THE PRIMAVERA PRIMA DONNA
APART from the unique Settantesimo (which means seventieth) livery, the 70th Anniversary Vespa Primavera looks not unlike other Primeveras that you may see on the road.
When we first saw the special edition, we wondered, “what’s so special about it, eh?”
Yes, it wears limited edition colours, which is a head-turner (as if the Primavera wasn’t turning enough heads already), but was that it?
Well, the 70th Anniversary edition comes with a generous equipment package, which includes an anti-lock brake system (ABS).
It is powered by the new Piaggio i-Get Euro4 154.8cc three-valve singlecylinder power plant, which produces 9.5kw @ 7,750rpm and 12.8Nm of torque @ 6,500rpm.
Riding the Vespa is quite a revelation. It is quiet, fast and smooth. Like a ninja. An Italian ninja! The 150cc scooter doesn’t feel like a 150cc at all.
Because the Primavera is a small scooter, it is easy to ride around the busy streets of Kuala Lumpur. But what you may not expect is that this little scooter can manage highways, too.
Handling the Primavera is quite jump over logs placed in the middle of Track A to replicate obstacles in a real-situation offload riding on the bigger bike.
A friend took his camera out and said he was going to capture my skills on video.
The next thing I knew, two stray fingers were gripping the front brake and I felt a sharp pang on the right side of my head as I hit the ground.
Thank goodness I had the Shark effortles s , and I say that with authority. The day I was test riding the Primavera, I was forced to back up from the automatic ticketing booth of a parking lot because silly me did not have any coins. There wasn’t space for a U-turn at the barrier gate, so the only way out was to push the scooter backwards.
For a moment there, I found myself in panic mode, but the Vespa was so light and manoeuvrable that after just a couple of steps to get some momentum, I got out of that tight spot.
Its 12-inch tyres promise increased control and safety for its riders, with the front disc and rear drum hardware setup paired.
The Primavera is equipped with a single arm with helical spring and single double-acting hydraulic shock absorber with ABS disc brakes at the front (standard equipment on the Vespa Primavera celebratory version), and a double-acting shock absorber with drum brakes at the rear helps to aid any rough surfaces on the asphalt.
The ABS worked precisely, even when I braked too harshly during emergencies. A word of caution, however: ABS is only engaged above 20kph (according to Vespa).
The fuel consumption values are also reduced to a minimum. Thanks to on, or I could have hurt more than just my pride.
I was disoriented and stayed on the ground for a few moments to try and figure out what went wrong.
“You lost focus there,” Oh said as he knelt by my side.
“You got distracted by the fact that your friend is filming you, making you squeeze the front brakes for no reason,” he added.
Trust me, get distracted for even its ample 8.0-litre fuel tank, the “Vespa Primavera now boasts a highly respectable travel range of 328km”.
The celebratory version of the Primavera receives the special 70th Anniversary paint, leather seat and bag as well as chrome rear carrier.
The carrier is spacious, but is less secure when you’re riding and parking about town. Basically, riders need to carry the carrier with them wherever they go. This can be difficult and tiresome for those who prefer simplicity - like me. I don’t like to carr y bags around, not to mention a huge carrier!
What I find hard to understand about the Primavera is its extremely small fuel cap. The petrol cap is so puny that I need to actually peek into the hole to check whether the tank is filled yet. As I was doing so, petrol spilled out of the tank and ruined my only leather riding jacket!
Despite that, travelling with this unique Settantesimo version of Primavera was fun and exciting.
If you’re looking to ride not just with comfort, but also with style, the Vespa Primavera 70th Anniversary is priced RM18,440 and is available in Azzurro 70 blue.
Hurry, this limited edition is limited in number, after all. a split second and you can end up kissing the ground.
Despite the fall, I had a spectacular time learning new skills on both motocross and enduro riding at the Most Fun Gym.
So, if you love the idea of riding off-road, what are you waiting for? Bring nothing but yourself to the Most Fun Gym and prepare yourself for that adrenaline rush!?
Ahirine Ahirudin