We drove around Rome: Vespa LX / S 125/150 IE with a new 3V engine
(from Avto magazine 13/2012)
text: Matevž Hribar, photo: Vespa
At a press conference in the center of Rome, a minute's drive from the Vatican, a Croatian colleague asked what was new about the Vespa besides the engine. This was followed by a diplomatic dooolg answer, how the Vespa sells well, how stylishly perfect and legendary it is, and that is why Piaggio is of the opinion that there is no point in changing it and blah blah blah. The short answer might be: a little, more legroom, different meter body on the S model and ... And lettering on the sheet metal body with added letters 3V... So, the heart of the drive is new, which was first revived in the Vespa, and later, of course, will find its place in other models of the Piaggio group.
It breathes in four strokes through two intake and exhaust valves and comes to life faster and quieter with a new electric starter. Since they were designed with two main goals of increasing power and reducing fuel consumption (which contradict each other), they provided less internal friction, better cooling (still air) and less weight. The plant at a speed of 50 km / h declares a consumption of 55 kilometers per liter (or more domestic 1,8 l / 100 km), which we were unable to test on Roman asphalt and cobblestones in about two hour trips.
We could only try new starter (works!) and performance, which is quite surprising considering the engine size. When gas is added, the transmission "charges" quickly and efficiently, maybe someone will even say that it is explosive. We failed to test the maximum speed, but the scooter quickly accelerates to 80 km / h. Interestingly, the driver on the 150cc version in illegal races from traffic lights to traffic lights was not even very far away from the driver on 125cc. Motorists barely squeezed out the clutches when we were already flying through the intersections on Vespa.
Hello Rome. On your adventure list, double-highlight your trip to Rome, preferably a Vespa. Ljubljana is also a common Friday afternoon boredom as the working nation and students head to their homes to meet the Roman movement. Although we were traveling in an organized (well, yes) group, we probably committed about 72 traffic violations per mile traveled. It won't work any other way, otherwise the test round would take three instead of an hour.
Driving performance The Vespas have not changed: they ride much better than the older PXs, but still class more restless than modern scooters with big wheels. Cobblestones are problematic, and only a firm grip on the steering wheel and calming the nerves help. However, small wheels with Sava or Michelin tires as standard have their advantages: adroitness... The direction changes dramatically and with minimal stress on the driver (help the guardian angel, help us how many there are, and do it with short wings so that you can hardly notice the garbage container protruding from the road).
Does the integral helmet fit under the seat that opens with a separate lock on the side? My XL is not, no matter how small it would go. Is the Vespa made in Italian? Um, of course, yes, I know that, why this is something known in advance. Larger "flip flops" were found on cars several times more expensive ... Are the switches ergonomic and the sensors transparent? Eh, is it really important?
In search of a stylish bike, you can safely ignore competitors (or rather, plagiarism). Vespa is a good enough product, and yet Vespa.
