I reported earlier today that Vespa GTS300S scooters were starting to appear in the U.S., which is weird, because they’re not on the site yet, and dealers were strangely insisting they were really 250cc models. Turns out it wasn’t anything sneaky, it was just typical Piaggio weirdness. Piaggio sent over a new U.S.-only model, the GTS 250ie Super, that had been accidentally misbadged as the GTS 300 Super. The 300cc (278, but who’s counting?) engine has not been EPA/DOT approved. This mislabeling occurred on “fewer than 100 scooters” according to a PiaggioUSA letter to dealers. The 250 Super is basically a regular GTS 250 with the louvered right cowl, a different seat, and a new instrument panel. The VINs allegedly confirm that they are in fact 250cc models. 20 years from now, wizened Vespa nerds will cherish the opportunity to warn newbies not to buy an old 1998 2008 Vespa 300 Sport without checking the VIN first.
Oh, and why aren’t they listed on the site? “Don’t get me started on PiaggioUSA,” said one dealer I contacted.
“20 years from now, wizened Vespa nerds will cherish the opportunity to warn newbies not to buy an old 1998 Vespa 300 Sport without checking the VIN first.”
Gotta watch out for those 1998 300cc Supers. There’s something fishy about them.
Dammit, Ben! You beat me to it!
Or…wait….is the 2StrokeBuzz time machine working already?
Woopah. I’ve been scootering too long.
“Or…wait….is the 2StrokeBuzz time machine working already?”
Nah, he’s just living 10 years in the past :)
Stop reminding me that Sebadoh broke up ten years ago.