Vespa GTS 300 Buyer's Guide

The Machine's Character

This is the Vespone, the big Vespa, and its case starts with the body: a steel monocoque instead of plastic panels hung on a tube frame. Inside sits a liquid-cooled 278 cc single making 24 hp at 8,250 rpm and 19 lb-ft at 5,250 rpm, with belt drive to the rear wheel. ABS and traction control come standard. So do an LED headlight, a USB port and a center stand. The TFT dash with smartphone connectivity and navigation is an option, not a given. It's a complete, grown-up spec wrapped in the most recognizable shape on two wheels. Style with substance.

Read the numbers and the purpose is clear: 12-inch wheels at both ends, 342 lb (155 kg) wet, a 31.1 in (790 mm) seat, a 2.2 gal (8.5 L) tank and 74 mpg. On paper, that's hardware for dense traffic, tight curbside parking and the daily run across town. With 24 hp, it can also go beyond downtown. The rear suspension takes preload adjustment for a passenger or a load, while the front end has no adjustment at all. It points to a rider who wants a design object that still works as a daily tool, and who buys with the heart as much as the head. That's the deal. Fair enough!

Hard Numbers

Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.

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Key specifications
Power	24 hp (18 kW) @ 8,250 rpm
Torque	19 lb-ft (26 Nm) @ 5,250 rpm
Displacement	278 cc
Engine	Single-cylinder
Cooling	Liquid-cooled
Final drive	Belt
Front tire	120/70-12
Rear tire	130/70-12
Seat height	31.1 in (790 mm)
Wet weight	342 lb (155 kg)
Fuel capacity	2.2 gal (8.5 L)
Fuel economy	74 mpg (US)

Equipment check

Chassis

Rear Suspension Adjustable Standard

Comfort

Heated Grips Optional
Luggage System Optional

Connectivity

TFT Display Optional
Smartphone Connectivity Optional
USB Charging Port Standard

Lighting

LED Headlight Standard

Safety

ABS Standard
Traction Control Standard

The Truth on the Street

This picture comes from years of listening: paddock conversations, owner chats, club nights and the messages riders send me directly. On the GTS 300 the pattern is clear. Riders praise how it rides and pulls far more often than they complain, and the gripes they do raise are about upkeep, price and detail finish.

More scooter than owners expected

Riders consistently describe a plush ride over broken pavement and brakes that build their bite progressively. The engine gets the same praise: punchy off the line, smooth, and quick enough that owners happily leave town for country roads and highway stretches. Several say the seat, the riding position and the wind protection keep them comfortable on longer trips, and that the cockpit makes sense from day one. It goes further than you'd think!

Where the premium shows its seams

The complaints are fewer. Some owners find the switchgear and plastics less durable than they'd expect for the money, and they wonder how those parts will age. Others say the premium over rival maxi-scooters is hard to justify on practicality alone. The badge isn't cheap.

Known issues

ABS pump unit failure

brakes occasional

Owners of 2016–2022 GTS 300 models report premature failure of the ABS hydraulic unit, sometimes requiring expensive replacement.
Drive belt failure risk

drivetrain occasional

The CVT drive belt may snap if not inspected and replaced according to schedule, which can leave the rider stranded.
Cold start stalling

engine rare

Some riders experience intermittent stalling when first starting the engine, potentially related to fueling or an approaching service interval.

The Expert Benchmark

Where this Vespa GTS 300 pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.

What kind of bike this is — character vs. the class

Urban Utility Score

Weatherproof Commute Comfort

Storage Without Thinking

Twist-and-Go Simplicity

Low-Cost Daily Mobility

Night-and-Rain Confidence

This bike Class average

Head-to-head: Vespa GTS 300 vs. its rivals

Power

24 hp This bike 28 hp Yamaha XMAX 300 Tech MAX 29 hp Honda Forza 350 23 hp Kymco X-Town ST 250i 20 hp CFMOTO Jetmax 250 EFI

Torque

19 lb-ft This bike 21 lb-ft Yamaha XMAX 300 Tech MAX 23 lb-ft Honda Forza 350 16 lb-ft Kymco X-Town ST 250i 15 lb-ft CFMOTO Jetmax 250 EFI

Displacement

278 cc This bike 292 cc Yamaha XMAX 300 Tech MAX 330 cc Honda Forza 350 246 cc Kymco X-Town ST 250i 249 cc CFMOTO Jetmax 250 EFI

Wet weight

342 lb This bike 395 lb Yamaha XMAX 300 Tech MAX 410 lb Honda Forza 350 406 lb Kymco X-Town ST 250i 370 lb CFMOTO Jetmax 250 EFI

Seat height

31.1 in This bike 31.3 in Yamaha XMAX 300 Tech MAX 30.7 in Honda Forza 350 30.7 in CFMOTO Jetmax 250 EFI

The 'Should I Buy It?' Score

Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the GTS 300 is actually built for.

Aerial photograph of downtown Austin, Texas, showing modern high-rise buildings against a clear blue sky. Urban infrastructure, highways, and parking structures visible in the foreground. — Thomas Balabaud / Pexels

Best motorcycle for Bay Area?

Your best match here: a steel-bodied Italian design object for the weekday commute that still makes the run to the ridge-road meet on weekends. Keep expectations scooter-sized, though: it's 24 hp.

Made for Bay Area Ridge Roads · San Francisco / Bay Area · Skyline Boulevard / Alice's Restaurant

Best scooter for NYC?

A very strong fit: 12-inch wheels, 342 lb, 74 mpg and a center stand are built for the daily city grind. You're buying style as much as transport, and that's the point.

Made for New York City · Austin · Los Angeles

Alternatives to the Vespa GTS 300

If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.

Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Vespa GTS 300. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.