www.news.com.au
October 31, 2008
SCOOTERS may be an economic imperative for some, but those buying the Vespa GTS 300 Super want more than frugal commuting.
SCOOTERS may be an economic imperative for some, but those buying the Vespa GTS 300 Super want more than frugal commuting.
With a displacement of 278cc, it is the largest-capacity Vespa yet and Australian brand manager Simon Gloyne reckons the "super scooter" will appeal mainly to "sporty" men.
"The family with a couple of kids is not going to fork out almost $9000 for a Vespa to save them some money on fuel," he said last week at the national launch of the 300 in Sydney. "But those who appreciate a bit of performance and the ability to carry two people with ease, yet still save money on fuel, that will be the market for this scooter.
"We're talking more about a want rather than a need.
"If everyone bought a car for need rather than want, we'd all be driving Corollas." The Vespa is no Corolla.
Oozing style and history, it is basically a GTS 250ie, but with a bored and stroked engine, stiffer suspension, a few styling modifications (chromed rear grab rail, black wheels, vented rear fender, all-analogue instruments) and a firmer seat with retro white piping.
However, whether these will be enough to warrant the extra $1000 will depend on the buyer. The differences are more about performance and handling:
• Where the 250 bump-steers and tram tracks, the 300 steers true and stable.
• Where the 250 lags in take-off, the 300 has power from just a tick over idle.
• Where the 250 struggles a little on hills or with a pillion, the 300 powers on.
• Where the 250 has a soft ride but bottoms out easily, the 300 is less compliant but takes a fair whack before it bottoms out.
By boring and stroking the engine, it now features 3Nm more torque at 1750rpm less and, while it has the same maximum power, it comes on much earlier.
Despite the power boost, the scooter is still classed as a Learner Approved Motorcycle in most states. In Queensland, learners and first-year licensed riders will not be able to ride it.
Mr Gloyne said the Italians wouldn't say what they had done to the suspension, except to make it more "sporty".
The springs are now red, but they must also be stiffer and maybe better damped.
Mr Gloyne said the gender mix of scooter buyers was 60 per cent male, which grew more male-oriented as the capacity of the scooter increased.
He expected up to 75 per cent of GTS 300 buyers to be male, mostly upgrading from the 250.
The 300 costs $1000 more because the 250, which will remain in the range, is being offered at a special price. Mr Gloyne said the price of the 300 was held down, but it might rise, depending on the exchange rate.
"We actually had an offer from Piaggio to buy all our November and December stock before the dollar fell," he said.
"In hindsight, we should have taken them up on the offer."
The biggest Vespa yet comes in white or black with red coming in February or March.
A top box with padded pillion backrest will be available at $450.
Vespa GTS 300 Super
PRICE: $8990
ENGINE: 4-stroke, 4-valve, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected, 278cc single-cylinder
BORE X STROKE: 75 x 63mm
POWER: 15.8Kw @ 7500rpm
TORQUE: 22.3Nm @ 5000rpm
FUEL: 95 RON, 9L tank
TRANSMISSION: continuously variable with torque server, auto centrifugal dry clutch
SUSPENSION: dual chamber hydraulic shock absorber with coaxial spring (front), two dual-effect shock absorbers with adjustable preload
BRAKES: 220mm (front), 220mm (rear)
TYRES: 120/70-12 (front), 130/70-12 (rear)
DIMENSIONS (mm): 1930 (l), 755 (w), 1370 (wheelbase), 790 (seat)
WET WEIGHT: 148kg
EMISSIONS: Euro 3
WARRANTY: 2 years
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,24570567-5010760,00.html
Posts
