Vespa GTV 300 Ride Review In Malaysia

December 2, 2024

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We find the Vespa GTV 300 to be a proper city mobility machine

Right now, there seems to be a rising interest in scooter ownership in high traffic urban areas around Malaysia. Yes, scooter sellers in major cities and towns are seeing a rising interest in sales and even though the Japanese brands seem to be in the lead, but it is the iconic ‘Vespa’ models that seem to get noticed more. Probably because they stand out in design and they come with bright, striking and fun colours.

The Japanese scooters seem to look similar in design and have not embraced a colour chart past black, red, gray and silver. Visit a Vespa showroom (Motoplex) and you will need some sunshades as the striking colours will dazzle you.

Last week we were invited to park our 6-year-old Vespa Primavera and test the GTV 300. Arriving in Malaysia in late May 2023, it did not get much attention due to its, from RM32,900 price tag. Yes, the rivals start at a lower price point and offer a little more in terms of power and storage space, but this is Vespa!

This Vespa GTV is for enthusiasts who are city commuters that want some style while riding to and fro work. But will also fit in nicely with retired riders looking for easy city commuting for errands and light shopping.

So, we start with the looks. It comes with styling that has only be improved very slightly over the years. You need to park the previous generations side by side to see the changes.

This is good as you will never feel that your GTV is outdated, even after a decade of ownership. We have experienced this with our 6-year-old Primavera. Many people still think we are riding a new Vespa ….. not a previous generation model.

This GTV is classed as a large body Vespa, but it can’t really sit in a traditional ‘maxi-scooter’ category due to its slim body, but it’s the 300cc engine that has it sitting in the maxi-scooter segment.

So, this GTV is slim and this for us is a big plus point. Think about it, when you ride in heavy traffic, you need to snake in and out of lanes and you need a slim scooter.

Many riders want a large maxi-scooter as it is more stable and comfortable to ride over many hours. The seat and riding position is good for the older rider like us and the powerful 300cc engine is the most powerful ever produced by Vespa. Producing 23.8bhp, it is quite lively.

Right up to 110km/h, this Vespa is quick and with good handling. Our potholed Selangor roads can deliver a jarring ride for the smaller Vespa’s, but with this GTV the suspension setup takes a lot more of the negative effects away from the rider and passenger. This GTV is equipped with a single arm, hydraulic shock absorber and at the back there is a double hydraulic shock.

The brake setup is 220mm single disc at the front and the rear. The brakes also come equipped with much appreciated, ABS.

The fuel tank on the Vespa GTV stores a maximum of 8.5L and this brings the question of interstate riding. Well, there are enough fuel stations along any journey and some leg stretching is best done every hour or so of riding.

The rider gets a TFT display which is simple yet stylish, and it is very clear. Install the Vespa app on your smartphone (android or iPhone) and you’ll have the added benefits of satellite navigation and message notifications.

So, the asking price that starts from RM32,900 might have you looking at a Japanese rival. Well, the Honda NSS 250 scooter is priced from RM25,888 and the Yamaha XMax 250 retails from RM24,500 (both less power)

There are also scooters from Modenas and CF Moto which are even lower priced, less power but have the width and length to challenge this GTS 300, but they all look almost alike and this is why we urge you to take the GTV 300 for a test to get some added zest on your daily commuting.