Some vehicles have become eternal classics – the Vespa is clearly one of them. Just a short time after the Primavera, which was presented at the end of 2013, the Italian manufacturer is following up with the Vespa Sprint model. Underneath the elegant design, there is also a lot of quality craftsmanship.
Shape
The differences to the Primavera model are in the details: the headlight is now square and no longer round. In addition, the cast aluminium wheels have a more refined design and measure 12 inches instead of 11 inches, which makes the body look even smaller.
Technology
Some roads pose a great challenge for the chassis. This Vespa has 7.8 centimetres of suspension travel at the front and 7.0 centimetres at the rear, and is thus capable of absorbing rough bumps as well as small impacts well. The chassis has a single-sided swingarm with shock absorber at the front and a drive-set swingarm with monoshock at the rear. The front disc brake has a diameter of 200 millimetres, the rear drum brake 140 millimetres. Up to a speed of 80 km/h, the Sprint provides sufficiently good stability. It is convincing in terms of driving stability as well as manoeuvrability. It weighs 130 kilograms and is not overpowered with its 11 hp three-valve single-cylinder engine. Although it gets off to a good start at traffic lights, the name would suggest a little more liveliness and liveliness. On the other hand, it has a very strong torque from below and a very good tuning of the variomatic transmission. The maximum torque is 10.4 and is achieved at 6000 rpm. Fuel consumption is around 3.2 litres per 100 kilometres and the top speed is 91 km/h.
Equipment
The Sprint impresses with stylish chrome mirrors, a high-quality seat cover, easy operation of the front flap and very large storage space under the seat – even a full-face helmet has enough room underneath. It is the only scooter to have a steel body, an advantage that comes into its own on bad roads thanks to the torsional rigidity it provides. The clearly arranged instruments are speedometer, odometer and timer. The switches, such as those for lights or indicators, engage well and are kept visually simple.
Seat height
You quickly get used to the handling of the Vespa Sprint S 125. However, the seat height of 790 millimetres is rather high. This means that the rider’s upper body is more exposed to the wind than with a lower seat height.
Pillion
If you often ride with a pillion passenger, you will notice certain shortcomings. The rear seat is too small and the footrests are not well positioned. In addition, the chassis quickly reaches its performance limits in two-person operation.
Versions
The Sprint model is available in four different colours and in black. In addition to the main version with 125 cubic centimetres, it is also available as a mokick scooter with 50 cubic centimetres. There is a choice of a four-stroke engine or a two-stroke engine – both produce the same amount of power at 4.4 hp.
Price
The Italian manufacturer has opted for a rather self-confident pricing for the Sprint. The 50 cubic centimetre variants come in at around 3,350 euros. The 125 cubic centimetre model costs just under 4900 euros.
Conclusion
The Vespa Sprint has added a new facet to the scooter market. The beautiful design is a real eye-catcher. Coupled with Vespa’s reliable quality, it promises a lot of riding pleasure, especially in urban areas. Big city scooters will definitely get their money’s worth.
Cover picture source: www.vespa.com