It is like flyiing (Piaggio Vespa ET4)

Member Name: Paul Kendon

Product:	Piaggio Vespa ET4
Date:	23/02/09 (416 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: sexy, stylish, cool, powerful, easy

Disadvantages: open to elements

I have owned a 2005 Vespa ET8 150cc for a couple of years now. The ET8 is a re-badged ET4. Four is considered unlucky by some cultures and the eight is lucky. She is the ideal city scoot and is my daily ride around bumper to bumper Auckland roads.

The benefits of biking far outweigh any draw backs. Being the first at the lights and free parking almost everywhere is awesome. Even the Harley riders envy me in the city. Vespa is Italian for Wasp. Riding a Vespa really does feel like flying a fighter through the city. In a congested town its the best way around.

The direct drive leader engine launches me off the line at lights and gets me out of trouble when a boost of power is required.

While the ET4 aka ET8 stays true to the founding design principles of Vespa she marks a turning point in Vespa's colourful history.

Mass producing a twist and go automatic four stroke seems juxtaposed to the classic two-stroke that made Vespa a style icon worthy of starring roles in cult films like Quadraphenia and Roman Holiday. But as one famous Vespa rider wrote, the times are a changing. The low emission environmentally friendly engine is much easier to maintain for the mechanically illiterate.

Italian curves haven't been so popular since Marilyn made movies.

Perhaps this is why today's stars also ride ETs including Sarah Jessica Parker, Owen Wilson and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Vespa was originally designed for people who don't like bikes. Cheap and chic transport was quickly adopted by pop culture.

Movie stars like Audrey Hepburn, Gregory Peck and Charlton Heston are all captured on Vespas during culturally significant times.

I wouldn't consider something smaller or less iconic. Besides being a design icon the power is plenty to carry me and oft pillion around town without loss of speed or torque.

The bike has three easy seat settings although all are fairly high. The fairing however keeps light showers off your pants and is a canvas for more accessories than your average drag queen.

GPS units, LCD TVs and weird and wonderful appendages are often added to the bike and has become as part of the scooter culture as the Mod movement of the sixties.

Inspired by iconic Vespa flicks Quadraphenia and Roman Holiday I rode my Italian Stallion south to Taupo during Summer 09. Read about it and see the pic's on my blog, www.myspace.com/vicecreme

There is no comparison to lesser bikes. This much fun should be illegal. I don't know why everyone ain't got one.

Summary: Italian curves haven't been this popular since Marilyn

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