Vespa expands its mid-range models with the new Sei Giorni II Edition that pays homage to the marque's past racing success. Following the success of the first Sei Giorni, the “Second Edition” pairs classic looks and specific racing references along with modern performance and safety electronics. Perhaps best of all, it boasts the most powerful engine ever to run under the Vespa badging, the 23.8-horsepower 300 HPE powerplant. If you like your tribute pieces both authentic and capable, this Vespa needs to be on your short list.

Vespa Sei Giorni II Edition 300 HPE Design

The 1951 Vespa Sport “Sei Giorni,” first of its name, was designed and built to compete in the esteemed Sei Giorni Internazionale di Varese regularity race regularity race}}. It went on to dominate the track and take home no less than nine gold medals, and with that, a legend was born. It is no accident that the painted-on black numberplate and white number “6” as colored thusly. It's another nod to the racing days. Piaggio looks to take that history to the bank with a low-mount headlight housing that rides perched atop the front fender.

In a nod to its patriarch, the Sei Giorni II Edition rolls with a small instrument housing for the analog speedometer and fuel gauge but the handlebar itself is naked so it sheds the weight of the typical handlebar fairing. A small flyscreen joins the legguard fairing to punch a hole in the weather for your legs and lower trunk, plus there's a glove compartment in the inner fairing that comes complete with an USB port so you can power/charge your mobile devices whilst on the move.

A classic “tie” graphic dresses up the look with honeycomb accents at the grilles to finish off the visage. The lighting is LED all around to help you see and be seen, and it includes daytime running lights for coverage under all lighting conditions.

Like the front turn signals, the rear blinkers come recessed in the rear fairing to keep the rear end looking clean. The saddle has a faux tuck-and-roll finish tuck-and-roll finish}} and tapered rear section that technically qualifies as a pillion-pad, but is rather small for extended passenger action. A chrome grab rail and flip-out footpegs finish off the pillion equipment, but that seat is definitely set up to look good solo.

Vespa Sei Giorni II Edition 300 HPE Chassis

On the Sei Giorni II Edition, Vespa keeps to its standard monocoque-style structure that relies on a bent-and-welded skin for its strength and rigidity-style structure that relies on a bent-and-welded skin for its strength and rigidity}}. As usual with this type of structure, the step-through area comes with a bit of a tunnel that interrupts the foot deck, but comes with a generous flat and patch of non-skid so you can still use the 'tween-feet storage area.

The front end is a single-sided, aircraft landing-gear type arrangement that relies on a single coil-over shock for support and damping. Dual shocks support the rear and tame the motion of the swing-mount drive with four preload detents as the only suspension adjustment to be found. A pair of 12-inch rims round out the rolling chassis with a 120/70 and 130/70 on the front and rear, respectively. In spite of the small wheels, the factory opted for all-around hydraulic discs with 220 mm rotors and stock ABS protection at both ends.

Vespa Sei Giorni II Edition 300 HPE Drivetrain

Power for the Sei Giorni II Edition comes from a Piaggio High-Performance Engine (HPE) set in the usual arrangement and used as a stressed member right along with the transmission to form the single-side swingarm. The liquid-cooled, four-stroke thumper runs with a 75 mm bore and 63 mm stroke for a total displacement of 278 cc. There isn't anything beyond the ABS in the way of higher electronics, but at least the fuel injection and ignition advance are both electronically controlled.

Engine power is coupled to the constant-velocity transmission via centrifugal clutch to deliver the twist-and-go operation that scooter riders demand. The power figures point to a sporty ride. At 8,250 rpm, the powerplant churns out 23.8 horsepower with 19 pound-feet of torque that max out at 5,250 rpm, and the overall drive ratio gets you a top speed around 75 mph. In short; I wouldn't take it on the interstate unless your trip is downhill both ways.

Vespa Sei Giorni II Edition 300 HPE Pricing

The numbered-model Sei Giorni II Edition rolls for $7,749 on our side of the pond. For 2020, Vespa offers the II Edition in a dedicated Sei Giorni Grey colorway.

Vespa Sei Giorni II Edition 300 HPE Competitors

It's tough to find a scoot that is a direct competitor for a Vespa product, so I'm going to fire a broadside for this one.

Yamaha XMAX

In the displacement department I should mention the 292 cc Yamaha XMAX. It's a mini-max scooter with a taller windshield and more robust passenger amenities, plus it has a completely contemporary look that is the polar opposite of the dated Vespa design. As such, the displacement and performance are the common ties here. The Yamaha has ABS all around and similar performance, and that makes the $5,699 sticker on the XMAX sting just a little.

Read our full review of the Yamaha XMAX.

Suzuki Burgman 200

Suzuki's Burgman 200 rolls for even less cheddar at $4,999, but the engine is only packing 200 cc so the savings may be a bit of a false economy. Looks-wise, it has more in common with the XMAX than the classic Italian Wasp.

Read our full review of the Suzuki Burgman 200.

SYM Citycom S 300

Last up, the SYM Citycom S 300i brings more urban-commuter flavor to the table with a mid-height windshield and generous leg protection. Engine output tops at 27.9 horsepower with an 83 mph top speed that'll hold it in good stead on the interstate, but it's the $4,999 MSRP that will really move the SYM ride off the showroom floors.

Read our full review of the SYM Citycom S 300i.

He Said

“In all cases, I would take the classic Eye-Tie style of the Vespa over the modern Japanese scooters. Piaggio products have an authenticity that is hard to beat, and in this case, it comes through in the fender-mount headlight and racing livery. The only downside is the “I'd-rather-not” type pillion pad that is not comfortable for very long at a stretch.”

She Said

My wife and fellow motorcycle writer, Allyn Hinton, says, “The Sei Giorni is built on the GTV model, and folks may recognize the low, fender-mounted headlamp from the Faro Basso model in the 1940s and 1950s. The underseat storage is spacious enough, but not for full-face or three-quarter face helmets and the whole underseat bucket lifts out so you can get to the engine. I thought that was a nice feature.”

Vespa Sei Giorni II Edition 300 HPE Specifications

Further Reading

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