In this blog, we are going to be looking into a topic that I would argue is one of the scooter communities' most controversial - Vespa versus Lambretta.

Let’s get into it…

Heritage of Vespa

Vespa was first founded post World War II (1946), after Enrico Piaggio, the son of the Piaggio founder Rinaldo Piaggio, contracted aeronautical engineer Corradino D'Ascanio to redesign a scooter prototype that failed to meet Enrico's satisfaction.

Coming equipped with a step-through frame and a concealed engine, the Vespa was designed to allow women in dresses or men in suits to hop onto their scooters with ease - probably one of the biggest reasons why there are currently over 16 million Vespas that have been produced and sold around the world!

Fast forward to the modern day, and Vespa's are still popular and stylish commuters and transport for many. A huge point of pride for Vespa is that they are still Italian through and through. Vespa scooters are still enjoyed by thousands of scooter enthusiasts who stay true to their scooter culture and attend scooter rallies and ride-outs.

Lambretta English Advert (1959)

Onto Lambretta and their story begins in 1947 when the Milan-based steel tubing factory Innocenti recognised the need for simple modes of transport in post-war Italy. After gathering up a team of engineers and designers, including the well-renowned aeronautical engineer Corradino D’Ascanio, they created the first ever Lambretta model - the Model A, a 123cc two-stroke engined machine.

Throughout the years, Lambretta has had multiple owners, however the intent still stayed the same. Well known for its rigid tubular frame with a small leg shield and menial panels to protect the engine, the Lambretta became a popular choice for the masses due to the addition of the rear passenger seat and/or extra storage space.

Since then, Lambretta has made plenty of iconic models including the TV, the SX, and the Li to name a few. Becoming a symbol of freedom, style, and joy for the masses riding on the open road. Lambretta scooters are still on the road in 2024, after the 2017 purchase and relaunch of the Lambretta brand by Innocenti SA, now a Swiss consortium with bikes now being produced in Asia.

The first ever Vespa Prototype, the MP6

Quadrophenia Movie Feature | Vespa Website

Now let me ask you a question, what do Quadrophenia, the Talented Mr Ripley, Roman Holiday, and Transformers 5 all have in common? Well, they all feature some ideation of an iconic Vespa of course!

As mentioned above, you can spot a Vespa a mile off thanks to its step-through frame, clean curves, and concealed engine. These three things have consistently featured on every Vespa model throughout the years, proving that it has endured the test of time.

If you had to compare Vespa's first production scooter (Vespa 98) to the Lambretta Model D, I think it is clear to see who the real winner is regarding looks and styling - but that’s down to personal opinion!

Onto the performance of the Vespa, these scooters have been built from the ground up when it comes to making their reliability and workhorse abilities a priority. You can ask any person involved in the Lambretta and Vespa scene and more often than not their members will tell you Vespa wins the reliability title!

However, like any scooter out there, providing you carry out correct and careful maintenance tasks - these scooters can last a very long time.

First released in 1967, the Primavera was and still is designed to be the ultimate small-body commuter, nowadays coming equipped with front and rear LED lighting, 12-inch 5-spoke wheels as well as that unique Vespa monocoque chassis we all know and love!

Produced between 1985-1999, the Vespa T5 was a two-stroke, single-cylinder, 125cc scooter that was sold in three different variations - including the T5 Mk1 (1985-1992), the Classic (1992-1999), and then the Millennium (1999)!

The Mk1 sported a rectangular headlight, an updated headset console that featured a fuel level indicator, a digital/analog tachometer, a flat rear end as well as a newly redesigned seat whereas the T5 classic opted to sport the standard PX frame but kept the original T5 engine.

Last but not least, we have the Millennium, the model that ended the production of the T5 altogether. Vespa produced a limited number of the T5 Millenium models, featuring an addition of a front disc brake.

The PX was first introduced to the Vespa lineup back in 1977, featuring a 125cc and 150cc model with a 200cc model brought in at a later date in 1982. The way to distinguish the Vespa PX from other models is by looking at the styling, sporting a much more elegant, simple styling that remained all the way up until 2017.

Captured at the Milan Exhibition (1950) | Lambretta Website

When sitting the Lambretta side by side with the Vespa, Lambretta has always had the modern edge. Coming equipped with a rigid tubular frame with a small leg shield and menial panels to protect the engine, year upon year the Lamby looks far more sleek and narrow.

Generally, throughout the years, Lambretta has always been one step ahead of Vespa when it comes to engine size and power output. This is largely due to the centered engine inside the tubular frame that allows Lambrettas to be far more stable to ride in comparison to the Vespa which has the engine mounted to the right-hand side.

Innocenti were also the first ones to introduce technical advancements such as disc brakes seen on the TV and SX (models we speak about later on in this article) which helped to give their models the edge over the Vespa’s of their time.

Kicking off Lambretta’s top 3 models we have the V Special. The V-Special is one of Lambretta's current standing models, which comes in three different variations - the V50, V125, and V200.

All of the V Special models use the same tubular steel backbone frame and modern four-stroke, air-cooled, single-cylinder engines. And also comes packed with 12-inch alloy wheels, front, and rear disc brakes, as well as LED lights all around - all finished off with that iconic retro Lambretta finish we all know and love.

Produced between the years 1962 and 1969, the TV came out in two different versions, as well as two different engine variations including the TV 200 and the TV 175.

The first version of the TV (1962-1963) sported smooth side panels with no trim, rubber anti-vibration buffers, and a speedometer cable with a small dial. Whereas the 2nd edition (1962-1969) featured side panels with an aluminium trim, anti-vibration side buffers with metal springs, as well as the rear Lambretta 127 TV script seen commonly on the side of these Lambrettas.

Another of the most iconic Lambretta has got to be the SX200 - a well-loved model here at BikeMatters, as well as one of the strong contenders featured in our best scooter ever blog article (just missing out on the Vespa PX200)!

First introduced to the scooter market back in 1966, the SX200 only lasted three years in production due to the high manufacturing costs that were extremely tricky to maintain. Coming packed with one of the most powerful Innocenti engines, the SX200 has 11bhp with a top speed of 66mph and 93pmg. Perhaps not groundbreaking now, but back then that would have been monumental!

All in all, I think the answer as to whether Lambretta or Vespa is best really depends on the wants and needs of the person who is buying it…

Now I know what you are thinking, that is a vague answer - but let me explain. When doing some background research, many people have opted to buy a Vespa over a Lambretta for the sheer fact that Vespa as a brand and manufacturer has stayed closer to its iconic, retro-looking roots whereas Lambretta has always been the one to look ahead and keep up with the times ahead - I think this is rather obvious when we look at the likes of the electric Lambretta concept spotted at EICMA in late 2023.

Another factor that Vespa wins for is reliability. We mentioned this a little earlier in our article where we have found that many owners online have found that the Vespa models have been known to be far more reliable than their Lambretta counterparts, it is also rumored that parts for both new and older models are far easier to access and purchase due to their stronger dealership network.

Although it is not smooth sailing for Vespa the whole way. One factor I’ve seen that has stopped many consumers from buying a Vespa over Lambretta has got to be the cost. An example of this is at the time of writing, you can pick up a brand new Asian-made 2024 Lambretta V 125 Special for £3,299 in comparison to the competitive Italian Vespa model the GTS 125, which will take you back £4,965 – though consider the strong resale potential. If you don’t necessarily have the biggest budget to play with but are looking to get your foot in the door with an iconic scooter, it would make sense for you to opt for a Lambretta.

Lambretta Electric Concept | Showcased at EICMA 2023

So there you have it, I hope you enjoyed our deep dive into the scooter communities most controversial conversation - which is better, the Lambretta or the Vespa!

Be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments below, do you have a favourite? And if so, let us know why.

Last but not least, if you do have your very own modern or classic scooter you need to insure, make sure to get a quote direct with Lexham!