The Vespa at 80

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• Hacker News
• It's the coolest thing on 2 wheels only in CBC's imaginary world.
  by stackedinserter
• Thanks I hate it, extremely noisy and dirty. I really wish the brand dies with fossil fuels.
  by kalessin
• Vespa has electric models now.
  by timbit42
• modern vespas are none of those things.
  by nickthegreek
• Thankfully all this stuff has been or is being killed by ebikes and escooters which are vastly better technology.
  by fooblaster
• Um, sorry. If you've ever sat behind a poorly maintained vespa at a stop light, and in it's cloud of exhaust when it takes off, then you definitely don't think it's cool...

  Same thing for old beetles and VW buses. Total smog creators.

  Electric is where it's at.

  Can the cool kids catch up?

  by johnea
• In my 20s I tried with two other friends to raise some money from local businesses to sponsor a coast to coast trip in the US on our vespas (I had 1968 150 Sprint Veloce in red). It didn’t work out, but now that I’m in my 40s I understand it would have been a terrible idea ^^’
  by ziofill
• Meh. I guess people like the style. The Honda Cub had far more impact worldwide and is a superior machine in every aspect.
  by goethes_kind
• > a superior machine in every aspect.

  Style?

  by lostlogin
• Vespa VBB 150 from 1969 owner here, love it!
  by marques576
• Vespa VBB 150 from 1964 owner here, love it!
  by marques576
• Cheryl Tunt: "Mopeds are fun, but you don't want your buddies to see you riding one."
  by jgalt212
• Unless you're in UK.

  https://lambrettauk.co.uk/post/rockers-vs-mods-a-short-histo...

  by pjmlp
• …and here I am a dumb American tourist who knew nothing about Vespa’s and was just upset because I couldn’t get my uber and missed my train.

  Now I want one!

  by akmiller
• Heavy, uncomfortable, not eco-friendly, and overpriced.
  by academicfish
• There are electric models now.
  by timbit42
• The coolest thing if you're not behind them inhaling their exhaust fumes.
  by amelius
• The older ones had more fumes. Newer models are cleaner. There are also electric models now.
  by timbit42
• I have a Vespa PX 125 from 1984. It's a very robust motorbike, very less maintenance and really funny to drive with the gearshifter. The only problem is about brakes: there are basically useless and you should be really careful on using them, especially if you are driving on wet road. Bad brakes and small wheels is a terrible combination.

  Probably the main regret to WFH is not using my Vespa anymore as I did when I was going everyday in the office.

  by lormayna
• Grew up in India riding my Vespa (LML Vespa). A 150cc scooter. It was very old technology I guess but I never had problems with it. The new Vespa looks very cool and seems to have much better balance. It makes me very happy to see Vespa now on the roads at times where I live. I always think, someday I will buy one.
  by srameshc
• Ah ah my youth! I had a Vespa with a 200cc engine, three speeds, from the 80s: this thing would do a wheelie in 1st gear. And very hard to control wheelie for the weight is uneven on a Vespa. My brother had a rare Vespa 125 cc from 1961 or something: when he left the country he sold it to a friend who still owns it.

  Another friend of mine --the reason we all had Vespa back then-- could disassemble and reassemble them with his eyes closed, including the engine.

  We'd go to flea markets and garage sales around the country looking for Vespa, Lambrettas and even french Solex for sale. Best find was not a Vespa though but a real Honda Monkey Z50.

  One day I forgot to put oil in a Vespa and the engine just froze: cylinder expanded in the piston and rear-wheel locked in place. Somehow I didn't crash. I put oil (you typically had oil with you, in a tiny trunk), waited for the thing to cool down: it just started back up (!).

  These were the days, thanks for posting that on HN.

  P.S: it's really sad we cannot have nice things posted without having the majority of comments being from environmental-jihadists : (

  by TacticalCoder
• I had a 50cc and also could do wheelies. I loved my Vespa, it was always ready for whatever I wanted to do. Sometimes 45kmh, in a warm day even 55.
  by herbst
• > without having the majority of comments being from environmental-jihadists

  Not to break your wishful thinking filled bubble, but those are very clearly not "will somebody please think about the environment" type comments. Plenty of people simply fucking despise the ever living shit out of this class of vehicle, just in general.

  You really don't need to give two hot shits about the environment to find scooters obnoxiously loud smoke factories, to have a problem with that, and to be absolutely fucking over them as a result. Delivery drivers made sure of that in the past years. I'm sure it's much more convenient for you to just file it under your favorite political grift, but I assure you with confidence, the hate on these is entirely self-interested and genuine.

  by perching_aix
• I've had a 2016 150cc LXVie in silver with maroon leather since new; have put about 6,000 city miles on it. It's a wonderful machine. I bought it when my wife died after we had taken the motorcycle certification together in anticipation of getting one someday soon. I'm in the process of selling it now, though, as it's time. But it's such an iconic brand and I constantly get thumbs up and even notes left on it.
  by incanus77
• I love Vespas. I have a bunch of old Hondas that are amazing for different reasons but they’re all motorcycles so people will randomly try to kill me to prove a point. But on a Vespa you can do anything and people will just smile and wave. Literally everyone loves them. I went on a day ride with some friends and while they were refilling their motorcycles I just rode circles around them in the gas station because I could. Then I passed everyone on the highway because I could do that too. They’re hilarious.
  by mulmen
• Possibly the coolest thing I’ve ever seen was a guy coming up to an intersection on a Vespa. Somehow he chucked it sideways and skidded down the lane scrubbing off speed, then straightened up, split the lanes and hit the front as the light went green, and took off.

  Completely alarming and rather dangerous to all around him.

  by lostlogin
• This is a nice movie https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8885658/ (Enrico Piaggio - Un sogno italiano)
  by arnejenssen
• Iconic design, but way too noisy and dirty. Article doesn't mention "electric" once.
  by xnx
• Maybe because not everyone cares, while the planet gets destroyed with wars, private jets and AI centers?
  by pjmlp
• Taylor Swift just used how many tons to get married?
  by shrubble