Vespa Scooters Insurance and Vespa Information

Vespa Scooters have been manufactured since the end of world war two by
the Italian Motorcycle giant
Piaggio. The first Vespa scooter was developed as a single model in 1946
by the Piaggio Company of Pontedera, Italy
and has broadened over the years into a wide range of scooter models.
Vespa Scooter have also retained a lot of the original features from
their earliest designs in particular the highly distinctive and
instantly recognisable paint work and pressed steel cowling which
completely covers the rear mounted engine. They have also retained their
flat plate floorboard and large and distinctive front steel fairing
although modern vespa scooter models are made from a variety of
composite materials the overall aesthetics have remained fairly true to
the early designs of the Piaggio motorcycle company.
Vespa Scooters soon gained prominence in Italy where they became a cheap
and economical form of transport for the post war masses and as with all
things Italian a sense of style.
Increased interest and growing orders from abroad helped to forge the
success of Vespa Scooters and by the turn of the 1950s Vespa were the
first and most successful global Scooter manufacturer and seller.
Vespa Scooters along with their Italian Rivals Lambretta Scooters have
become Synonymous with the Swinging sixties
of Great Britain where they were the chosen form of transport for the
style conscious Mod movement. Vespa have retained a similar kudos to the
present day as they are still considered among many scooter lovers as
the most stylish of scooters.
Piaggio the original maker of Vespa's was originally a fighter plain
manufacturer for the Italian Military. And it was shortly after the War
when Enrico Piaggio decided to turn the company he inherited from his
father Rinaldo Piaggio into a motorcycle manufacturer. Vespa scooters
quickly caught on in war torn and bankrupt Italy with the common man as
they offered a cheap and affordable form of transport in a country just
beginning to recover from the War.
Piaggios inspiration for the Vespa design was drawn from the US Cushman
Scooter which had appeared in Italy towards the end of WWII courtesy of
the US Military. The original designer of the Vespa Scooter was Piaggios
Engineer Corradino D'Ascanio.
D'Ascanio was never a fan of conventional Motorcycles and decided to
create the vespa with Handlebar Gear changes and on a Spar shaped frame
with small wheels and an engine mounted at the back of the cycle and a
front protector to allow the rider greater comfort. The seating
configuration was designed with all users in mind including women where
it would still be possible due to the design of the scooter fro a woman
to where a dress. It was also desired to include a glove box for storage
above the petrol tank and below the seat, further aiding riders in their
comfort and allowing the carrying of additional luggage.
The name Vespa was derived from Latin and Modern Italian with the
literal translation to English meaning Wasp, the name having been
conceived from the particular hi pitched wine of the original vespa two
stroke engines. Original Vespa's were also made with a sidecar attached
for carrying of an extra passenger.
Vespa largest sales market is still its native Italy with Britain a
close second and a now resurgent US market where it was re introduced
after and absence of some years in 2001. Vespa's are also popular in the
Far east and India where the are licensed to and produced by the Bajaj
motorcycle company.
If you're the proud owner of a Vespa Scooter you will want to ensure
full protection for your motorcycle and with that in mind it is worth
comparing prices for Vespa Scooter Insurance Deals online. There are now
a number of online Scooter insurers and a growing number of specialist
motorcycle insurance comparison sites, where you should quickly be able
to find the best current deals for Vespa Insurance