The Vespa Primavera 150 3Vie Delux Scooter

It’s some time ago that we did a real scooter review and to keep some tradition we like to look at brands and models not sold on every corner. The Vespa Primavera 150 3Vie is a product from Piaggio’s Vietnamese factory. The Vespa Primavera is in Thailand available as a 125 or 150cc. Our review concentrate on the 115,900 THB Vespa Primavera 150 3Vie.

I was looking forward to test the newer, fresher models which now feature three valve engines. The outgoing models were also excellent machines, I was therefore a bit skeptic how they could improve on excellence. With the new Vespa Primavera 150 you would hope slightly more power and better fuel economy and less pollution. They do. More importantly I wanted to focus on the feel rather than actual performance of the scooter.

For many the ‘monocoque’ steel chassis identifies Vespa as unique. The newest, smaller bodies are still galvanized and have been strengthened to make them even more robust. And they are all expensive to manufacture when compared to almost every other scooter in the market.

You see all things Italian evoke much mussing. Buying Italian isn’t just with the head. The debate often rages around matters of the heart and the smallest Vespas’ attract the same suspense. Can it be as good as an Italian-made one?

Riding the Vespa Primavera 150, the news is good for its ride quality is certainly not a step down. Actually the ride is better on the newly incorporated ESS suspension. There would be quite a line up if everybody could upgrade to Enhanced Suspension System (ESS) for control is much better. I guess it is a fancy acronym to say the shock absorber system works better than the last models. In fact, they do to a degree but most new riders wouldn’t notice other than less reaction to the horrid bumps and dips out there must be a safer thing. The rear follows suit with better feel and less reaction. Every time Piaggio brings new model online the improvement is markedly better and in this case it doesn’t matter where is is manufactured.

The ride isn’t the same as the larger GTS range that’s for sure. Running on 12-inch front and rear wheels is the change that makes the real difference and it would have quelled some of the debates I had a few years back selling scooters.

The Vespa Primavera steering is telepathic compared to motorcycles or heavier scooters. Think or blink and you have changed into another lane or a gap in traffic.

The engine is a 4-stroke, 4-valve single cylinder, 154,8cc, with fuel-injection and it delivers 9.5kW (just under 13 horsepower) at 6,500rpm and 12,8Nm torque at 6,500rpm and is cooled by a sophisticated forced-air-cooling-system.

The engine certainly is strong for the small capacity. It packs a minor sized punch which gives smart acceleration even with two adult farangs (together about 180 kilograms). 60 and 80km/h flick up quickly and for normal traffic duties you couldn’t ask for more unless you are chasing more comfort.

Feature’s wise the little Vespa doesn’t miss out on much. A center-stand for cleaning. Neather and better detailed handlebar shrouding and the levers look better along with the switches and dash. There is a touch of retro to the seat and general appearance. If storage is important then the Primavera 150 will fit the bill with a generous underseat removable bin with can squeeze in a full-face helmet. This has been increased in size by two liters over the old models...