Thread Starter
#1
Hello Friends,
This ownership thread for Vespa S (Birdie), I will try give updates gradually.
Before Vespa:
We had one most reliable scooter i.e. none other than Honda Activa. I still say Honda is the best in terms of smooth and niggle free engine. Only sad point was it shocker, which will easily pass the effect to your back-bone. Most suitably for short ride on smooth road and carrying loads of groceries. Before getting car, it was our trusty companion to get groceries, home fitting, and decors as you all know after marriage 1st 6 months to 1 year how much shopping required. In all occasion, it helped us very well.
Date of purchase: 20-Dec-2010 (after 3 months of waiting)
Parted away – 22-Jun-2014.
Problem faced so far:
1: Lost pickup after running 18K KMs. Got the V-belt and many clutch part replaced.
Major drawback:
1: Bad service quality if I compare with Hero ( Sri Chandu Motor) vs. Honda Dealers like Ananada/Saphire Honda. Both of Honda dealers are no where close to service quality provided by Hero Motors Corps. Honda service center even bother to do proper cleaning, they cannot fix the problem in one go, rather they ask please ride and let us know if certain issue is there. And believe me all the reported issue used to present.
2: Flimsy body part : You can get rattling sound.
3: Strictly for short ride.
4: Not so good in pickup ( this is expected from 110cc).
P.S : We still have one Honda Activa at home town and dad is also planning to upgrade. Since his need is for 200KM at max per month, so I will suggest him to go for Activa –I.
What persuaded me to go for Vespa:
It’s global image, all steel body, telescopic shocker, 3 Valve 125 CC engine were enough to decide.
Buying experience:
It was one of the best buying experience when I compared to all previous bike’s purchase ( Bajaj Caliber –Kamath Motor Manipal, Pulsar- Amba Bajaj Bangalore, Activa – Saphire Honda Bangalore,Karizma ZMR (2 Numbers) – Sri Chandu Motor Bangalore.List is long if I include purchase made by dad in Patna)
I sold Activa on Sunday-22 June2014 around 8 PM for 36K. I sent a text message to Mr. Amit around 8.30 PM about interest in getting Vespa S on priority, spoke to him at 10 PM.
Next morning, he sent the price list and other details.We visited showroom on 23 June in evening and paid 60K advance.Next morning he personally came to my office to collect remaining 38K.
By Wednesday all formalities done and we have got it. The showroom is little small but cozy, they have good set of recliner sofa for customer comfort and we have been offered much needed tea/coffee .
By 7.30 PM, we have got it and my wife rode it from showroom to home and she instantly felt in love for it shock absorber, riding ergonomics, look, pickup, headlight etc. She found every thing in this which were missing in Activa. Ofcourse it should have as it is almost close to 1 Lakh.
Ownership experience:
I have personally driven it for close to 300 KM and believe me it is no less than any good commuter bike.
You will feel the same good initial punch and engine performs very well at all speed. Handling is the best , you can maneuver in any corner because of it’s short turning radius and you can almost take 75 degree turn.
In traffic jam, you can maneuver between two cars even if there is small space which I could not able to do in ZMR or Activa.
Nothing to mention about it’s suspension, it is equivalent to nitro suspension of Pulsar. Pick is good, and with fraction of time you can achieve 0-40 which is good for city traffic.
I have same feeling when I upgraded from 150cc bike to 223cc bike if compared with Activa Vs Vespa. It is not as silent as Activa but super silent at high speed and it does not lose it breathing at higher speed. I have not explored the max speed as engine is new, let’s wait for 1st 1000km.
Till now, I have got mileage close to 40-45 KMPL, which is fairly good for new bike. After1st service and oil change, I guess it can touch to 50-55KMPL in Bangalore.
Service duration is after each 3000 KM and oil change only after 6000KM.
What I miss:
1: Fully digital console, it should have been introduced into this as the price is at higher side.
2: MPFI instead of carburetor fuel system.
Since Vespa has projected it as life style vehicle so it would not be nice purchase if you do compare with new Honda Activa 125/Suzuki Access/Yamaha etc. This is not a VFM product but sort of little luxury.
Please feel free to ask any query, I will give an unbiased opinion :)
Time for some pics:
This ownership thread for Vespa S (Birdie), I will try give updates gradually.
Before Vespa:
We had one most reliable scooter i.e. none other than Honda Activa. I still say Honda is the best in terms of smooth and niggle free engine. Only sad point was it shocker, which will easily pass the effect to your back-bone. Most suitably for short ride on smooth road and carrying loads of groceries. Before getting car, it was our trusty companion to get groceries, home fitting, and decors as you all know after marriage 1st 6 months to 1 year how much shopping required. In all occasion, it helped us very well.
Date of purchase: 20-Dec-2010 (after 3 months of waiting)
Parted away – 22-Jun-2014.
Problem faced so far:
1: Lost pickup after running 18K KMs. Got the V-belt and many clutch part replaced.
Major drawback:
1: Bad service quality if I compare with Hero ( Sri Chandu Motor) vs. Honda Dealers like Ananada/Saphire Honda. Both of Honda dealers are no where close to service quality provided by Hero Motors Corps. Honda service center even bother to do proper cleaning, they cannot fix the problem in one go, rather they ask please ride and let us know if certain issue is there. And believe me all the reported issue used to present.
2: Flimsy body part : You can get rattling sound.
3: Strictly for short ride.
4: Not so good in pickup ( this is expected from 110cc).
P.S : We still have one Honda Activa at home town and dad is also planning to upgrade. Since his need is for 200KM at max per month, so I will suggest him to go for Activa –I.
What persuaded me to go for Vespa:
It’s global image, all steel body, telescopic shocker, 3 Valve 125 CC engine were enough to decide.
Buying experience:
It was one of the best buying experience when I compared to all previous bike’s purchase ( Bajaj Caliber –Kamath Motor Manipal, Pulsar- Amba Bajaj Bangalore, Activa – Saphire Honda Bangalore,Karizma ZMR (2 Numbers) – Sri Chandu Motor Bangalore.List is long if I include purchase made by dad in Patna)
I sold Activa on Sunday-22 June2014 around 8 PM for 36K. I sent a text message to Mr. Amit around 8.30 PM about interest in getting Vespa S on priority, spoke to him at 10 PM.
Next morning, he sent the price list and other details.We visited showroom on 23 June in evening and paid 60K advance.Next morning he personally came to my office to collect remaining 38K.
By Wednesday all formalities done and we have got it. The showroom is little small but cozy, they have good set of recliner sofa for customer comfort and we have been offered much needed tea/coffee .
By 7.30 PM, we have got it and my wife rode it from showroom to home and she instantly felt in love for it shock absorber, riding ergonomics, look, pickup, headlight etc. She found every thing in this which were missing in Activa. Ofcourse it should have as it is almost close to 1 Lakh.
Ownership experience:
I have personally driven it for close to 300 KM and believe me it is no less than any good commuter bike.
You will feel the same good initial punch and engine performs very well at all speed. Handling is the best , you can maneuver in any corner because of it’s short turning radius and you can almost take 75 degree turn.
In traffic jam, you can maneuver between two cars even if there is small space which I could not able to do in ZMR or Activa.
Nothing to mention about it’s suspension, it is equivalent to nitro suspension of Pulsar. Pick is good, and with fraction of time you can achieve 0-40 which is good for city traffic.
I have same feeling when I upgraded from 150cc bike to 223cc bike if compared with Activa Vs Vespa. It is not as silent as Activa but super silent at high speed and it does not lose it breathing at higher speed. I have not explored the max speed as engine is new, let’s wait for 1st 1000km.
Till now, I have got mileage close to 40-45 KMPL, which is fairly good for new bike. After1st service and oil change, I guess it can touch to 50-55KMPL in Bangalore.
Service duration is after each 3000 KM and oil change only after 6000KM.
What I miss:
1: Fully digital console, it should have been introduced into this as the price is at higher side.
2: MPFI instead of carburetor fuel system.
Since Vespa has projected it as life style vehicle so it would not be nice purchase if you do compare with new Honda Activa 125/Suzuki Access/Yamaha etc. This is not a VFM product but sort of little luxury.
Please feel free to ask any query, I will give an unbiased opinion :)
Time for some pics:
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