I ride often with my wife on the back and often without. So according to Piaggio’s recommended settings, I have religiously maintained their settings as I had outlined in a previous article (many adjustments daily). After asking this question on the Modern Vespa Forum and mostly by the expert advice of Max at Scooter West in San Diego, it turns out that I am taking these settings a bit too seriously.
The tire setting is important to maintain a level of handling balanced with proper tire wear. The shock setting is important to maintain a level of comfort without bottoming out or an excessively stiff ride.
The Bottom Line
So this is what is suggested and I what I will do:
Normal riding during the day AND with my wife on the back around town:
Front Tire: 26 PSI
Back Tire: 33 PSI (middle Ground)
Shock Setting: Either 2 or 3 (To Be Determined by Comfort in the next week)
Long Trips With Luggage:
Front Tire: 26 PSI
Back Tire: 38 PSI
Shock Setting: 4
Below Are The manufacturer’s Recommendations:
The Front Tire Pressure is 26.1 in all scenarios. However, the back tire is as follows:
1 Rider = 29 PSI
Rider and passenger = 37.7 PSI
They do not talk about Rider, Passenger and Luggage. However, there are two shocks in the back and both need adjusting as follows:
1 Rider = Setting 1 or 2 depending on Rider’s Weight and Comfort Desired
Rider and Passenger = Setting 3
Rider, Passenger and Luggage = Setting 4
MG Driving/Riding Adventures 
I have a 2007 GTV with 10,000 miles on it. I was very unhappy with the ride, which took minor road imperfections very hard. I have just replaced the stock shocks with Bitubo shocks and the ride is much, much improved.
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Please tell us more. How much were the shocks? Also, how do they adjust for the ride between single rider, two and full load for camping? Hopefully easier that the stock Piaggio ones. Also, exactly what kind of improved ride, was the handling better as well?
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Peter,
I responded to your email immediately upon receipt. Unfortunately, the computer ate the email, as it sometimes does, and I lost it completely. Here’s a second try to answer your questions.
The shocks ran about $750 or so, and labor another $200 or so, so they cost close to $1000.
You asked how the shocks are adjusted. You will find a picture here: http://www.scooterworks.com/vespa–automatic–pages-258.php#filters=a%3A2%3A%7Bi%3A9%3Bs%3A3%3A%22292%22%3Bi%3A3%3Bs%3A2%3A%2289%22%3B%7D&options=a%3A10%3A%7Bs%3A9%3A%22queryFunc%22%3Bs%3A25%3A%22getProductsForListingPage%22%3Bs%3A11%3A%22enableCache%22%3Bb%3A1%3Bs%3A5%3A%22limit%22%3Bi%3A21%3Bs%3A6%3A%22offset%22%3Bi%3A0%3Bs%3A10%3A%22searchTerm%22%3Bs%3A0%3A%22%22%3Bs%3A6%3A%22pageID%22%3Bs%3A3%3A%22258%22%3Bs%3A10%3A%22pageOffset%22%3Bi%3A0%3Bs%3A13%3A%22resultsPerRow%22%3Bi%3A3%3Bs%3A14%3A%22resultsPerPage%22%3Bi%3A21%3Bs%3A9%3A%22className%22%3Bs%3A0%3A%22%22%3B%7D&do=changeFilter
It’s a long address, but you can also just go to scooterworks.com/vespa to find them.
There is a wheel upon which the spring rests, and this can be turned to either compress or decompress the spring. I had the shop that installed them adjust them for the softest, lightest ride, so I haven’t done any adjustments myself. I don’t know if you might need a special instrument for that, or how difficult it might be. I know the stock shocks were very difficult to adjust, for me at least. These surely can’t be that difficult.
The ride is significantly better with the bitubo shocks. I was very unhappy with the performance of the stock shocks, and I do a lot of riding on the scooter. I consider the $1000 a worthwhile investment. It’s a much improved ride, but surely not the ride you’d get from a large motorcycle like a Gold Wing. I don’t see any difference in the handling, but the handling has never been an issue with me.
I hope this answers your questions, at least as best I can.
Regards,
David Reese
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Hi,
Thank you for the details. I thought it was excellent so I have shared it on a main blog entry. http://vespaadventures.ca/2012/10/15/bitubo-performance-shocks .
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Peter,
Your email to me sent me to your blog. What a great blog! First of all, it has a very clean and attractive format. It’s the best, the most attractive, of many, many blogs that I follow regularly. And I like the subjects you touch on. I’ll have to look into those balancing beads. And your videos are excellent. I wish I had as little traffic here as you do there.
You have a 300 GTV I believe. I’ve got a 250 GTV that I’ve had about four years. I ride it nearly every day, weather permitting. With the mild weather we had last winter, I rode it all through the winter. I’ve ridden it up to northern Maine and out to Cape Cod. If I had the time and money, I’d ride it across the US, which I hope to do some day.
The ride is great. It has no trouble handling major highways that are not interstates. It easily cruises at 60-65, and its very comfortable. I’ve taken it on interstates. It can cruise close at 70, but the wind buffeting becomes an issue at that speed so I don’t usually use the interstates but I can if I need to. I’m am amazed at just how much power it has.
Despite it being 4 years old and having 10,000 miles on it, it looks new, as new as the day it was delivered. And rides like new as well.
I tell you all this because you’ve just gotten your Vespa, if I read your blog correctly. This is just to let you know you have a great scooter, and it will give you enormous pleasure for years to come.
Glad you contacted me. I’ll be a regular reader in the future.
I attach a photo, in case you’re interested.
David
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