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Vespa Snakes in Another Special

Writer's picture: Motorcycles OnlineMotorcycles Online

Styled to make winter seem cool

A very limited run of only 888

Last year was the year of the dragon. This, as you already know, makes this one the year of the snake. To celebrate Vespa have launched a new scooter, the 946 Snake, which will be available in limited numbers, with only 888 of them being made for the entire global market. This is the first one to be released as part of the companies “lunar collection”, based on the Chinese calendar of the same name.

Are you stylish enough to ride one?

If you suffer from Ophidiophobia* right now might be time to click on another page. The snake is used in the design throughout the new scooter. On the grips and the saddle the coverings mimic snake skin. Then there’s a 3D graphic of one in on both the filler cap as well as on the front mudguard.

The ’Snake’ is a standard Vespa beneath the styling. It’s powered by a 125cc single, has the standard, simple non adjustable suspension as well as disc brakes with ABS and an element of anti slip control. There’s nothing out of the ordinary with this one, it’s all about the styling.

Some of the details do look really good

It’s its outer skin, if you’ll pardon the pun, is where this one starts to look exceptional. The base colour on the new Vespas bodywork is ‘iridescent blue’. The idea here is to evoke the cool dry days of winter and to own them! Pieces like the relocated filler cap as well as the single seat with the carrier in place of the pillion one are reminiscent of some of those classic scooters that Vespa and Lambretta are famous for.

Then there’s an element of what this particular machine is really all about. It’s a collectors piece. While it does run, it’s not an ornament, there is a wardrobe full of snake branded kit available to go with it. None of this is bike clothing, it’s all casual.

The saddle and grips are finished to look like snake skin

This range includes a matching lid, also with a snake, in the same colour as the bike. There’s also a bomber jacket and /or a longer puffa coat in white, a neck warmer, a pair of gloves, jeans, a baseball hat and even a scarf. Each one is styled to match the the scooter either with a logo or a hint of the old snake skin.

I think it’s safe to say that this one is a collectors model and isn’t really intended to take on the daily commute.

A unique shopping experience

It’s not surprising, therefore, that the Italian giant won’t be selling these out of the dealer network, rather they’ll be setting up pop up stores around the world to showcase the scooter and the lifestyle products to go with it, while those of us who want one can order it on www.vespa.com.

 A Vespa Snake ‘capsule’ will wind its way around the world with pop-up stores in Rome, Paris, Milan, Vienna, Beijing, Istanbul, Bangkok, Singapore, Hanoi and Jakarta. There’s nothing mentioned for Ireland yet, but I’m fully expecting to see one in the window of Dr Martens shop on Grafton Street by the middle of summer.

You don't even need the scooter to live the dream...

 

There are no prices available yet. Anyway, if you have to ask then you’re far too common to own one.  

*Snake Phobia



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