What should I consider if getting a Vespa in san Francisco?

Question

So I'm looking for a Vespa and there are many options I don't want to sound stupid but I want soemthing that on occasion I could take out of the city and hour or two if needed. I'm not comfortable enough with motorcycle so I want to get a vespa. Most that I can afford are 50 cc but I'm thinking this might not be enough when I encounter hills etc. Basically I want something that looks like the vintage styles but can be easy to get around with. I'm a little nervous but my friend is going to help me ride since I haven't driven in some time. Any help would be great also suggestions on where I can park is it legal to park on sidewalks I see it on occasion? ANyhting that I may have overlooked feel free to share want to make sure I don't look like an idiot once I have it.

Answer 1

50cc is enough for in town, where you never go faster than about 30 mph. A 150 or 250 is not really that much physically bigger.  All scooters are relatively easy to handle because they have a low center of gravity and auto transmissions.  A 150 or 250 you could take up to Stinson Beach on a Sunday, or out along Hwy 1 or something like that.

Vespas are very nice but they're expensive because they're made in Italy. For the same money you could get a nice used Japanese scooter, which might not be as pretty but will make you happier in the long run.

Every neighborhood in San Francisco has reserved motorcycle/scooter parking.  There are neighborhoods I would never bring my car to (like North Beach or Chinatown) where I can always be assured of finding a place for the bike.  You can park on any little bit of curb, so long as one wheel touches the curb, even between parked cars (so long as they have room to get out around you).  It's illegal to park on sidewalks, but I see it all the time too so cops must not mind.

Answer 2

I don't know much about San Francisco. But in Chicago, bikes parked on the sidewalk will get ticketed and eventually picked up by the city and impounded. Figure out how far you would want to walk to get to the bike and then see how much designated motorcycle parking is in your neighborhood within that radius... If you park between two parallel parked cars, remember that the car in front might not see your scooter when backing up.

The Yamaha Vino 125 is a good bike with retro styling, in my opinion. It's probably close to the price of a 50cc vespa. The bodywork isn't as durable as a vespa,though (plastic vs. metal).

(The Stella scooter, made in India for an American company called Genuine, has "that look", but it's also got "those emissions" and is therefore not sold in California.)

Answer 3

For what you are talking about you need a 125 or 250. If you are willing to look at another brand you might want to look at Kymco they are a very good scooter and the only thing that out rates one is a Vespa and they are  higher  than the j*p scooters. But the main thing is they are cheaper. They are the largest scooter manufacture in the world. There is also Stella and Genuine as well as Buddy but they are owned by  Piaggio and  Vespa. Stella has that look. What ever you decide get a helmet and take a MSF. As far as parking I do not live there but every where else I have been   parking as long as you are adult about it is easy of course you can get a big chain.

Answer 4

Since you qualified your question with 'in San Francisco' - I would say that you should consider the street car / trolly tracks (which in North America are only found in San Francisco and Toronto).  Learn how to cross them properly and plan your route ahead of time to reduce the amount of tracks you have to cross, if possible.

As someone previously mentioned, San Francisco is also very 'hilly'.  You want something with enough power to carry you, your cargo / passenger, as well as the vehicle itself.

Regarding your concerns about parking - most cities will allow scooters to park on the sidewalk (for free) as long as they do not impede pedestrian traffic (such as attached to a bike lock).  Check your specific city's bi-laws to be sure.

A few things to think about when considering a scooter opposed to a motorcycle.

A lot of people believe that a scooter or vespa is less dangerous than a motorcycle.  This is generaly false.  Scooters have less power and cannot accelerate / maneuver out of emergency situations as fast as a motorcycle can.  Being a smaller vehicle also lowers your visibility to be seen by other drivers, and if you get into an accident, although a motorcycle is much smaller than a car, a scooter is even smaller than a motorcycle! - meaning you lower the amount of protection your vehicle provides you.  Scooters are not that much cheaper than a 250cc engine motorcycle - so you are not likely to save a whole lot of money.  

If you want a small vehicle to boot around town with - a small cc used motorcycle such as a 250 or 400cc engine should suit your situation just fine.  

If you do choose to go with a scooter, remember, you should treat it the same way as you would as a motorcycle in terms of gear, maintenance, and riding risks.

Answer 5

Don't feel badly about asking these questions.  At 50cc, I would be concerned about the power on hills, too.  But, if you are under 150 pounds, you should be ok (just my opinion).  Vespa is nice, but I would lean toward the Yamaha lineup.  They have 3 styles of 50's.  The Vino Classic has the traditional Euro styling, while the Zuma is a bit more modern in its appearance.  The C3 is imho just plain ugly.

As for parking on a sidewalk... not so much.

I would strongly recommend a riding class before you get your license, though.  Once you pass, you get the license that is good for all motorcycles, not just the scooters, and possibly a break on insurance rates.

Good luck, and happy riding.