| Author | Message | ||
     Okc99 |
Back in 2007, I got the hankering for some fun on 2 wheels so I conducted an extensive search and realized I wanted a 150 Aprilia Scarabeo. I found a used one near Chicago so I went and picked it up. A nice ride, but it would only hit 60mph and I soon grew out of it as visions of long distance touring danced in my head. So 5 months later, I decided to “step up” to an ’07 Yamaha Majesty. At the time that was a leap. My S.O. at the time and I embarked on many 2-up trips and had some great times. It was extremely exciting back then going long distances for the first time. We felt like pioneers conquering the country side (on 379 cc’s!). 1 year later I was single again and found myself not using the Majesty much for short commutes or fun. I recall many a summer day looking at it, considering whether or not to take it out and thinking “it’s not worth the hassle”. I sold it soon after and later I moved to OKC. While there I found myself getting the bug again and decided to get a brand new 2007 Buell Ulysses. ** insert hours of X-rated bike-love stories here, intermixed with frustrating days spent getting it repaired** 12k miles later I decided to sell it because I was living in DC and had done all the 3-day weekend trips I could think of. And this was NOT the bike you want to use for short city rides (think heated thighs!) Anyway, it’s been 2 years since I’ve been on 2 wheels and after extensive searching which included SH150i, Kymco Yager 200, Kymco People 250S, 2012 Vstrom (man is that thing light on its feet!), a new Burgman 400, and a Honda NT700v…….I finally pulled the trigger on a new 2009 Vespa 250 GTS. I test drove it today and thought: 1) Tall windshield = no buffeting?, Check! 2) Great mpg?, Check! 3) Hwy capable? Check! 4) Big top case possible? , Check! 5) Decent dealer network? Check! 6) No chain? Check! 7) Fits my six two frame? Check! 8) Warm fuzzy for being eco-friendly? Check!!! The great thing about owning several bikes and racking up miles is this: You continually get closer to forming an opinion about what you really want in a bike, what you really value, and what you can do without. And that’s priceless. I take delivery next week and am farkling it out the ying yang. I’m moving back to DC this summer and look forward to weekend getaways to Lynchburg, VA. No one really cares for that town, but for some reason I love it! Civil war, that really nice restaurant. Excuse to hit Charlottesville on the way. Good times. Maybe even Roanoke. In the mean time I will do some Indiana/Ohio getaways! I’m in Bloomington, IN so brown county and French Licke are nearby. I pick the bike up next week. But man....that new 2012 Vstrom feels as light as this Vespa. I almost bought her on the spot. | ||
| Hooper |
You go boy! Good to see your handle pop up on here again...hope your time away from DC was good. My Uly is still running great, approaching 20,000 miles (being married and having another bike take a toll on the ride time). Only problem since I heard from you last is a voltage regulator that died. Love this bike. You be careful on those back roads to Lynchburg (I hear it's lovely, and you can pick up a Milwaukee Iron chopper), since you can't take the highways. Rock out! | ||
| Tastroman |
Congratulations on your new ride. I'm a bit of a scooter enthusiast myself so if you make it to Lynchburg pm me as I spend a lot of time exploring the back roads in SW Va on my scooter. | ||
| Classicprozac |
I really think that you said it right, You have to try different bikes to figure out what really suits you. The Uly is my next hack at it. I am just waiting to stop traveling so that gentleman I am trading with can meet halfway and hand off bikes. I am truly lucky with having a wife that understands my need (want). She has come to terms with having two bikes in the garage at all times. Have a blast on the new scoot! | ||
| Okc99 |
Thanks everyone. I've already ordered my ADV stickers and will be posting my adventures under the Battle Scooter section. I hear that it can actually beat the Uly from 0 to 5mph. So if anyone wants to drag race.... Sorry Hoop, no more roll-on drag races for me. It's gonna be all legit racing now  } | ||
| Eulysses |
I love my Uly but here in Kona for a couple months...and every Ruckus or scooter that goes by has me envious. | ||
| Buellerxt |
I can appreciate your thoughts on those passing scooters, Eulysses BUT, lets talk some SERIOUS envy! A couple of months in Kona! You fortunate dog! Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!!! | ||
| 7873jake |
Ahhhh, Kailua Kona and scooters (esp. Italian ones) are serious fun. I thought the Scarabeo came in a larger cc displacement? Now I have to take time from work to go look that up. Either way, owning a Vespa entitles you to wear one of the all-time coolest logo t-shirts ever. Congrats on that one! Eulysses, I used to go to Kona once a year for 2-3 weeks and there was this little hamburger joint there that sold grass fed Kona beef..."ultimate burger" or something like that. It wasn't that the burgers were phenomenal but the different ways that you could get them with all sorts of toppings (and, to be fair, they were pretty good). One of my coworkers always wanted to go to Lulu's (down-town'ish IIRC) because they could get Spaghetti-Os with each meal. To each their own. I always wanted to take either a KLR 250 or an XR250 or DR400 or some light-weight DS bike over with me. The whole island is just crazy for exploring and getting lost. I've felt more "in the middle of nowhere" in areas of that island than I have in 99% of the rest of the world. | ||
| Eulysses |
Kinda like "Ground Hog Day" here...warm and sunny each and every day. Tough duty. Bought a rusty Univega mountain bike that hung in a car port for 30 years...still had the little string things on the tires for $40 and that is my ride in Kona. If we continue to hang here in the winter I am going to stash something with a motor my wife won't mind riding on. Send over a nice old Elite 250 or something. Jake, burger joint still here...up by the gym I work out at. Good to hear from you BuellerXT! I love scooters. ATGATT just does not seem to apply...  | ||
| Uly_man |
"Spaghetti-O" Is that the new Vespa Super Bike? | ||
| Pontlee77 |
There must be a way to fit a Uly engine to a vespa. | ||
| Towpro |
I saw a rupp mini bike with a 1200 engine in it once. Surely if it fit in that it would fit in a vespa. Just this weekend I saw a Buell (I think its what they call a tuber) with a 1200cc thunderstorm engine with a turbo charger on it. That would really bring the life to a vespa. |
