TheScooterScoop

Of the 2007 Vespa releases, it’s the Vespa S (or LXS… marketing still hasn’t made up their mind) that I am anticipating most. Not that I don’t love the GT60, but I imagined that this baby would fit my wife’s budget a bit better.

Next step, find out when we can take a test ride. I proceed to call my local Vespa Boutique to get the scoop… what I get instead is uncertainty with a side order of disappointment, in other words I was told “I’m not sure when we’ll see it, but I think it’s a Europe only release.”

Not content with that, I called their mother-shop in San Antonio and was told the same thing. Europe ONLY? Eghads! No skinny legshield, trap headlight, racing seat goodness for us ‘Mericans? Where’s the love Piaggio? wheres the love?

To show you what we potentially could be missing out on, I pasted the press release below. Let’s hope that it isn’t so… We deserve to see the Vespa S here and even though it’s just a 124cc scooter, I think it’ll still move a few units… at least ONE in Austin.

Press Release
The appeal of the racing “Vespino” lives on in the shape of the all-new Vespa S. The minimalist design of the Vespa S traces its origins to legendary models such as the 50 Special and the Vespa Primavera.

Sport, dynamism and originality are the trademarks of the all-new Vespa S. Clean, essential lines provide a minimalist version of the original Vespa legend.

The reduced handlebar on the Vespa S holds a new rectangular headlamp. It’s not the first time we’re seeing a Vespa headlamp in this shape: Vespa fans will remember its use on the extraordinary 50 Special, a teenage icon in the Fabulous Seventies. The front shell is now bigger and hosts a new air intake that confers an aggressive touch to the frontal.

Downsized to highlight the view of the suspension, the mudguard in a new shape features stylish chrome trim for a sleeker look. Its reduced size also puts the wheel and the light alloy wheel rims on display in a tribute to the Vespa S’s performance and technological content.

But it is the front shield that has gone through the most significant changes. It is back to being a two-dimensional structure: no plastics, only the pure lines that have always been the Vespa’s trademark. The very simplicity and minimal thickness of the shield make it a strong design element.

The seat has a new shape with two versions available: a single seat that highlights the vehicle’s racy dynamism or a two-seater for extra comfort and use with a passenger. Both versions are impeccably clad in new upholstery with a classy clear trim to highlight the shape of the seat.
The rear end of the Vespa S has an all-new look: the shape is sleek and simple with a new tail light designed especially for this model to enhance its dynamism.

The minimalist yet striking design and simple yet stylish lines of the Vespa S evoke the fresh, dynamic look that made the Vespa the favourite ride of 1960s and 1970s teenagers.

The front wheel has a diameter of 11” to give the Vespa S stability and the rider an obvious feel of safety. The tubeless tyres measure 110/70 in front and 120/70 on the 10” rear wheel. The braking system is a conventional disk-drum combination. The stainless steel front 200 mm disk brake is gripped by a two-piston caliper and dependably backed up by a 110 mm drum. The 8.6 lire fuel tank is placed inside the chassis without however reducing the underseat storage bay, making it easy to access the engine.

The Vespa S is available in two classic displacements, 50 and 125 cc, on which the Vespa’s reputation was built. Light, speedy and very quick off the mark in town traffic, the two-stroke 50cc is perfect for young riders while the 125 version, equipped with a modern, environment-friendly four-stroke engine, stands out for its performance, low running costs and total compatibility with the stringent Euro 3 emissions norms.