Importing Vespas

[uctofeej]

A friend is trying to talk me into starting a new business with him importing 60s era Vespas from Vietnam.

I know nothing about them. I've ordered a few books to start reading about the culture, history, mechanics, etc. But thought I'd throw out a few questions to you folks in the meantime:

I've seen websites that indicate there is an interest in vintage scooters in the US. But I've never seen a scooter show or a pack of Vespas puttering down the road. So, is there really a market for them? Anyone here personally know someone who is "into" the classic scooter scene?

Living next to a major university, I assumed the college kiddies would scoop up cheap two wheelers. So, I stopped by a used motorcycle shop just off campus and asked him about it. He said he tried to sell new scoots, but the kids weren't buying. He still had a few new ones marked down close to cost from a year ago. So, if they don't buy scooters, who does?

At the very least, I'll get a trip to Vietnam out of this deal, so I figure it might be worth a shot.

 

[Niehart]

I don't about your area but in the Portland, OR & Seattle, WA metro areas, there are some serious clubs with large memberships.

I stopped at a biker bar in Fall City, WA just to check them out. Must have be 40 riders with new to ancient scooters. Old folks, young folks and in between. All seem to like tattoos so they did all right in the bar.

 

[wfooshee]

Of course college kids don't buy new scooters. You seen what them things cost? And what they're worth the next day?

Daddy will buy his baby girl a new 540i, but put her on a scooter? No F-in' way!

The people that are into scooters are REALLY into scooters. Myself, I don't see the need. If I wanted one, I'd find a used one.

 

[uctofeej]

Thanks for the replies, guys.

Wfooshee, the new scoots I referenced are cheap imports that cost about $3K. But I see your point about the Beemer. That's basically why I am posing the question about a market. Niehart seems to have answered it to an extent. The scooter lovers are probably few and far between in our neck of the woods, but more common out west.

Nonetheless, I'm hoping the Vespas will have a "cool" factor on college campuses for mpg and nostalgic reasons. I'm pretty sure there will be some Prius-driving profs who will bite. It's a matter of getting the kids to buy into the concept. If they do, I think sales would go up tenfold.

That's a helluva marketing and sales plan I have... "hope."

 

[dcarver]

For what it is worth, I work at a major U in San Luis Obispo and regulary cruise the mo'sickle parking lots as the kiddies tend to ride bikes that cheap e.g. from the 70's and 80's, and these are the bikes I grew up with.

Frankly, I don't see many old Vespa's out there...

Sorry.

 

[JohnTC40]

In case you've not already seen it, you might want to take a look at this web site Clicky. It seems to have links to all things scooter-related.

 

[VMax_03]

Thanks for the replies, guys.
Wfooshee, the new scoots I referenced are cheap imports that cost about $3K. But I see your point about the Beemer. That's basically why I am posing the question about a market. Niehart seems to have answered it to an extent. The scooter lovers are probably few and far between in our neck of the woods, but more common out west.

Nonetheless, I'm hoping the Vespas will have a "cool" factor on college campuses for mpg and nostalgic reasons. I'm pretty sure there will be some Prius-driving profs who will bite. It's a matter of getting the kids to buy into the concept. If they do, I think sales would go up tenfold.

That's a helluva marketing and sales plan I have... "hope."

A good target market would be the court-imposed driving schools for DUI offenders.

JW

 

[Moosehead]

There are other issues too.

Will the younger crowd be interested in a scooter with 1960's technology that will need to be tinkered with? (points ignition, 2 stroke with no oil injection-ya gotta mix it, kick start, crappy braking etc).

Will a 60's 2 strike scooter be able to pass modern emissions testing? It varies widely between states and provinces. When you import to sell, you may have to follow different rules than when someone just buys one and restores it to drive around.

I have an old 63 that someday will be back on the road. They actually look like alot of fun. It would sure turn some heads pulling into a bike night on one of those. I have seen a few websites that sell parts and accesories for Vespas. I think they are like a Model A, you could build one from scratch by buying the parts.

 

[markjenn]

Don't take this wrong, but it sounds like you know nothing about the scooter market or scooters. So unless your friend does and you want to be a silent partner, I'd pass on this one. Businesses are hard enough to start without adding the issue of not knowing anything about what you're selling.

And there are a ton of folks attemping to set up shoestring businesses importing various third-world-country cheap Vespa scooter knockoffs. You'll not going to be alone at all.

- Mark

 

[twowheelnut]

FWIW, there is a big market for older Vespas around here. Mostly Emo/Goth kids with funny looking, old Converse sneakers and multiple piercings buying them.

I've often thought about that market myself, but I'd just wind up swatting my customers.

 

[FJR@DTS]

my thoughts FWIW.

1. I would not base much on our advice, I'd join some Vespa forums and see if there is interest in people buying them, talking about them, working on them, and so fourth.

2. I did see a scooter dealer near a college campus where I live (downtown Dallas) and I was surprised that he had some really old vespas out on display. I thought to myself "Self, I wonder if there is actually a market for these" After that I went across the street looking for lunch and found another scooker shop with three restored 1960's era Vespas.

3. I found this website https://www.scooterstation.com/viewscooter.php?scooterId=64 which seems to do well selling vintage restored scooters.

4. If you want to move these, you will probably need visibility with the scooter community. First, You will have to live where there are communities of interest (wherever tofu is a big seller and people actually wear hemp ) , then, get a relationship with a dealership, or some other place where the scooter folk mingle that would let you display your vintage scoots.

I personally think that if you have the time and funds and interest and reasonable market, it could be alot of fun.

 

[mikerider]

Interesting idea. I grew up in Saigon and had a 50cc Vespa (upgraded

to a 150cc later) when I was in high school there. From what I

can remember, they were fun but not very reliable, running on

gasoline with pre-mix oil, noisy and lots of blue smoke...

I may buy one if you import it, just to look at and for

nostalgia's sake...

-mike-

 

[jcyuhn]

2. I did see a scooter dealer near a college campus where I live (downtown Dallas) and I was surprised that he had some really old vespas out on display. I thought to myself "Self, I wonder if there is actually a market for these" After that I went across the street looking for lunch and found another scooker shop with three restored 1960's era Vespas.

That would be University Scooters. https://www.dallasscooters.com The website no longer seems to list vintage scooters for sale. Formerly had some interesting stuff on it.

I think the vintage market is a niche. Only hobbyists and folks who desire a specifc look will go vintage. Your basic campus rat will just go for a new scoot. Check out the TN'G Venice on the above mentioned weblink. It's a twist n go - no clutch, no gears. Four stroke, no oil mixing. $1595 brand new. How do you compete with that?

 

[Berde]

What about scooter rental, it could be better to come up with some cash to rent than getting a few thouthands to buy. I was in Italy last summer, and would you beleive there was not one rental place in the Vicenza or vicinity area to rent scooters or motorcycles? If you go to big cities like Rome, Florence, etc., you find many, but not in the nothern cities. Likewise, in the U.S., in most areas you cannot find anything worthwhile renting to scoot around town for a few days or weeks. You dont need a fleet to start, I guess just a few and if they become popular then expand. If you dont like how it evolves into, you can always sell them. Just my 2 cents...

 

[worldbound4now]

Funny, that was going to be my suggestion as well. Try a small rental shop in some tourist town and see what you can do. A small, beachside shack run by a college dropout pothead.... should attract the crowd that you want.

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

A friend is trying to talk me into starting a new business with him importing 60s era Vespas from Vietnam.I know nothing about them. I've ordered a few books to start reading about the culture, history, mechanics, etc. But thought I'd throw out a few questions to you folks in the meantime:

So, is there really a market for them?

Anyone here personally know someone who is "into" the classic scooter scene?

...college kiddies ...So, if they don't buy scooters, who does?

First-off: to be successful in business -- you either need a business degree or you need to 'shoot-from-the-hip' and see what happens...!

Market? -- who knows.... I'd say not -- never was; never will be in America. But, I'm a pessimist, have seen too much of the m/c industry, and will never 'get rich'.

Having said that, I personally know someone -- a long-time m/c industry player who's owned several shops -- who's recently gotten involved in the scooter business (Italjet).

There's a scooter shop on the N. side of Chicago, Scooterville, that has a nice web-presence and appears successful. They've been around for quite awhile and I've been to their shop -- and, it doesn't look like anyone's getting rich.

I think (tho) there may be a little niche, here -- and you may be lucky and have a locallized little 'bon-fire' of sales success going for you for a little while? A few years? I once thought (about 20 years ago) that mo-peds were going to be 'big'. Wrong! All these schemes have been tried many times in America with limited success -- every generation has to go through it.

I say: go for it. Good luck -- it'll be fun for awhile -- and you shouldn't get hurt too badly, financially (if at all)?

Who knows -- you might even make a couple dollars?

 

[Knifemaker]

A freind of mine moved out to L.A. a few years ago, and hooked up with an old freind of his that runs some kind of scooter shop to get a job.

Seems they do sell some , but their big money is renting them out to production companies for use in movies and comercials.

He said not alot of younger "kids" are buying them, but somewhat older urbanites are (28-35 yr olds)

The newer technology scooters sell more to the younger crowd, although there is a markert for "retro" looking ones.

The idea of renting them out is good, but you need to be somewhere that kinda calls out for one...like Jamaca, the Keys, or Tuscony. My wife rented one when she went to Hawaii back in the 70's and said she had a blast touring the island on it.

KM

 

[jwilly]

Here's an idea for a Vespa upgrade: Clicky

 

[Scab]

Here's an idea for a Vespa upgrade: Clicky

Never work.

He can't speak with that accent.