Vespa Spotting in Indonesia

by Michael Satterfield -Updated 03/20/2022


It is no secret that I have always loved Vespas, having owned a few over the years from the classic models to a rare GT60. Vespas’ only disappointment for me in the US has been their price points (which has not really kept me from buying them). My other annoyance is the fact that they only make truly beautiful bikes in limited editions (ie. the 946) that are all snapped up by collectors and are never ridden on the street and therefore are useless. The new Sprint is a step in the right direction and I am going to need to ride one to see if I want to ink up for another new one, but a classic is more likely to be in my garage sooner than later. 


But in Indonesia, where the bike is still king, Vespas are far more common than in the USA…and I love that. There is something about the city that has classic scooters zipping around it that just makes it feel like a city should. Even if it is a small tourist town like Ubud on the Island of Bali, it feels more special with a swarm of Vespas buzzing by. 

On my multi-island adventure across Indonesia everywhere you looked there were hords of scooters and countless Vespas. It makes me want to run out and buy one right now… which might not be the most practical vehicle for a state like Texas, but for bopping around our small town it would be perfect. Sadly, I think I need to wrap up a few of our project cars before I bring home a classic scooter, but I had to share some of the pictures I snapped from the islands.