Scooter Review Vespa GTS 300 Super Review With Vespa’s largest engine ever, the GTS 300 Super is no slouch off the mark.
Words by DAVE DI RADO, photography by LOU MARTIN Scooter launches can have their good and bad points. One really good one is if the new model is an update, the manufacturer will often have the earlier model on the launch too. This was the case with the Vespa GTS 300 Super launch. It’s a really handy way to compare both models side by side.
The downside is that when you get a bunch of journos from different magazines together on the same machines, it will more than likely turn into a race. Especially when scooters are still considered as toys by most of them.
That’s why I was keen to take Vespa GTS 300 home for a few weeks. I knew it was a good thing, but I didn’t know it intimately and if you’re considering shelling out nine grand to get your butt on one, I think a closer look is required. I was also looking forward to the opportunity to go scooting on a nice sunny day to try to find the elusive perfect coffee.
My first outing involved a Saturday morning, trip to my local Italian bakery. I took the long way there and went for a lap of my local secret test track first. The weather was fine and the Pirelli tyres were warm, so I gave it a fistful of fury and hung on – or off when ripping through the corners. The first thing I noticed was the way the sidestand scrapes when you’re cornering left with passion. It means the 300 doesn’t have the same amount of ground clearance on the left as it does on the right. Another thing that quickly became apparent was that I had to lift off the gas in those leftright- left flip-flops the RTA calls roundabouts. This kinda took me by suprise as I can usually keep small to midsized scooters held wide open through that part of the test track. Not with the 300 though, so all I can presume is that I have either lost some weight or the extra torque of the 300 is very obvious.
As I rode on from the flip-flop with my heart in my mouth, I replayed in my head what had just happened. To be honest, I nearly made a mess of myself and the Vespa, and I did it for you guys! The lesson learned was that while the 300 is one solidly built, stable and powerful scooter, it has 12-inch wheels that look really cool with painted centres and polished rims. Drastic changes of direction can catch it out, especially with the extra power it produces.
The Vespa GTS 300 is more than a toy and children like myself should keep that in mind. On arrival at the bakery I parked the 300 in the middle of the scooter posse that was already there. My pale sweaty face was greeted with a laugh as the local louts figured out that I’d just scared the crap out of myself. As for the Vespa ... well, it received a different greeting. As the assembled scooteristi shuffled past me to get a look, I heard ooohs and ahhhs from the peanut gallery outside as the door slowly closed. Sounds like it passed the aesthetic test with flying colours.
Cream of the crop
 Storage is important with scooters. That ability to carry stuff that you would never consider taking in a backpack or sling bag is what makes them a handy machine for commuting with a purpose. So my test continued with the purchase of six rosetta panini, four slices of oven-baked pizza, two ricotta canoli and a short black.
The bakery treats fitted nicely into the 300’s under-seat storage area, so I drank my short black as I listened to the scooter mafia continue their critique. Actually, I could have squeezed in another four canoli easily, but don’t expect to get a full-face helmet in there as it won’t happen.
After saying my goodbyes and being told I suck, which was another sign the scooteristi approved of the Vespa, I rode off. I was happy to see that the canoli were still in good shape when I arrived home. This was a good indication that the adjustable suspension on the Vespa GTS 300 works really well as I have had scooters in the past that managed to shake the cream out of a canoli, and I really hate that. So it’s fair to say the Vespa GTS 300 holds the road really well and absorbs the bumps nicely, when ridden within its limits.
Once the weekend was done the Vespa was put back to work as my daily commuter. For this job, it is a great machine. A top speed of more than 130km/h is achievable on the 300, and it gets there rather quickly, so general commuting and freeway jaunts can be done with ease.
The Vespa’s 755mm width makes it brilliant for sneaking through traffic, and with a seat height of 790mm, it allows most people to be able to get a foot down easily when stopped. As on previous models, the 300’s comfortable seat also has a handy built-in cover in case of rain. It’s convenient if you want to park it under trees too, as it saves you from sitting on any little presents birds may have left there for your return.
The dash is easy to read on the go, as is the clock, and I really like having a fuel gauge instead of just the low level warning light that some other scooters come with. When it comes to fuel economy the Vespa used an average of 3.7l litres per 100km travelled, which is pretty damn good. In the three weeks I had the GTS on test, I rode normally, abnormally and two-up with Jeremy. I even rode it to Bathurst for a spin around Mount Panorama – unfortunately, the lap record still stands but it was fun.
Now that I have harped on about how well the 300 goes, I reckon stopping should be mentioned. Both front and rear brakes are 220mm discs that are grabbed by twinpiston calipers. They’re not linked so the right handlebar lever activates the front and the left works the rear. I can see the benefits of linked brakes, but if you want to have a little fun on your scooter, the 300’s stoppers will let you lock the back wheel and slide to a halt – if you want to be childish, that is.
Finally, back to the price. While the Vespa GTS 300 is a cheap mode of transport to run on a daily basis, it is by no means a cheap scooter to buy.
Almost $9000 plus on-road costs is a premium price, but for that you’ll get a top quality machine that won’t let you down.
published 25/05/2009 |