VESPA LX 150 La scooter
A Vespa might carry an SRP sticker more double its less illustrious counterparts, but that’s merely the price of admission the access the impeccable breeding and history of the Italian "wasp."
If we heard it once we've heard it a thousand times; traffic in Metro Manila is the worst. It has oddly been both our bane, and the perpetual topic of conversation when you arrive late. There is no current solution to it and, to be honest, it's probably going to get even worse. The volume of motorists using our small roads is increasing while our current infrastructure stands still. I'm just a ray of sunshine, aren't I?
This is not going to be an argument about which is better: two or four wheels. I currently drive a 2012 Vespa LX 150 all over town, but would give it up in a heartbeat to sit comfortably in a car, knowing I could get across the Buendia flyover into Makati from BGC in under 10 minutes – not the average 45 minutes on any given weekday morning. This is a look into one buyer's mind before ultimately deciding on a Vespa.
There are many aspects to consider when purchasing a scooter – namely comfort, storage capacity, maintenance, price and styling (to name a few). It goes without saying that nine, if not 10 out of 10 buyers will put styling up first, obviously. Once embedded how good they'd look on it, the mind begins to create deals with the devil to pay for it. Worry not. Sensibility will shine in with the aforementioned aspects in tow, and that's when the nitty-gritty begins.
You can't buy a Vespa without first sitting on it. Not for a selfie, mind you, but rather its seat height. Vespas are notoriously taller than most of what are available on the market. The seat stands at over 30 inches from the ground, and its girth forces a slightly wider stance. This combination makes it a challenge (but not impossible) for riders with a shorter inseam.
The rose behind that thorn of a seat, if you will, is the massive cavity it creates underneath. Generous, and shaped to carry a large full-face helmet, it has just enough pockets of air to add smaller items like a rain poncho and the standard tool kit. It is not, however, advisable to store anything sensitive or perishable while in transit. The entire rain-proof locker sits above the 12hp engine, and can be guilty of toasting a slice of white bread from time to time.
Periodic maintenance is just that: periodic. The Vespa does not require special care or attention that any other twist and go makes do without. Availability of mechanical fluids is easy, be it at the shop, hardware in a mall or even at the pump station. Plus, the network of dealers and service centers is growing at both southern and northern districts of the metro, with a few more gaining popularity outside the NCR. That said, there is a price premium certain parts/accessories carry. From experience, batteries, headlight bulbs, and side mirrors just as examples.
Last on this quick list are price and styling. It's expensive; yes it is. A model from the showroom floor has twice the sticker price of any Japanese counterpart available on the market. None however, have neither breeding nor history of the Italian "wasp," seeded in the mid ‘40s. Its style is iconic, and cannot be mistaken for any other. The more than prominent front fairing and elongated floorboard are a sight to behold as it comes towards you, and an all-encompassing rear that could probably twerk it better than any of these young-uns today, bids you ciao as it passes you buy. Even behind a corner, its stuttering yet endearing exhaust note is unequivocal.
Admittedly there is bias in this text which leans toward the Vespa, no doubt. However, I would be remiss not to add how I convinced a newcomer to steer clear from the Italian marque, and pursue a more practical unit offered by Asian counterparts. Obviously dumbfounded, he asked me why then, if the uses he stated were similar to mine, did I decide on the Piaggio. I answered, “Like a Patek, it’s not really yours. You merely look after it, for the next generation, my son.”
+ Iconic styling, easy maintenance, spacious locker
- Expensive sticker price and for some replacement parts
This is not going to be an argument about which is better: two or four wheels. I currently drive a 2012 Vespa LX 150 all over town, but would give it up in a heartbeat to sit comfortably in a car, knowing I could get across the Buendia flyover into Makati from BGC in under 10 minutes – not the average 45 minutes on any given weekday morning. This is a look into one buyer's mind before ultimately deciding on a Vespa.
There are many aspects to consider when purchasing a scooter – namely comfort, storage capacity, maintenance, price and styling (to name a few). It goes without saying that nine, if not 10 out of 10 buyers will put styling up first, obviously. Once embedded how good they'd look on it, the mind begins to create deals with the devil to pay for it. Worry not. Sensibility will shine in with the aforementioned aspects in tow, and that's when the nitty-gritty begins.
You can't buy a Vespa without first sitting on it. Not for a selfie, mind you, but rather its seat height. Vespas are notoriously taller than most of what are available on the market. The seat stands at over 30 inches from the ground, and its girth forces a slightly wider stance. This combination makes it a challenge (but not impossible) for riders with a shorter inseam.
The rose behind that thorn of a seat, if you will, is the massive cavity it creates underneath. Generous, and shaped to carry a large full-face helmet, it has just enough pockets of air to add smaller items like a rain poncho and the standard tool kit. It is not, however, advisable to store anything sensitive or perishable while in transit. The entire rain-proof locker sits above the 12hp engine, and can be guilty of toasting a slice of white bread from time to time.
Periodic maintenance is just that: periodic. The Vespa does not require special care or attention that any other twist and go makes do without. Availability of mechanical fluids is easy, be it at the shop, hardware in a mall or even at the pump station. Plus, the network of dealers and service centers is growing at both southern and northern districts of the metro, with a few more gaining popularity outside the NCR. That said, there is a price premium certain parts/accessories carry. From experience, batteries, headlight bulbs, and side mirrors just as examples.
Last on this quick list are price and styling. It's expensive; yes it is. A model from the showroom floor has twice the sticker price of any Japanese counterpart available on the market. None however, have neither breeding nor history of the Italian "wasp," seeded in the mid ‘40s. Its style is iconic, and cannot be mistaken for any other. The more than prominent front fairing and elongated floorboard are a sight to behold as it comes towards you, and an all-encompassing rear that could probably twerk it better than any of these young-uns today, bids you ciao as it passes you buy. Even behind a corner, its stuttering yet endearing exhaust note is unequivocal.
Admittedly there is bias in this text which leans toward the Vespa, no doubt. However, I would be remiss not to add how I convinced a newcomer to steer clear from the Italian marque, and pursue a more practical unit offered by Asian counterparts. Obviously dumbfounded, he asked me why then, if the uses he stated were similar to mine, did I decide on the Piaggio. I answered, “Like a Patek, it’s not really yours. You merely look after it, for the next generation, my son.”
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- Expensive sticker price and for some replacement partsFeatured Articles
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