All posts tagged Vespa
New Vespa store in Milan
Vespa has opened a store in Milan, in a new space on Viale Vittorio Veneto, that follows other Vespa stores in Italy opened in Rome, Naples and Florence. The Italian fashion capital hosts the store in the shopping district of Corso Buenos Aires, and it’s designed not just as a scooter store, but also an information point on Vespa fashion and accessories.
For us two-wheelers, you will also find all the joys of the new Vespa models, in classic, vintage and sports range. The new GTS 125 Super and the LX 50 4Valvole are displayed, together with their accessory and clothing range.
More Vespa shops in Europe and Italy will follow, as the classic “Made in Italy” brand becomes even more popular. For full details on the Vespa store, see our news on Blog Dolce Vita.
Test ride Vespa GTS 125 Super
We had a test run a few days ago at the Vespa Day Milan of the new Vespa GTS 125 Super. One of our colleagues, back in the good old days, had a magnificant Vespa P200E from 1979, and he can confirm that taking out the new GTS 125 Super still gives you that true Vespa feeling. As we all know, a Vespa is a Vespa.
The Vespa style has always remained more or less what it is today, with only a few touches to modernise the scooter to keep up with current technology and the market. The new GTS 125 certainly makes use of Vespa’s strong points, showing off a classic 60’s style.
The engine is a single-cylinder 125 four-stroke, liquid cooled with the new Electronic Cooling System that guarantees reduced energy use and greater fuel efficiency. The electronic ignition combines to make 4.9 hp at 9,750 rpm.
Vintage Vespa in carbon: Nerocarbonio Vespa
After having looked at the lovely Bimota DB7 Nerocarbonio at Milan’s Design Week, on display was also a Nerocarbonio Vespa in carbon fibre. The vintage Vespa GS has been completely restored with carbon, which you can see in the photo below.
This Vespa is a truly special model, with the classic Vespa beauty dressed up with the modern and futuristic clothes of carbon fibre.
We are completely enchanted, and given the success, it looks as though the model will have a limited production of about ten units. The carbon fibre Vespa pic is after the jump.
Continue reading: Vintage Vespa in carbon: Nerocarbonio Vespa
New Vespa LX 50 4Valvole
With more news and pics of Vespa Day in Milan to come, a new Piaggio Vespa model presented is the Vespa LX 50 4Valvole (four valves). It’s a zippy city scooter with plenty of Vespa tradition and style to boot.
In the pics below we give you the full official gallery of the new Vespa LX 50, with its 50cc, four-stroke engine. The new model has the response and speed of a two-stroke, with the efficiency and reduced emissions of a four-stroke. Full press details below.
Vespa GTS 125 Super preview pics
These are the first pics released by Piaggio of the splendid new Vespa GTS 125 Super, which inherits the same elegant and aggressive style from the Vespa 300 Super. The new GTS 125 is designed to reflect and continue the style of legendary Vespa models of the past like the Vespa GS from 1955, the 180 SS from 1964, the 90 SS from 1965, the 200 Rally from ‘72, the ET3 from ‘76, and the T5 “Pole Position” from ‘85.
The GTS Super has electronic ignition, and appears elegant, comfortable and robust. It features side grill as on past Vespa models, with new twin-colour alloy wheels. It’s racing soul is on display, with rear suspension, red varnished spring, front sports style and chrome features.
The headlight is round and classic in style, with a black surround. The seat is typical sports Italian style, with black and grey finish. The original Vespa 125 engine dates back to 1948, rendered famous in the Roman Holiday film. Now the engine is agressive, sporty and safe, with easing handling and sprint capabilities.
2009 Vespa Vintage Catalogue
If you’re a proud owner of a classic and vintage Vespa, you’ll be more than happy when you read this press release from Piaggio.
Riders and restorers of classic Vespa scooters no longer need to play Russian roulette when buying spare parts and accessories, as Piaggio – manufacturer of the iconic machine – have updated its Vespa Vintage catalogue for 2009.
Now containing more than 900 spare parts and accessories, the catalogue is the one stop shop for any classic Vespa enthusiast, covering models going back to the early 1950s. It includes replacement mechanical, electrical and trim items, plus badges and memorabilia too.
Every item is identical to the original and made-to-measure using the finest materials available – so customers are guaranteed a perfect fit and long life from all components.
Every piece is manufactured in consultation with the Vespa Historical Register, the Vespa Club of Italy, the Vespa World Club and according to the drawings stored in the Piaggio Historical Archive. The Vespa Vintage catalogue is available to download free of charge from www.vespavintage.com.
1963 vintage Vespa pics
Here are some shots I took of an old Vespa, which was on the bench in the entrance to a restaurant where we had dinner on the weekend. The Vespa features two separate saddles for the rider and passenger, along with a spare wheel at the front.
I’m curious to know how heavy such a Vespa would be, if anyone knows. How many people would it take to lift onto the bench…? More gallery photos after the jump.
The Piaggio Museum
If you ever have the chance to visit Italy, especially the Florence and Pisa area in Tuscany, why not take some time to visit the Museo Piaggio “Giovanni Alberto Agnelli” in Pontedera .
The museum has halls that display Vespa and Gilera collections alongside the most significant of Piaggio’s numerous products.
The Vespas on display are the most beautiful and the rarest of their kind, such as the prestigious Vespa Dali’ or the record-breaking Vespas. Beside the Vespa are the products that made the history of the company before it, the mopeds such as the Ciao and Si’ that marked an epoch and the multi-functional Ape, the truck that artisans and retailers over the generations have used and appreciated for its versatility.
Yellow Vespa sidecar at Vinitaly wine fair
While at Vinitaly to go exploring the world of Italian wine, I came across this vintage style Vespa with a sidecar as a promo piece for white wines from Friuli. With a topless woman clutching a bottle, and saying “the only white I love”, it was a rather unusual thing to have stumbled across at the wine fair.
I couldn’t figure out if the Vespa and sidecar were prizes in a raffle or if they were just there as a feature piece to attract visitors. More pics after the jump
Continue reading: Yellow Vespa sidecar at Vinitaly wine fair
Wooden Vespa toy for children
This wooden tricycle-style Vespa toy is cute, but not of Italian production. Instead, the Moulin Roty, found on Baroque Babies blog, comes from France and is a Vespa toy for children.
The wooden Vespa also comes with a story of two little rabbits, Mila and Malo, who are on their way to the seaside for Sunday picnic. It costs 97 euros and while it doesn’t have the excitement that we know from Vespa, getting the children started early is no bad thing. Good things come to those who wait and I only wish I was a kid again…
Vespa GTS 300 vs GTS200: which is best?
We recently got an email from Mike who wanted to know how the Vespa GTS 300 stacks up against the former model, the GT200. The big question was over price: is the GTS 300 worth the 2,000 dollars more?
Here’s a couple of points from our original post last year, on the launch of the Vespa GTS 300 super:
The Vespa GTS 300 Super is a more powerful Vespa that hasn’t been produced since 1946. It has been created to continue the elegant sporty lines seen on the legendary models of the Vespa GS 1955, the 90SS of ‘66, the 200 Rally of ‘72, the ET3 of ‘75 and the T5 of 1985.
Driven by a modern and powerful four valve liquid cooled engine and with electronic ignition, the GTS 300 Super distinguishes itself for the extraordinary elasticity and brilliancy of the engine and for the elegant lines of the best Vespa sporting tradition.
Vespa Wheeling Show Italian style
The tip we got for this video reads “this is the presentation of what’s possible with a Vespa in 100% Italian style”. And really, for this Vespa freestyle video, we can say no more.
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