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Vespa Primavera, Liberty 3V Full optional, MP3 range in an LT version
new colours for the Beverly 350 S, Vespa PX and Aprilia SRV 850
nuovi colori per Beverly 350 S, Vespa PX e Aprilia SRV 850

2014: THE LATEST IN THE PIAGGIO GROUP
SCOOTER RANGE

At the 71st edition of the international motorcycle show in Milan, the Piaggio Group presented some of the new products from its 2014 scooter catalogue. Top of the bill was the magnificent Vespa Primavera, making its world preview. Although many people had admired the scooter in a series of photos released just before the start of EICMA 2013, the chance to see it live was another experience entirely.
The photo teaser simply increased the palpable sense of anticipation among the remarkable number of journalists from all the world, who came to the Piaggio Group press conference on 5 November at 12:30. They were all there, waiting for the curtain to be lifted and for the scooter to appear.

EICMA 2013 Vespa Primavera

The Vespa under the spotlights was a completely new two-wheeler, but one with an evocative name: Primavera. The same as the model that, in the early 1970s, bewitched a whole generation of youngsters yearning for independence, longing to move quickly and easily round the city. To be free in other words.
Like its precursor, the responsibility of the new Primavera is to continue to be the best-selling and most famous Vespa of all, a role played to perfection by the model it replaces, the LX. Technology, performance, safety, riding pleasure and respect for the environment: in the new generation of scooters introduced by the exclusive and revolutionary 946, the Primavera is the first Vespa intended for everyone.


THE MP3 RANGE IN AN LT VERSION: A DRIVER’S LICENCE IS ALL YOU NEED
The Vespa Primavera was not the only new scooter launched by the Piaggio Group, although inevitably it established itself as the queen of EICMA 2013. Co-starring roles were taken by the three-wheel vehicles – available on the market since mid-2013, but shown at an official international exhibition for the first time at EICMA – for which the Piaggio Group is the world leader, with the Mp3 and the Gilera Fuoco. The common denominator of all the three-wheelers presented by Piaggio is they are now available in LT versions, and so can be driven with a normal driver’s licence. From the lighter weight metropolitan Yourban 300 to the classic Piaggio Mp3 scooters, with 300 and 500 cc engines, for which two models are offered, Business and Sport. Mention should also be made of the unique hi-tech Hybrid, the world’s first three-wheeler with a hybrid engine, and the unconventional sporty Gilera Fuoco 500, the most powerful three-wheel scooter on the market today.


NEW LIBERTY 3V FULL OPTIONAL
Within the Piaggio scooter range, the new Liberty 3V Full Optional was also making its first official appearance at an international motor show. The high-wheel scooter, one of the most popular best-sellers in the world with more than 800,000 shipments, has undergone a thorough make-over. Exceptionally low consumption and enhanced performance thanks to the new 3-valve injection engine. A new chassis, improved ergonomics and a higher load capacity: the new Piaggio Liberty 3V leads the field in its segment, and is available in a “Full Optional” version with standard windshield and top box. The Liberty 3V features the same cutting-edge engine fitted on the compact Piaggio Fly, the perfect representative of the global scooter for all urban mobility needs at any latitude.



NEW LIVERIES FOR THE BEVERLY, VESPA PX AND APRILIA SRV
Other announcements were in store: at EICMA 2013 the Piaggio Group also presented a host of new versions and colours for scooters already in catalogue. The Beverly 350 S now comes in a compelling black and white palette, giving this high-speed high-wheel model an even sportier look.
The legendary Vespa PX, aesthetically and mechanically the most traditional scooter, is now available in five colours: Grigio Dolomiti grey, Nero Lucido black, Montebianco white, Rosso Dragon red, Blu Midnight blue.
The world’s fastest and most powerful scooter, the formidable Aprilia SRV 850, driven by a roaring 90° V twin-cylinder with more than 76 hp, also available in a version with standard ABS and adjustable traction control, is now also made in a smart Wing Grey colour.


Product
From the tumultuous Sixties to today: the Vespa models that fired the imagination of millions of youngsters

THE PRIMAVERA STORY

The return of the Vespa Primavera, presented at the international motor show in Milan last November and – a first in the Vespa’s history – produced simultaneously in Pontedera for Western markets and in Vietnam for the Pacific area, has re-awakened people’s affection for and interest in one of the most popular models in the saga of the world’s most famous scooter.

PHOTO GALLERY


The story of the Vespa Primavera actually began well before the original version of the Primavera arrived on the market. Launched in 1968, the Vespa Primavera combined a series of unique features that had appeared separately on various Vespa models in previous years. This is why the first Primavera, from 1968, already had a family tree.
Small, agile, powerful, the Vespa Primavera incorporated all the qualities needed to motorise a generation of youngsters who, that very year, had begun searching for their own space, a way to make their own voices heard.

1955: VESPA GS, A SPORTY SOUL
The first Vespa to establish itself as a sporty performer, breaking with the “quiet” image the scooter had presented up until then, was the GS in 1955. Capitalising on the experience of the Piaggio Racing Division (which throughout the 1950s competed with the Vespa in regularity trials against Italian and international motorcycles, and often beat them), the GS was a watershed in the history of the Vespa: fast (more than 100 km/h), innovative (the first 4-speed gearbox), safe (larger 10” wheels”).

THE SIXTIES: 50, SPECIAL SERIES 90 SS AND 125
The Vespa 50 of 1963 was the milestone that introduced the small-body concept into the Vespa family. The frame was smaller, more agile, younger: launched with a minimum displacement it immediately proved unable to resist the temptation of greater power and performance.
The result, in 1966, was the Vespa 90 SS, a special series developed from the Vespa 50 with a spare wheel and toolbox placed between the saddle and the handlebars for a more “elongated” riding position. The sporty handlebar was low and narrow, and the mudguard and shield, streamlined for speed, were also a radically new departure. With just 90 cc, this model reached 93 km/h. 1966 also saw the debut of the “New 125”: another small-frame model like the Vespa 50, this was the first 125 cc scooter with 10” wheels.
THE FIRST PRIMAVERA
By the second half of the boisterous 1960s, everything was ready for the arrival of the youngest Vespa, the scooter that would bring together all the qualities of freshness and speed previously distributed among a variety of models.
Launched at the Milan show in 1967, the Vespa Primavera immediately became a must-have object for the younger generation. Sixteen-year-olds were fascinated by the enhanced engine performance compared with the “New 125”. The scooter’s easy handling and robust standstill start, together with the style and lightness appreciated by girls, all contributed to a blockbuster success. The Vespa Primavera was marketed for 15 years and would be joined, in 1976, by the Primavera ET3, a model with electronic ignition, three transfer ports on the cylinder, a new extended silencer copied from the 90 SS, ignition lock on the handlebar. The overall result was even greater performance, reinforcing the mythical sporty status of the Primavera.
Product
THE ADVANTAGES OF THREE-WHEEL TRAVEL

TWO WHEELS AHEAD

A ride on the Piaggio Mp3, the innovative three-wheel scooter: analysis of road handling and differences compared to a classic two-wheeler in terms of safety, enjoyment and practicality

The Piaggio Mp3 is the only vehicle to take a truly different approach to urban mobility. Since 2006, the extra wheel on the Italian three-wheeler has spearheaded a significant move forward in the scooter segment, a category introduced of course by the Vespa in the immediate post-war period. A move towards safety, enjoyment and practicality. The Mp3 has shown the way for future developments in mobility, winning an enthusiastic response from more than 160,000 customers around the world and fuelling the interest of competitors in this new market segment.

The only complete range
Compared with its competitors, however, Piaggio is the only constructor with a complete range of tried and tested three-wheel vehicles for all daily mobility needs: three displacements (the 125 is still available in some European countries), with the 300 and 500 offered in two different versions (Sport and Business); plus the Hybrid, the first in the world with a parallel hybrid engine and plug-in technology, and the Yourban, the sleek urban model in the Piaggio Mp3 range. All the three-wheelers (including the sportiest and most essential model, the Gilera Fuoco 500) are available in an LT version, so they can be ridden with a normal automobile driving licence.

Piaggio Mp3 Yourban LT 300
Glued to the road
The secret of this scooter’s success lies in its two front wheels, which, for the same circumference as the wheel on a conventional scooter, guarantee double the road grip and double the deceleration, since each of the two wheels has its own disc brake. The two front wheels are mounted on the frame with an innovative (and patented) articulated quadrilateral suspension, enabling the scooter to lean and tilt like a traditional two-wheeler.
Practicality and pleasure
What is the Piaggio Mp3 like to ride and what benefits does it offer for the daily commute? The first time couldn’t be easier: you only need a few minutes on the saddle to get the feel of the Italian three-wheeler. In the unanimous verdict of the trade press, the system used on the Piaggio Mp3 ensures maximum rider confidence, on a par with a conventional scooter, according to the requirement all metropolitan vehicles need to meet, i.e., “get on/turn the key/go”. So you don’t need to be an experienced motorcyclist to ride the Piaggio Mp3; and while expert riders greatly appreciate the Mp3’s motorcycle-like behaviour on bends and the driving pleasure it offers, the Piaggio Mp3 range is intended for people with no two-wheeler experience, who want a vehicle delivering the safety of a car with the practicality of a scooter. In city traffic, the Mp3 behaves in similar fashion to a normal two-wheeler with the same displacement: it may be slightly less responsive than the most agile two-wheelers, but on the other hand the rider will never lose control of the forecarriage in any situation. You just have to be careful in the narrow space between traffic and the pavement, because of the greater width of the double wheel compared with a single wheel. The 300 cc engine is ideal if the vehicle is to be used mainly in town, with the choice between the lighter and more nimble Yourban or the more capacious and comfortable Mp3 300 LT. The versions with a 500 cc engine are more suitable for longer trips.

Feeling of total safety
Compared with a conventional scooter with the same displacement, there is a pinch more inertia, but this is outweighed by a feeling of total safety, greater even than that offered by the best motorbikes on the market. On the urban commute, this level of safety is what makes the difference. Journeys in town are where the main hazards lie: pedestrian crossings, paving stones, manhole covers and tramlines have always been the enemies of drivers on two wheels. For the first time, on a Piaggio Mp3 you no longer have to keep a constant eye on where the front wheel is going, instead you can look confidently ahead, without having to worry about the road surface. The two front wheels are also – and especially – imperturbable when the road is wet or slippery: you can ride in total safety in the rain, knowing you have maximum grip on bends and a dramatic reduction in the chances of the wheels blocking when you brake.

Piaggio Mp3 LT Range
As stable as a tripod
The Piaggio Mp3 is extremely practical, and its exceptional load capacity of more than 50 litres in the compartment below the saddle is just one example of this. The articulated quadrilateral front suspension is equipped with a locking system, controlled by a handy switch on the handlebar: the system can be activated at speeds of under 20 km/h, to keep the scooter upright and stable without the rider having to put their feet on the ground. The lock is disengaged manually, or automatically by applying the throttle. This efficient and practical device allows the rider to reach their destination without taking their feet off the footboard, for enhanced comfort and full control of the vehicle.

The ERL locking system is also invaluable to park the Piaggio “tripod” anywhere in complete safety. The Mp3 can be parked on an incline (the suspension lock is used together with the parking brake), on sand and on uneven ground, without running the risk of it falling over. The lock makes it easy to park in public car parks between other scooters or at home next to your car in the garage and, generally speaking, anywhere where space is tight. There’s no need for the passenger to get off at short stops, nor do you have to be on a flat surface to load luggage or for the passenger to mount. Maximum safety and practicality for everyone, easy learning for first-time riders and great fun for experienced riders: what more could you want?
Event
Great success for the Piaggio Group at India’s leading motor exhibition, a showcase for the most advanced state-of-the-art products from Aprilia, Piaggio, Moto Guzzi and Vespa

The Piaggio Group at Auto Expo in Delhi

Through its Indian subsidiary Piaggio Vehicles Private Limited (PVPL), the Piaggio Group was present at “Auto Expo 2014”, an extremely important motor show in India, which this year, for the 12th edition, attracted more than 1,200,000 visitors, a record turnout.



The exhibition was held at the India Expo Centre (Greater Noida) in New Delhi, from 7 to 11 February 2014. The event provided definitive confirmation of the strategic importance of the Indian market, where the Piaggio Group has invested heavily, for example in the production plant opened about two years ago in Baramati, in the state of Maharashtra; Baramati is the last of the three manufacturing facilities operated by PVPL (the other two plants produce commercial vehicles and engines), which had the privilege of introducing the Vespa scooter into India under the Group’s globalisation strategy, with benefits also accruing to the world’s most famous and popular scooter.

NEW SCOOTERS FOR THE INDIAN MARKET

PHOTO GALLERY

Having launched the LX model in India to create the new segment of stylish cutting-edge premium scooters, Vespa is preparing to enlarge its product range to meet the desiderata of its Indian customers. The next scooter to make its debut is the Vespa S, presented at the New Delhi Auto Expo: the sportiest of the small-frame Vespas, this model is intended for young consumers who want a dynamic personality with an elegant carefree look. Visitors to the Delhi show also saw the Vespa 946, the most luxurious, refined and technological Vespa ever built.
Another Piaggio Group best-seller will also be making its debut on the Indian market soon: the Liberty, the archetypal high-wheel scooter moving rapidly towards worldwide sales volumes of one million units. The objective is to open a new market segment, leveraging the Liberty’s practicality, sober elegance and the quality of its 3-valve technological engine, which cuts fuel consumption and emissions down to a minimum.

THE TOP MODELS FROM APRILIA AND MOTO GUZZI

PHOTO GALLERY

Moto Guzzi and Aprilia, the Piaggio Group’s two motorcycle brands, were both present at the Indian motor show with the flagship models from their respective ranges. Moto Guzzi, one of the world’s most admired and successful brands, presented the two versions of the new California 1400, the sporty Custom and, for travel, the Touring. The Custom has been named the “Best of the Best Cruiser Motorcycle 2013” by Robb Report, the US magazine regarded as an authority in luxury motorbikes; the Touring has seen off its rivals in numerous group tests organised by the trade press, notably by the prestigious Cycle World review, which named it best Cruiser in the world.
With 28 automobile and motorcycle brands from all over the world taking part in the New Delhi show, a name that had to be there was Aprilia, the Italian sports bike par excellence and the pride of Piaggio Group technology and motor racing activities. Five-times SBK world champion in the last four years, Aprilia presented its top-of-the-range model, the unbeatable supersport RSV4, the queen of recent Superbike seasons, in the new R and Factory versions, the ultimate in technology and performance among sports bikes today.

INNOVATIVE PIAGGIO NT3

PHOTO GALLERY

At the Auto Expo show in New Delhi, the Piaggio Group also presented the prototype of a highly innovative four-wheeler for urban mobility needs: the Piaggio NT3. This futuristic vehicle is a tangible demonstration of the design and engineering expertise of the Piaggio Group R&D division in light four-wheel vehicles, which have great popularity in India. The Piaggio NT3 will be available with a 200 or 300 cc 4T engine, or with the futuristic and unique hybrid engine, used for the first time ever on the Piaggio Mp3 three-wheel scooter; with a top speed of 80 km/h and a range of 30 km/l, this engine cuts CO2 emissions to just 80 g/km, to deliver the absolute top performance in its market segment.
Event
LAUNCH IN ISRAEL

THE VESPA 946 AT THE LITVAK GALLERY IN TEL AVIV

Since its debut at the Milan international motor show, the Vespa 946 – the most luxurious scooter ever – has travelled all over the world: from Europe to the USA, from Asia to Australia, stopping off in Istanbul, Lisbon, Hanoi, Amman, Vienna, New York, Jakarta, Tokyo, Taipei, Bangkok, Seoul, Mantra on Australia’s Gold Coast. In Italy, it has put in appearances in Mantua, Rome, Porto Cervo, Taormina, Porto Ercole, Lucca and Pisa. From party events to gala evenings and presentation press conferences, it has charmed, astonished and hit the headlines, attracting coverage from dozens and dozens of international media.
One important destination was Tel Aviv, for an event combining fashion, art and glamour at the state-of-the-art Litvak Gallery in the city’s art and museum district. Importer OFER MOTOR was there to welcome distinguished guests including Italy’s ambassador in Tel Aviv, Francesco Maria Talo, and the Italian economic attaché, Lorenzo Ortona, as well as members of the business community, celebrities, media representatives and selected dealers.

PHOTO GALLERY

click to enlarge

More than 180 guests attended the event, for which the gallery – the venue for international contemporary art exhibitions – was given a complete “make-over” to showcase 10 Vespa models illustrating the history and development of the famous Italian two-wheeler. Each scooter was accompanied by a male or female model, dressed and accessorised according to the fashions of the decade in question. Israel’s top fashion photographers took stills in a special set created for the Vespa 946, where guests posed for a souvenir photo, presented to them at the end of the evening together with a hand-painted picture of the 946.
An unforgettable evening, covered by all the leading national TV channels including the prime-time news programme, and by countless fashion and business transmissions and magazines. The event at the Litvak Gallery was the first in a series of “mini-events” planned to exhibit the Vespa 946, and the LX 125 3V, in selected showrooms around the country.

MARKET
RIMINI: AT THE INTERNATIONAL SHOW FOR ARTISAN CONFECTIONERS

SWEET-TOOTHED APE AND PORTER
TURN INTO ICE CREAM PARLOURS

Brightly coloured, creative, delicious: a wonderland where artisan skills and tempting flavours combine with the latest technologies. This is the world of ice cream, pastry and bread making, on show at the annual international SIGEP exhibition. The 2014 event, held at the Rimini Fiera (Fair centre), from 18 to 22 January, was the 35th edition, attracting more than 150,000 operators from 140 countries. 2014 confirmed SIGEP as the top world exhibition in the artisan ice cream sector, and the leading European showcase for homemade confectionery and coffee.

PHOTO GALLERY

All the latest in raw materials and ingredients, systems and equipment, furnishings and services for artisan ice cream, pastry and bread making were on display. Theme sections, international contests and world championships, demos, refresher courses and seminars all contributed to make SIGEP a unique event.
Some of the corporate clients of Piaggio Veicoli Commerciali – Cereda Anito, Coibent Car, VS Veicoli Speciali, Resti Spa – were at SIGEP 2014 to present the Porter and Ape vans kitted out as on-the-road ice cream parlours, combining functionality and appeal. Demand for these vehicles is flourishing, not only in Italy, and enormous care is lavished on the tiniest details: the touch of Italian Style is unmistakeable and Piaggio’s evergreen Ape and Porter prove once again to be the most versatile on the market. Far more than commercial vehicles, they are shining examples of creativity at work. The compact three-wheeler can even be turned into a bar where you can sample an excellent espresso coffee, as visitors to the fair found out. With the aroma of Made in Italy.
(Photo report on the 2014 SIGEP international fair by Monica Volpi).

TREATS

A CHOCOLATE STATUE
OF POPE FRANCIS
The Academy of Italian Master Chocolatiers recently created a life-size statue of Pope Francis in chocolate, for display at SIGEP, the exhibition for artisan bakers and confectioners in Rimini. The statue was later presented to the Pope at the Vatican (on 7 February). In agreement with the Holy See, a sum equivalent to the statue’s weight – 1.5 tons – will be donated to the Caritas organisation in Rome.
The sculpture took four weeks to complete and was made by 20 students on a course at the Academy, tutored by sculptor Paolo Moro, who works with any material, and by master chocolatier Mirco Della Vecchia, whose name already appears in the Guinness Book of Records. In 2011 Della Vecchia and his staff created the world’s largest ice cream cone, standing 280 cm high, with 70 kg of ice cream; in 2012 he secured another Guinness entry with a chocolate weighing 802 kg. The cocoa for the statue came from a small cooperative in Guatemala.
(Photo of the Pope with the statue: Reuters/Osservatore Romano, published by RepubblicaTV on Repubblica.it).
GELATO WORLD TOUR
In addition to the “Ice cream parlour world cup” organised by Rimini Fiera for the 2014 SIGEP exhibition (attended by 11 countries: Italy, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Morocco, Mexico, Poland, Spain and USA), the fair launched a “Gelato World Tour”. From February to September 2014, the 9-stage tour will travel to Dubai, Rome, Valencia, Melbourne, São Paulo, Shanghai, Austin, Berlin and end in Rimini. International master ice-cream makers will compete to create the best flavour, and spread the fresh Italian artisan ice cream culture around the world. The Gelato World Tour is promoted by a series of hilarious video clips. Get a taste of them here.
Interview
As a youngster, he was the model for the Vespa 50 launch campaign. Later, he went to the States and after working with Alitalia for years, began a successful catering business in Los Angeles. In this interview, he tells Wide about his life, and his passion for the world’s most famous scooter

AUGUSTO BISANI:
“MY AMERICAN DREAM”

Augusto Bisani’s story is the tale of a handsome Italian lad from the 1960s, who dreamed of America and loved dancing, music and the Vespa. In 1968 he crossed the Atlantic and by dint of hard work and dedication made a successful living for himself in the States (he became a US citizen in 1978), working for Alitalia, first in New Jersey and New York, and later in Los Angeles. Subsequently, he created two successful companies in the catering business. He has three twins sons and seven grandchildren. Three years ago Bisani stood as a candidate for the post of Council Member of Los Angeles District 2, where he lives. Introducing himself to voters, he wrote: “I am the symbol of the true American Dream.”


Augusto Bisani and his sons

Mr Bisani, can you tell Wide readers about your memories of your youth in Italy?
“I was born in Rome, near Piazzale Clodio, in January 1942, during the war. My parents shared a flat with my maternal grandmother and three of my mother’s brothers. In 1947 my only sister, Adele, was born; so there were four of us living in one room. Luckily, the flat had a long corridor and a large entrance, I remember it as a big flat.
They were difficult times for my parents, first the war, then the struggle of reconstruction, but I was happy because I liked being outside and playing with my friends (and not always with my mother’s
permission …).”

How did your family earn a living at that time?
“Around 1954 my family rented our first flat, and we moved from the Prati district to Nomentano, near Porta Pia: it was a ‘real’ flat, with three bedrooms. My mother and sister worked in a small bar at the Trevi Fountain, the Caffè Trevi: and it was there that my mother began working in the catering business. She and her sister later built up the largest bar in Piazzale Medaglie d'Oro, in the Monte Mario district; it was very popular, it was called the ‘61 Belsito Bar’ and worked as a coffee bar, patisserie, ice-cream parlour, delicatessen, restaurant, tea room and nightclub.”

What were your dreams as a boy?
“Like so many kids of my generation, I loved music and the movies: I sang and took any job that was going whenever I got the chance: as a dancer, an actor, an assistant choreographer. I got into the entertainment world and was on an agent’s books. My artistic curriculum included Caroselli TV commercials for Algida with Didi Balboni, who was Mike Bongiorno’s assistant at the time, and I took part in Cleopatra as a dancer; that was when I became great friends with Hermes Pan, a very successful choreographer, and close associate of Fred Astaire. It was Pan who suggested I should think about moving to the States.


During those years, from adolescence until I left to America, I met many famous people, from Becky Welles (we were ‘fidanzatini’, and spent the holidays together when she was in Italy with her famous father Orson). I was a permanent fixture when the Piper club was at its height: I was a friend of the Rokers, Patty Pravo, Little Tony, Fabrizio Capucci, Catherine Spaak, Maurizio Arena, Ugo Tognazzi, Tony Renis, Lola Falana, Rocky Roberts, Franco Franchi, Helen Channel, Chet Baker and many others.”


When did you leave for the States?
“I moved in 1968, with not even 300 dollars in my pocket and a one-way ticket. I became a US citizen ten years later, in 1978. I lived in New Jersey first, then in New York and eventually I moved to Los Angeles. I worked for about thirty years with the Italian airline, Alitalia, then I realised my dream and founded two companies, which are now leading players in the catering field (Bravo Systems International, Inc. www.bravo-systems.com, headquartered in North Hollywood in California).”

You say you are a fan of the Piaggio world and the Vespa in particular, a passion that began years ago during a shoot when you were the model…

“At the end of the 1950s, in the spring-summer of 1959, my agent called to say he had shown my book to someone who
wanted to do a photo shoot for a new Piaggio product, a new Vespa for young people. Although I was a bit older than the age they were looking for (15), I was a very youthful 17, and I was chosen as the model for the first launch of the Vespa 50.
They paid me 80,000 lire (about 40 Euro today) for a day’s work: which was not bad going, the equivalent of a barman’s wages for a month!”



What do you remember about the shoot?
“I remember the day very clearly because I didn’t have my own means of transport and they sent a dark blue Fiat Sedan to pick me up (you can see it in the photos from the shoot). Many of the photos were shot at EUR, in just one day; at the end of the day, they took me back home. Unfortunately, I forgot my red jumper – which I wore in the still chosen for the advertising campaign – on the back seat of the car, and it got lost. Another detail: Clarks moccasins were all the rage at the time; my mother bought me two pairs, one black and one a brownish red. I’ve still got them. Fifty-five years later, I still keep them as a memory of that day.”

So did you ever have a Vespa?
“In the 1950s, if you were under 18 the only means of transport were the tram, the trolleybus or your legs! When I turned 18, in 1960 – the year the Olympics were held in Rome – I got my driving licence and my aunt gave me a new Vespa 125. At last I was free to go wherever I wanted! I remember the fuel cost 125 lire a litre. My world suddenly expanded on an incredible scale, my horizons definitely changed… It was a wonderful time.
That’s why the Vespa will always mean something special for me, it was by my side during a fundamental transition in my life, from a young boy to a man. Even today, I’d like to get back on a Vespa every time I want to feel the wind in my face, go for a ride or re-live the sensations of my youth. Today’s Vespa is fantastic, heavier and very well balanced. And it’s still a Vespa!”

BACKSTAGE
The Wide editorial staff would like to thank reader Gabriele Pasquini: during a recent trip to California, he met Augusto Bisani and, during a chat about the Vespa, discovered that Augusto was the model for the 1960s communication campaign. That meeting led to this interview.

SIXTIES:
PHOTOGALLERY OF VESPA ADV IN THE STATES

People
SEEN ON: PAGE SIX OF THE NEW YORK POST

US ACTOR ARMIE HAMMER RIDES VESPA
FROM LOS ANGELES TO KEY WEST



“Vespa thespian: Hammer rides scooter from LA to Key West”, is the headline of an article by New York Post columnist Richard Johnson, an expert in international celebrities, fashion and hot trends.
Johnson recounts the adventure of the young American actor, who took a scooter trip from Los Angeles, in California, to Key West, in Florida, describing him as a “Vespa-rado”. The 27-year-old actor and seven friends, including his wife Elisabeth Chambers, arrived in Key West after a three-week ride from LA along back roads on their Vespa scooters. A “coast to coast” trip of around 2,900 miles, in a “very normal people” style, with camping tents and sleeping bags for luggage.
The trip, dubbed "4K the Hard Way", was recorded by a film crew for a documentary. Richard Mineards reports in the Montecito Journal that Hammer is a member of the wealthy California enclave where his father, Michael, the Occidental Petroleum heir, collects cars. His son, however, prefers the Vespa, synonymous with a spirit of adventure and freedom.

Photo of Armie Hammer: Wirelmage/Karwai Tang,
published on Page Six.com (New York Post, 31 January 2014)

Photo from the trip: page FB “4K the Hard Way”

PHOTO GALLERY


Style

NEW VESPA HELMETS:
COLOUR AND STYLE

An essential accessory as well as a distinctive personal style statement. As it protects, the helmet also reflects the latest trends. The Vespa helmet range, with its quality and attention to detail, meets the preferences of scooter riders of all ages. The new collection is no exception, and already suggests what the headgear look for the upcoming season will be. The only problem is choosing from among the many superlative helmets on offer. This mini-guide offers some useful information.

ALL COLOUR
For younger riders who like to be the centre of attention, the Basic Fluo models – in green or coral – are perfect; meanwhile, the Visor helmets come in red or blue. ELEGANT WHITE
White with contrasting touches of colour, for a supremely chic look. The Classic models (with dual visor) in white/blue or white/red; the Vespa Visor also comes in two colours, white with dark red trim. STEEL AND BRONZE
This year sees a major revival of metallic shades. The Vespa Visor range includes a Steel model (silver with black trim) and a Bronze model (bronze brown with beige trim). A total black version is available too, for people who can’t do without the go-anywhere colour par excellence, for every fashion and season. AT DEALERS
The helmets mentioned above feature internal linings in an innovative 3D breathable fabric (ECE 22.05 approval) and are all Made in Italy.

VESPA STORE
For online shopping fanatics, the Official Vespa Store – on the website vespa.com – is an irresistible showcase with a broad range of accessories, clothing and gadgets.
Take a look.
ADVENTURE
WHEN A VESPA CHANGES YOUR LIFE

GIORGIO SERAFINO: HOW I BECAME
A GLOBETROTTER AND A WRITER

From the USA to Cambodia, Thailand and Laos; India, South Africa, Namibia and Botswana; and now Chile and Argentina. The extraordinary adventures of a modern-day explorer. Or two, to be precise: Giorgio’s wife Giuliana Foresi is his alter ego. They travel together on their Vespa 50 Special, aka General Lee
You really can go anywhere on a Vespa, any Vespa. You need to be brave, adventurous and slightly crazy. Characteristics that Giorgio Serafino, born in Italy’s Marche region in 1974, does not lack. And since he met Giuliana Foresi more than ten years ago, a woman his own age, with the same adventurous streak, he has not left her side. While they were getting a cottage ready in the Macerata countryside, they lived happily in a caravan. They married and began travelling, whenever they could: Europe, Canada (where Giorgio has citizenship), Brazil, Morocco, Thailand and Cambodia. So far, so ordinary: the world is full of travellers.
The Serafinos’ lives took a sudden turn when Giorgio decided to restore a clapped-out Vespa. He remembers: “My friends though I was mad when I said I wanted to get the old Vespa that had been abandoned in my garden for years back on the road. Giuliana (Giulia for all of us) was the only one who believed in me. We were right: I emptied the tank, changed the spark plug and cleaned the carburettor. It started on the third try!” The magic of the Vespa, a traveller by vocation, on the roads of the world for 68 years.
Once Giorgio had lovingly restored the scooter body, the 1978 Special was ready to go. The destination was the USA: in two months in 2010, Giorgio and Giulia rode the celebrated Route 66, which crosses eight states. Around 2,400 miles from east to west, leaving from Chicago and ending in Los Angeles. An on-the-road adventure trip, aboard “General Lee” as they call their orange Vespa 50 Special, a tribute to the cult TV series “Hazzard”.


Giorgio and Giulia encountered a thousand challenges, beginning with the shipment of “General Lee” across the Atlantic in a large iron crate, at a cost of 1,400 euro; once the scooter reached Chicago, there was a desperate search to find an agency prepared to insure the two-wheeler. At last the dream began, and the couple were speeding along the historic federal highway, which opened in 1926 to link Chicago with the beaches of Santa Monica. “Once we completed Route 66,” says Giorgio, “we came back through the Mojave Desert to go to Death Valley, and also extended the trip to Utah and Nevada, to see Painted Desert, Santa Fe, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Monument Valley and Canyon de Chelly. All told, we rode a total of 4,300 miles in ten states.”
That was just the beginning: take a long at the box alongside.

THE CINQUANTINO
THAT THINKS IT’S A MOTORBIKE

Giorgio and Giuliana are still on the road: as we write, they are travelling through Argentina and Chile, having toured Asia, Africa and India. The tireless globetrotters have made many new friends at the Vespa Clubs

The editors at the Mursia Italian publishing company were so impressed by the American exploit of Giorgio and Giulia that they asked them to tell their story in a book, entitled “L’America in Vespa” (2011), winner of the “Il Viaggiautore” literary award, together with distinguished Italian journalist and documentary maker Folco Quilici.
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The book is also a biography of this couple of “modern-day adventurers”, popular guests on TV shows in and outside Italy, at cultural events and readings. Events like the international poetry and prose evening Giorgio attended in 2012, together with two well-known writers, Jack Hirschman (USA) and Agneta Falk (Sweden/Inghilterra), at the Emerald Tablet Gallery in San Francisco, with an exhibition of photos from the trip. The book was also presented at the Italian Cultural Institute in Brussels.
Travel has become Giorgio and Giulia’s “profession” (a term they wouldn’t like much): however, they have their own website – www.terraeasfalto.it – they write travel reports for magazines, they continue to travel from one end of the earth to the other, and to publish books.
The second (Mursia, 2013), by Giorgio Serafino, is entitled “Paradiso di polvere – Nel cuore di Thailandia, Laos e Cambogia in Vespa 50 Special”, and describes their second major journey, in Asia’s Golden Triangle, on the saddle of “General Lee”. Writing about the scooter, Giorgio notes: “I look at the Vespa: it’s covered in dust and the cylinder head seems to be catching fire. Its knobbed tyres give it a combative air, and perhaps that’s all it needs to do what it does. I’m convinced I’m riding a motorbike and I’ve never told the General it’s a Vespa 50.”

PHOTO GALLERY


On the road
The thrills of a trip across Europe on a Vespa, with photos, video clips and interviews.
An itinerary through Switzerland, France, Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, before coming home to write a book about the journey

ALBERTO BORTOLUZZI:
CONCERT FOR VESPA AND ASPHALT

Feeling like an explorer on the A8 Milan–Varese motorway is a bit like discovering a passion for food in McDonald’s. Yet if you’re riding a Vespa on a freezing December morning, and it begins snowing hard, the cold immobilises your extremities, your visor freezes over and you’re travelling down a snow-whitened road, then monotony is overtaken by fear and, once you’ve reached your destination safely, a normal commute between the two cities turns into a memorable experience. This is the essence of travel, remembering and recounting.
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The intrepid commuter was Alberto Bortoluzzi, a well-known photographer from Varese, who has been riding a Vespa for years to avoid dependence on a car. Once the adventure was over, Alberto thought back over the emotions he had just experienced and continued his journey virtually on Google maps, searching for an itinerary through northern Europe. The challenge was to take his Vespa GTS 300 Super Sport into places where hostile weather conditions are a constant rather than an occasional occurrence of the kind he had encountered between Milan and Varese. His choice of destination was Land’s End, the tip of Cornwall, from where he began the return leg of a journey through Switzerland, France, Britain, the Netherlands and Belgium.
The route, a total of around 3,000 miles of streets and roads, was to be completed in just over three weeks; a maximum time limit Alberto negotiated with his wife and dog Pepito, and with the constraints of a budget drawn up to the last penny a few days before he left, on 15 June. That day Alberto and his Vespa, super-equipped with a video camera and waterproof bags strapped on to the luggage carrier, finally left Piazza della Motta in Varese and set off for Cornwall. Ahead, an asphalt ribbon offering a succession of places, colours, sounds, smells and all the sensations every Vespa rider will be familiar with, to be stored in Alberto’s memory and captured on film.
Each new day brought fresh experiences to fill Alberto’s diary, from extreme weather conditions in Normandy and Cornwall to encounters with a huge variety of characters and travellers, as well as the daily challenge of managing to eat lunch and supper and find a comfortable bed for the night on a maximum daily budget of 70 euro: a challenge he did not always win. The outcome is a hilarious account about the people he met, the local dishes he sampled, the things to do and not to do, reunions with old friends and, a rarity in travellers’ tales, the museums and sites of historic and artistic interest he visited. Having returned to Varese on 10 July, Alberto began the second stage in his journey, taking on the triple role of author, photographer and publisher to narrate his experiences in a book. Just before Christmas, everything was ready and the book – “Concerto per Vespa & Asfalto” – was presented at the Impero multiplex in Varese, a happy conclusion to an adventure that also took Alberto on inner journey to explore his limits and fears.
Here at Wide, we’ve read the book and recommend it to every “Vespa-rado” when the first signs of wanderlust emerge; you might even want to follow the route taken by Alberto on his Vespa GTS 300.
It’s well worth it.
Copies of “Concerto per Vespa & Asfalto” can be ordered directly from Alberto Bortoluzzi:
info@albertobortoluzzi.com www.albertobortoluzzi.com

FROM VARESE TO CORNWALL

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Date of departure:
15 June 2013

Date of arrival:
10 July

Total distance:
3,237 miles

Maximum distance covered in one day:
342 miles

Total days:
25

Daily average on scooter:
168 miles

Fuel consumption:
approximately 38.5 gallons

Cheapest overnight stay:
25 euro in chambres d’hôtes (B&B, F)

Most expensive overnight stay:
69 euro in Maastricht (NL)
Community

TURKEY: OSMAN GURSOY’S
VESPA MEMORIES



Osman Gursoy is a sprightly 80-year-old who lives in Ordu, Turkey. He is an authentic “Vesparado”, a true believer who has travelled round the globe, met people and cultures, and shared his life with the world’s best-loved scooter. So he has a wealth of memories to pass on to other generations of scooter lovers, who, whatever their age, nationality and background, are members of the extraordinary worldwide Vespa community.


On his Vespa – a fantastic 150 Sprint purchased in 1969 –Osman rode 125,000 miles during the 1970s, through Europe and North America, from Turkey to Texas. He has always had a passion for two-wheelers: he began getting his hands dirty with oil and grease as a boy, when he fitted a motor on a bicycle. And he still lavishes every care on his beloved Vespa today.
His fascinating story has been turned into a documentary, “Ordu-Texas: long way on short wheels”; you can see the trailer here:

CREDITS: The film was produced by “2Enduro”, Director: Tolga Basol; DP: Erkin Yesil; Music: Ozgur Yilmaz; Camera & Sound: Tolga Basol & Cevher Bilger; Graphic Design: Utkan Basar; Editing, Colour Grading: Tolga Basol.

COUNTDOWN FOR THE VESPA RALLY SEASON

Things are hotting up among the organisers and Vespa lovers all over the world, as preparations forge ahead for “the rally of rallies”, Vespa World Days 2014 – in Mantua, from 12 to 15 June – the year’s top international event. Registrations have already “sold out” (full information on the official website:
www.vespaworlddays2014.it).
Meanwhile, happy birthday to the Mantua Vespa Club, one of the World Days organisers (with the Vespa World Club and the Vespa Club d’Italia), which this year celebrates the 15th anniversary of the club’s re-establishment (1999-2014), and a long history dating back to 1948. March sees the opening of the new season of Vespa rallies, with a host of touring and racing events throughout Italy
(the 2014 calendar is online at:
www.vespaclubditalia.it).
Outside Italy too, scores of opportunities are available for Vesparados to meet up, travel, discover new places and meet new people.
Reference should be made to the Vespa World Club ( www.vespaworldclub.com), with 42 national members: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Chile, Colombia, Korea, Croatia, Denmark, Philippines, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Principality of Monaco, Norway, Netherlands, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, South Africa, Taiwan, Turkey, UK, Hungary, USA.

PHOTO GALLERY

THE BEST VIDEO OF THIS ISSUE

KNUT SINGS “OVER YOU”: VESPISTA vs GUZZISTA



One is a (slightly shy) Vespista, the other is a Guzzista (who knows how to please the ladies). Their paths meet and they end up in a long-distance “duel”, in a field, at the lake, hoping to catch the attention of the girls they encounter. In the end, the Vespista on his white charger finds a sweetheart, who is also a Vespista.
A charming tale, portrayed in the official video produced for the launch of “Over You”, a single released by young Austrian singer-songwriter and guitarist Knut (Wolfgang “Knut” Posch). The video co-stars a pair of Piaggio Group two-wheelers, a Vespa scooter and a Moto Guzzi motorbike, chosen to tell a romantic story with a happy ending, the background for the perfect song to sing when you’re riding on the road, whether you’re on a scooter or a motorbike!
www.knutmusic.at
MY VESPA MOVIE

YOU AND YOUR VESPA ON WIDE!


Every Vespa scooter, whatever its age, whatever the model, is a cult object, a collector’s item to be treasured, cared for and kept for years after any other vehicle would have finished its working life.
The new WIDE feature “My Vespa Movie” is dedicated to everyone who rides off to work on a brand new Vespa every morning, to everyone who fondly conserves a Vespa handed down in the family from generation to generation, to everyone who lovingly cherishes a vintage Vespa.

MAKE YOUR VESPA MOVIE!

Make a short video with your Vespa to tell us what the Vespa name means to you. You can tell the story of your scooter or recount a trip you’ve made together. You can include shots of daily life, or evoke the emotions you have shared. The videos we select will appear on Wide, in the new feature “My Vespa Movie”, to present you and your Vespa, the most special scooter in the world, to Vespa devotees all over the globe.
Because every Vespa story is unique.

Send your video clip to: wide@piaggio.com