Vespa GTS 300 Long Term Review - It's not Perfect ...

[@AliasMrHackenbacker]

I bought a used Vespa GTS 300 a couple of years ago from A&D motorcycles and I can honestly say that I love it and have never regretted buying it. I've been a biker for nearly 50 years and got into scooters (as well) nearly 30 years ago. I have owned the big superscooters from Yamaha and Suzuki(which have handbrakes) but find the Vespa to be more compact and lighter whilst giving away very little in performance. My only gripe about the Vespa is that the main text speedo is in KM/H with MPH in small font. Fuel consumption is excellent and it has enough go to undertake long journeys. Storage underseat is good and with a bag on the rear rack I can get enough stuff for a week away. There is a very active owners club and lots of scooter clubs throughout the UK (and world) that host events. My solution for sat nav is a Beeline moto 2 which is very neat and heated gloves overcomes cold fingers! although you can fit heated grips. The accessory catalogue is vast enabling you to really customise the scooter for your own needs and style. I still have my Royal Enfields and use them in conjunction with the Vespa so I have the best of both worlds

[@volt8684]

Yeah I think 250-300cc sweetspot for scooters. Or 125 if a town commuter. My 125 Cc did 140mpg. My 250/300 yam and honda 70 ish as temptation to pin it😂. Taken my xmax to Spain and back twice cruising at 65. On my big bike racing a long. Exciting but wasteful. Some of the new scooters are becoming monoshock which will improve things no end. My xmax like a bloody skateboard

[@craigyllyn]

Thanks for this. I think you make some very valid and valuable points . They do compliment REs well don’t they! Heated gloves! I definitely failed to mention them. I really should have. Thanks

[@markb3180]

Comprehensive review, good to see you're getting on with the Vespa. 👍👍

[@craigyllyn]

Cheers Mark. Yes I really am. Better than expected in all honesty. It’s no 1000cc sports tourer but it’s a very versatile tool

[@markb3180]

@@craigyllyn God for you me old mate.

[@volt8684]

My only negatives on my xmax250/honda300 is the harsh suspension and smaller wheels require avoiding large potholes. I am a convert on maintenance alone. The rear wheel tyre change or puncture is also not for feint hearted. Involves quite a bit of work on my bikes at least. Never ridden a Vespa style scoot. Prefer the modern ones to look at. Also the tiny wheels were a swine on my yamaha Cygnus which I think are same size. I rode a 500cc t max in Spain and my god its bloody fast. There’s a vlog on here that shows a honda blackbird and tmax500 having a tussle in bendy mountains and the blackbird could not leave it. Have also ridden suzuki 650 scooter and that is wonderful but a cruising machine and very heavy. For lightness and performance I prefer 300cc. My friend has just bought a Honda silver wing 650 2004 30k miles full history never failed an mot for £800

[@craigyllyn]

I had heard that about T Maxes. An amazing thing I’d love to try myself. That Silverwing sounds like a good alternative. Especially at that price! I do agree that the modern bikes look much more modern. I do think they L better than many “proper” bikes. I’m lucky to have good roads round here. So it does affect my views. I do think I might change my mind if I go to a pockmarked city!! Great comments from you. Cheers

[@gkelly34]

The scenery is amazing, where in wales is that? Loved the review, thanks 🙏

[@craigyllyn]

Glad you liked it. The video starts on the A5 heading north out of Betws y Coed through Capel Curig. I turn left at the Climbers Shop (Joe Browns I think) . It’s the road to Beddgelert. The ride goes right at Pen y Gwrd up to Pen y Pass then down the Llanberis Pass. The walk around footage was actually filmed in a different place. Instead of turning right at Pen y Gwrd hotel carry straight on and you’ll find the Snowdon Viewpoint free car park on the right just before the road gets narrow. The big KZbin channels always seem to feature it. Hope it helps. If not contact me again ( DM on insta is good) and I’ll try to help you 😊👍😊

[@gkelly34]

@ thank you! I can’t wait to visit ❤️

[@craigyllyn]

@gkelly34 what type of bike would you be on?

[@riotofmyown]

I have moved on from Royal Enfields 350/650 to Vespa 300 for my ‘small bike’. I have a bigger bike too, but could easily live without it, having now toured France/Spain on the Vespa. Pillion prefers the Vespa too.

[@craigyllyn]

Thanks. Good information there. Thanks👍

[@shaun30-3-mg9zs]

Hi Graham, interesting to hear your thoughts on your Vespa GTS 300 ,the pros and cons. By the look of things your seem happy with it. The modern Vespas are a lot different to the Mod machine of the past which were great scooters. Nice ride from Capel Curig to Pen-y-Gwryd along the Llanberis Pass in to Llanberis, enjoy the weather while you can. Great video catch you soon take care

[@craigyllyn]

Thanks for the nice comments. Yes I’m really enjoying it. More and more with each ride

[@exeterrider]

I agree with the handbrake thing, that's the issue I have with all scooters when parking. If a bike is fun to ride then you're home and dry! It's something different to what many others go for, I think the brand should do more to push themselves out there. Good watch for anyone thinking of a vespa. I heard all vespas come with a few Quadaphina dvd, is that true? 😂

[@craigyllyn]

I really hadn’t thought about brand exposure in this. Their current new media presence has been utterly awful. It took several months for one of their models to have any signs of happiness. And only a glimpse of a bike occasionally. But they did display bikinis and towels ad infinitum! Honestly? It was dire in the extreme. I must stop because I feel my blood boiling 😂 Quadrophenia? Not just that. You get a Parka and a tonic suit plus directions to The infamous alley if you live in the UK. Home market customers get Roman Holiday and an inflatable doll that looks just like the fims heroin and a bar of Galaxy. Allegedly. I might have made all that up😉😉

[@ricbarnes6272]

Hi, ric here from ontario canada, the vespa is a really nice bike if a bit overpriced, not because of what it is but just that like bmw & a lot of other bikes, triumph etc, i feel that they are just a lot of $$ for a motorcycle. I'm 76 & have been riding since i was 16 yrs olde & have had lots of mcs, presently i have a 650 susuki s40 boulavard, lovely little bike, but i also have a 2006 piaggio bv 500 which as you probably know is just an oversized vespa, black mtallic paint with matching hard cases , i've had this bike for about 7 yrs & i swear that i will never sell it, in my opinion these so called scooters are nice to own & more than great to ride out any where , anytime. It's funny though to hear you talk about parking on a down grade, my issue entirely & the bit about rain coming thro' on the trousers, too true, it can look as though you had a little accident if you get my drift. I had a 650 burgman & it had an emergency brake, i think that all mcs should have some form of "e" brake, it would solve a few issues of parking on inclines. Anyway, long winded, sorry about that, nice video, nice bike, thanks, ric.

[@craigyllyn]

Lovely comment and welcome! Glad I am not alone regarding the issues. You make very good points. I bet the BV Goes well! Thanks for taking the time to comment. No problem with a long comment. Always great to read. Cheers again Ric

[@neilyplim]

Dear Graham, Thanks for taking the time to make and upload this video. I drove from Birmingham to Llanberis last year, and stayed at the YHA Hostel at Pen y Pass for three nights when I climbed Snowdon, so your video brought back some very nice memories. Your Vespa 300 GTS...... in all honesty, do you feel that it would cope with motorway speeds (around 70m.p.h +) for extended periods of time? To put it more clearly, if I took it over to Europe to do some touring, could the engine comfortably cope with those sorts of speeds, for three to four hours at a time, day after day, for a week or two? I would be very interested to hear your thoughts, based on your own personal experience. Once again, many thanks. Warmest regards, Neil (West Mids).

[@craigyllyn]

That’s really nice of you. You ask an excellent question. One I was thinking about as I was riding on the A55 over the weekend. If you don’t mind, I’d like to think some more before I answer. It deserves a considered answer. I don’t want my own prejudices to cloud my judgement! I might just answer or pop up a video. It’s a subject that deserves a proper response.

[@neilyplim]

@@craigyllyn Thank you. I shall look forward to your response. N :)

[@craigyllyn]

@neilyplim cheers. Thanks for your question. It’s really got me thinking!

[@stephenstewart4295]

Can j ask whereabouts in North Wales you are in this video? Planning on getting myself a Vespa when the 310 version comes out, so long as they make it in white!

[@Wussag]

It's Snowdonia, Llanberis area.

[@craigyllyn]

I was riding from The Swallow Falls Hotel just outside Betws y Coed where I had just finished filming a video about Spies! This video starts as I turned off the A5 at the top of Capel Curig heading to Pen y Gwrd. At the Pen y Gwrd hotel I turn right and up over the Llanberis Pass to Llanberis. Just after the overtake was Pen y Pass