She Wanted A Bike, He Didn't
 

This article created quite an uproar at Modern Vespa. See what you think.

http://www.csindy.com/coloradospring...nt?oid=2973747

Sounded like sound advice to me. Personally I'd divorce her, or just buy here a Sportster or something.

I don't know, one of the reasons I love my Kimmie (Kymco Xciting 500) is because its a big enough scooter to do highway speeds but still with the simplicity of a scooter. It carries my girl on back without issues too.

I think her issue is more with the look and not the funtionality of a scoot over a bike. Storage, MPG, parking...all that has to be considered when buying a bike. Is he replacing his car? Or is this more just for the weekends?

Keep the scoot, dump the wife.

I didn't want to say this over there. I think it's this. Hubby goes out the door with Big Bike money and comes back with, what looks to her, a toy. She was expecting a used Sportster or another big bore V-Twin and he comes back with a Vespa. The general public probably doesn't know the MSRP of a 300cc Vespa approaches an NC700 Honda.

Sort of like he said, "I'm going out to buy a Classic Car" and instead of coming home with a '57 Chevy Belair he returns with a '57 VW Beetle.

I find the whole matter a convoluted issue. If he likes the Vespa, cool, but he should have prepared her for his choice. "Dear. I'm going out and spending $7,000 on a scooter" and dealt with the flack in advance.

It seemed her beef was more over image (harley=tough/ scooter= dorky) than the amount of money spent. That's assuming this was a real letter written by an annoyed wife, which I doubt. I couldn't be with anyone that concerned with image.

I'd rather have a '57 Beetle over a Bel Air any day. I used to drive my brother's 64 bug somtimes and it was wicked fun, like drivng a street legal go-cart.
People's prefrences are all different. Nothing bad about it.

The point I was trying to make is that she expected something "Big" for the money and he came home with something "Little". Don't you think that most people expect their money is better spent on a CB 500 Honda for $6000 than a 300cc Vespa for $7000+? Motorcycles outsell scooters 10 to 1 in this Country. Size matters to most people, not on this Board but it's there. How about 11 grand for a 650 Burgman against under 9 grand for most 900cc Japanese V-Twin cruisers. A Burgman or a 950cc Yamaha Star Bolt. No contest in the average American's mind. The Bolt every time.

I get your point now. Thank god I'm above average!

Being that they are a couple, they should have gone shopping together. Might have settled on a TMAX. Some folks are totally about the image. Several years ago during the recession, I would ride my 50cc monkey bike clone to a bar (don't go crazy! I was working as a bar back). Occasionally, I would drive my porsche 944. I would get things like "I don't understand why you ride that little bike when you own a porsche!" And now, I'm as likely to show up on either my 250cc scooter or my 1200cc Yamaha. Same comments.. Well.. riding is riding and fun is fun, and it's my choice. But in a relationship, there have to be some compromising. One guy I know sold his FJ1200 sport cruiser last year because his wife wants "a real bike"..(read Harley) I would have thought long and hard about where to make the life change....

I have been married for over 50 years. When you have been married that long , you each leave the things that one knows about to them! I ride what I want & my wife figures - He knows what he's doing & I feel the same about her interests. When I bought the RW , she could tell that I wasn't happy , that's why I have what I have now! She still thinks that riding is dangerous but knows that's what makes me happy! As far as image goes , She knows the kind of people that I used to run with in N.H. & is happy that I've settled down!:clap: Irish:yay: