that will change. Unless it only appears on YouTube!
Beautiful little scoot, THE classic modern scooter! I started riding NelliBelle, a 2003 ET4, only a dozen years ago, and eventually added NelliBee, a 2013 GTS, for longer excursions. NelliBelle had already carried me from Albany, NY, up to Canada, west to the Finger Lakes, east to Cape Anne, Cape Cod, and Martha’s Vineyard, and yes, down into Central Pennsylvania, but a 300 would stay with the traffic flow over the Berkshires and through the Adirondacks.
The ET4 is a sturdy little scooter perfect for about town. I’ve found that adding fuel stabilizer when putting to bed for the winter will mean an easy start in the spring. The one unsolved mystery, kinda like the infamous 300 wobble, is a loud growl noise from the transmission when accelerating from a stop.
Sad about your father-in-law, Bob, but he must have loved the scooter to make sure it went to a good family! Good luck and many years of joyous riding (and remembering Bob) on your ET4.
It is pretty. More so than my old LX150. There’s just a fine design elegance to the ET4.
Thanks for sharing your experiences riding yours. I suspected I could ride it a long way but it’s good to have someone share that directly.
Since I don’t put any of my two-wheeled machines to bed in the winter I don’t worry about fuel stabilizers. But I will have to add a Battery Tender for the ET4. As far as sounds go, my ET4 doesn’t growl. It sounds ok. I think. I’ll have to listen more closely to make sure but it doesn’t seem to make any odd noises.
Bob did love that scooter. I regret not riding more with him.
Nice looking scoot! Speaking of Pennsylvania DMV problems, I had the DR650 sold a month and a half ago, or so I thought. The title couldn’t be processed because it has a tiny red “for export” stamp on it from my Round the World (RTW) trip. I’m STILL trying to get a replacement title. The buyer does not want to make the 3 hour trip again, so that sale is lost. Another prospective buyer said it took him only 48 hours to get a replacement title in New York state. š
Sorry to hear about the title issues on your DR650. I think anything out of the ordinary causes problems. With the ET4 there was extra paperwork because it involved transferring from a deceased individual and required heirs to sign away their rights to it. That was more forms and notarizations.
It’s a beautiful scooter. I look forward to having everything made current on it and riding it through the sticks.
The ET4 is the best Vespa of them all. Fast and easy to live with I bought my 2004 identical to yours with 200 miles on it and sold it when I became a van nomad. I hope you like it.
So far I’m loving it. I’m not ready to pronounce it the best but perhaps that will come true.
Now that you’re a van nomad you’ve changed. The portrait of you draped in the drivers seat in your latest blog post has you looking relaxed and thoughtful. What happened???
Your ET4 is a beautiful machine to ride around your neighborhood. I would imagine that you will get lots of positive comments. Have a good ride.
Last year, after missing the GY6 powered scooter I sold two years before, I bought another GY6 only this one has 170cc. It’s always good to have more power, and the other three do that, but it’s comforting to be out on something with less power for a change and taking in the scenery at a slower pace. I’m sure the ET-4 will be the source of new reflections on your rides. It’s gentle nature will inspire you..
Very nice to see that the 150 still holds some charm for a rider as experienced as you.
I’m afraid that I am headed in a completely different direction.
My beloved Vespa has been sitting idle.
I remain solidly addicted to having fun on two wheels, but my Brompton is the current mistress.
There is just nowhere to go on the Vespa: no commute, the local scooter club didn’t survive Covid…
That and the fact that a sudden unexpected windfall has me seriously considering a range extender for the Brompton: a gently used, supercharged, low-ish mileage, manual shift, shiny, convertible, Mini Cooper S. I see myself dropping the top, dropping the Brompton in the back seat, and setting off in search of more distant bike trails.
If that comes to pass, I am fairly certain the Vespa will be the next to pass… to new ownership.
That is the story of my vehicle romances: a Miata displaced by a Vespa, a Vespa being displaced by a Brompton, and my heart of hearts that misses the top-down, vroom-vroom, convertible experience, assuaged by a super peppy Mini Cooper S drop-top.
I feel a little like a cad, to be honest.
Life moves along mysterious paths David. Who are we to question it? Or feel like a cad because we grow and change. It’s not written anywhere that we have to do the same thing over and over for the rest of our lives. If you’re done with the Vespa that’s cool. But I understand the reluctance. I’ve felt a similar twinge in my gut when I gave up shooting film with big view cameras. As if I betrayed some cosmic truth.
Have fun in the Mini Cooper! Those things look cool. I’m stuck with my sad, faux mini — the Honda Fit…
If you are still thinking about selling your vespa, Iām interested!
I have always said that if I had to get rid of all my scooters but one it would be the trusty 2007 150 LX . It is light, nimble, trusty having taken me to California and back and just fun to ride.
I tend to agree with you Ken. The 150 may be the ultimate choice in a Vespa. I’m already mulling what will happen when my GTS succumbs to something expensive to repair. Do I buy a new GTS? Do I live with just the ET4? These are really tough, first-world, guys with money troubles…
Hey Steve can’t beat a 150 jump on scoot and go.My love for light and nimble rides i guess goes back to my first mini-bike days. Sold my Yamaha 400 majesty to buy my first Vespa 2006 lx150.The 400 was the largest machine I have ever owned.Currently still riding my Sym citicom 300i. I have a hankering to get a kymco spade 150 mini motorcycle. I’m 6ft.160 lbs. An odd sight on a ride like that I know but at 67 so what ..Enjoy the Et4 and the memory of your father in law ..He has a new ride i bet way BETTER than even a Vespa..
The 150 is absolutely jump and go. It’s so light and nimble, even compared to the GTS. I had forgotten what that was like.
As you say, when you get to be our age, who cares what anything looks like. That frame of mind is a gift in itself. I know a lot of people where how things look to others still drives their bus…
I think of my father-in-law ever time I look at the ET4. I miss him a lot.
When Bob hugged me like that I didn’t know what to do with my hands. I wanted to make sure to keep them away from his bum area or worse so I held them in the air to be safe. g; – )
Hello! Can i ask for color code? Ä°f u know please share with me. Thank you!
Sorry for the delay in responding.
I’ve looked high and low on the scooter and cannot find the Paint Code anywhere. There was supposed to be a sticker under the pet carrier but if there was it has fallen away. It’s definitely a unique color. And since it’s almost 20 years old it may not be available anymore.