I most likely will want a Vespa or something similar in the next six months.

I don't want a 50 and possible am unsure about whether I want more than 125cc - I could go 200, 250, 300 or into the armchair 4/600 range.

I have a full licence and a proper motorbike already. Let's say I want that open-face, around-town experience so I can smoke a cigarette and talk on the phone whilst riding around.

I do not want that three-wheeled thing I've seen.

For running around a warm city, parking easily but able to haul 100kg of person plus shopping uphill - what might you think is good? Ideally, twist+go and with space for a shopping bag between the feet is also good for me.

All I know is blue ones are the quickest and white ones go best with the fishtail parker

Wait till Peugoet starts coming out with these puppies..

Well all I can suggest is under no circumstances go for an Aprilia. My bike has been waiting for a part from them for 2 months now and they haven't delivered and are unable or unwilling to say when they will deliver. Said bike is dead without it.

Had an Aprilia scooter once. Head gasket failed after about 15,000 Km and again about 3,000 later. Coupled with their wonderful logistics I think there's a message in here somewhere.

Piaggio are probably not much better. Sadly I think Japanese is the only alternative for you.

You might want to look at the Indan made LML Vespa copies. I have a friend who sells them in the U.S. and he's very impressed. I know that they are imported here, scooterplanet.ch has them on their pricelist: http://www.scooterplanet.ch/Bilder/n..._vespa_lml.pdf

In Geneva: http://www.aveni.ch/index.php/en/sco...oters-lml.html


Depending on traffic in your area you may want some options...

I used to have an Aprilia RS 250 that was quicker off the mark than hot sh*t off a shovel... Bloody uncomfortable for long distances but you rarely got beat at the traffic lights...

Scotters are for girls.... LOL

Get a Yammy or a Honda... fast, reliable and they hold their value almost as well as their Vespa cousins. I have a 125cc Yamaha Cygnus and its absolutely brilliant.

There's no substitute for a Vespa. They're not as fast as the bendy, lightweight rivals but the stability is wonderfully reassuring, especially on the rare occassions you'll go above 50kmh. The 125 ET4 is the Lobsters claws. Get a Piaggio box on the back and you'll have loads of space for the daily shop plus helmet under the seat. The fuel economy on these things is great.

Nice to know I'll be welcome to kip over on my Ticinese sojorns...

You old romantic you, I on the other hand only care about teutonic values such as performance, reliability, efficiency and depreciation

And a Lambretta ?

frankly, 125 might be a bit whimpy
I have more cubes in mind...!

Oh and my address will be a PO box

Right, you must be very heavy boned... Compared to a BMW, all Scooters will seem wimpy. The 250 Bergman may be more suited to your executive derriere, but it's bigger than a Land Rover and just not cool. You'll have to have a day trying them out. Lucky you!

Yep you're right the blue ones are the fastest I got me a blue Honda Dylan 150 cc, according to the dealer that services it it is notably faster than a 125 Offer me 2200 chf and its yours

Buying a 150cc scooter is like pricing your house at £5,000 above the stamp duty threshold i.e. pointless! A 125cc licence is nice and easy to get if you drive cars, a 150cc involves a full blown motorbike test

Yep, correct. But they only sold the 150cc version in Holland (where it is from) plus I ha(ve)(d) a full motorcycle license anyway... Plus it was the only one small enough to fit in my VW van. This