The brakes and ABS are very good, and offer
selectable ASR – traction control in our parlance
– which compares the rotational speed of the rear
compared to the front. 220mm discs fore and aft
deliver smooth and effective anchoring, which felt
easy and constant under use – although the levers
could be a touch more ergonomic for my liking.
But back to the get up and go – you may think
that 23 horses and change through the standard
auto CVT is hardly going to require TC input – and
if you don’t like it you can switch it off, or on, at will,
but theoretically its use is designated for those
fiendish cobbles of Italian and European streets
that can destabilise any rider when wet. Ok, but
let’s face it, road works, rain, mud, and paint lines
are treacherous here in NZ too.
The new HPE (High Performance Engine)
equipped steed is decidedly zippy, I got it up to
129km/h before the rev limiter cut in at around
9600 revs. I think 80mph is quite quick enough
on a scooter, but still, it’s maybe a snitch under
what my 300 GTS ie could get up to, wrung fully
out at 134km/h. What the Supertech does is get
there quicker and far more smoothly than would
seem likely. It is so silky in its pick up that one is
often popping along at 70k’s without even
noticing. It’s simply a pleasure to ride, the weight,
as per the layout from time immemorial, is
keeping the centre of gravity low, and it is stable
on the motorways while still flickable in tight stuff.
Modernity has raised its head at the dashboard
too, with a very clear Colour TFT screen and a
VESPA app links to your phone for mapping and
other functions with Vespa MIA. Toggling
through with the joystick shows various modes,
although getting to understand it requires a bit
of tutu-ing about. Either press and hold, or
press and release within 0.5 of a second.
Settings can only be accessed at a standstill,
however. Once paired, functions like the caller’s
98 KIWI RIDER