Vespa GTS 300 HPE scooter test

Menus

• History of Grand Tourism
• Single cylinder, 23.8 hp, 26 Nm of torque, ABS, ASR traction control
• Discovery
• In the saddle
• Contact
• In the city
• Highway
• Departmental
• Braking
• Comfort
• Consumption
• Convenient
• Video test of the Vespa GTS300
• Conclusion

History of Grand Tourism

Single cylinder, 23.8 hp, 26 Nm of torque, ABS, ASR traction control

As soon as we speak of Vespa, we imagine the Dolce Vita and history, a story that has lasted since 1955. The Vespa GTS 300 enters into this great lineage, with a succession of developments more technical than stylistic, without any real break since 2003. So, when we saw a Vespa, we saw almost all of them – except the 946 anyway – enough to make the designers jump, who explain all the changes made to the last 2019 vintage. We have indeed already tested the GTS 300 in 2014, both in GTS 300 Sport and GTS 300 Touring versions. So nothing has changed, just a marketing message? Try on the side of Genoa in Italy to experience the Dolce Vita on the spot in its HPE version, the real evolution.

Vespa GTS 300 HPE scooter test on the beach

Discovery

As has been said, nothing looks more like a Vespa than another Vespa, whatever the displacement. The 300 looks like the 125 and for good reason, it is the same frame and size. Suddenly, only the engine changes. Nothing else ? Well no. Same reservoir, same brakes, same mirrors and almost the same price. This is what makes it a good deal, the price of a 300 almost at the price of a 125! We will talk about it again at the end of the test.

The Vespa GTS 300 HPE

For the more fussy, there are all the same changes on the vintage at the level of the apron, in particular at the level of the famous longer tie, the side gills, the chrome crest on the front fender as well as the patterns in honeycomb on the mirrors and side grilles, a new crankcase cover, a new silencer without forgetting a new saddle both in terms of look and trim.

Vespa GTS 300 HPE apron

The most visible point is based on a now full LED lighting, with the front headlight and the rear light and a nice final signature. And we must not forget the multimedia system which allows you to connect the scooter to your smartphone with lots of information. Ah, today you have to be connected! But the Vespa is above all this timeless and timeless look, with a stroke of pencil that is still as successful. This may also be the reason for the success of the model, sold more than 430,000 copies since its creation..

Vespa GTS 300 HPE headlight

But the HPE is above all a new engine, more precisely a new high engine and a new injection which allow it to be already Euro5! The user will especially remember that he gains 2 horsepower in passing, going from 22 to 23.8 horsepower, or 12% more power and from 22.3 to 26 Nm, or 18% more torque, a little higher in the revs naturally (8,250 rpm against 7,500 rpm previously for power). It’s Valentine’s Day. It will make people happy! We laugh, we laugh, but 2 horses, when there are only 22, that counts. And suddenly, that makes it the most powerful Vespa engine ever built by the brand. Should we talk about ABS and ASR traction control? They already existed on models in 2014.

Vespa GTS 300 HPE engine

In the saddle

When we say scooter, we often mean feet on the ground. Nay, the driver of 1.70 m will barely put his feet on the ground, despite a saddle only 790 mm high, but relatively wide. On the other hand, the position is really very natural and without a doubt one of the most natural positions in the segment. You are placed high, with your arms and hands falling naturally and effortlessly onto the handlebars. The feet have all the room they need, despite the light central bar of the floor. We are almost installed as on a scooter with a flat floor. A real plus to put your shopping on a daily basis. For the regular GTS, the major difference lies in the new dashboard, more modern with in particular a digital fuel gauge without forgetting the counter, totalizer, partial double trip, clocks. Everything is particularly readable. Small mirrors are particularly efficient for their size.

Speedometer of the Vespa GTS 300 HPE

Contact

The 278 cc single cylinder snorts almost silently and does not let vibrations through. The GTS launches at the first request of the throttle, smoothly. It’s life from the first turns of the wheels and you can feel the work done on low-end torque, with 18% more torque compared to the previous vintage. The difference is even more obvious in duet in fact, with a lesser solo and duet difference on raises and covers..

Test of the Vespa GTS 300 HPE scooter in town

In the city

The GTS is a wasp compared to many scooters and we think in particular of the old X10s. Result, handling is instinctive despite the 12% more power. Vespa indeed presents its new GTS as equipped with the most powerful engine ever built by the brand. It is true, but it remains reasonable with … 23.8 horsepower … admittedly 2 horsepower more than before. But no risk of wheeling when starting either. The starts are sharp, clean, efficient, in correlation with the announced power. Lightweight, with 160 kilos in running order, the steering is precise, even in duo. And that’s a real plus, when some models used as a duo lighten the front wheel so much that precision is less important. Nothing like that here. And as we speak of wasp, the scooter easily slips between the lines of cars. The major fault concerns the duo for maneuvers at a standstill due to poorly placed footrests, in return for a distribution of masses favoring the rapprochement between driver and passenger. The footrests are therefore quite forward. The position is comfortable for the passenger, but their feet are placed forward. And for the driver, the passenger footrests are suddenly in the calves instead of being more behind. In the end, the solution lies for the passenger to fold down the footrests and not to use them, but to put their feet on the floor. It’s not prohibitive, but a little annoying all the same.

The Vespa GTS 300 HPE in town

Highway

The GTS 300 sets off dynamically on the motorway, whether solo or in duo, with clear pickups up to 90km / h. It’s a little smoother then, even if we can hit a 135 km / h counter, around 125 km / h real. A somewhat generous counter therefore, including at intermediate speeds. The stability at maximum speed is impeccable, with limited wind resistance, despite the absence of bubbles. Advantage, no shimmy effect. Disadvantage, a little more noise in the headphones compared to other models. But on the other hand, the headphones don’t wobble. And we still do not feel the vibrations of the single cylinder. At least no chance of getting flashed on the highway.

Testing the Vespa GTS 300 HPE scooter on a fast track

Departmental

The GTS is manoeuvrable in town and stable on the motorway … and confirms its handling on departmental roads, once again both solo and duo. It would even be almost better in duo handling. The additional weight settles the suspensions and reactions a little more. But where it really surprises is in the series of virolos uphill, where it retains excellent dynamics. Naturally, a 300 is more efficient than a 125. On the tested roads, in duo, a 125 would be in agony on a hill … while the 300 keeps its fishing and resumes dynamically when we cut the throttle at the input blind turn, to resume immediately after. With a 125, you would have to keep full throttle all the time, here you can have a much more dynamic driving style. And it’s never violent.

Test of the Vespa GTS 300 HPE scooter as a duo

In short, difficult to ride above its pumps with this 300 GTS, while offering a real driving pleasure. And the magic or the excellence of this result also rests on the installation of Michelin Citygrip tires which give confidence even on roads which have nothing of the billiards. Because even on larger displacement maxi-scoots, we sometimes have exotic mounts that do not provide the comfort, grip and precision of Michelin. The appeal price of some scooters is indeed based on savings, among other things with lower quality mounts. And on a daily basis, this ride brings a real plus. The tire is life (registered slogan TM).

Road test of the Vespa GTS 300 HPE scooter

Braking

The GTS 300 has exactly the same braking as the 125. As much on the 125, it would be a bit oversized, it is nothing too much on the 300. For the biker accustomed to bite, nothing like it here. It brakes, it even brakes hard, but on condition that you take full hand on the brakes. At least, no risk of being surprised by the braking power. And so far, once again, by taking the brakes well, we brake short, including in duet. The duo has the advantage here of not being able to bring the ABS into action in the dry. On the other hand, solo, if we take only the rear, the ABS comes into action on strong braking. As for the ASR, we did not succeed in bringing it into action, including on the white bands. To be reserved without doubt on rainy days on pedestrian crossings.

Front brake of Vespa GTS 300 HPE

Comfort

The new saddle, which is noticeably higher in the front, prevents the rider from slipping and keeps it in place. The day was able to pass without feeling the slightest embarrassment. The saddle is very comfortable. And the suspensions work miracles. There are scooters that give you all the information of the road. Here they erase almost all defects and absorb all holes particularly well. This is the main strength of the scooter, for the driver. For the passenger, the saddle is very wide, almost too wide. And if the grab handle has been raised compared to the previous model, it could have been even more. In the end, the passenger is worse off than the driver.

Vespa GTS 300 HPE saddle

Consumption

Vespa announces lower consumption with the new engine and the new injection with a standardized consumption of 3 liters per hundred. And indeed, you have to do 60 km before seeing the first of the 7 sticks go out. But no, there is still not 420 km of autonomy, the other sticks are extinguished more quickly. We had a consumption of 3.5 liters on the test. In the end, this significantly reduces the autonomy of the GTS compared to the previous vintage, quite simply because of the tank reduced from 9 liters to only 7 liters, with a final autonomy of around 200 km. In asking, the question, we were told that a larger tank would have decreased the size of the trunk. Certainly and the general line would not be so fine. But it’s good to have autonomy, especially as the GTS encourages people to leave the city and even promises trips on weekends..

The Vespa GTS 300 HPE on the road

Convenient

There was a large storage compartment at the front on the old model. The new one has the same shape, but takes up part of it by fuses. The capacity is therefore less. On the other hand, it offers a USB port to recharge its electronic devices and other smartphones that consume large amounts of electricity. Under the saddle, we do not put a full face and a fortiori not a modular and not all the jets either, especially those with a long visor. We can officially put two half-jets, of those offered as accessories by Piaggio. We will not put a standard computer and just a tablet. In fact, the GTS almost requires going through the top-case stage, which can contain a modular. And as expected by Piaggio, the color of the top case is the same as that of the scooter. And as the colors are particularly successful and of quality, the top-case will not alter the overall line of the scoot, or even complete it very well. To be negotiated when purchasing. Fortunately, there is always this large floor which allows to easily accommodate large bags and groceries, held by this retractable hook..

Vespa GTS 300 HPE storage compartment

Video test of the Vespa GTS300

Conclusion

The Vespa GTS 300 is a real success, aesthetic, but also technical, with an efficient engine combined with a pleasant position. It’s a real crush, partly because of its historic line which refers to the Dolce Vita and its colors (11) all really successful … even if the yellow is a bit difficult to wear. But at 5,499 euros, we regret the 4,850 euros for the 2014 vintage, but without ABS or ASR. At 4,850 euros, it was the deal of the century. Admittedly, the model has evolved with more technology and a more powerful engine, which naturally justify its 650 euros more, but the old one really did the job very well. The fact remains that the 300 cm3 competitors at Honda and Yamaha are 400 to 500 euros more expensive than the Vespa and without its history. So the GTS is still a great deal and even more so today with extended service intervals every 10,000 km. A guarantee of reliability as well. The only reason to go to the competition lies in the practical aspects of capacity of the trunk, which one also expects (especially?) Of a scooter of this category. But with its timeless and transgenerational look, finding it early in the morning to go with it will always bring a smile to your lips, complemented by pleasure on the road. In fact, you must above all choose between GTS, Sport, Supersport, Touring or Tech … also determining 11 different colors and as many reasons to find the one that you like, or wait for the Tech version with its TFT screen.

Shadows and lights on the Vespa GTS 300 HPE
The different versions of the Vespa GTS 300 HPE

Strong points

• Look
• Motor
• Driver comfort

Weak points

• Chest capacity
• Practical aspects
• Braking

The technical sheet of the GTS 300 HPE

Test conditions

• Itinerary: small varied roads + interurban highways with a bit of town around Genoa

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