Vespa Granturismo 200: Rice killing scooter?

runetang · #1 (**permalink**) 05-11-2004, 05:04 PM

If you don't know what a Vespa is, it's an Italian-made compact light scooter series made for urban living, driving in areas where cars can't fit, or have a hard time maneuvering(anyone who lives near or in a big city will immediatly understand its purpose). A big hit in Europe, not so much in America, but they are available for purchase.

Theres three models, the ET2, ET4, and the new Granturismo. The ET2 doesn't even require a motorcycle license, the ET4 may require one in most US states, and the Granturismo would definantly need one I'd assume.

The ET2 tops out at approx 40mph unlimited, 25mph limited, with 5.1bhp via a single-cylinder gasoline motor, and a 216lb curbweight. The ET4 is said to top out at 65mph, whether thats limited or not, I'm unsure, but it boasts a 11.2bhp(a little over twice as much as the ET2), with 236lb curbweight.

The Granturismo model however, is what I really want to talk about. This model has 21.0bhp, with a 306lb curbweight, an Æ 29.0 mm Walbro WVF-7P or Keihin CVK 30 carburetor, and a Continuously Variable Transmission, or CVT. Made with "performance" in mind, its still just a motor scooter, but with alot more oomph. I will include the exact specs from the Vespa site below. The top speed isnt listed, nor any performance specs, but if the trend of added horsepower proves to be true, the Granturismo should be able to top out as high as 80mph(or more), which for a scooter with 12" wheels is quite impressive.

http://www.vespausa.com/products/gt.cfm

Onto the estimated performance figures, and the reason for the thread title. I placed the approx. horsepower and weight figures into one of the better, more accurate acceleration calculators, and heres the suprising figures it turned out.

Car weight: 306 lbs.
Horsepower: 21 hp
Configuration: Rear Wheel Drive

Results
Quarter Mile Acceleration: 15.428 seconds.
Terminal speed: 95.8157 mph.

There you have it, a 15.4 stock 1/4 mile for a Vespa scooter. How many factory Hondas, or even factory BMW's for that sake pull a 15.4 1/4 time? Not many. Are you picturing what I am? A young girl on a Vespa beating Civic after civic at the street races?

How about being passed on the freeway by this same girl on a pink motor scooter despite your best efforts in your older model'd bmw 3-series to block her from doing so? This kind of stuff would make for excellent videos, and my girlfriend is seriously considering getting one of these.

It very well may be front wheel drive if not rear wheel drive, the Vespa site doesn't include that information. I put in the same figures with front wheel drive selected, and the 1/4 mile was 15.5xx, barely slower at all. The biggest shocker to me is the estimated terminal speed of 95mph! I know that the calculator is using equations based on car aerodynamics and not a scooter or bike, so I know this isnt exactly accurate, but impressive nonetheless. This also has a carburetor, and unless its completely different, I recall certain modifications that can be done to carburetors or carburetored engines for power. There would also be other tweaks one could perform like making cold air more available for intake, and a more open exhaust. These are extremely low emissions, perhaps removing some of that would free up even more power.

I just wanted to see what everyone thought about this. Here are the specs I promised, from the Vespa site:

Price
MSRP $4899
Chassis
Frame Type Pressed steel, mono-coque type construction
Engine
Type Piaggio L.E.AD.E.R. (Low Emission ADvanced Engine Range) - Single cylinder, four-valve
Displacement 197.78 cc
Bore × Stroke 2.83 in × 1.91 in (72.0 mm × 48.6 mm)
Compression Ratio 11-12:1
Carburetor Æ 29.0 mm Walbro WVF-7P or Keihin CVK 30
Max. Power 21.0 hp (15.4 kW) @ 8,500 rpm
Max. Torque 12.9 lbs·ft (17.5 Nm) @ 6,500 rpm
Fuel Unleaded, min. 91
Timing System Chain driven SOHC (Single OverHead Camshaft)
Ignition Electronic by capacitive discharge (CDI)
Spark Advance Variable from 10° @ 2,000 rpm through 32° @ 6,500 rpm (before T.D.C.)
Starter Electric w/automatic choke
Cooling Liquid
Transmission Automatic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission)
Clutch Dry, centrifugal type
Fuel Tank Capacity 2.5 gallons (9.5 liters)
Oil Sump Capacity 1.1 quarts (1,000 cc)
Weight and Dimensions
Dry Weight 308 lbs (140 kg)
Width (at handgrips) 29.7 in (755 mm)
Length 76.4 in (1,940 mm)
Wheel Base 54.9 in (1,395 mm)
Seat Height 31.5 in (800 mm)
Wheels and Tires
Front Wheel 5-spoke aluminum alloy rim 3.00" × 12"
Rear Wheel 5-spoke aluminum alloy rim 3.00" × 12"
Front Tire Tubeless 120/70-12"
Rear Tire Tubeless 130/70-12"
Suspensions and Brakes
Front Brake Æ 8.66 in (220 mm) disc hydraulically operated by a floating caliper w/two Æ 25 mm pistons
Rear Brake Æ 8.66 in (220 mm) disc hydraulically operated by a floating caliper w/two Æ 30 mm pistons
Front Suspension Single-arm w/hydraulic shock absorber, compression and rebound damping; 3.4" (86.5 mm) travel
Rear Suspension Engine-swing arm w/2 hydraulic shock absorbers, adjustable pre-load, and compression and rebound damping; 3.5" (89.5mm) travel

The Vespa Granturismo 200, sparking fear in the hearts of rice boys everywhere.