Scooter Shootout:: Vespa 150 vs. LML Star Deluxe 150 vs SYM GTS 200

VESPA 150

From the little I’ve understood of the Vespa 150 aside from the fact that it’s clad in a plastic shell, is that it shares the same Leader engine as its stablemate, the Vespa LX 150. So I guess u’re basically paying for the Leader lump & the rest of the body parts are slapped onto it, mish-mash, with whatever’s left of the remaining price tag with Chinese & Indian parts for cost savings. Should be reliable enough given its pedigree & sharing the same parts bin of its blue blooded cousins, and with a lighter body and the LX derived lump that should propel it ahead of its heavier namesakes unless if it has been detuned for tamer handling on a lighter bodyshell.

Appearance & Styling
I think the styling is safe enough without exciting the senses into delirium, with little hints of the metal bodied round cuteness of the Vespa S 150, but that’s where any passing resemblance stops aside from its Vespa moniker.

Parts & Service
With a distributor’s warranty & network of dealers, parts & services should not be an issue. But do expect ‘Euro compliant’ prices as well! Lol

Would I buy it?
No. Cos I personally perceive it as a diluted version of all things that Vespas represent. But this is strictly confined to my personal prejudice that any watered down version of a cult icon like the unmistakable iron clad Vespa is a poor cousin or pariah!

Yes. If my budget only allows me this entry level Vespa & its moniker alone justifies the price and the Vespa stamp alone is a seal of approval about its quality & reliability for my peace of mind.

Yes. If for the price I’d rather own an Italian ped than a Taiwanese wannabe ripoffs!

No. Cos for the same price I can get a Taiwanese maxiscoot with ‘apparently’ better performance & specs.

LML Star Deluxe 150

Refer to my earlier post of LML Star Deluxe as an alternative purchase (besides the much glorified & feted GTS200!)

Allow me to rehash:

“………..Ever thought of going with a style icon of Vespa's fame? The indian LML which use to produce Vespa PX 150 under license has now rebadged it as the LML Star Deluxe. All u need to do is change the badge to Vespa, and viola! Instant italian panache from the 60s as recognisable as the curves of Marilyn Monoe & a Coke bottle as it was said, clad in a heavy gauge steel monoque body. But might lack the grunt u'll need to cross the bridge as it's derivative Vespa engine only puts out 10 horses! It's a 2 stroker with manual 4 speed. But who needs speed when u ride a true blue italian icon! Plenty of options for bling bling upgrades & from the foreign forums i heard that it's unbreakable. Groups have organised round continent tours (Africa & Euope) on these scoots and swears by their reliability!……..”

Reliability & Good looks
Can anymore be said about its good looks. Vespa PX 150 is the glamour puss that started the scooter craze that caught the imagination of generations. And now u can get it in its latest reincarnation as an '09 LML Deluxe Star from its Indian toolshed which inherited its know-how & body presses knocking out Vespas while under license.

Parts are said to be 100% identical to Vespas although the Vespa derived engine has been upgraded to a more modern theme with reed valves & ports instead of the 50’s rotary engine. The 2 stroker has been brought up to date an auto mixer for 2T oil avoiding messy manual mixes. Suspension & brakes been upgraded too. Many enthusiasts would swear that it’s a much improved version of the Vespa PX 150. Only give is it’s a 4 speed manual unlike your modern day twist & go scoots, but herein also lies its old world charm.

Engine Quietness
It’s a 2 stroker! What would u expect? It vibrates & it gyrates! So does a Harley! Disco is well & alive! Someone should be happy that hairsprays & mullets are back in vogue!

Good supporting service
Parts are plentiful & Vespas are known to be unbreakable! It was used literally as a warhorse, as an assault vehicle by the french military & mounted with bazookas. So rock steady that there's no recoil when fired!



But now that we are not at war, it’s been put to tamer use as a commuter & for the more itinerant scooterists, they act as intercontinental touring scoots!


Chances are most spare parts shops would have a ready armoury of Vespa bits & ends. If all else fails there is always LML which produces it, Ebay or mail order. Before I would have sufficiently convinced myself to take the plunge I’ll be poking around town checking out old Vespa toolsheds & workshops just to be sure. I think there is already a Vespa Club Malaysia, that in itself should give me some measure of confidence that I won’t be stuck with a lemon! I'm already stuck with lip syncing raucous cheerleader!

SYM GTS 200

The GTS 200 maxiscoot is a capable enough workhorse & commuter bike. Cruising all day at a constant 110kph shouldn’t be an issue. It has the girth & the heft in terms of its weight & size to cruise long distance as long as u don’t expect to break the sound barrier doing so. Liquid cooled & a heat fan should keep your mount running cool without cocking up your pistons! All other issues of handling, fuel consumption, plentiful storage, weather inclements have already been broached to a glorious death in this thread.

The normal caveat of reader beware applies as this personal review is in no way shape form or manner reflect that of all readers except of the author alone.