the GTS is here!
The GTS is here! Thanks to the folks over a Vespa Columbia for setting up the scooter, filling out paperwork, and arranging to help have it delivered. Also thanks to Ashton (sales manager) and Bob (owner) for giving me a tour and telling me a bit about a few of the bikes in Bob's BMW museum, including the BMW C1 scooter on display (by the way, I was a lot more thrilled than I look in the photo!). Yes, a hard-top, roll-caged scooter with seat belts. It's worth a trip to the shop just to see this.
Vespa Columbia is not only selling a lot of scooters, they're also building a new building on the property just for Vespa and Piaggio products. Now Vespas are in a small area through the featured BMW section of the store. They are also highlighted outside near the front entrance (see photo). I was told that they've had customers come in intending on buying a motorcycle that walk out with a scooter or two.
What I was most excited about (besides getting the loaner GTS, of course) was finding out about a local veteran MSF instructor who now offers private scooter safety lessons. I haven't had a chance to talk to him yet, but that'll be a post in itself once I do.
The GTS got home without incident (oh, wait, there was one incident). Once I got home (and my headache subsided), I took it for a ride. First impression - wow, this thing sounds great! :-) Second - wow, this seat is high! (31.1" - high for a shorty like me). Third impression - other than being a bit wobbly at stops (I had to tippy-toe it), it runs like a dream. It was so much fun taking it around sharp hairpin corners, and it felt incredibly smooth and solid. I didn't try to see how fast it would go, since I just wanted to get a general feel for it the first time out. Plus, it needs to be broken in. When I got it, it had 8 miles on the odometer so I still have some breaking-in miles to go.
The GTS is 326 pounds dry, while the ET4 is a mere 236. I was worried about being able to handle it, thinking it would be tough get it up on the center stand. It was tough pushing it, but putting it up on the center stand was no problem at all. It's also wider, longer, and taller, so it doesn't fit in a minivan as I was told earlier.
I guess I'll just have to ride it, instead of haul it. :-)
So, if this were my scooter, the first thing I'd do is figure out how to make or buy a lower seat. And even though it's not my scooter, I'm still trying to find an option. Corbin makes a seat for the GT, but I'm not sure if it fits on the GTS, or if it is shorter. The seat pan on the GTS seat has a removeable "hump" under that front bump in the nose of the seat, but even if that is removed, there's still a rise in the pan and not much leeway in the thickness of the foam - plus it slants downward toward the front. Still, there's got to be a way to get it about an inch lower and still be comfortable.
More on the GTS once I'm able to put in some more miles. I've also got to get a scooter seat cover on it...
