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Getting a Vespa for 2 months in Italy Getting a Vespa for 2 months in Italy
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Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  #16  
Old 4 Aug 2021
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Originally Posted by motoreiter View Post
One other thing I don't really get is that it appears that you'll be working during this time, it is not a vacation...so are you sure that 2000 km/month (what you've been quoted for vespas) is unreasonable? Your trip to Crater Lake was 12 days and less than 1300 kilometers, and presumably you weren't working during that trip? I don't know how fast you can travel on a vespa, but presumably you'll be avoiding the highways to it could take you a full day to go a few hundred kilometers. And having spent quite a bit of time in Italy myself, it is not a place where you want to be riding every day...go to a nice new town that you find, stay there for a few days to get your work done, then go another few hundred kilometers. If you plan to spend a week at a time in one place, then the calculus seems pretty easy, especially if you can average your kilometers over the entire rental, rather than per month (as seems likely).
(For clarification, Crater Lake was 3000km over 12 days. I did take vacation the entire time and ride almost every day.)

The KM concern arose from eyeballing a map - from Como to Amalfi and back would be more than 2000 KM. I haven't seen any monthly rentals that allow more, and I haven't been able to deduce what happens if you exceed 2000 KM. (The Cooltra chat agent couldn't tell me.)

I think it'll be a mix - working some days, taking some PTO. If I could find unlimited mileage I'd take it, but you make a good point: if I linger anywhere, my mileage could be less than I'm anticipating.
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  #17  
Old 4 Aug 2021
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Originally Posted by dooby View Post
At the risk of being struck by lightning , how did you come up with conclusion that in Italy it is particularly difficult to buy a vehicle even for locals?
I suppose I deduced it from some combo of my friends' reactions, and innuendoes about Italian bureaucracy. Was just a flippant remark.

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Originally Posted by dooby View Post
My view (correct me if I am wrong please) is that you are floating with your ideas and do not want to put them on a paper and provide calculations that will bring you to the solution or conclusion that you don't have a solution.
I wanted to document the things I have explored so far, to identify things I may have missed, and to help others have an easier time in the future. It's not all fleshed out yet, but providing what I've found seemed more useful than not, and also than waiting until I'd found all the answers. I trust the people on this forum know things I don't. (It's why I came here )
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  #18  
Old 4 Aug 2021
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Thanks everyone for taking the time to respond!
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  #19  
Old 4 Aug 2021
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Originally Posted by mayorofnow View Post
I suppose I deduced it from some combo of my friends' reactions, and innuendoes about Italian bureaucracy. Was just a flippant remark.



I wanted to document the things I have explored so far, to identify things I may have missed, and to help others have an easier time in the future. It's not all fleshed out yet, but providing what I've found seemed more useful than not, and also than waiting until I'd found all the answers. I trust the people on this forum know things I don't. (It's why I came here )
When non US citizens go to US and buy a motorcycle using buddies address as the only possible solution available in some states not all of them they also have choice of one crappy third party liability provider that for sure in case of a shit show will bail out (already happened before).
So it could also be said that is is very hard to get a motorcycle in US if you are not a citizen.

Well yes, this is how world works, we can’t copy or expect experience/price of Vietnam to Switzerland or Australia to Croatia.

My view is that you are forcing some framework you had in mind and trying to put that framework into a box that literally doesnt exist and it lives in your expectations.

World is big, laws are different and one friendly advice is to get your international drivers permit to ride in Europe as in some states it is compulsory item. It is only 20 USD cost.

Have fun and as Mark stated learn to ride a bike with manual gear box and clutch as this is going to open universe of opportunities for you.

BR
Dooby
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  #20  
Old 4 Aug 2021
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Originally Posted by mayorofnow View Post
The KM concern arose from eyeballing a map - from Como to Amalfi and back would be more than 2000 KM.
But it sounds like you'll be renting from, say, mid-August till late October? So something like a 5k cap for the period?

If you're only going to be there for a month, and working, I think you'd be a little nuts trying to see everything between Como and Amalfi. Go to the lakes region, find a nice little place, and drive around the lakes. Or do the same near Amalfi. I can pretty much guarantee that either of these areas could keep you occupied in a very pleasant manner for a month or two.

If you want to see amalfi and the lakes, take a train down from one to the other and rent another vespa there for a few days.
Last edited by motoreiter; 4 Aug 2021 at 22:20.
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  #21  
Old 4 Aug 2021
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This seems like a very good idea IF you'll really be working much of the time (and if you continue to be fixated on riding around on a Vespa).

I'll add only that my experience with the Amalfi Coast suggests that the cost of any moto rental will likely pale in comparison to the cost of your lodging. It's a wonderful area--although try not to hug the centerline tightly on blind corners--but expensive, even late-season.
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  #22  
Old 5 Aug 2021
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Vespa rentals over the boarder in Austria with unlimited mileage (not cheap): https://www.edelweissbike.com/en/mieten/?cmd=reset


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  #23  
Old 5 Aug 2021
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Yeah, that rental rate is what got me curious about buying one. There are plenty of used ones available for less than 5500EUR.

As appealing as riding the whole way is, taking the train between places and renting individually is certainly an option too. I know it's easy for your eyes to be bigger than your schedule.

I don't know what shape this trip will take, just that I need to take one. I might just show up there and figure out the rest after I land. With all the uncertainty of the Delta variant and potential new lockdowns, having my personal Vespa in Italy probably isn't a good idea. I wouldn't want it to be stuck there if everything closes and I need to GTFO.
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