Vespa GTS300ie gets a Rave Reveiw Peter Thoeming
In an age when even super-Jumbo jets are made of plastic, the trusty Vespa still relies on its steel shell. You can tell, too - even the
GTS300 Super, fitted with the biggest engine ever to grace a Vespa, is rock solid on theroad and shows no sign of scuttle shake whatever. Scuttle shake? That's a term usually applied to the shivering you get in an insufficiently braced convertible. It can be applied to Vespas because they have that unique monocoque steel body, but it's not a term that's really ever needed. Vespas offer excellent body integrity, even with a 300cc engine putting out a considerable 15.8kW at 7500rpm. I expected that. What I didn't expect was that the small wheels didn't worry me. I can still remember my first ride on a scooter around inner city back streets. Every drain seemed to shake the machine, and make me wonder if I was about to be bucked off. Despite the fact the Super's wheels are only twelve inchers there was no suggestion of anything like that. Suspension technology has improved, clearly. So has propulsion technology. The GTS300 is powered by a clean new- eneration four-stroke engine that produces no noticeable smell, smoke or noise except for a throaty little drawl when you rev it hard. With a displacement of 278cc, the GTS Super is a variant of the highly successful GTS250ie. Visually it is separated from the 250 by a chromed rear grab rail, vented rear quarter panel, two-tone alloy rims, new instrument graphics, and a traditional seat with white piping. The whole look is unashamedly retro. The GTS300 still has all the other features which have made the GTS250ie, which continues in the lineup, such a success. The scooter is hard to fault, and the price is pretty competitive for what you get.
published 23/01/2009 |