Well a massive jump back to when I was young....I bought a Vespa from the year 2000.
Vespa PX200 with a 150cc engine and big bore kit to 177cc and lots of things to make it look good :-)

This jump back in time is quite a revelation to how hard it was to even start it let alone ride it !
A good old fashion 2-stroke engine with a kickstart and 4 gears manually shifted on the left hand grip.

Wow! I'd forgotten everything in forty something years....how to measure the premix oil, get the choke on (and held in place with a clothes peg), how to kickstart it without flooding the engine and the list goes on.
However, I have to say it is an absolutely fun bike to ride, given its low height and weight and every ride seems like it takes me back to when I was a Mod on my way to Brighton for a Bank Holiday punch up :-)

The brakes combined with the small wheels are amazingly severe (front disc setup) and trying not to throw it on the floor if you dare apply the front brake when on the slippery stuff.
The engine sounds like it wants to deliver power and please you at the same time with immense acceleration - on the fence on this one as the speedo is in kilometres and you really don't have a good perspective of speed when you're hanging on trying not end up in someones front garden.

Plenty of storage and racks, etc to go on a shopping trip and leg shields that do offer some protection from the elements I suppose.
Got to say, it is an iconic bike and sits in the same stable as my Harley StreetBob - chalk and cheese as one passer-by recently remarked. But in reality the Vespa handles and stops better than the Harley !

In conclusion, I am very happy with my departure from the motorbikes I have ridden for years which seemed to be getting more powerful, heavier and taller with many more complicated electronics that you mostly don't need to then jumping on a bike that weighs around 65kg and has a top speed of just over 55mph.....but its bloody great fun !

i seem to be going the opposite lol

6 hours ago, Cpt. Legover said:

i seem to be going the opposite lol

You'll be back to the dark side soon enough :-)