We had earlier brought to you news about Piaggio’s plans to bring the iconic Vespa’s to India. It sure looks like they moving things fast and one our readers Chirag Shah has spotted these retro classics being tested.
Its quite easy to understand whats beneath those covers, you just cant hide some thing as iconic as the Vespa. The details that we can make out from these photographs are:
-the possibilities of atleast 2 variants of the Vespa
-brake levers get aluminium finish
-chrome plated RVM’s
-big comfortable looking seat with chrome grab rails
-front disc brakes for one of the variants
Vespa’s have a lot of history in India dating as far back as the 1960’s with a partnership with Bajaj and then moving to the more recent partnership in the 1980’s with LML. Both the partnerships although quite the hit in the market did not sustain in the long run. The current generation Vespa’s to be launched in India by Piaggio, is more a premium lifestyle product than a mass volume one.
Here are the photographs, please click on them to view them in higher resolution.
The Vespa 125 LX internationally has the following specification and the India bound ones will have minor tweaks to these in accordance to the RTO regulations:
Displacement:
124.00 ccm (7.57 cubic inches)
Engine type:
Single cylinder, four-stroke
Power:
10.26 HP (7.5 kW)) @ 8250 RPM
Torque:
9.60 Nm (1.0 kgf-m or 7.1 ft.lbs) @ 7250 RPM
Bore x stroke:
62.5 x 48.5 mm (2.5 x 1.9 inches)
Valves per cylinder:
2
Fuel system:
Injection
Fuel control:
SOHC
Lubrication system:
Wet sump, chain-driven lobe pump; intake and delivery filters
Cooling system:
Air
Gearbox:
Automatic
Transmission type,
final drive:
Belt
Driveline:
Automatic Twist and Go
Emission details:
Euro 3
Chassis, suspension, brakes and wheels
Frame type:
Load-bearing steel chassis with welded structural supports
Front suspension:
Single sided trailing link with hydraulic shock absorber
Rear suspension:
Hydraulic shock absorbers with preload adjuster
Front tyre dimensions:
110/70-11
Rear tyre dimensions:
120/70-10
Front brakes:
Single disc
Front brakes diameter:
200 mm (7.9 inches)
Rear brakes:
Expanding brake (drum brake)
Rear brakes diameter:
110 mm (4.3 inches)
Physical measures and capacities
Weight incl. oil, gas, etc:
114.0 kg (251.3 pounds)
Seat height:
775 mm (30.5 inches) If adjustable, lowest setting.
Overall length:
1,800 mm (70.9 inches)
Overall width:
740 mm (29.1 inches)
Wheelbase:
1,280 mm (50.4 inches)
Fuel capacity:
8.50 litres (2.25 gallons)
Oil capacity:
0.90 litres (0.06 quarts)
The Vespa, which means ‘wasp’ in Italian, was first conceived in post-WW II Italy as a cheap and affordable means of transport for the masses. With appearances in Hollywood and the likes, the Vespa slowly became a fashion icon over the ages. However, in India it reigned supreme as an ultra-cheap way of moving around for families and goods carrier for businesses. Whatever the purpose, we hope to see the ‘wasp’ hanging around in India for many years to come.
Price?
Would be close to the 1L mark :)
any idea about the performance of LML STAR 200I scooter??