VOLUME 59 ISSUE 44 NOVEMBER 1, 2022 P79
off, the motor delivers plenty of
power to slide the rear around
like JD Beach at the Sacramento
Mile. The GTS is a performance
scooter if there ever was one,
so having a decent traction
control system is a great feature
because when you twist the
throttle, this scooter responds
with enough power to put a
smile on your face every time.
Seventy-six years after Cor-
radino D'Ascanio, an aeronauti-
cal engineer, designed the first
Vespa, the iconic brand still
has innovative engineering in
its veins. For example, the front
suspension on all Vespas take
their design concept from the
landing gear of an airplane so
that the front wheel can be easily
removed and repaired if you hap-
pen to damage it after running
over a cobblestone crater left
from the days before Christ.
Vespa calls this design ESS for
"Enhanced Sliding Suspension"
due to its single-sided layout,
which makes front-wheel remov-
al super easy when compared to
pretty much every other two-
wheeled vehicle currently in pro-
duction. That basic design hasn't
changed on the 2023 GTS, but
a new linkage has been added
to improve the stability at higher
speeds and keep the front wheel
firmly on the ground while brak-
ing. Considering the GTS's in-
creased power, this was a timely
improvement.
(Right) Front flat?
No problem. The
front wheel is easy
to remove thanks to
the Vespa's unique
single-sided front
suspension system.
(Left) Indeed, a
modern classic.
The new Vespas
retain their classic
lines despite taking
on some new
technology.
