Once I get my ARC I’ll do my scooter and driving tests. Before hand I would like to save up for a scooter. The only thing I could see myself really wanting to buy is a classic 1960s-1980s Lambretta or Vespa. Back home that is the only scooters you tend to see and they are amazing! I have seen a couple whizzing around in Taipei, but I haven’t seen any shops selling them. I looked on Ruten and Yahoo auctions and saw a few, but in terrible condition.
I stole this off of Wiki…Vespa has had various partnerships and presence in Taiwan. In 1965 Taiwan Vespa Co. Ltd was licensed for Vespa scooter production. From 1972 to 1982 Vespa entered into a collaboration with manufacturer PGO. In 1978 Vespa entered into a collaboration with TGB, which to some extent, continues to this day (namely with CVT transmission production).
There is a huge classic club scene, but if you don’t know many locals or don’t speak any Chinese it might be hard to find. In my city (Zhongli, Taoyuan) there are actually 2 shops close to each other that only specialize in these old scooters. I don’t know where you live, but if you are in Taipei then there should be a lot of shops around.
I actually owned a Taiwanese made Vespa here many years ago and to be honest (and I am a 2-stroke lover) it was the biggest pain in the ass. You have to add oil into the gas tanks, well that isn’t that much of a problem for me, but there isn’t anywhere to carry oil. So I had to carry it in my backpack. If they break, which they will you are screwed if you aren’t close to home. For a daily I wouldn’t recommend one. If you have a nice scooter and want something to fix and play around with then go for it.
[quote=“rk1951”]I stole this off of Wiki…Vespa has had various partnerships and presence in Taiwan. In 1965 Taiwan Vespa Co. Ltd was licensed for Vespa scooter production. From 1972 to 1982 Vespa entered into a collaboration with manufacturer PGO. In 1978 Vespa entered into a collaboration with TGB, which to some extent, continues to this day (namely with CVT transmission production).
There is a huge classic club scene, but if you don’t know many locals or don’t speak any Chinese it might be hard to find. In my city (Zhongli, Taoyuan) there are actually 2 shops close to each other that only specialize in these old scooters. I don’t know where you live, but if you are in Taipei then there should be a lot of shops around.
I actually owned a Taiwanese made Vespa here many years ago and to be honest (and I am a 2-stroke lover) it was the biggest pain in the ass. You have to add oil into the gas tanks, well that isn’t that much of a problem for me, but there isn’t anywhere to carry oil. So I had to carry it in my backpack. If they break, which they will you are screwed if you aren’t close to home. For a daily I wouldn’t recommend one. If you have a nice scooter and want something to fix and play around with then go for it.[/quote]
Yeah, I live in Taipei. So doubt I’d use it for a daily run around. The MRT is too good and the taxis are too cheap for that.
I’ve heard of Lambretta’s in Taiwan but I’ve never seen one, so they must be pretty rare. Vespa’s are pretty common.
My brother had a Lambretta (125 I think) in the UK. He “upgraded” to a “more powerful” Vespa 150, which he hated, reckoning it was dangerously unstable at speed.
I’ve seen a few of the big Heinkel Tourists around Tainan and Taipei, sort of a 50"s Grand Dink by the same people who made my first car. They’d be good for, er…touring, and they have a 4-stroke engine, but they are very rare and I’d guess spares would be a problem.
I’ve also seen a Bajaj scooter here which looked like a Vespa. I think some of them have 4-stroke engines, but I’ve only seen one so I doubt it was an official, legal import.
When I was in Indonesia I’d see gangs of Vespas go by. They enjoyed chopping the exhaust off and running open pipes. WTF? A 2 stroke 50 cc sounds awful with no muffler.
