What's Going On With Vespa Lancaster?

Vespa Lancaster is now listed on Vespa's website. But if you've driven by Keim Pre-Owned this winter, you probably noticed a lack of progress or any evidence of a Vespa dealership. So I stopped in and asked about it.

I was told that they are waiting on their motorcycle dealer's license from the State, and that it should be here any day. Once that arrives, look for renovations to begin on the property that currently houses their service department. They said to expect signage, and "two Vespas up in the air". It sounds like they are going to do it up right, with a branded showroom.

2010 Rumor

It's been a while since I posted any news about new scooters coming to market. I guess the economy has led to manufacturers playing it conservative. Honda seems to be the only one introducing new models (SH150i and the new 108ccc Elite). So I thought I'd pass along what I've been reading around the internet: Vespa is going to add fuel injection to its models down to the 150cc engine size for 2010. That is going to make the S150 a very attractive scooter.

And, yes, I realize that this blog has been a little Vepsa-centric lately. I'll try to mix it up soon. Try...

Where did the Vespas go?

If you've driven (or ridden) past Keim Pre-Owned and noticed that the scooters aren't on display anymore, don't worry. I'm told that they could only show them for 2 weeks and that the scooters have been moved while Keim continues their application for dealership. They're still moving forward, and they've even placed their first order from Vespa.

Putting the Mileage On

The weather this weekend is so nice! I've been trying to put the miles on the new Vespa so that I can get the break-in period and first service out of the way. I took these pictures along the way on Saturday. The iPhone takes a nice picture with enough light and a steady hand.

Does anyone know the significance of the sign?

Three Mile Island

New Scooter

My accident caused me to re-evaluate my riding habits. I re-thought what I enjoy about riding, and what I can do without. I knew I didn't want to give up riding. My first time back in the saddle of the scooter felt like seeing an old friend again. I had no such feeling with the motorcycle. I like touring, but for the purpose of seeing something or experiencing a new place, not just to put miles on as fast as possible. If I never spend another 3-hour stretch on the Turnpike, that would be fine. Scooters, with their all hand-controls, are easier to handle than a motorcycle that requires all 4 limbs working in harmony to keep the engine from stalling and the wheels under you. And now, with the knowledge of how a crash feels, working that hard to conrol a bike at those speeds is not the thrill I'm looking for. (Too many close calls already.) I was thinking about a Honda SH150i. I like the modern technology, but couldn't embrace the styling. To top it all off, this Vespa dealer opens in town...

Enter the Vespa 300 Super, my new ride. It's not a true 300, it's actually 278cc, but that is a lot for the geometry and wheel size. It has the classic look and feel I like, down to the analog gas and temperature guages.

I had to ask myself; if you got the Honda, would you still want a Vespa someday? Yes. If you got the Vespa, would you miss not having the Honda? No. So there you have it.

By the way, Keim Pre-Owned was pleasant to deal with. The people are friendly and easy to work with. They are still learning about their scooters, so you may have to supplement their knowledge with your own research. But they'll get better. While I could feel them trying to close the deal, I never felt pressured. Ask for Kenny, and tell him you read about it here.

I've still got the Yamaha C3. Its weight and easily-replaced plastic panels still make it attractive for in-town use. You can pull it up on the sidewalk against a building, without sweating the scratches. Plus, it costs very little to keep it registered and insured. I'll keep it. But if you are interested in buying a 2008 Kawasaki Versys with hard saddlebags, drop me a line.

Vespa Coming to Lancaster!

I was driving down Manheim Pike and as I passed Keim Pre-Owned, I noticed a MP-3 parked out front. "Wierd..., somebody must have traded it in". But there was a silver Vespa right next to it. And further down, a black one... and a pink one! Wait, the pink is a new model. This can't be a coincidence. So I whipped in and sure enough, the showroom was full of Vespas and Piaggios!

I spoke to Steve Keim, and yes, they are opening a Vespa and Piaggio dealership. They are currently waiting on the official paperwork (the entire country of Italy goes on vacation for the month of August). But in the meantime, they are linked-in with the Vespa dealership in Lebanon. And they have stock on the lot, as you can see.

Keim Pre-Owned is located at the corner of Manheim Pike and Steelway Drive, across from WeeBee Audio.

Steve said that Lancaster was Vespa's #1 target market in which to next open a dealership. Who knew? I guess word is getting out that Lancaster is becoming a scooter town!

Sighted Around Town

This gray Vespa Granturismo was resting under the Ginko tree on the southwest corner of Central Market yesterday morning.

Vespa Super: Update

I had mentioned before that the Vespa Super coming to America was only a 250; it turns out that the initial shipment was mis-badged. They are indeed the 278cc 300's.

The Super only makes 1 horsepower over the GTS250. So why get the 300? Grunt. The bigger cylinder makes more torque. The difference between horsepower and torque is complicated (horsepower includes work done over time, torque is a rotational force without the time element). The practical difference is that torque gets you up the hill or off the line faster. Horsepower comes into play at speed. I see that the 300 Super is also liquid-cooled, which is rare in a Vespa.

See thescooterreview.com for a good review of the Vespa GTS 300 Super.

Vespa Lebanon

I was up at the Vespa Dealer in Lebanon yesterday. Their spring inventory is coming in, and it is plentiful. The first time I was there, they had about 7 scooters. Yesterday, it looked like they had a choice of colors in every model. They have expanded past their little showroom and actually keep most of the models in the back.

One of the salesmen told me that they are in the process of trying to turn the rear parking lot into a rider training course where they will offer a class specificly for scooters! If they can create a Motorcycle Safety Program (MSP) for scooter riders where you get your license at the end... well, I don't know of anywhere elese in PA where you could do that. That would be a great thing for increasing scooter ridership in the area.

While I was there, I test rode a Vespa S150. It was obviously a lot peppier than my 50cc C3, and much taller. It jumped off the line as quickly as you'd like and accelerated with traffic up to 40MPH. Once it hit 40, it started to lag a bit. Its top speed is listed at around 70, but it's going to take a while to get there. It is still not something I'd take on the highway (well, maybe for one exit...). If I were to get one, I'd want orange. Ironicly, after riding all the way up to Lebanon they told me that their orange one is currently on display at the Park City Mall, in Lancaster, only a couple miles from my house. Doh!

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First Friday, October '08

It was another great First Friday in downtown Lancaster for October. I started out parking next to another C3. That red is a fun color for these little scoots.

From there, I walked down Prince Street to Here To Timbuktu. I've always like that store. I knew they carried Hamilton watches, and I wanted to take a look at them. Hamilton used to be a major industry in Lancaster... I even live on Hamilton Street. What I didn't expect to find was some Vespa clocks!

It turns out that scooter paraphenalia will show up in unexpected places. And look at the other fun clocks... if you are looking for some kooky kitch to decorate your place, check out Here To Timbuktu, 46 N. Prince St..

After you have your Vespa clock, add a little more MOD cred by heading over to Britian's Best on Market Street and picking up this MOD lisence plate. Who knew there was so much scootery goodness to pick up downtown?

Wheels 2008

Wheels weekend grows a little each year. This year was helped by better-than-forecast weather. If anything it was too hot. Or maybe that was because the addition of scooters to the event! This line of Italian-styled goodness was courtesy of the SPB Scooter Club of Lancaster. Mostly made up of vintage Vespas, there was one modern GTS and a couple Stellas thrown in for good measure.

The SPB Scooter Club is an informal club dedicated to vintage and/or metal scooters, with the purpose of keeping them on the road in running condition. If you own one these beauties and it's not so beautiful, they'll help you bring it back to life. You do the work, they provide the expertise. Just drop by most any Wednesday night, in the alley between the 500 blocks of State and Race.

Tom of SPB was at Wheels, acting as the Skooru, answering questions. That is if you could hear him over the Elvis(es?) providing the afternoon's soundtrack. The Lancaster Parking Authority also had a table set up, signing up people for the free scooter parking around the spiral ramp of the Prince Street Garage. I heard somebody refer to the ramp as "the Guggenheim", which gave me a chuckle.

A Harley Davidson Topper showed up to prove that metal and vintage doesn't have to mean Vespa. It caused quite a stir because you don't see a lot of these, let alone being ridden.

Another Vespa Dealer!

No, still not in Lancaster. This one is in Lebanon. Vespa Lebanon is on the grounds of Ebersole Truck Center. They sell American trucks and Italian scooters: nearly opposite ends of the vehicle spectrum. Yes, they are aware of the irony, thank you. Their address is 2014 West Cumberland Street, Lebanon. That's on Rt. 422. Telephone:717/274-8675. They are open weekdays until 7pm, so there is enough time to check them out after work. Their website isn't active yet, so for now they are rockin' a MySpace page.

They have been open only for about a month and are still stocking the accessories. But scooters are already flying out the door. The MP3's especially seem to be big sellers.

I heard about them when Janet, otherwise known as "Nettie" from the Three Mile Island Scooter Club, Emailed me about the new shop. She works there as a Sales Representative. She says that the Vespa shop is a scooters-only showroom operated by people who want to create an alternative to the "motorsports center". If you are looking for a scooter and you aren't interested in being up-sold to a liter-bike, this is the place for you. (Don't be fooled by the red motorcycle in the picture.... that's mine. Lebanon's a bit far on 50cc!)

Nettie says that they are looking to serve Lebanon, Lancaster, and Dauphin Counties. She asked me if I knew of any scooter clubs on the East side of the Susquehanna (York and TMISC serving the West side). I said I didn't know of any formal clubs, but I passed on what I know about the scene. I think that the density of scooterists is reaching a critical mass, and we are ready for a scooter club over here on the fallout side of the island. If you are interested in getting something organized, Email Nettie or myself.

Vespas Coming In

WRS has begun recieving inventory. I saw this pretty blue 150 there last night. They also have an MP3 in the showroom. I hear that the York scooter club will be meeting there, starting next month.

Vespa Super

After much buzz, the Vespa Super is starting to hit American stores. But, disappointingly, we are getting the 250 version. Although Piaggio said that there were no plans to send the 300 here, some were still hopeful. Oh, well. The 300 is really only 278 anyway.

Vespa Dealer coming! Good News, Bad News Edition

The good news is that a Vespa dealer is coming to the area. WRS Motorsports has become an authorized Vespa Dealer. They are going to carry Vespa, Piaggio, and Aprilla brand scooters.

The bad news is that WRS isn't in a cute urban boutique, conveniently located in downtown Lancaster. They are country. And I don't mean Carrie Underwood country; we're talking Shooter Jennings country. They are across the river, halfway between Red Lion and Felton.

Good: they are building a brand-spanking new showroom to display their large inventory. Bad: said inventory is currently on back-order and not expected until some time in August. I'm told they ordered 50 scooters, but they could trickle in or come all at once.

More good news: WRS could teach most motorsports dealers a thing or two about being open for business. They are open 9am-7:30pm weekdays and 9-2 on Saturday. More bad news: they are a little tough to find. They are at 1188 Felton Rd, which looks like a farm house from the front. The store is in back. Look for the small WRS sign out by the road.

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Reader Request

Fedor writes:
“Just curious what your advice would be. I'm interested in buying a scooter within the next three months or so. I wanted to know (in your opinion) what the best choice (price wise, and style) would be for a newbie. I like the look of Vespas, but they are rather expensive, and hard to find repairs and parts for (or so I've been led to believe). I plan on taking the safety course, so as to get my license right away. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated.”

Dear Fedor,

It’s true that Vespas are expensive. But keep in mind that they are all metal, not plastic. That has an up-side and a down-side. The upside is of course strength and durability. But the other side is that if you do crash and bend it, because of the moncoque construction, it’s pretty much totaled. Insurance is your friend in that case.

Service is a problem if you aren’t going to fix it yourself; the nearest dealer is in Mechanicsburg. But parts aren’t too hard to find, even for classic versions. There are places that specialize in Vespa parts, like the Scooterworks. Once you’re in the Vespa scene, you’ll develop a network of contacts. I have also heard the rumor that dealers have a hard time getting parts in a timely manner from Italy, but I can’t say whether that is true or not. I know these things can get blown out of proportion by a few bad anecdotes. My advice? Be patient and don’t sell your car. To really get the scoop, read http://www.modernvespa.com/ while your making up your mind.

And if you are interested in fixing a Vespa yourself, there is a local club that might be able to help you learn. They meet regularly to wrench together. I’ve met them and they are a laid back, friendly group. I didn’t ask permission to post their contact information here, put if one of you is reading this, leave a comment.

If you like the look of a Vespa but just don’t want to pay for a Vespa, there are alternatives. The Honda Metro and the Yamaha Vino are 50cc scooters styled after a Vespa. Both companies are well known for their quality and are backed by extensive dealer networks, with locations in Lancaster County. The Yamaha Vino also comes in a 150cc model that will do almost 60mph when broken in. If you are going to get your license right away, I would hold off buying until you do, and look hard at the Vino 150 at B&B Yamaha.

There is also the Genuine Buddy 150. It has the same problem as a Vespa of having no local dealer, but going to a dealer in Sellersville or Philly might be worth it. There are plenty of satisfied owners out there and it has a cool retro look, especially if you get the whitewalls.

Vespas are synonymous with scooters. Therefore, many companies make look-a-likes. You should have no problem finding something to satisfy you. Check out the Scooter Links on the right side of this page for forums that will have plenty of stories about Vespas, Buddys, Metros and Vinos.

P.S. You don't need a bike to take the MSF course. It helps to have one to practice on between lessons, but you don't have to have one. I didn't, and passed easily. Having that lisence will make it easier to get a test ride before purchase.

2008 Vespa

Vespa. The quintessential scooter. But where to get one? There are no Vespa dealers in Lancaster County. The closest one is in Wertzville, near Mechanicsburg. Motor-vation is easy to find, just off Exit 57 of I-81 (check the map on their website).

For 2008, Vespa has made very little change to their 2007 line-up. All models are similar in style, so it's the details you'll want to look at. Those details include: color, seat, storage, instruments, wheel size, brakes and engine.

The LX comes in 50cc and 150cc versions. 50cc is great for around town and if you don't want to get a motorcycle license. The 150 is going to give you the greater range that comes with being able to confidently travel roads posted at higher speeds. Both are going to get over 70mpg and have a four-stroke engine with automatic transmission.

The Granturismo 200 will reach highway speeds, while still getting 64mpg.

The GTS 250 adds fuel injection for slightly better gas mileage.

There are other models available that combine the above models with retro styling.

Overall, a Vespa is going to be among the most expensive to purchase and difficult to service due to the distance to the dealer. But there are some that are going to want a Vespa anyway, because nothing says "scooter" like a Vespa.

TMISC Meltdown 2007

Every once in a while you need to venture outside the county. Saturday I took a field trip to Mechanicsburg to attend the Three Mile Island Scooter Club's Meltdown 2007 rally. There was a wonderful array of scooters there from Helixes and Burgmans, to vintage Vespas and Lambrettas. It was inspiring, and made me want to start a collection. Registration included free food, beer, music and a swag bag.

I also stopped in at the local Vespa dealer. I looked at their 250's. I can definitely see one in my future. My current scooter, frustratingly, is in the shop with a mysterious intermittant problem. For a new scooter, it has been unavailable for WAY too long. That, along with my desire to get something more powerful, has me drooling over a Vespa GTS or GTV. It burned me everytime I got back in my car that day. I can feel why bikers call cars "cages".