If like me you’re a Vespa GTS fan (and owner) you’ll probably be disappointed when you see the pictures of this ‘new’ or as Piaggio call it a ‘facelift’ version. You’ll have been hoping for more power and possibly a new engine altogether (not that it’s particularly underpowered but 80mph is never enough for us longer distance riders!) You’ll also have been hoping for a drastic overhaul in the styling department but would have only moaned that you preferred the old shape… Scooterists are never happy and are notoriously hard to please, that’s because our cherished machines, be it a vintage Lambretta, Vespa PX or the GTS is more than just a scooter, it’s something that stirs emotion and passion. Mess with it and you’d better do a good job of it…

Leaving all that behind though for the time being there are a few changes to the 2014 GTS Super that are for the better, like the ABS/ASR option, traction control and anti lock brakes. Both well worth having, although it means you won’t be able to swap your standard wheels to Yourban/MP3 (a popular mod) because of the ABS ring on the rear wheel. There’s also a new dashboard with a clock in keeping with the Primavera/Sprint models, complete with a multi function digital screen, an improvement over the GTS 300. One optional extra that will please gadget freaks is the Vespa Multimedia Platform, or VMP for short. It allows you to mount your Smartphone on the mirror stem and connect the phone to your scooter via Bluetooth. The VMP app then gives you loads of functions; you get a virtual dashboard with dials for speed, torque, acceleration, lean angle etc. There’s trip functions, top speed, mpg, a diagnostic function, indicator warning light, a scooter finder that will direct you back to where you left your scooter, it also has a sat nav and the owners manual is on there as well. Annoyingly the app disconnects when the ignition is turned off so you have to reconnect the Bluetooth and start the app again, although it was only a beta version so maybe that will be ironed out on the final version. The app itself might be free but you’ll need to pay £200 for the privilege of getting the device fitted to your scooter, ouch. It might be something worth bargaining for when you place the order for your new GTS though and if the sat nav is useful it’s still cheaper than buying a bike sat nav anyway.

Although the scooter doesn’t instantly look different there are some subtle changes, like the LED front running lights integrated within the indicators, a useful safety feature, although they’re not quite as bright as they could be. There’s the new dash of course and if you open the glovebox you’ll notice the left hand side has a new bit of plastic in there, that’s to house the brains for the ABS/ASR and it also includes a useful USB point to charge your phone (the last batch of the outgoing GTS also had this glovebox fitted so it should be possible to buy the VMP and have it fitted to those, or add the Piaggio USB point). There’s an optional external USB available too, it’s part of the new knee pads and makes it easier to power a phone/sat nav on the move, we’re not sure on costs for that though yet and you’d probably want to change both knee pads because the plastic is slightly different to the old ones. Rally going scooterists might be a bit upset though because the key needs to be on for the USB to be live, so you can’t just charge a phone whilst you’re sat on a rally campsite but at least it saves you flattening your battery. The underseat space has also been redesigned to have a couple of extra litres of storage space, still not large enough for a full faced helmet but you can fit two jet style lids in there, or a bucket full of ice and a crate of beer if you’re camping!

The engine has remained exactly as it was but the front suspension gets the new ESS, Enhanced Suspension System (as fitted to the new Primavera and Sprint). It’s basically a new way of mounting the front suspension on a swivel pin, rather than being clamped solidly, this improves the feel quite considerably, in fact the new one feels better on the road than my own GTS which is fitted with Malossi RS24 shocks. There was no sign of the GTS characteristic front end wobble on the two GTS’s I rode on the launch so hopefully it’s cured that problem.
The press launch took place in Tuscany, an area of outstanding natural beauty and with some fantastic tight and twisty riding roads. In fact you couldn’t pick a better place to spend a day riding a GTS 300, loads of corners, bumpy roads to test the suspension, loose gravel to test the ABS and traction control and even a bit of rain to make sure the two new systems work well when you’re riding hard in a group of pumped up bike and scooter journalists. The GTS did exactly what it should do, as any owner would expect, because they are a fantastic tool. To be honest the scooter felt pretty much like riding my own GTS (it should really because the basic chassis/engine hasn’t changed). The only slight difference was the comfier new seat and of course the cockpit layout and mirror stem mounted VMP iPhone. The engine is still a good tractable lump and I saw 80mph on the clock and the VMP (incidentally both speeds matched perfectly). At times during the day I felt the ASR (or Anti Slip Resistance) kick in, basically it cuts torque to the rear wheel if it detects the rear wheel slipping under load. The times when it cut in weren’t potentially dangerous and I was trying to make it work. I also had the ABS cut in a few times, on one occasion I was pretty glad of it after an unexpected emergency stop. The GTS stopped very well and under control. So those gadgets work. To be honest though personally I’d still buy the non ABS/ASR if I was planning to buy a new GTS this year, it will be an option and will save you a couple of hundred quid, although future resale values are likely to be higher for the ABS version. It’s just a personal preference for me.

Overall I was impressed with the new GTS, my only criticism was that it’s not a new model altogether so that was a bit of a shame. I have a feeling that we’ll have to wait until around the same time next year before we see a complete new GTS. If you can’t wait that long and you’re looking to buy a new GTS this summer you won’t be disappointed. It’s still the best long distance retro styled scooter you can buy, without a doubt. I rode my own GTS to Gatwick airport for the launch, a 350 mile round trip. I comfortably did the return leg (175 miles) in just over two and a half hours in perfect comfort. If you don’t currently own a GTS I suggest you go and try one at your local Piaggio dealer. They really are a fantastic scooter, buy one.

UK machines

The UK will be getting the GTS 300 Super (non ABS/ASR) in the UK this month, priced at £4441 on the road. The ABS/ASR version will follow in June, along with the Super Sport ABS/ASR, the price for those two will be around £4691 but that’s not been finalised yet. We’ll also be getting all options in the 125cc, £3871 for non ABS and £3971 for the ABS/ASR. Colour options are limited to red, white, black and the lovely new Blu Gaiola.

Engine: 278cc, liquid cooled, fuel injected, 4-stroke, 4-valve, single cylinder
Claimed power: 22bhp
Torque: 22.3nm @7500rpm
Suspension: Front single sided fork with shock, rear mono shock
Front brake: 220mm disc,
Rear brake: 220mm disc
Front tyre:, 120/70x 12
Rear tyre: , 130/70 x 12
Fuel capacity: 9.5 litres
Seat height: 790mm
Colours: Montebianco white, Blu Gaiola, Rosso Dragon red, Nero Lucido black
Contact: www.uk.vespa.com
Availability: May/June