Gabe Ets-Hokin
by Gabe Ets-Hokin
The Vespa waits outside the Colluseum while Gabe gets thrown to the lions.
Italians don't even know when they're being picturesque...
Newlyweds Leonardo Cirella and Maria Rosaria Stoccioli wanted to pose for wedding pictures with our scooter, so who were we to say no? MO wishes them a long and happy marriage.
Roman math: Cobblestones + Scooter= Pain.
People would just come over and stare at the Vespa, even if I was obviously trying to do photography.
  • My back hurts, but my ass doesn't bother me too badly. I think the cobblestones in Rome messed me up, but it's nothing a glass of wine and a bath won't cure.
  • It seems silly to complain when I have all of Italy around me, and the best of Italy to carry me to Florence. (Not to mention the really cute guy riding the Vespa right in front of me.)
  • For such a grubby country-well, at least Rome-the gas stations are very clean.
  • Why do they listen to American pop music in foreign countries? And why always the worst of it? Celine Dione? Yuk!
  • The Wife (who is clearly not a serious motojournalist but still has her charms)
If you don't think these shoes are important, you are not The Wife.
  • The European model has a sidestand, which proved very useful, although it's useless if you're parked on a hill. The USA model doesn't get one. The centerstand, however, is well-balanced and easy to use.
  • We were comfortable going about 100 miles between gas tanks and achieved a high mileage of 62 MPG, but that would dip down to under 40 with aggressive riding. The tank is claimed by Vespa to hold 2.5 gallons.
  • There's a folding hook for shopping bags or a man-purse under the steering column, which is very useful.
  • The seat unlocks from the ignition, a nice convenience feature since you don't have to remove the key to pop the seat.
  • The underseat storage tray lifts up easily to reveal the engine for servicing or inspection. There is a sticker on it that instructs the rider to not carry pets under the seat. Piaggio refrains from putting this sticker on their other products, which makes me wonder what it is about Vespa owners that makes them want to put their poodles and fluffy white cats under the seat. It must have happened, otherwise there wouldn't be a sticker, no?
Instruments are well-designed and easy-to-read, unlike the owner's manual, which had no English in it anywhere.
Gabe Ets-Hokin
Gabe Ets-Hokin

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