Stick to the good thing

Okay, one of them is a scooter, but the Vespa GTS 250ie is still a two-wheeled mode of transport.

And it's the one most often used for short trips, casual shopping, and commuting, simply because it's so simple.

Jump, spin and go. That's all.

There's plenty of room under the seat to store a coat, gloves, and an open-face helmet, and on the way home, I can stow a few items from the shops or any work from the office that I need to take home.

It's also cheap to run. At about 3.5 liters per 100 km, a 10-kilometer daily commute to and from work costs less than $50 a week.

Practical, but rigid?

You bet. Italian retro design and black color.

But to add even more spice, highlight the Italian heritage and get a little more attention, we again turned to Karl Merz of Performance Decals & Signage, Moss St, Slacks Creek to design, manufacture and install some delicious decals.

Last year, Merz revived the look of the long-running Yamaha XTX660 for just $200, which isn't bad for a unique design.

This time we needed an Italian influence, a hint of retro style and something to show that it's sleazy now.

As such, there are green, white and red flags and silver GT stripes that reflect the generous chrome used in the bike's design.

Because the surface area of ​​the scooter is larger, more decals were needed, so this job cost $300, which is still a good value for a unique design.

Merz makes decals for on-road and off-road racing teams, bike shops, private riders, bike restorers and people who need something different or a cheap solution to a scratched fairing.

“We can replicate everything that factories do, including shading and smooth patterns,” Merz said. “Many people restore bikes, but there are no more decals.

"It's amazing how a set of decals can make a motorcycle look like new."

Prices range up to about $700 for a full set of road bike decals and $350 for thick, scratch-resistant motocross decals.