The ride, organized by Vespa’s American branch, took a group of journalists and a couple of local scooter enthusiasts almost There are some other cosmetic flourishes on the S: the headlamp and mirrors are rectangular rather than round, recalling earlier models; and the one-up seat offers a bit of piping that appealed to at least one vintage Vespa rider I spoke to. On the rear of the front cowl, the S has two cupholder-sized metal bins — capable of holding a pair of gloves or about as much stuff as will fit into your pants pockets. Initially, the most noticeable difference is the absence of the forward storage compartment.(S specs here; LX specs here.) The most significant differences between the S and the LX are stylistic — the S is a bit leaner, intended to recall 1960s models such as the Vespa Special and the Vespa Primavera. Indeed, the two scooters share many of the same specs. The S, which is closely related to Vespa’s LX, is powered by a 150cc air-cooled four-stroke. Vespa SThe rectangular headlight and mirrors are part of the retro styling of the Vespa S.
After touring through Manhattan and Brooklyn on a group ride for journalists, though, I found myself persuaded that scooters are extremely useful for basic city transport — at least when the weather is cooperative. So even though I’m a fan of almost anything with a motor and two wheels, I was a bit skeptical about venturing onto the city streets aboard the Vespa S. Getting through a traffic jam on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway is a game of inches. I’ve always thought that driving in New York City is a bit like a game of touch football between the Jets and the Giants — you’re always seconds away from a painful collision, but for the most part you don’t get clobbered.