I found myself absolutely killing it outside the vida e in Green Point this weekend, and I realised that I still haven’t told you about my new toy, the Vespa GTS 250 i.e. And that “i.e.” at the end doesn’t mean “id est,” as you often see in english sentences, it refers rather to the fact that this beast is fuel injected. Yes, you heard me correctly – fuel injected. If it did mean “i.s.” as you know it, then the word “awesome” would be written immediately after it. The Vespa GTS 250 i.e. awesome.

And this is not my first scooter, either. I’ve been through it all and am more than qualified to debate the two sides. Two sides, you ask? You know what I’m talking about..

Let me tell you what I experienced and what I’ve learnt.

Seth enjoys a cuppa, as we peruse the Vespa GTS 250 i.e.

I won’t rubbish the name of the scooter brand I had before this, but let’s just say the name rhymes with “euro” and “jet.” I paid just over 10 grand for that bike and I can definitely recommend it – if you’re looking for a disposable bike. I did a few thousand kays on it and the bike is finished. Seriously – it’s history. And that’s a bike that lives inside a garage.

Vespas, on the other hand, start at around the 30 grand mark for a demo model and you can immediately feel the difference. The first time I tried one (a Vespa) was actually when I fulfilled a promise to the 2oceansvibe readers, and drove on a scooter down the Camps Bay strip in a leopard-print G-string.

Follow the link for that video, as well as a video of Genevieve Morton giving the weather report in a bikini..

Not only that, but I will also prove to you how Vespas are actually cheaper than any other scooter!

[You can see a clip of me on a scooter in a thong around the three minute mark in the 2oceansvibe Weather Girls episode with Genevieve Morton here (*cough* part two of that episode with Gen doing the weather in a bikini can be seen here)]

I remember looking down at the mileage indicator on the bike and nearly falling off when I noticed it had done over 5,000 kms! That was more than the bike I had, and mine was a complete wreck! And I swear to God I thought the Vespa was brand new!

These bikes will easily do over 60,000km and the guys in the V&A Waterfront Vespa dealership talk about trips to Hermanus like they’re popping down the shops. The one oke was seriously upset that a planned road trip to NORWAY had been cancelled! No spice!

I appreciate that not everyone can afford a Vespa and transport might be something you need urgently but, let’s face it, is that not what the budget facility on your credit card is for?

You can buy a Vespa and use it for life. And even if you do sell it; the mileage, quality and safety of your journey, less the depreciation, will make far more sense than buying the dirt-cheap option. Seriously – it makes more sense, financially, to buy a Vespa.

Listen up..

Think about my last scooter – I had it for a couple years and I couldn’t sell it now if I tried. Ten grand – gone. If I had bought a Vespa at the start and sold it now, I would definitely not have lost as much as that on it! And I would have had a better time riding the thing! Hmm, quality if ride.. now that’s another story altogether.

Riding this bike is ridiculously awesome. I can’t stop riding it. I even want to ride it in the rain. And I do. And it’s not just because it’s new – I promise you that. It’s just a smoother ride. On my old bike I used to have to watch the surface of the road like a hawk, trying my best to avoid the smallest bump. On this new beast, it’s so smooth and so much more solid, it’s like you’re gliding along the road. Seriously, it’s a complete joke!

To begin with, the bike weighs 150kg. It’s made of metal, not plastic. It has Ducati parts inside and a digital display. The space for your passenger at the back is real, rather than the very naughty offering on my previous bike, which was non-existent, now that I can compare.

It’s got liquid cooling, electric starter, no gears, built-in immobiliser and even has an electronic opener button for the seat!

I could go on, but I wont The guys at Vespa Cape Town promised they would give a free lesson and test drive to any 2oceansviber. And that’s not all..

Let’s just say if you email me and tell me you’re keen, there is a good chance I can knock a chunk off the price. But let’s keep that between us 😉

If you’re living anywhere on the Atlantic Seaboard or Cape Town city, Gardens and surrounds, and you don’t drive a Vespa, you’re punishing yourself. It’s a whole new world. And we haven’t even started talking about skipping the traffic and saving the environment! (35 km/l).

CLICK HERE TO VISIT VESPA.CO.ZA and email me if you want an intro..

And, more importantly, the fact that I can probably get you a discount if you quietly send me an email to enquire.