2006 BV250 or 2006 Vespa Grandturismo 200? What should I buy By stevef22 (Read 1,175 times)

[stevef22]

Ok, I got the chinese scooters out of my blood. Goodbye TaoTao! lol

I found two scooters around town.


2006 Piaggio BV 250
It has 9,000 Miles and looks to be average condition. Overall good shape, comes with windshield and lockable storage case. Actually found at local Harley dealer. It was a trade in and is used as a parts runner shop scooter.

www.motorcycle.com/specs/piaggio/scooter/2006/bv/250.html

Price 1700.00





2006 Vespa Grandturismo 200
This is in better condition than BV 250 and has 1,665.00 miles. Also has windshield and lockable storage case.

www.motorcycle.com/specs/vespa/scooter/2006/granturismo/200.html

Price 1700.00




What would you guys buy and why? What moter and displacement are on each of these? Thank you so much for you help!

Below are pictures!

[stevef22]

Mores stuff about my situation

* If I was just scooting around downtown I would get the vespa. However I want to take the girlfriend to new braunfels about 30 miles away. 60mi round trip.

Not sure your experience on vespas for 60 mile round trips on smaller wheels and comfort.

Heard great reviews for BV250 and Vespa Grandturismo 200.

Thank you, Steve

[cyborg]

They want too much for the bv,,,9000 miles,,,someone on the forum just picked one up for $980 i believe it was with a few more miles than that one,,,from personal experience i'd shy away from the vespa,,,service is a royal pain,,everything has to be done down the hole under the seat ,,, it's almost easier to take out the engine to service it,,,the only thing left to remove the engine completely is the pivot bolt and wires and hoses,,,the biggest reason i sold mine,,,,and at the dealer parts counter,,,whew they are expensive,,and also the vespa is not the large frame,,,in my book the bv is a better machine

[stevef22]

Thanks Cyborg, that's the kind of info that takes years riding scooters to know.

On the BV250 I noticed a few counter weights on rear wheel. Is this normal maintenance or an issue?

[cookees]

I'd go with the BV. $1700 isn't too bad, but since it's at a Harley dealer, my bet is that 13 crisp 100's might nail it down.

[cyborg]

Good point cookie,,,, a few Bens all talking at the same time gets peoples attention,,,, I'd surely like it alot better if it were between $12-1500,,, the weights are for tire balancing I would imagine

[cyborg]

As a side I've only been on the scooter scene a couple years,,, been around bikes my whole life,,, I do my own service from tuning to full house builds,,, the Vespa I had was a royal pain in the left nut almost from the getgo,,, when it was running it was great!!! The key word is when,, it got to the point where I wouldn't go anywhere where I couldn't get help or a truck with a ramp pronto,,, sold it got a Stella 4 speed manual bike and never looked back

[cyborg]

"Ok, I got the chinese scooters out of my blood. Goodbye TaoTao! lol" wise choice,,,and i'm not here to commandere the thread or beat chinese scoots,,,but i feel the taiwanese scooters are the best,,,both build and material quality,,,it's not saying chinese can't go the mile,,,some guys/gals here and on other forums have crazy big miles on theirs,,,what i'm saying is if you want a machine with less trouble ,,faster,,better brakes,,and generally more reliable taiwan is where it's at,,,after the Stellas "new" wears off,,,that's where my dough goes,,,gently used of course,,,after all i am still a cheap bastard

[stevef22]

Thanks so much Cookies and Cyborg,

Cyborg, thanks for opinion on Taiwanese scooters. So should I wait to buy a SYM or something Taiwaneese or walk over to Harley dealer with 13 crisp 100 bills?

[cyborg]

If i'm not mistaken,,,and i am sometimes (just ask the wife),, ,,,hey it wasn't that funny!!! the mill/trans in the bv is made in taiwan,,could be a kymco,,,bike assembled in italy ,,,you can't go wrong with it,,,sym's are great too,,if you can scram together $1300 and they go for it,,,i think you gots yerself a deal

[cookees]

Stroll on over to the Harley dealer.

[skunkhome]

If you like scooters the vespa is the way to go. If you want a scooter that thinks it's a motorcycle get the Piaggio, however I think they are asking a bit much, though the Givi trunk will set you back $200 new.  The Vespa overall is a better deal.

[cyborg]

I would buy a px or any other removable side cover series to own,,, I would take a modern Vespa as a gift and turn it as fast as my a$$ could sell it,,,, I'd have another Stella in a heartbeat,,, I may have gotten a lemon with the Vespa I had but service is a major drag by any standards,,, when you have to drop the mill to do even routine servicing,,, it goes out of my life,,, just my opinion,, they do have the styling I love,,, and I also love the Modena Ferrari,,, it's engine has to come out for tune/ service as well,,,, so my money is looking at a mondial with the T engine,,,,I prefer a true convertible anyways

[skunkhome]

Generally the wheel weights are normal. So, what did you get?

[stevef22]

Im still in limbo. The Grandturismo 200 is a small or large frame? Im 6' tall and dont want to be cramped. Thanks