Coolness Defined
BY J. MICHAEL RIVERA
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Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck set the standard for cool in the 1953 classic film Roman Holiday, as the romantic couple whizzed through the streets of the Eternal City on a Vespa.
If you’ve been yearning to live out your hipster fantasies on the streets of San Joaquin County on a motorized scooter, there are a few things you should know. Driving a motorized scooter in California requires a motorcycle license, which includes a written test and a driving test.
A motorcycle rider safety course given by the California Highway Patrol fulfills the requirement for a driver’s test.
License hurdles aside, Vespa’s 2010 product line blends retro styling and urban sensibility – with a smaller carbon footprint and substantial fuel efficiency to boot.
“Vespas are simply the best quality scooter on the market,” said John Weinholz, owner of Cycle Specialties of Modesto. “People do come in hoping to save money on gas, but the obvious reason people want a Vespa is because they’re fun.” Cycle Specialties is an authorized dealer for BMW and Triumph motorcycles, as well as Vespa scooters.
Vespas have an average fuel efficiency rating of 70 miles per gallon.
A ten-dollar bill would fill the 2.4-gallon tank, with money left over for a latte. Vespa’s all-steel frame, 326-pound weight and -landing gear-like suspension give the scooters a solid feel when motoring around town or on the freeway, at speeds up to 80 miles per hour on some models.
For performance enthusiasts, the GTS 300 Super offers surprising acceleration. “Vespas have an excellent drive system,” Weinholz said. “The way it’s designed, you’re always on the (higher) torque part of the motor.” The scooter has a sporty black seat with white piping, black mag wheels and just enough chrome accents to give a nod to Vespa’s trend-setting heritage.
Vintage enthusiasts will want to check out the GTV 300. The luxury model has a lush brown leather saddle that looks stunning when combined with a Portofino Green scooter. A headlight mounted on the front fender and a chrome luggage rack are nods to the early Vespa prototypes.
If you’ve been yearning to live out your hipster fantasies on the streets of San Joaquin County on a motorized scooter, there are a few things you should know. Driving a motorized scooter in California requires a motorcycle license, which includes a written test and a driving test.
A motorcycle rider safety course given by the California Highway Patrol fulfills the requirement for a driver’s test.
License hurdles aside, Vespa’s 2010 product line blends retro styling and urban sensibility – with a smaller carbon footprint and substantial fuel efficiency to boot.
“Vespas are simply the best quality scooter on the market,” said John Weinholz, owner of Cycle Specialties of Modesto. “People do come in hoping to save money on gas, but the obvious reason people want a Vespa is because they’re fun.” Cycle Specialties is an authorized dealer for BMW and Triumph motorcycles, as well as Vespa scooters.
Vespas have an average fuel efficiency rating of 70 miles per gallon.
A ten-dollar bill would fill the 2.4-gallon tank, with money left over for a latte. Vespa’s all-steel frame, 326-pound weight and -landing gear-like suspension give the scooters a solid feel when motoring around town or on the freeway, at speeds up to 80 miles per hour on some models.
For performance enthusiasts, the GTS 300 Super offers surprising acceleration. “Vespas have an excellent drive system,” Weinholz said. “The way it’s designed, you’re always on the (higher) torque part of the motor.” The scooter has a sporty black seat with white piping, black mag wheels and just enough chrome accents to give a nod to Vespa’s trend-setting heritage.
Vintage enthusiasts will want to check out the GTV 300. The luxury model has a lush brown leather saddle that looks stunning when combined with a Portofino Green scooter. A headlight mounted on the front fender and a chrome luggage rack are nods to the early Vespa prototypes.