| Vespa scooters possess an air of elegance and | | | | of scooters across the globe. Scooters are far more |
| stylish design not usually associated with motor bikes | | | | economical than cars, able to deliver between 70 - 120 |
| scooters. | | | | miles to the gallon (an average family car would |
| Built with the typical Italian eye for design, Vespa | | | | probably reach 40 miles to the gallon) ! In today's |
| scooters rolled off the production line in the 1940's as | | | | climate of volatile oil prices then it's not difficult to see |
| an alternative to the motor bike. The Vespa had it's | | | | why scooters are considered the greener alternative |
| main mechanical parts shielded from the rider by a | | | | for the city commuter. |
| metal casing. This allowed the rider to enjoy a dirt free | | | | In London, scooters are also exempt from the |
| ride and proved to be very popular in Italy where | | | | congestion charge and cost less to put on the road |
| Italians always have a desire to look elegant and | | | | than motor cars. If you work in the city then a scooter |
| stylish under any circumstances. | | | | could be the answer to your commuting problems. |
| As a consequence, Italians were able to zip round post | | | | And with inner city driving then a scooter is an ideal |
| war Italy on their Vespa scooters smartly dressed and | | | | way to get to work. No more wasted hours queuing in |
| probably wearing their Raybans with a cigarette | | | | traffic jams and that wonderful feeling of satisfaction |
| hanging from the corner of their mouths. | | | | as you overtake all the standing cars to get to the |
| The "Vespa look" was tailor made for the silver | | | | front of the traffic queue. |
| screen and before too long the Vespa started | | | | The smaller sized Vespa's come in 50 cc and 125 cc |
| appearing in Italian movies such as Fellini's La Dolce | | | | categories and the minimum age to ride one is 16 |
| Vita. | | | | years old and 17 years old respectively. |
| Hollywood soon followed and Vespa scooters | | | | Anything above that and you are looking at a |
| appeared in a number of high profile movies such as | | | | "motorcycle class" licence i.e. 150 cc upwards. Unlike |
| An American in Paris, The Conversation and American | | | | 50 cc scooters which are factory restricted to a top |
| Graffiti. The Vespa played a prominent role in the | | | | speed of 30 miles per hour the more powerful |
| British movie Quadrophenia which sparked a new | | | | scooters such as a 150 cc or a 250 cc perform at the |
| craze for the Vespa in the U.K. | | | | same levels as a motorbike. |
| Many of the world's top movie stars rode around on | | | | With motorists being taxed off the road in recent |
| Vespa scooters. Charlie Chaplin, Ursula Andress and | | | | years then a scooter makes a very sensible |
| Louis Armstrong all owned a Vespa. More recently the | | | | alternative even if only used for commuting. If you are |
| Vespa is favoured by Jamie Oliver, Sarah Jessica | | | | tempted with scooters then Vespas are believed to |
| Parker and Gwyneth Paltrow, Mickey Rourke was | | | | be the "Rolls Royce" of scooters and with Vespa |
| even arrested for drink driving whilst on his Vespa ! | | | | accessories such as goggles and Vespa style open |
| 2008 is proving to be a particularly successful year for | | | | faced helmets on the market you will also be the |
| Vespa scooters as it benefits from the rising popularity | | | | coolest cat in town. |