I was only teasing you. Vespas are cool. Just kind of trendy. I see allot of college kids driving them around. Honda has there own version of the Vespa. It's an obvious knock-off!
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y15...litan_Ruby.jpg

MNBoxster wrote:
> I agree that a Vespa may not be Macho enough for some guys, but they
> really don't get it. I'm not that insecure that I care what others may think

I'm sure that's what the Yugo owners say too.

-- peer (just teasing)

not this guy, a 1987 widebody Yugo wit 2 cadillac northstar engines, all wheel drive, and corvete wheels with slicks.
we saw him at the autox few weeks back, he was just a second slower than a shifter kart
http://i7.tinypic.com/505hxlf.jpg

Hi,

That's a nice looking Sportster...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

Thanks. I love it. Very minimalist!

Love the vespa, good luck and be safe!

48MPG! (More if I could stop giving it so much stick all the time)

http://vorlon.case.edu/~jpv/M3/SV1000.jpg

Naples, huh? I lived there from 86 to 88. Our house was across the main street from Lago Patria. I even found it on Google Maps.

Doesn't sound like a bad price on the scooter... If I didn't have to get on a highway to get anywhere, I'd love to have one... I wonder, it does require a class M license, right? I'd have to get that...

take it to bike night at the Ducati shop
 

Jim,
You will have to take the new baby out to bike night at the Duc shop in Minneapolis. That's one sleek baby.
Charlie

Sweet bike, NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think the Vespa is very cool but I'm not sure I would get one in the Twin Cities for safety reasons. When I used to live in the 'burbs of Chicago a Vespa would have been great, lots of side roads and places to cruise etc...

In Minnesota it is hard to go anywhere without getting on a major highway. I don't think I would trust the other drivers to be on a Vespa going down 35W. I see too many people drinking coffee, talking on the cell phone, and putting on makeup while they are driving :eek:

Anyhow, I think its cool and I will keep my eyes open for you.

On a side note, I think you have a red 986, were you driving downtown yesterday?

Hi,

@Doc Burton - Thanks! But you'd be surprised, if you have a Map program, such as Microsoft's Streets & Trips, you can find your way all over the TC w/o ever touching a Highway.

I am in the process of getting my M Endorsement (lost it after many years) and am taking the MSF course next week. If all goes well, I'll have the endorsement by next Sunday. Until then, my Permit restricts me from going on a Freeway anyway.

The Bike now has 135 mi. on it (3mi. when I picked it up), and it's all coming back to me - literally like Riding a Bike...lol ;)

I plan on doing some Freeway Driving, like short scoots on I-94 to 5th Street (Dwtn. Mpls.) or 10th Street (Dwtn. St. Paul). Each of these is less than 4 mi. from my entrance Ramp - Cretin/Vandalia. I live on River Blvd. in St. Paul, and I can even follow this right into Dwtn. Mpls, or take it to Shepard Road and come out in Dwtn. St. Paul. It will out-accelerate most cars 0-60, has a Top Speed a little over 80MPH, so merging down the On-Ramps won't pose too many issues. And in MN, 2-wheeled vehicles are POV Lane qualified. I'll significantly increase my following distances, but the Scooter has plenty in Reserve to aid if the need arises.

Admittedly, one has less of a Safety Margin than in a Car, but it's the same for a Motorcycle, and a Scooter is slightly more stable as it's weight is closer to the ground, and at 550 - 700 lbs. (incl. Riders), and 12" Tires, it's pretty stable. I'm adding a Headlight Modulator to increase visibility and conspicuity.

But, I didn't buy it for primarily Freeway Travel, it may add to the Trip time staying off them, but with a Scooter it's at least as much about the Journey than the Destination...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

PS Wasn't me in Dwtn. the other day. But, I know of at least one clone of my car - there is a guy in Stillwater that has a '99 identical to mine (Guards Red w/ Tan), but he has the 17" Wheels to my 18's.

Jim,

When you said 2 seater and Italian I thought for sure you would be posting pictures of a Ferrari in the near future...

Although I am not a big "scooter" fan, I gotta say that the Vespa is pretty cool !

Congrats on your purchase, be safe and enjoy...

Nick

scooter smut :o

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/124282/more_kama_scooter/

http://tvmedia.ign.com/tv/image/arti...629992-000.jpg

geez, how many of us do or used to live in MN?

Update - Vespa GT 200
 

Hi,

Well , almost 2 mos. in and I gotta tell you this thing is an absolute fr*ggin' Blast to own and ride!

Got my full 'M' endorsement 11 days after picking it up and 2,200 trouble-free miles later and I still can't get enough. I've filled it 11 times for a grand total of 27.5 gal. and $84.15 in Gas.

It generates lots more attention, thumbs-up, questions and Smiles :) than I ever got in my Boxster. Mrs. MNBoxster and I have run it all over town. You can park anywhere and never get a ticket. While used generally about town, I have had it on the Freeway on several occaisions and topped it out at 83MPH before hitting the limiter. Very doable, but I pretty much restrict it to 55-60MPH Highways, because at 80MPH, things just happen too fast for a two-wheeler.

The only required maintenance to-date has been a mandatory Oil/Filter/Tranny Fluid change at 600 mi. (Break-in Period) which I did myself for $18.23, next scheduled Service is at 4,000 mi. - probably late Fall Storage time.

I have upgraded the shocks and added a Windscreen, a Topcase, an extra Front Running light (I custom painted the Horn Cover in proper Tri-colore theme) for conspicuity, along with a Euro Tailight - see below. Gotta say that for the cost of just a few of the popular Boxster upgrades (about $4,400 all in), this thing has been money and time well spent.

Since acquiring it, the Boxster has been driven only twice for a total of 42 mi. I'm even considering dumping the Boxster for lack of use - had the Battery die for the 1st time ever and now have it out of the car on a Tender. If I keep the Boxster, I'm downgrading my Ins. next year to 2,500 mi., because I'll be wasting about 3,000 mi. of coverage this year.

I've perused this board from time-to-time, but see that it's mainly the same stuff - lots of recurrent issues, but some new owners as well. That's good, hope everyone's doing OK...

Happy Motoring!... Jim

Looking good! A couple of my friends actually trailer their Vespas to Road American then use them to get around. RA only allows licensed vehicles (officially anyhow) past the front gate.

Another one of my friends (a 930 owner) brings a motorized skateboard in the back seats!! No one at the gate would ever suspect something like that to be in a 930.

Hey Jim !

Good to hear from you, and nice scoot ! Hadn’t seen you post in awhile, and I was wondering how you were doing and if you kept the Box. Glad you and the Mrs. are enjoying the new toy…

Nick