This time two years ago I was riding a naked Vespa GTV-300 around the country side. One year after that the GTV was completely upgraded and equipped with every imaginable performance and comfort option. Simultaneously with that, Chantal took her M1 course and got her M2 license and a Vespa GTS-300.
We loved riding them and I enjoyed the maintenance and adding on all of the performance parts. We have Vespa shirts, hats, coffee mugs, pictures, sculptures and I am certain much more that has slipped my mind.
Our journey together as husband and wife on these romantic little scooters was wonderful. The scooter gave me a goal and a conviction to focus on healing after my proximal row carpectomy. Together they offered Chantal and I a common interest that we could enjoy together, as life as a couple should be.
It is with sadness and joy that this journey has come to an end and another begins. As you know I traded my Vespa GTV-300 for a Honda CTX700N two weeks ago. In two weeks I have put 2,300 Km on this bike and expect to put far more before the season is over.
But yesterday we sold the Vespa GTS-300 and purchased a Honda 2003 Shadow Spirit 750 for Chantal. This bike was 
maintained by a friend of Tom who owns Irwin Supply Cornwall and although the bike has 87,000 Km on it, he swears it is in absolutely perfect condition. I believe him. Mind you it stalled and left us at the side of the road during a test drive but that turned out to be a simple fix. ADD GAS!
Viking Bags
We can only pick it up next Saturday because Chantal cannot get to Cornwall until then. So in the meantime we started to order the necessary accessories. 
We started with saddle bags. Generally leather bags are mounted to this style of bike. However after looking through Viking Bags (a supporting supplier to RidingAdventures.ca) we came across these hard saddle bags that can lock and are gloss black to match the bike. We think that they will look nice and they will not require maintenance. We like the top loading feature and the key lock. They come with a complete mounting kit for only $ 200.00!!!
Our new journey begins
Next week will be the beginning of a new journey. We will no longer be scooterists. We are now motorcyclists. We can tour the country in more comfort without having to always avoid major highways. Not that our goal is to ride highways, but often we were limited because of the comfort and our feeling of not being safe on highways with the scooters.
The Vespa will always be part of this blog and will remain in both our hearts and minds as those amazing little scooters. Perhaps one day in the future we will fly to Italy and rent a couple of Vespas to tour the country side for old-time’s sake.
But today we are starting to plan a week vacation with the Honda Shadow 750 and CTX700N. Oh my! I just realized that my wife’s is bigger than mine….
MG Driving/Riding Adventures 
I look forward to hearing of your experiences on the CTX700N. That may be my next bike as well.
As for riding a Vespa in Europe . . . I visited Paris last year and had a day-long tour to Versailles riding a Vespa 150. I had a guide who led the way on the roads (he was on a separate Vespa 150). I saw parts of the city and the countryside I would have missed had I been an ordinary tourist, as well fascinating topical insights into the area and the history from the French perspective.
I heartedly recommend Vespas while in Europe. I know that Rome has several companies that rent Vespas and/or feature Vespa tours. Undoubtedly the same is offered in other Italian locales.
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I have 2,200 Km on the bike since 2-weeks. Originally I had planned to get this bike and pass it to my wife then get a Moto Guzzi. However, I am falling in love with it even though its a Honda. I cannot wait until next Tuesday to get the side bags.
When I was shopping this week with Chantal for a new bike, I got back on the Moto Guzzi I wanted and suddenly realized how much more comfortable the Honda CTX700N was compared to the Moto Guzzi. I do not think I would trade the comfort for the style.
So far I love the CTX. It handles great on the highway (with the windshield) and is great in the city and country roads. It gets the same gas mileage as the Vespa did.
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Peter, your posts are causing me to seriously consider the CTX700N as my next bike.
I plan to, in a few years, given the resources and time, to ride a motorcycle across the USA (I live in Boston). I need a bike that would be able to do that, with a reasonably high level of comfort and reliability.
Do you think at this point, after putting a couple thousand km behind you, that the Honda would perform well on a cross country trip, from Boston to the West Coast, and back again?
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David, It depends how you want to ride. For example, the CTX is light and nimble. It is a spectacular handling bike. I have had it on the highway at speeds up to 150 Km/hr and it is steady and true. But it is a lighter bike and will be far more affected by wind than lets say the CTX 1300 at $ 19,000.00. But I like the wind and the actual feel of being on a bike. The windshield I put on blocks the wind from my chest and face but I get the breeze on my arms and outside shoulder. I like it. My bucket list is to ride Route 66 and I feel that I could do it comfortably with the CTX700N.
With that said, if I had an extra $ 12,000.00 to spend, I would consider the CTX1300 for cross country trips (you know, Bluetooth, stereo, large faring etc….)
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David, I am planning to visit a friend in Cape cod. Why not meet me there and take it for a spin?
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I am so happy!!!! I bought the GTV today from Tom at Irwin’s Supply in Cornwall (retirement present). Tom made it happen and I had so much support from you Peter that I know it was meant to be. She will stay in the area and we will have that ride:)
Vee
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Veronica, Congrats and an AMAZING VESPA. We will get together in the near future and I can show you my favorite Vespa-Runs in your neck of the woods. I used to live in Cornwall and Morrisburg and Iroqois was my back yard fun:)
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