Ride On Vespa

I have been riding on Vespa since I was in university, 20 years ago. I do not know why I feel so intact with this sexy type of motorcycle and, up to the time being, I always ride on vespa and not other motorcycle. The older the running age of it with the line of time, the more exclusive I feel on the road. I do feel riding in ‘a difference’ among the Japanese cycles crowding in every inch of roads.

You may afford to buy expensive and modern motorcycle in any motor dealer now, but it might not always be with vespa. How much money you may have, you cannot always find a classic vespa in any motor dealers. It is now no longer on sale in any motor shop.

I have two vespas, both of them were manufactured in 60’s. The older was built in 1964 and the younger was born in 1967. Both of them have been accompanying me to work everyday alternately. But do not think that they are dirty and worn out motors, you will see how charming they are on the roads. They are so classics, smooth and unique good-looking scooter of 60’s, ones of few that now are rarely roaming on the road.

It is such a proud of course to ride on old vespa. That is why some riders are still loyal on vespas. Those scooter manias are not only old-aged riders, but also young motorists who do not feel old-fashioned with their old vespa. On the other hand, we, the community of old vespa lovers, have classified these scooters are more than just a means of transportation but vespas are manifestation of arts.

Not only a unique motor, vespa had been a symbol of the coming up of Europe after the Word War II. For Italian, vespa had been the lifestyle at that time and they had been taken role in many films. In Indonesia vespas have been the most popular motor for many decades, despite the fact that now people are less interested in this Italian vehicles.

It was around 100 years ago when Rinaldo Piaggio commencing his business in the aircraft industry. It started with his factory in Genoa in 1884 before it was then extended to other factory in Pisa (1927) and in Pontedera (1924). This business was growing up rapidly when his son, Enrico Piaggio, was in charge of the business.

Surprisingly, when this aircraft industry was growing up fantastically, Enrico Piaggio decided to resign from this industry. Based on his strong intuition, he took another business of common and affordable means of transportation: vespa.

It was D’Ascanio who was then entitled to be responsible to design vespa. His background as the chief of research in the helicopter industry might have influenced the design of vespa. More than just a type of simple, powerful and economic motor, the rear of vespa looks likes a helicopter’s cabin.

In April 1946, 15 units of vespa were on trial. At the end of 1949, a number of 35,000 units were launched and, until 10 years later, Italia had been producing a million of vespas. In 50’s, Piaggio had extended his new factory in Europe, like: Germany, England, French, Belgium and Spain. The great demands of vespas in the world had also encouraged expanding business in Asia, especially in India and Indonesia.

Although now vespas have fewer users in Indonesia, but for us who have been the fanatic lovers, vespas will always accompany us wherever we go. It seems that population of old vespa has been coming fewer and fewer. It has been a suspect that many old vespas were exported abroad due to its high prices. We, the vespas lovers, will absolutely condemn any effort to send old vespas to collectors outside Indonesia.

We do not want the vespas are getting extinct from the country. We will commit to make Vespa, which means as a bee in Italian, always roam the road in the country.

Viva vespa!

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