Well don’t blame me, that “not for everyone” jibe is exactly what it says on its own brochure and POS materials. Seriously, it does, see the top left corner in the photo below. During its launch a couple of months ago, I did think it a little odd to have a tagline like that for a Vespa, I mean come on, wasn’t the creation of the Vespa billed as a scooter for everyone? Apparently not.

Here’s the launch video:

It would take a week of hard riding of the new GTS Super 300 “Quasar” following its launch to realise that Naza Premira were absolutely spot-on when it came to that tagline, and I don’t mean just because it costs RM26,670.10 . In fact, it’s safe to say that only ‘seasoned’ scooter riders need apply. If you happen to be into #Scootouring (look it up it’s a real word for touring on a scooter), and have always loved Vespas, this is the one you’ve been waiting for…

First-off, the not-so-good bits. There is precious little cargo room in or on this scoot, so a top box – the biggest you can find – will be a must-have if you plan to scootour.

The area below the seat will fit two helmets, provided they’re of the ‘half-shell’ aka tortoise shell kind, which seems to be quite popular with Vespa owners. As it is, my Givi open-face wouldn’t fit in there. Thankfully there’s a curry-hook located just above the front glove box. Also it gets pretty hot in the under-seat storage area, as sits right above the engine…

And speaking of heat, you see those vents just below the handle bar next to the turn signals? Well those are to allow engine ventilation, and in hard riding, the air coming out of there is extremely hot. I still don’t get that though, the engine is at the back, so why is there so much heat coming out the front? I reckon it’s the radiator’s fans working overtime in our hot climate…

Now the best bit. Powered by a liquid-cooled ‘Quasar’ 278.3cc, single-cylinder, 4-valve, fuel-injected engine, the GTS 300 churns out 21.2bhp and 22Nm of torque. That might not seem like much but don’t let the figures fool you. This is probably one of the quickest mid-size scooters out there. It does 0-100kmh very quickly and tops-out at 140kmh. Actually it might be faster but the speedometer only reads till 140.

Riding on 12-inch wheels front and rear, speeds like that are ill-advised of course, since by virtue of its design, the Vespa isn’t the most aerodynamic of scooters. It is however, incredibly smooth, not just in its power delivery, but also in the way it tackles less-than-perfect roads.

The double hydraulic shock-absorbers with 4 pre-load adjustments in the rear are able to soak up bumps and undulations with ease, complemented by the single-arm, single-shock up front.

One of the best things about the GTS 300 is that it comes standard with ABS and ASR, or anti-skid regulation/traction-control. At the push of a button, the ASR ensures that power-delivery going to the back wheel (via a CVT) is regulated, which is especially beneficial for riding in the rain.

There’s also modern amenities in this scooter, such as a USB port for charging mobile devices, and a remote seat opener and ‘bike-finder’. Activating the latter flashes the GTS 300’s signal lights. Beeping the horn would have been a good addition too. Here’s the final video…

Well, there you have it. Like its own sales materials say, the Vespa GTS Super 300 certainly isn’t for everyone, and will appeal to a select few scooter-fans only. However, in the scooter world, it doesn’t get much more unique and more fun than this, so if you’re looking for something different, this is where the buck stops. – Chris Wee.

STOP THE PRESS! While returning the GTS 300, I spotted this extremely rare and limited-edition Vespa 946 Emporio Armani (above) at Naza Premira. It’s for sale if you’re interested, fully-loaded with all the Emporio Armani accessories and goodies, including EA helmets and EA luggage. It’s price? How does RM100,000 lock-stock-and-barrel sound? No, I couldn’t believe it either…

Vespa GTS Super 300 Photo Gallery…