Starting out: Vespa ET4 a good idea?

corglass

Hi,

I have been considering getting a scooter for awhile now and have just been offered a Vespa ET4 for a great price.

I've never used a 'two wheeler' on the public road so I'm interested in peoples opinions.
Are these good bikes? I hear Vespas are built well?
I have a full B licence,but no Catagory A.
Also I belive the ET4 is 125cc so will that cause me problems given that it'll be my first bike?

Allso any tips on good insurance companies?

Thanks
Corglass

cantdecide

Why a scooter? Would you not prefer a 'proper' motorbike or is it that you have a thing for scooters?

If it's over 50cc, you'll have to get a Learner's Permit for category A

alpomb

The honda innova is a great machine. One of my friends had one of them. It's a 125.

LordSutch

As a matter if interest, what's the largest cc you can get in a scooter? I guess it's 125cc, right?

alpomb

Well the honda silverwing is a 582cc scooter. Not sure if there's any bigger than that.

Craptacular

I started out on an ET4 because I needed to be able to drive straight away and hadn't the time to learn about gears and so forth. The shop I bought from gave me a 5 minute lesson and that was all it took to drive it. Confidence came with more experience but I just took it easy at first instead of trying to race anyone or skip lines of traffic (unless I had an empty bus lane to take advantage of). It's a great bike. I was doing 12 miles each way each day on dual carriageway and normal city roads. After about a year I took lessons on a bike and took my test. I passed it first time and I'm convinced much of the credit for that is down to the road hours clocked up on the ET4. My wife has been driving it for the past year and is now taking lessons toward her bike test.

Go for it OP. It's a great starter bike as well as just a great bike.

calvin_zola

I'm in a similiar situation, I wonder can anyone help, I have been a scooter enthusiast since a child and have had a modern vespa between the ages of 17 - 20.... I'm now looking into getting a new vespa and having it as a run around when I go home on weekends from work and to go to shows with the Vespa club... can anyone through any insight onto how much classic insurance would cost on a 1966 vespa 125cc engine, bearing in mind I am 23, can i avail of classic insurance, somebody told me you must be 25.......

galwaytt

cantdecide wrote: »

Why a scooter? Would you not prefer a 'proper' motorbike or is it that you have a thing for scooters?

If it's over 50cc, you'll have to get a Learner's Permit for category A

jeez......get over it already.........

OP I have a 125cc Vespa and a 500cc Aprilia scooter, and, to keep cantdecide happy, a 'proper' motorbike, as well. All have their uses, all are excellent at something, and I wouldn't sell one over the other.

I'm afraid you're stuck on a 50, though, with Class M. Nothing wrong with that though, as you've no test or anything, and it'll give you an idea of whether 2 wheels are for you or not, with minimal expense.