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Post by patrickscool2 on Nov 15, 2007 10:40:00 GMT -5
Joined another forum to get an idea of what the scooter scene is like. most a Either new or vintage Vespa owners. And boy they sure do post nasty comments about the new chinese scooters. Is a Vespa like a status in the scooter arena or are they just jealous cause we have a scooter that has the same capabilities at under a $1000.00 brand new? i look forward to haering your input on this.
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Post by WarrenS on Nov 15, 2007 11:15:11 GMT -5
I waved at a Vespa owner and he totally ignored me. I was riding my Burgman 400 which can run rings around any Vespa. I guess he was in his own world.  |
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Post by einism on Nov 15, 2007 12:35:37 GMT -5
I find the whole status thing amusing, I dont care if you ride a vespa, kymko, chinese scooter what does it matter and anyone who thinks they are better because of the price of their toys needs more help than a scooter forum can offer. thats why the scooter club I belong to allows all scooters to join because in the long run its all about the ride. and i bet i know what forum you went to. and for the most part the ones doing the bashing are dealers of higher priced scooters. and yes there is a difference in quality and in my time on this board i have seen quite a few move up to the better known brands when they realized they really enjoyed scooting. be happy with what you got, enjoy yourself and dont worry about what other people think or say. One thing about cheap scooters is most learn a little about mechanics, its a nice feeling when your riding along knowing if something goes wrong you can fix it by yourself or with the help of the members of this forum. while the vespa owner is scared to touch his 5000 dollar scoot for fear of voiding his warrantee.
mike
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Post by natefromogden on Nov 15, 2007 15:34:18 GMT -5
As individuals you might run into, Vespa owners aren't terribly snobbish though they do have definite negative (often) opinions about Chinese scoots. As a group, yes they tend to be clannish or cultist or elitist, (depending on your perspective) and don't care for scooterists that don't look like, dress like and ride the scoots they ride. For many of the "hardcore" Vespa guys, if you haven't been riding for a dozen years and sewn a couple dozen ride patches to your leather jacket, you aren't a "real" scooterist.
Which is bull. Ride what you like. Hang out and ride with people you like. Wear clothes that you like and that will keep you from being run over by cage drivers. Enjoy the ride.
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Post by the1weasel on Nov 15, 2007 15:35:48 GMT -5
I find the whole status thing amusing, I dont care if you ride a vespa, kymko, chinese scooter what does it matter and anyone who thinks they are better because of the price of their toys needs more help than a scooter forum can offer. thats why the scooter club I belong to allows all scooters to join because in the long run its all about the ride. and i bet i know what forum you went to. and for the most part the ones doing the bashing are dealers of higher priced scooters. and yes there is a difference in quality and in my time on this board i have seen quite a few move up to the better known brands when they realized they really enjoyed scooting. be happy with what you got, enjoy yourself and dont worry about what other people think or say. One thing about cheap scooters is most learn a little about mechanics, its a nice feeling when your riding along knowing if something goes wrong you can fix it by yourself or with the help of the members of this forum. while the vespa owner is scared to touch his 5000 dollar scoot for fear of voiding his warrantee. mike einism, that gets you the karma today brother! T1W |
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Post by powerride on Nov 15, 2007 16:30:48 GMT -5
Some people just never wave - Sometimes I dont either..
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Post by T W I S T E R on Nov 15, 2007 17:08:00 GMT -5
Vespa owners DO DISLIKE other scooters. They may be kinda like harley people. Need close study as a possible food group for the rest of us.
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Post by Showme on Nov 15, 2007 18:45:12 GMT -5
Hey, one of my first scoots was a Vespa. It was sold by Sears & Roebuck. That was about 50 years ago. We spent about the same amount of time working on it as riding it, and we enjoyed every minute of both activities. Since then I've learned, it don't matter what you ride. My Chinese scoot is better than that old Vespa, but the Vespa inproved and I think the Chinese scoot will too. Get yourself two wheels and a motor and just enjoy.
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Post by riverwabbit703 on Nov 15, 2007 20:24:40 GMT -5
They sure are. Even my cousin Jerami who refers to his scooter as "real scooter". You just gotta blow the tails off of them to shut'em up and flat out embarass them like I have. Also, he's got a Vespa but he doesn't have a 60" widescreen DLP TV like I have. My scooter and the the TV together was still $500 dollars less than his $4700 Vespa. Who's laughing now?
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Post by Andi on Nov 15, 2007 20:59:39 GMT -5
I don't think one can generalize, but some of them are snobs. Lol
Andi
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Post by rerun2 on Nov 15, 2007 21:29:47 GMT -5
I think that those that are 'aloof' (being kind) because of a THING they own are really quite pitiful. We are talking about Vespa owners here, but the 'aloof' will find something to lord over those that are not quite up to measure. Maybe the latest fashion in clothing, for some it might be driving a Cadillac, or a Rolex, or even something as trite as occupation. It is all about their perception, they are more concerned about what people think of them and their status than anything else. Sadly these types accomplish just the opposite, as 'normal' people see just how plastic and meaningless their lives are... just my thoughts
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Post by Enviromoto on Nov 15, 2007 22:47:02 GMT -5
Its the same with everything, people have to put themselves on a pedistal because they have low self estem regardless of what the situation is. Real men ride what they ride no matter what anyone thinks.
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Post by guyruss on Nov 15, 2007 23:49:41 GMT -5
in the 80s I hung out with alot of mods who would ride vespas. I wasn't a mod I was a punker, surfer type but I had alot of mod friends. The people who I see now riding vespas seem to be (no offense) pretty boys who do seem rather plastic. Yes vespas are nice. Yes I can afford one on credit, but no way in hell will I spend that kinda cash on a bike that is mostly made in india, that only goes up to 250cc. I can afford a Harly also they are cheap in the photo adds from folks who wanted to be cool untill they found that the nearly 20k bike isn't very economical. I now lots of guys I work with ride the harlys, and they hate paying monthly payments, ins, on a bike. If Im gonna spend 5k or more I will buy a bike that is more than 250cc. Not all the vespas owner s are snobes though, some are rather cool.
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Post by Aaron on Nov 15, 2007 23:55:03 GMT -5
As one of the few Vespa owners on the forum I find this amusing. First off let me state that my Vespa is the biggest POS on this forum. I bought it because I got a smoking good deal on it. I've always wanted one for the history, look, and ride. I joined this forum as the 83 or so member. I didn't have a scoot. I finally bought a knock off and really had nothing bad to say about it. I have done a review of a Chinese scoot and even though it broke I liked it. My "Vespa Snob" signature is what's known as SARCASM. Lee and I want to encourage more Vespa owners to join ScootDawg. We are fervent believers in scooterists not what they ride. I would buy another Chinese scoot the second I had the spare cash. I consider Bandit Motorports, Flyscooters, and Valley Scooters owners to be personal friends. I joined the Scooter BBS but honestly couldn't stand the stuck up jerks that troll those forums. Am I a stuck up scooter snob? Not quite, I'm the guy that when riding (or pushing) my Vespa will not only wave to the guy on the 50cc Roketa but turn around and chase him or her down, give them this web address and invite them to go riding together someday. If I was truly a scooter jerk Dawg would not have blessed me with highly paid position I hold here at ScootDawg. It's all about the RIDE people not what's ridden.
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Post by YellowScooter on Nov 16, 2007 8:24:27 GMT -5
Some are and some aren't. Through all walks of life there will be a handful of snobby people that haven't matured one day past their junior year in high school Still worried over their hair and or makeup. I choose to overlook them and carry on about my day.
To be honest, I only recall seeing a couple of vespas live on the road when I was living in Concord NC. Absolutly none here in Morganton in the 2yrs I been back in the area.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 16, 2007 18:21:38 GMT -5
I guess this is the appropriate spot for my first post, since I just bought a (used) Vespa. Having been to a couple of scooter rallies and talked to several Vespa owners (while I was riding and at the time only owned the Burgman), I don't think they are stuck up so much as stuck on not knowing about anything else. Close-minded is probably a better word for many of them. I personally could care less what you ride, as long as it makes you happy. And since this is my first post, hi to rverr (and Norma), fulltimerart (and Beatrice), and scooterlizard. Pleasure to have met you all.  |
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Post by Aaron on Nov 16, 2007 19:02:00 GMT -5
Welcome JT congrats on the new (to you) scoot. Both your scoots are nice machines.
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Post by earlwb on Nov 16, 2007 22:23:06 GMT -5
Vespa owners even snub each other. The two cycle bunch poo poo the four cycle bunch. Then the old Vespa owners are broken up into a few groups too. You have your modern versus classic bunch, and so on. Modern versus the old, etc.
Harley owners of the Big Twins snub the Harley Sportster riders, and the new V-Rod owners too. They seem to have a big bias aganst V-Rod owners. There are a number of other snub groupings in there as well.
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Post by einism on Nov 17, 2007 0:20:11 GMT -5
I just think its crazy I personally dont care what you rideand if I see you broke down on the side of the road I will offer assistance I just love to ride.
Mike
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Post by tieso on Nov 17, 2007 1:58:24 GMT -5
I think expensive material assets are suppose to make there owners more relevant. I never see them except in wealthy neighborhoods where pretentiousness and narcissism are like de facto.
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Post by Greg on Nov 17, 2007 5:28:49 GMT -5
we own a vespa gts 250(my wife) and were not stuck up i ride a burgman 650 and my daughter rides a roketa fiji were just scooter junkies lol hell i,ll wave to anyone
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Post by YellowScooter on Nov 17, 2007 7:50:51 GMT -5
Whats wrong with sportsters and v-rods? Too fast? Or less likely to need an adjustable wrench in your pocket.
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Post by earlwb on Nov 17, 2007 8:42:20 GMT -5
They call my Sportster things like "Paper Boy Bike", "Girly Bike", "Baby Harley", etc. The V-Rod was designed and engineered by Porsche for Harley, so that makes it Un-American to them. Besides it is heaven forbid, "water cooled", how un-Harley is that. Plus it has the real gas tank under the seat.  I actually like the V-rod, I wouldn't mind having one myself. It might even be more reliable. It is all about status, those that have it want to make sure you know it. |
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Post by lewtwo on Nov 17, 2007 23:13:04 GMT -5
Yes we are ...
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Post by loudest143 on Nov 19, 2007 7:21:05 GMT -5
My 2 cents.... I've experienced the vespa snub.... I've delivered and received "the wave" from tons of harley riders and other "big boy bike" riders. But I've never, ever been acknowledged by a crotch rocket rider. They are generally speaking, clueless and dangerous. Back on topic... The vespa riders I've passed ;-) in my town never even give me the time of day. I guess louder/faster/cheaper is what makes them annoyed. Even my friends who either own big boy bikes or used to own big boy bikes took a ride around the work parking lot on my scooter and enjoyed it for what it is: cheap, fun transportation. Perspective can be a very powerful thing.
LMO
-cafe racer fanatic
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Post by julio on Nov 19, 2007 10:02:36 GMT -5
LOL!! When we owned a Vespa, our group did Sunday rides and the only person I noticed hated and talked down Chinese or any other than Piaggio scooters was the dealer owner. I can understand him, he wanted to protect his business (although he closed the boutique anyways). I am an accountand and I usually get what gives me the most for my money irregardless of what other people think, but I am also a husband and my wife WANTED that Vespa. Other people that also love Vespas are thieves, ours got stolen in less than a year! I bought her a Roadrunner Classic 150 which is a knockof of the ET4 she had but I cant tell any material difference just by riding it. Also I wasnt going to pay $5k again for a 150cc scooter when for $4,999 I bought a brand new 2006 Scarabeo 500 GT ABS ++ , real computer controlled ABS brakes, not a little valve in the caliper, its fuel injected, comes with the side panniers and rear cargo box, front and rear 16' wheels, it will reach 100mph and its considered the most beautiful motorcycle in the world, show me a Vespa that can do that!. Oh and the Scarabeo is also made in Italy by Piaggio!! thescooterscoop.blogspot.com/2006/05/aprilia-scarabeo-500-awarded-in-worlds.html |
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Post by Aaron on Nov 19, 2007 19:23:51 GMT -5
Frigging Aprilia owners ..... they think they are so great ... what a bunch of snobs! (Kidding Julio) that's a gorgeous machine.
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Post by johnnyscoots on Nov 19, 2007 21:10:58 GMT -5
I've been following this with interest because the scoot club I belong to (Three Mile Island SC) is about 90% Vespa...they accepted me sight unseen...yep, me and my Kymco are a part of the group...
Well, there are some days when sportbike riders don't wave, cruisers don't wave...etc. It depends...
Other Vespa owners from other clubs wave...it's a scoot thang!!!
Harley owners seem to be uber friendly...they always walk up and say hi at gas stops...
Oooohhh...got my new 15g Malossi Roller Weights...where's the impact wrench!!!
John
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Post by guyruss on Nov 19, 2007 21:48:25 GMT -5
I am speechless. I am going to find were I can physicaly see this beautiful machine. This is what I have been invisioning in my head of my dream scooter. I am going to get me this scooter, and I am going to research real hard and find out all I can about this bike. Please tell me more about this bike.
Russ
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Post by julio on Nov 20, 2007 9:27:37 GMT -5
Aprilia is like the black sheep of the Piaggio brand, it was their latest aquisition. You can find leftover 06' of the Scarabeo 500 GT around (they come in silver and Cambridge White and ALL 06' come with ABS brakes).
When Piaggio aquired Aprilia they replaced the Scarabeo I have with the Scarabeo ie or "lightweight" it is a clone of the BV500 but with different plastic panels, no ABS, downsized the wheel size, no panniers or trunk. They basically replaced their touring scooter with a more city oriented one (nimble) and thats why they reduced the price from $7,300 to what I paid. I can keep writing about it until my fingers bleed. Let me know what else you need. Check the aprilia forum.
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