2012 Victory GTS Review

First introduced back in 1946, the Vespa set the standard for the modern motor scooter, as we know it today. The iconic Italian motor bikes have been immortalized in pop culture and will forever be associated with the swinging 1960s, when they were embraced by the burgeoning ""mod"" culture of the day. But these days Vespas appeal to a wide variety of different riders. And while their retro chic styling remains a big part of why they’re so appealing, many riders also appreciate Vespas because, unlike many contemporary scooters, there’s nothing plastic about them. Vespa’s are sturdy and have sheet metal bodies, giving them a more solid feel than many plastic-bodied bikes. Today’s Vespas also employ the latest in modern scooter technology. There are few cases in which Vespa’s marriage of classic retro styling, modern engineering, and structUral solidity, is better expressed than with the Vespa GTS. For 2012, there were three different models of the Vespa GTS introduced: Vespa GTS 300, Vespa GTS Super, and Vespa GTS Super Sport.

The 2012 Vespa GTS 300 is a scooter that cleanly evokes the design of the classic Vespa and comes equipped with a powerful 300cc engine that’s the fastest the company produces. While maintaining the same fundamental characteristics that have defined Vespa scooters for generations, the GTS 300 incorporates modern, flowing lines along its cowls, a round and sloping headlight, and passenger footrests that fold out from the body. The 2012 Vespa GTS 300 features a monocoque body made entirely from steel, ensuring sturdiness, reliability, and superior rigidity. The 300 GTS also features great ergonomics and a seating position designed to be natUral, helping to ensure rider comfort, even over longer distances. The GTS 300’s 300cc engine provides for excellent pick-up and acceleration, making the scooter more than capable of adapting to the pace of modern city streets and highways. With its sheet metal body with welded reinforcements, the 2012 Vespa GTS 300 is available in Midnight Blue and Bronze. The Vespa GTS 300 Super also maintains the elegant retro styling of a traditional Vespa, but it has a slightly sportier cast to its looks. Based more closely on classic ""Super"" models from the past, the 300 Super boasts an aggressive front leg shield that emphasizes its sporty character, along with a stylish grille, and chrome accents. The GTS 300 Super’s suspension features a racing red finish that further distinguishes it from the regular GTS 300. The Super’s two-color alloy wheel rims also invoke the dismountable rims of classic Vespas. The 2012 Vespa GTS 300 Super’s 300cc engine helps generate great traction on the road and delivers superb pickup from low speeds. The bike is available in Monteblanco White and Dragon Red. The 2012 Vespa GTS Super Sport engine comes equipped with an electronic fuel injection system, for maximum performance in the city or on winding country roads. The bike’s sporty looks are bolstered by graphics along the side of its rear fairing and a comfy sport saddle that features white piping. This sporty exterior is rounded off by a Satin Black finish that gives the 2012 Vespa GTS Super Sport a look that is both modern and masculine. Like the GTS 300 and GTS Super, the GTS Super Sport has a top speed of 80 mph and achieves an EPA estimated fuel economy of between 65-70 mpg. The 2012 Vespa GTS 300, Sport, and Super Sport models are excellent scooters for anyone looking for a reliable and economical method of transportation. With the classic retro styling of iconic 1960s Vespas married to modern technological features, the 2012 Vespa GTS will ensure you arrive in comfort and style, and have a bit of fun along the way.