I had two Vespa back in the mid 1970’s, I always prefered Lambretta in those days becarse they looked slicker. Between then and now I had big bikes in the 1990’s for a while. Ten years ago as of yesterday (6th June) I started riding again on a Vespa 300. I thought it would be a short lived fad but no. Today I am on my forth Vespa GTS 300, a 75 years anniversary model. It would have been my third but I had my last Vespa stolen in January and written off. So, I empathise how you feel, I love the Vespa GTS, it is the most fun I have ever had on two wheels and the most satisfying ride. I have had so many in ten years becarse I toured and commuted. There was nothing wrong when I upgraded but wanted to keep ahead of the game. Happy ridding and I’m glad you enjoy your Vespa as much as I do.
Sounds as if you now have a life membership to the Vespa Aficionado Club! Seriously though, I know how you feel. Riding my Vespa GTS has provided me with so much fun, excitement, and adventure that I will always have one. The other machines in the garage do too but aren't like the GTS. There's noting wrong with upgrading and staying ahead of the game as you say if that's what works for you. I periodically respond to questions from people about such things. My response is usually can you pay cash? If not, it never seems wise to take out a loan for a toy. But that's just me. Others seem to be fine with that. We're all different and we all get to make our own decisions. That's what makes life so interesting!
Happy that things worked out i have a 2020 GTS HPE the ABS pump went bad Vespa was nice enough to agree to pay for that part when they didn't have to... Because there is a defect item which is well known but the labor is still 4-5 hours at my very honest dealer and you are going to pay 10.5 K to walk out the door at any Vespa dealer today to get a new one you did the right thing without any doubt in the world .... love your channel.. always have/always will thank you for continuing to remind us that NICE PEOPLE, with NO agenda continue to inhabit UA-cam
That ABS pump would be an expensive repair. Glad Vespa footed the bill for the part. Labor costs at dealerships have gone up but for something like that there is little choice. And the mechanic that worked on mine said he isn't sure he could do some work on new ones because of the electronics and his lack of the necessary computer "things" to manage stuff. I'm fortunate (I think) that everything now in my garage is pretty simple mechanically and electronically. At least that's what I tell myself.... Thank you for the kind words about my channel. I just try and share my thoughts and feelings as they come up. Usually things I'm thinking about while riding. If there is an agenda it's to share the fun and satisfaction a person can derive from riding. It changed my life. Perhaps it may help others. And since I am not making videos to earn money I can forgo a lot of the offers I get to review or endorse things. I don't have to ask people to like and subscribe. And I don't have to pressure myself to post more and more content. I can embrace the channel like I do riding -- engage when I can when I want!
Best of luck with that HPE. A lot of people have had various problems with them. One owner had a belt shred in under 6000 miles. Vespa has doubled the required maintenance on them compared to the GT and GTS.
@@geraldscott4302 I know. It's complete I know. It's complete BS, of course. I almost thought of dumping it and had piaggio not stepped up to at least pay for that part I probably would have left it at the dealer and said give me whatever you want. It's really pretty embarrassing. They want me to flush the brakes every single year and no other vehicle with any number of wheels ever had such a requirement. The old ones really were simpler and had so much less to go wrong and which did go wrong. These days when you have to spend 10.5 K out the door to take one home you really have to wonder why people put up with that. The only way to convince me to spend that kind of money would be if you gave me a 4-year warranty zero deductible no questions asked for everything except break pads and tires... Unobtainium, of course
@@ScooterintheSticks and every single word you have replied here should remind all of us why you are a shining example of what is good about UA-cam... And how other should aspire to follow your lead here and in their personal lives
Thank you for your kind words about my channel. I appreciate them. Good luck on your consideration of getting a Vespa. They can be a good choice for someone looking for a lighter and easy to handle machine. They bring with them much of the same risks as a motorcycle though. They aren't inherently any safer aside from not achieving the dazzling speeds of many motorcycles. If you do decide to ride, make sure you get some training. Especially regarding road strategy. Being on two wheels on the road requires a very different mindset and approach than driving a car. Good luck and be safe!
Good to see you back in the saddle, Old Man. Clearly, the Vespa is your favorite ride and the repair investment was money well spent. Too often we discard old items that still have a good bit of life left in them. Repairing, re-purposing, and renewing old items is often the most responsible, cheapest, and gratifying path. Replacements often fall short of what we liked about the original item, Pay a tailor to repair the zipper of a favorite jacket. That jacket always just looked good. It fits perfect. The pockets are right where you want 'em. A new one, although similar, will never be the same. You got your Vespa back. Rides 'like new'. Kept it out of a landfill. Nothing new to learn. Starts up just the way you remembered, and park it just where you always did. Victory!
It's nice to have the GTS back in the riding rotation. If forced to only have one machine in the garage the GTS would be the clear winner. But I have to say that everything I have now is a favorite. Perfect for what it does best. I try and repair and renew things though I have to admit that I do abandon some things. Computers for instance as their processing power can't keep up with the applications I use. And Apple computers resist easy upgrades. I do repair and renew boots. I have an old pair of my father's Wolverine boots that I have had resoled twice now. And a pair of Danner Mountain Light boots that I bought in the 1980s that recently underwent a restoration at Danner that I thought they just sent me new boots. There are many miles left on those, at least until the arthritis in my toes and feet make them too uncomfortable to wear. And I have had many repairs done on riding gear. And cars and vans. And our home. But still, there are things that I just abandon.... The GTS should remain out of the landfill for a long time to come. Will be riding it again soon!
Hey Sreve, glad that you have your scooter back and that everything turned out well. Now there is no excuse not to make more of your great videos on the Vespa and other bikes! Love your channel and sage musings. Btw, I am 73 and have a 2023 Gts 300 and a 2003 Goldwing. Hope to keep riding for years to come. Looking forward to your next video on whichever bike you choose. Thanks
Wow. Opposite ends of the spectrum with a GTS and a Goldwing! Thanks for the kind words about the videos. I have the next one percolating in my mind already.
I'm glad it worked out for you Steve. People are always tossing things aside instead of doing needed maintenance. You and the Vespa are joined at the hip so it deserved the fix.
What a great result Steve. I'm very glad it all worked out for you, especially as I seem to recall commenting on the old video that you should get it repaired ;-) You would've lost more in depreciation than the repair costs the minute you rode a new scooter out of the dealership...
Absolutely. Depreciation on new vehicles is staggering. And for those taking out loans it is a dramatic hit on their ability to grow savings and wealth. While I could easily buy a new scooter and absorb the hit at this stage of my financial life, I just couldn't convince myself of need, desire, or good sense in that act. Now that I have it back it feels like I am riding a new scooter despite the fact that it is 18 years old, has almost 45K miles on the odometer, and I don't have a key fob!
I always did think you were making the right call to overhaul your scoot vs. replacing it. Now I KNOW you made the right call!! Your mechanic belongs to a very small club. Kudos to him! Great to see you back out and about.
Tim at Windber Cycle Works is a rare guy. Very few independent motorcycle mechanics anymore. I asked him if he had an apprentice or someone interested in taking over the business. He said no one is interested. He's tried to find a young person who might be interested but I guess working 9 to 5 at a dealership is preferable to running your own mechanic business. I'm glad he helped me along the way and I suspect his wrenching and my riding will end as father time catches up to us.
I am so happy for you when i hear about the total cost of this repair. I think it’s definitely worth it. It’s kind of like re-conditioned work done for your lovely scooter. Enjoy and happy riding.😊
Ahh, Steve…it’s great to see you reunited with your GTS. It puts a big smile on my face and feels like the balance of the universe has been restored. So glad to hear your decision to restore was so resoundingly rewarded! You’ve made a lot of wonderful memories on that machine and glad you’ll have the opportunity to add to them.
It's nice to have it back. And be reminded of what a luxurious ride the GTS offers. I suppose it all contributes to balance in the universe! So it's full flounder ahead from here. Who knows where the GTS will take me.
Good to know you have it back Steve. We share the same model & colour. Like you, I've also gone the route of fixing up rather than replacing. Two weeks ago I took mine on a 300 mile round trip to Kent in England. It was a fun ride & I look forward to many more in the future.
The GTS was gone a long time but worth the wait. And the labor cost was a nice surprise. I'm looking forward to more long rides on the GTS this summer.
Thank you for your videos. I've been watching them for a while, and they were one of the significant factors that led me to purchase my used GTS 300 last month. I have a motorbike, and Vespa LX125, but the GTS 300 is a lovely bike and has made the others near obsolete for the time being! Mine has only 5000 miles, but good to see that they can take a lot of use, and still be kept running for a relatively small amount of money.
Congratulations on adding a GTS to your fleet. As you say it is lovely in its own way. I've found nothing like it. And mine is still going strong after some recent updates.
Glad you're happy with your scooter renovation, you'll probably end up keeping it forever now 😀. I've just bought a new scooter it's a kymco dtx360 but the 125cc engined one not the 320cc. I can't believe how good it is,so relaxing to ride, cruises at 60-65mph,I did 270 miles at the weekend and it's fuel consumption was 114mpg😁. Hope you have a great year riding 😀
That's the plan. To keep riding it until I can't ride. I'll just hold the plan loosely so if the universe intervenes I can let go without much misery. I've seen reviews of the 321cc version and it appears to be a fine scooter. I don't think we have them here in the US though. Scooters in general are far more capable and fun to ride that a lot of people think. Have fun on yours and future adventures!
Wow! That is an amazing good deal for all the work you had done. Turned out to be a great decision to repair vs replace. Glad it all worked out for you!
It was an exceptional price. I remember when Tim worked on my BMW K75 I expected a much larger bill. He's surprised me twice now. If he only wasn't so far away. Or if I had a trailer...
@@captainjim605 I'm seriously considering that. I'll have to install a trailer hitch on my van. The U-Haul trailers look heavy but I think the Toyota Sienna can handle the weight. The last time I used a U-Haul trailer I was towing it with a Toyota Highlander. Something to look into.
@@ScooterintheSticks Hi Steve. U-Haul has a compatibility list of what vehicle can haul what trailer. They offer a "motorcycle trailer" that isn't enclosed and has a center spot where your front wheel on the bike will fit. I only mentioned U-Haul because of your rare occasional use for a trailer. We bought a FeatherLite trailer years ago that goes where we go with the motorhome... besides hauling the bikes, it is a "portable garage" for them when we are in one place for a while.
Hey Steve, welcome back once again, we missed you! Remember I told you that this was the right choice and, there it is! As a previous GTS 250 ie owner, I can tell you that fond memories growing up inside my mind! Great deal, on a great scooter!! Keep up mate! Always safe and upright! Greetings from Athens!
Well it looks like you made a wise choice and I hope you get many more happy years on that Vespa. Keep the entertaining videos coming. We just had a similar experience on our 11 year old Jeep, having a complete service - all fluids checked and or changed, inspection, undercoating, brakes replaced, virtually everything carefully checked over - all for a surprising low price. Done by an independent mechanic in your neighborhood BTW.
Hmmmmm, I wonder which mechanic... there are a few here. Always nice to get a pleasant surprise on a bill. I'm looking forward to more rides and thrills on the Vespa!
So glad you are back connected with your GTS! I can picture a smile inside that helmet of yours. I know my GTS brings one to my face every time I ride. I imagine if I were in your shoes I’d probably just have replaced it since I don’t know any good independent mechanics here in Ohio and most likely would have to pay dealership prices. Really happy that it worked out for you the way it did. Looking forward to the next one. Happy riding!
There have been many smiles already and more to come. I'm fortunate for the option I had. If I was faced with all of these repairs through the local dealer, or doing them myself, I probably would have sold my GTS and bought a much newer used one or just bit the bullet and bought a new one to take me to the end of my riding days. I looked at your channel and saw that fine orange Vespa. Have fun prowling the roads of Ohio!
Thanks. Appreciated it. I’m in the same boat. Not looking to make any money with my channel. It’s just fun to ride and document it. Nothing serious. Hope you get to enjoy the GTS for years to come.
I have a 2006 Vespa GT200 (carbureted) I bought it about 8 years ago, with 1800 miles on it. It looked brand new, and it rode like brand new. It still had the original 2006 tires on it, which I went ahead and wore out. I did have a couple of problems to begin with. The vacuum petcock failed, and left me stranded. I had to call a tow truck. Then the water pump started leaking. After replacing that, replacing the coolant, oil and filter, final drive oil, brake fluid, and battery, I rode it up to 10,000 miles (replaced tires at around 6,000), then did the valve adjustment, new spark plug, belt and rollers, and a few other things. I have changed the oil every 2000 miles, and the filter every 4000 miles. It still only has just over 13,000 miles (I have other bikes) and I recently replaced the tires again. Other than the petcock and water pump, the only other problem I have had with it was electrical. I finally traced that to an open circuit in the wire between the kill switch and CDI box. I am 65, and plan to keep it for the rest of my life, or for as long as I can ride it. I'm a carburetor guy, and always will be. And carburetors have never cause me any problems. I have 6 bikes, all carbureted. One of them is a Genuine Stella 2 stroke manual shift scooter. Basically an Indian made P series Vespa. I definitely think you made the right decision to keep that one going instead of replacing it. I don't believe motor vehicles have a life span. I have a 58 year old truck that still runs just fine. I put a new engine in it a couple years ago. It will easily outlast me.
The GT200 is a great scooter. Many consider it superior to the fuel injected GTS line. Properly maintained it will go on and on for a lifetime. I think there are some people who get nervous about reliability when they have to start paying to have wear items replaced. Dealers love that because they can sell more new vehicles in the myth of better reliability. But as you say, they can go on and on. I have two carbureted vehicles -- the 2001 W650 and the 2004 Vespa ET4. Once they warm up they run flawlessly. The W650 requires a little fiddling with the manual choke for the first couple minutes but it is a nice little ritual. I suspect that everything in my garage will outlast me or run longer than I will be able to ride...
Congrats, made the correct choice, I’d love to have that mechanic near my house, I was recently getting quotes to get my brake pads replaced and a private mechanic quoted me $280 for labor only, told me he was thorough and been working vespas for 35 years, still, that was a tad much for me so I’m still shopping, dealer is my last hope.
Good luck in your search. The $280 price is kind of where my head was as well. And it may not be off for a thorough job. If the mechanic flushes the system, cleans all the parts on the caliper, replaces the pads, checks the rear bearing while the muffler is off, and looks at the entire rear end then a couple hours makes sense. I know it would take me that long. Tim told me to do the valve check he basically had to drop the engine for access. That meant disconnecting the exhaust, shocks, taking off the muffler and rear wheel. With everything dismantled he said it takes little time to put it back together with new parts. And to drain the coolant, etc. Since he is working by the hours worked rather than how a dealer prices specific jobs I can see the price being a lot less. Even so, I can't wrap my head around his price for all the work he did. Since he had it so long I almost wanted to ask if I was getting a guilt discount! Regardless, I have accepted that maintaining my scooters, motorcycles, and cars is just plain expensive. I don't blink anymore at the costs. I took one of the dogs to the vet yesterday for an annual checkup and vaccinations. $517. Everything costs money now. I just need to erase the 1980s price lists from my brain!
You got a fantastic deal on the labor cost Steve. Most shops are charging well over $100 an hour shop rate. I'm wondering, did you replace your water pump? They usually don't last beyond 25 to 30 thousand miles. Take good care and thanks for this one.
I didn't even think of the water pump. And I don't think it has ever been changed. At least I can't remember. The fuel pump has been replaced. Time will tell what will be next on the list.
I've always only owned/ridden one bike at a time. Right now it's the '22 GTS. (had some Suzukis and a Yamaha) I don't go off-road, so one suits my purposes. Aside from needing something for that alternative riding surface, I never quite understand when riders have multiple bikes. I guess that's a little obtuse, but except for being in the mood to shift or not is the only reason I'd have 2. This is certainly not judgement, please understand. If I were in your shoes, I'd have the GTS and the W650 - I love the look of that thing - (to shift or not to shift, that is the mood) and the Himalayan because you like the trails. That's a personal choice but I understand peoples' love of different choices. just my $.02. Enjoy, stay safe. keep posting, please.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on owning multiple machines. I wrestle with the seemingly nonsensical reality of having 5 in the garage. Especially after more than a decade of bliss with only the GTS. I know I got to a point in life where I just wanted to own and ride some other things before my riding life ended. And I'm in a financial situation where money was not an issue. But still, there is a lot of extra time involved in taking care of everything. Just yesterday I was in the garage thinking I should sell the Himalayan. Not sure why but the thought occurred to me. Everything I have now suits a unique riding purpose. At least that's the delusion under which I am currently operating!
@@ScooterintheSticks whatever delusion works for you. Maybe we're all somebody's delusion in some Universal hologram. p.s. have you seen youtube channel 'Itchy boots?" this dutch woman with more balls than any 10 men I know rides off and on road on almost all the continents. she is an amazing athlete to be able to navigate some of those pathways. It's fascinating.
Steve, I've test ride two Piaggio X-Evo 250 with the same engine as yours from my local 2nd hand market .. Both where severely trashed overall but the engines where ok.. I liked them a lot, they have pull from low rpms for a scooter and where very pleasant to ride. I fall in love in that model, looking for a good one to buy. It is discontinued few years ago, so no new.
Good luck with your search for another scooter. They're out there. I've had good luck with the 250 engine. My fingers are crossed that I'll have many more riding miles with it.
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I'm really happy for you Steve! And thank you for another inspiring video! Did you get an Insta360 camera? I love the front view it provides!|
Thank you for the kind words about the video. I have had an Insta 360 camera now for about 18 months. It doesn't get used a lot but it is nice for those front views. I need to experiment with it more.
Great to see the scooter back and nice to hear your happy with it and the price I’m not quite at that stage yet but it may come to a scooter in about next 7/8 years I’ll be 70 in 6 1/2 years and with problems I’ve got I’m slowly deteriorating I can feel that but as well as a car I can still have 2 wheels and that’s what matters to me anyway take ride safe and hope you enjoy all your bikes
Sorry to hear you're struggling with health conditions. Age and genetics catch up with all of us. I hope you find a manageable path ahead so you can ride or do the things you enjoy in life.
I knew the engine would be exposed during the valve check so I just decided to have the mechanic go ahead and replace the head gasket along with all the other gaskets and seals. The parts were inexpensive so what the heck. It I was thinking more clearly I would have had him replace the water pump as well. Thanks for the kind words about the things I post. I appreciate them.
Definitely a good deal. Completely dependent on access to a competent independent mechanic to get a price like I did. From a Harley Electraglide to a Vespa GTS.... that's a cosmic shift! Good luck with your search.
A GTS300 or Primavera 150 were on my list before I bought my Honda Trail 125. I love my Trail, but videos like this sometimes make me wish I'd gone a little differently. Later down the road, maybe.
I've found the Trail 125 and my Vespa ET4 to be completely different animals. Both capable in different ways and both deliver a smile while riding. It is a luxury for me to be able to pick and choose different machines for different rides. Sometimes I think I'm indulging myself when I could easily get by with fewer machines. I can go through a lot of mental gymnastics about the things I ride and own. And I'm good at rationalizing my wants without regard to what I actually need. As I said, my financial circumstances allow me these indulgences. But as I get older and my ability to ride decreases, I suspect the final machine may well be the Vespa ET4 or some similar sized scooter...
@@ScooterintheSticks My previous hobbies of building and sailing small boats kind of prepared me for low speed adventuring. My favorite thing to do with the bike is meander down farm roads, paved or otherwise. As my first bike, other than a ‘64 Allstate (Vespa) 125 that I never got running, the Trail 125 keeps me good and grounded. A small Vespa would likely function very similarly.
steve, just a friendly head’s up…you should blur your license plate, i think. But, more importantly, more content! i look forward to your ice cream runs
Can never make too many ice cream runs! Regarding blurring license plates… I heard that advice before but never a clearly articulated explanation of the actual risk. I have never read of anyone claiming problems. Just conjecture and what ifs. Enlighten me.
For the years I was riding in snow, salt, and slush, I had to repaint the muffler every spring. And I had to repaint the bottom once because the paint was starting to come off from rocks and gravel beating on it and exposing bare metal. But other than that no serious rust issues.
A scooter is a very small machine. I always think work done by others will cost and I overestimate too much as well. But I was shocked when you said you thought the Vespa needed in your humble estimation $2k's worth of work. I thought you must be looking at the cost of spares there in the US. And even that seemed shockingly expensive. I am glad it was a pleasant surprise for you. It is better to keep things going than just replace them. That scoot has been a faithful servant to you. Any who watch some Germans on some really old Vespa's making themselves dizzy....... ua-cam.com/video/XmlSkH2XVyU/v-deo.html&ab_channel=SIPScootershop
Spending $1K just on the parts I bought, knowing what it costs to have certain things done at the dealer, and the complexity of replacing the front shocks, steering bearings, and races I was surprised to see the total labor cost just under $400 dollars.
It's nice to be riding it again. The garage is kind of full though. Have to keep juggling the machines around to keep them all with a chance to be on the road.
I had two Vespa back in the mid 1970’s, I always prefered Lambretta in those days becarse they looked slicker. Between then and now I had big bikes in the 1990’s for a while. Ten years ago as of yesterday (6th June) I started riding again on a Vespa 300. I thought it would be a short lived fad but no. Today I am on my forth Vespa GTS 300, a 75 years anniversary model. It would have been my third but I had my last Vespa stolen in January and written off. So, I empathise how you feel, I love the Vespa GTS, it is the most fun I have ever had on two wheels and the most satisfying ride. I have had so many in ten years becarse I toured and commuted. There was nothing wrong when I upgraded but wanted to keep ahead of the game. Happy ridding and I’m glad you enjoy your Vespa as much as I do.
Sounds as if you now have a life membership to the Vespa Aficionado Club! Seriously though, I know how you feel. Riding my Vespa GTS has provided me with so much fun, excitement, and adventure that I will always have one. The other machines in the garage do too but aren't like the GTS.
There's noting wrong with upgrading and staying ahead of the game as you say if that's what works for you. I periodically respond to questions from people about such things. My response is usually can you pay cash? If not, it never seems wise to take out a loan for a toy. But that's just me. Others seem to be fine with that. We're all different and we all get to make our own decisions. That's what makes life so interesting!
Happy that things worked out
i have a 2020 GTS HPE
the ABS pump went bad
Vespa was nice enough to agree to pay for that part when they didn't have to... Because there is a defect item which is well known
but the labor is still 4-5 hours at my very honest dealer
and you are going to pay 10.5 K to walk out the door at any Vespa dealer today to get a new one
you did the right thing
without any doubt in the world
.... love your channel.. always have/always will
thank you for continuing to remind us that NICE PEOPLE, with NO agenda continue to inhabit UA-cam
That ABS pump would be an expensive repair. Glad Vespa footed the bill for the part. Labor costs at dealerships have gone up but for something like that there is little choice. And the mechanic that worked on mine said he isn't sure he could do some work on new ones because of the electronics and his lack of the necessary computer "things" to manage stuff. I'm fortunate (I think) that everything now in my garage is pretty simple mechanically and electronically. At least that's what I tell myself....
Thank you for the kind words about my channel. I just try and share my thoughts and feelings as they come up. Usually things I'm thinking about while riding. If there is an agenda it's to share the fun and satisfaction a person can derive from riding. It changed my life. Perhaps it may help others.
And since I am not making videos to earn money I can forgo a lot of the offers I get to review or endorse things. I don't have to ask people to like and subscribe. And I don't have to pressure myself to post more and more content. I can embrace the channel like I do riding -- engage when I can when I want!
Best of luck with that HPE. A lot of people have had various problems with them. One owner had a belt shred in under 6000 miles. Vespa has doubled the required maintenance on them compared to the GT and GTS.
@@geraldscott4302 I know. It's complete I know. It's complete BS, of course. I almost thought of dumping it and had piaggio not stepped up to at least pay for that part I probably would have left it at the dealer and said give me whatever you want. It's really pretty embarrassing. They want me to flush the brakes every single year and no other vehicle with any number of wheels ever had such a requirement. The old ones really were simpler and had so much less to go wrong and which did go wrong. These days when you have to spend 10.5 K out the door to take one home you really have to wonder why people put up with that. The only way to convince me to spend that kind of money would be if you gave me a 4-year warranty zero deductible no questions asked for everything except break pads and tires... Unobtainium, of course
@@ScooterintheSticks and every single word you have replied here should remind all of us why you are a shining example of what is good about UA-cam... And how other should aspire to follow your lead here and in their personal lives
I'm loving your channel. I'm 70 years old and thinking about getting a Vespa.
Thank you for your kind words about my channel. I appreciate them.
Good luck on your consideration of getting a Vespa. They can be a good choice for someone looking for a lighter and easy to handle machine. They bring with them much of the same risks as a motorcycle though. They aren't inherently any safer aside from not achieving the dazzling speeds of many motorcycles.
If you do decide to ride, make sure you get some training. Especially regarding road strategy. Being on two wheels on the road requires a very different mindset and approach than driving a car.
Good luck and be safe!
Good to see you back in the saddle, Old Man. Clearly, the Vespa is your favorite ride and the repair investment was money well spent. Too often we discard old items that still have a good bit of life left in them. Repairing, re-purposing, and renewing old items is often the most responsible, cheapest, and gratifying path. Replacements often fall short of what we liked about the original item, Pay a tailor to repair the zipper of a favorite jacket. That jacket always just looked good. It fits perfect. The pockets are right where you want 'em. A new one, although similar, will never be the same. You got your Vespa back. Rides 'like new'. Kept it out of a landfill. Nothing new to learn. Starts up just the way you remembered, and park it just where you always did. Victory!
It's nice to have the GTS back in the riding rotation. If forced to only have one machine in the garage the GTS would be the clear winner. But I have to say that everything I have now is a favorite. Perfect for what it does best.
I try and repair and renew things though I have to admit that I do abandon some things. Computers for instance as their processing power can't keep up with the applications I use. And Apple computers resist easy upgrades.
I do repair and renew boots. I have an old pair of my father's Wolverine boots that I have had resoled twice now. And a pair of Danner Mountain Light boots that I bought in the 1980s that recently underwent a restoration at Danner that I thought they just sent me new boots. There are many miles left on those, at least until the arthritis in my toes and feet make them too uncomfortable to wear.
And I have had many repairs done on riding gear. And cars and vans. And our home. But still, there are things that I just abandon....
The GTS should remain out of the landfill for a long time to come. Will be riding it again soon!
Nice to have you back Stevy
All the way from Malta
Thanks!
Hey Sreve, glad that you have your scooter back and that everything turned out well. Now there is no excuse not to make more of your great videos on the Vespa and other bikes! Love your channel and sage musings. Btw, I am 73 and have a 2023 Gts 300 and a 2003 Goldwing. Hope to keep riding for years to come. Looking forward to your next video on whichever bike you choose. Thanks
Wow. Opposite ends of the spectrum with a GTS and a Goldwing!
Thanks for the kind words about the videos. I have the next one percolating in my mind already.
Well worth invigorating a loved machine, sounds like you made the right choice
I think so too. There's always an element of uncertainty when you pick a course of action. I'm glad this one seems to have worked out.
Wow , you hit the Lottery on that price ! Nice , Thanks for the Videos
Absolutely. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the price.
I'm glad it worked out for you Steve. People are always tossing things aside instead of doing needed maintenance. You and the Vespa are joined at the hip so it deserved the fix.
I'm hoping for years of trouble-free service!
What a great result Steve. I'm very glad it all worked out for you, especially as I seem to recall commenting on the old video that you should get it repaired ;-) You would've lost more in depreciation than the repair costs the minute you rode a new scooter out of the dealership...
Absolutely. Depreciation on new vehicles is staggering. And for those taking out loans it is a dramatic hit on their ability to grow savings and wealth. While I could easily buy a new scooter and absorb the hit at this stage of my financial life, I just couldn't convince myself of need, desire, or good sense in that act.
Now that I have it back it feels like I am riding a new scooter despite the fact that it is 18 years old, has almost 45K miles on the odometer, and I don't have a key fob!
Thanks for sharing your story Steve, it was a reasonable decision to repair your Gts👍
My pleasure. I suspect others run into the same dilemma on whether to make repairs or buy something different.
@@ScooterintheSticks yes, I think so.
Great to hear how this turned out!
Thanks! It's nice to have it back.
I always did think you were making the right call to overhaul your scoot vs. replacing it.
Now I KNOW you made the right call!! Your mechanic belongs to a very small club. Kudos to him! Great to see you back out and about.
Tim at Windber Cycle Works is a rare guy. Very few independent motorcycle mechanics anymore. I asked him if he had an apprentice or someone interested in taking over the business. He said no one is interested. He's tried to find a young person who might be interested but I guess working 9 to 5 at a dealership is preferable to running your own mechanic business.
I'm glad he helped me along the way and I suspect his wrenching and my riding will end as father time catches up to us.
@@ScooterintheSticks sadly, I have to agree..
@@Timothy-ns4qn Yeah. It is sad that he can't find someone.
I am so happy for you when i hear about the total cost of this repair. I think it’s definitely worth it. It’s kind of like re-conditioned work done for your lovely scooter. Enjoy and happy riding.😊
I totally agree!
I congratulate you, that was a good decision. Greetings from Germany
Guten Morgen!
Ich stimme zu. Es war eine gute Entscheidung!
Ahh, Steve…it’s great to see you reunited with your GTS. It puts a big smile on my face and feels like the balance of the universe has been restored. So glad to hear your decision to restore was so resoundingly rewarded! You’ve made a lot of wonderful memories on that machine and glad you’ll have the opportunity to add to them.
It's nice to have it back. And be reminded of what a luxurious ride the GTS offers. I suppose it all contributes to balance in the universe!
So it's full flounder ahead from here. Who knows where the GTS will take me.
Good to know you have it back Steve. We share the same model & colour.
Like you, I've also gone the route of fixing up rather than replacing.
Two weeks ago I took mine on a 300 mile round trip to Kent in England. It was a fun ride & I look forward to many more in the future.
I could use a 300 mile ride about now. Thanks for the thought!
Steve you got me there when you said “are you ready” on the cost 🤣
I have been waiting for the Vespa video for the longest time!
The GTS was gone a long time but worth the wait. And the labor cost was a nice surprise. I'm looking forward to more long rides on the GTS this summer.
Thank you for your videos. I've been watching them for a while, and they were one of the significant factors that led me to purchase my used GTS 300 last month. I have a motorbike, and Vespa LX125, but the GTS 300 is a lovely bike and has made the others near obsolete for the time being! Mine has only 5000 miles, but good to see that they can take a lot of use, and still be kept running for a relatively small amount of money.
Congratulations on adding a GTS to your fleet. As you say it is lovely in its own way. I've found nothing like it. And mine is still going strong after some recent updates.
Glad you're happy with your scooter renovation, you'll probably end up keeping it forever now 😀. I've just bought a new scooter it's a kymco dtx360 but the 125cc engined one not the 320cc. I can't believe how good it is,so relaxing to ride, cruises at 60-65mph,I did 270 miles at the weekend and it's fuel consumption was 114mpg😁. Hope you have a great year riding 😀
That's the plan. To keep riding it until I can't ride. I'll just hold the plan loosely so if the universe intervenes I can let go without much misery.
I've seen reviews of the 321cc version and it appears to be a fine scooter. I don't think we have them here in the US though.
Scooters in general are far more capable and fun to ride that a lot of people think. Have fun on yours and future adventures!
Glad to see you back on the scooter again. Look forward to a Summer full of riding adventures.
You and me both!
Looks lovely where you are riding..enjoy the revamped.machine.. 👍
It's a beautiful area in which to ride. And the revamped GTS is a perfect companion to explore with.
Wow! That is an amazing good deal for all the work you had done. Turned out to be a great decision to repair vs replace. Glad it all worked out for you!
It was an exceptional price. I remember when Tim worked on my BMW K75 I expected a much larger bill. He's surprised me twice now. If he only wasn't so far away. Or if I had a trailer...
@@ScooterintheSticks Worth it to rent a H-Haul for that kind of service and price!
@@captainjim605 I'm seriously considering that. I'll have to install a trailer hitch on my van. The U-Haul trailers look heavy but I think the Toyota Sienna can handle the weight. The last time I used a U-Haul trailer I was towing it with a Toyota Highlander. Something to look into.
@@ScooterintheSticks Hi Steve. U-Haul has a compatibility list of what vehicle can haul what trailer. They offer a "motorcycle trailer" that isn't enclosed and has a center spot where your front wheel on the bike will fit. I only mentioned U-Haul because of your rare occasional use for a trailer. We bought a FeatherLite trailer years ago that goes where we go with the motorhome... besides hauling the bikes, it is a "portable garage" for them when we are in one place for a while.
Hey Steve, welcome back once again, we missed you!
Remember I told you that this was the right choice and, there it is!
As a previous GTS 250 ie owner, I can tell you that fond memories growing up inside my mind!
Great deal, on a great scooter!!
Keep up mate! Always safe and upright!
Greetings from Athens!
It was definitely the right choice. A lot more memories ahead on my GTS.
Thanks for taking the time to comment. Be well and safe in Athens!
Well it looks like you made a wise choice and I hope you get many more happy years on that Vespa. Keep the entertaining videos coming. We just had a similar experience on our 11 year old Jeep, having a complete service - all fluids checked and or changed, inspection, undercoating, brakes replaced, virtually everything carefully checked over - all for a surprising low price. Done by an independent mechanic in your neighborhood BTW.
Hmmmmm, I wonder which mechanic... there are a few here. Always nice to get a pleasant surprise on a bill.
I'm looking forward to more rides and thrills on the Vespa!
So glad you are back connected with your GTS! I can picture a smile inside that helmet of yours. I know my GTS brings one to my face every time I ride. I imagine if I were in your shoes I’d probably just have replaced it since I don’t know any good independent mechanics here in Ohio and most likely would have to pay dealership prices. Really happy that it worked out for you the way it did. Looking forward to the next one. Happy riding!
There have been many smiles already and more to come.
I'm fortunate for the option I had. If I was faced with all of these repairs through the local dealer, or doing them myself, I probably would have sold my GTS and bought a much newer used one or just bit the bullet and bought a new one to take me to the end of my riding days.
I looked at your channel and saw that fine orange Vespa. Have fun prowling the roads of Ohio!
Thanks. Appreciated it. I’m in the same boat. Not looking to make any money with my channel. It’s just fun to ride and document it. Nothing serious.
Hope you get to enjoy the GTS for years to come.
I have a 2006 Vespa GT200 (carbureted) I bought it about 8 years ago, with 1800 miles on it. It looked brand new, and it rode like brand new. It still had the original 2006 tires on it, which I went ahead and wore out. I did have a couple of problems to begin with. The vacuum petcock failed, and left me stranded. I had to call a tow truck. Then the water pump started leaking. After replacing that, replacing the coolant, oil and filter, final drive oil, brake fluid, and battery, I rode it up to 10,000 miles (replaced tires at around 6,000), then did the valve adjustment, new spark plug, belt and rollers, and a few other things. I have changed the oil every 2000 miles, and the filter every 4000 miles. It still only has just over 13,000 miles (I have other bikes) and I recently replaced the tires again. Other than the petcock and water pump, the only other problem I have had with it was electrical. I finally traced that to an open circuit in the wire between the kill switch and CDI box. I am 65, and plan to keep it for the rest of my life, or for as long as I can ride it. I'm a carburetor guy, and always will be. And carburetors have never cause me any problems. I have 6 bikes, all carbureted. One of them is a Genuine Stella 2 stroke manual shift scooter. Basically an Indian made P series Vespa.
I definitely think you made the right decision to keep that one going instead of replacing it. I don't believe motor vehicles have a life span. I have a 58 year old truck that still runs just fine. I put a new engine in it a couple years ago. It will easily outlast me.
The GT200 is a great scooter. Many consider it superior to the fuel injected GTS line. Properly maintained it will go on and on for a lifetime.
I think there are some people who get nervous about reliability when they have to start paying to have wear items replaced. Dealers love that because they can sell more new vehicles in the myth of better reliability. But as you say, they can go on and on.
I have two carbureted vehicles -- the 2001 W650 and the 2004 Vespa ET4. Once they warm up they run flawlessly. The W650 requires a little fiddling with the manual choke for the first couple minutes but it is a nice little ritual.
I suspect that everything in my garage will outlast me or run longer than I will be able to ride...
Congrats, made the correct choice, I’d love to have that mechanic near my house, I was recently getting quotes to get my brake pads replaced and a private mechanic quoted me $280 for labor only, told me he was thorough and been working vespas for 35 years, still, that was a tad much for me so I’m still shopping, dealer is my last hope.
Good luck in your search. The $280 price is kind of where my head was as well. And it may not be off for a thorough job. If the mechanic flushes the system, cleans all the parts on the caliper, replaces the pads, checks the rear bearing while the muffler is off, and looks at the entire rear end then a couple hours makes sense. I know it would take me that long.
Tim told me to do the valve check he basically had to drop the engine for access. That meant disconnecting the exhaust, shocks, taking off the muffler and rear wheel. With everything dismantled he said it takes little time to put it back together with new parts. And to drain the coolant, etc.
Since he is working by the hours worked rather than how a dealer prices specific jobs I can see the price being a lot less. Even so, I can't wrap my head around his price for all the work he did. Since he had it so long I almost wanted to ask if I was getting a guilt discount!
Regardless, I have accepted that maintaining my scooters, motorcycles, and cars is just plain expensive. I don't blink anymore at the costs. I took one of the dogs to the vet yesterday for an annual checkup and vaccinations. $517.
Everything costs money now. I just need to erase the 1980s price lists from my brain!
You got a fantastic deal on the labor cost Steve. Most shops are charging well over $100 an hour shop rate. I'm wondering, did you replace your water pump? They usually don't last beyond 25 to 30 thousand miles. Take good care and thanks for this one.
I didn't even think of the water pump. And I don't think it has ever been changed. At least I can't remember. The fuel pump has been replaced. Time will tell what will be next on the list.
I've always only owned/ridden one bike at a time. Right now it's the '22 GTS. (had some Suzukis and a Yamaha) I don't go off-road, so one suits my purposes. Aside from needing something for that alternative riding surface, I never quite understand when riders have multiple bikes. I guess that's a little obtuse, but except for being in the mood to shift or not is the only reason I'd have 2. This is certainly not judgement, please understand. If I were in your shoes, I'd have the GTS and the W650 - I love the look of that thing - (to shift or not to shift, that is the mood) and the Himalayan because you like the trails. That's a personal choice but I understand peoples' love of different choices. just my $.02. Enjoy, stay safe. keep posting, please.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on owning multiple machines. I wrestle with the seemingly nonsensical reality of having 5 in the garage. Especially after more than a decade of bliss with only the GTS. I know I got to a point in life where I just wanted to own and ride some other things before my riding life ended. And I'm in a financial situation where money was not an issue. But still, there is a lot of extra time involved in taking care of everything. Just yesterday I was in the garage thinking I should sell the Himalayan. Not sure why but the thought occurred to me.
Everything I have now suits a unique riding purpose. At least that's the delusion under which I am currently operating!
@@ScooterintheSticks whatever delusion works for you. Maybe we're all somebody's delusion in some Universal hologram. p.s. have you seen youtube channel 'Itchy boots?" this dutch woman with more balls than any 10 men I know rides off and on road on almost all the continents. she is an amazing athlete to be able to navigate some of those pathways. It's fascinating.
Steve, I've test ride two Piaggio X-Evo 250 with the same engine as yours from my local 2nd hand market .. Both where severely trashed overall but the engines where ok.. I liked them a lot, they have pull from low rpms for a scooter and where very pleasant to ride. I fall in love in that model, looking for a good one to buy. It is discontinued few years ago, so no new.
Good luck with your search for another scooter. They're out there.
I've had good luck with the 250 engine. My fingers are crossed that I'll have many more riding miles with it.
I'm really happy for you Steve!
And thank you for another inspiring video!
Did you get an Insta360 camera? I love the front view it provides!|
Thank you for the kind words about the video.
I have had an Insta 360 camera now for about 18 months. It doesn't get used a lot but it is nice for those front views. I need to experiment with it more.
Great to see the scooter back and nice to hear your happy with it and the price I’m not quite at that stage yet but it may come to a scooter in about next 7/8 years I’ll be 70 in 6 1/2 years and with problems I’ve got I’m slowly deteriorating I can feel that but as well as a car I can still have 2 wheels and that’s what matters to me anyway take ride safe and hope you enjoy all your bikes
Sorry to hear you're struggling with health conditions. Age and genetics catch up with all of us. I hope you find a manageable path ahead so you can ride or do the things you enjoy in life.
What was the criteria for replacing the head gasket? Was it routine? I have a 1963 VNB and a 2023 Primavera. Like your musings. Keep it up.
I knew the engine would be exposed during the valve check so I just decided to have the mechanic go ahead and replace the head gasket along with all the other gaskets and seals. The parts were inexpensive so what the heck. It I was thinking more clearly I would have had him replace the water pump as well.
Thanks for the kind words about the things I post. I appreciate them.
Wowwww! I thought it was gonna be 3-4k. Great. I’m looking at them hard. Trading up from an electraglide.
Definitely a good deal. Completely dependent on access to a competent independent mechanic to get a price like I did.
From a Harley Electraglide to a Vespa GTS.... that's a cosmic shift! Good luck with your search.
A GTS300 or Primavera 150 were on my list before I bought my Honda Trail 125. I love my Trail, but videos like this sometimes make me wish I'd gone a little differently. Later down the road, maybe.
I've found the Trail 125 and my Vespa ET4 to be completely different animals. Both capable in different ways and both deliver a smile while riding. It is a luxury for me to be able to pick and choose different machines for different rides. Sometimes I think I'm indulging myself when I could easily get by with fewer machines.
I can go through a lot of mental gymnastics about the things I ride and own. And I'm good at rationalizing my wants without regard to what I actually need. As I said, my financial circumstances allow me these indulgences. But as I get older and my ability to ride decreases, I suspect the final machine may well be the Vespa ET4 or some similar sized scooter...
@@ScooterintheSticks My previous hobbies of building and sailing small boats kind of prepared me for low speed adventuring. My favorite thing to do with the bike is meander down farm roads, paved or otherwise. As my first bike, other than a ‘64 Allstate (Vespa) 125 that I never got running, the Trail 125 keeps me good and grounded. A small Vespa would likely function very similarly.
@@ArtLifeThings You will find the Primavera is quicker and faster on the pavement. And the Trail 125 more capable off the pavement.
@@ArtLifeThings Both loads of fun to meander through the countryside.
steve, just a friendly head’s up…you should blur your license plate, i think.
But, more importantly, more content! i look forward to your ice cream runs
Can never make too many ice cream runs!
Regarding blurring license plates… I heard that advice before but never a clearly articulated explanation of the actual risk. I have never read of anyone claiming problems. Just conjecture and what ifs.
Enlighten me.
Great to hear! Did you ever have any rust issues?
For the years I was riding in snow, salt, and slush, I had to repaint the muffler every spring. And I had to repaint the bottom once because the paint was starting to come off from rocks and gravel beating on it and exposing bare metal. But other than that no serious rust issues.
@@ScooterintheSticks Good to know. Vespas get a bad name for rust but I always suspected it was an owners neglect issue.
A scooter is a very small machine. I always think work done by others will cost and I overestimate too much as well. But I was shocked when you said you thought the Vespa needed in your humble estimation $2k's worth of work. I thought you must be looking at the cost of spares there in the US. And even that seemed shockingly expensive. I am glad it was a pleasant surprise for you. It is better to keep things going than just replace them. That scoot has been a faithful servant to you.
Any who watch some Germans on some really old Vespa's making themselves dizzy.......
ua-cam.com/video/XmlSkH2XVyU/v-deo.html&ab_channel=SIPScootershop
A new gts 300 is $10,000 out the door , I'd been happy wit 2 or 3k . 😊
@@garydaniel8898 Make sure your open the door first then before going through...... 😃
Spending $1K just on the parts I bought, knowing what it costs to have certain things done at the dealer, and the complexity of replacing the front shocks, steering bearings, and races I was surprised to see the total labor cost just under $400 dollars.
My thoughts exactly.
It's an expensive door.
Steve you have the mechanic info ?
I used Windber Cycleworks in Windber, Pennsylvania. You can find them on Facebook.
I guessed $5k, what a great deal!!!
I was definitely thinking it would cost a lot more.
👍😁👍 ✌
It's nice to be riding it again. The garage is kind of full though. Have to keep juggling the machines around to keep them all with a chance to be on the road.
You have a Kraken logo!
We are all glad you got your GTS back. That was a huge list of items to replace. It should be good as new. 🛵💨
It seems to be as good as new. Time will tell if anything emerges that I left out. It sure is fun to ride!