Best Scooter: 2020 bikesales Bike of the Year Awards

Announcing the first of 11 category winners...

The 2020 bikesales Bike of the Year (BOTY) Awards recognise excellence across 11 separate motorcycle categories.

And here’s how it will work. After a massive five-day test through north-east Victoria in late November – utilising the stunning roads around the picturesque Victorian township of Bright – we'll whittle our category winners down to one outright bikesales Bike of the Year winner, to be announced on Friday, December 18.

Let's continue the 2020 BOTY by announcing the Vespa GTS SuperTech HPE as the winner of our Scooter category.

In the scooter sphere, the 2020 Vespa GTS SuperTech HPE is a heady blend of heritage, design and technology – a neat and classy fusion of old and new, wrapped in the timeless styling for which the brand is renowned.

The Vespa GTS SuperTech HPE landed here in October 2019, the model serving as a new flagship for Vespa's GTS family and indeed the wider Vespa range. And for a company that prides itself on its rich history and steady evolution, the newcomer created a stir with its new powerplant, range-topping performance, and new technology.

Vespa's GTS family is all about sporty performance and the ability to head beyond the confines of the concrete jungle – hence the GTS moniker, 'Granturismo Sport'. The line begins with the GTS Super 150, steps up with the GTS Super Sport 300 HPE, and then tops with the GTS SuperTech HPE.

The family expands further with some limited-edition models, the GTS 300 Racing Sixties and the GTS 300 Sei Giorni, which also feature the new 'HPE' (or High Performance Engine) found in the SuperTech.

So let's start by taking a closer look at that engine, which is the centerpiece of the Vespa GTS SuperTech HPE…

While the HPE retains the same capacity and single-cylinder, four-stroke format as the existing Quasar engine, it's now said to be cleaner – it now meets Euro 5 emissions compliance – and more efficient. However, Vespa also says it’s the most powerful engine in the brand's history, which is saying something given Vespa's start back in 1946.

Power and torque are said to be up by 12 and 18 per cent respectively, the Vespa GTS SuperTech HPE producing a claimed 23.8hp (17.5kW) at 8250rpm and 26Nm at 5250rpm.

Sure, taken in isolation those figures aren't electrifying. But they're healthy indeed for a scooter and, in a 160kg (dry) package, they add up to sparkling acceleration off the line, plenty of punch through to 80km/h, and a scooter that holds its own up to highway speeds.

Vespa says the engine runs quieter and cooler, while the new cylinder head has larger ports and valves. The camshaft is new, as is the piston head design. The electronic fuel injection system features a new multi-jet injector and there's also a new Magneti Marelli ECU.

The urge is accessed via a 'twist and go' CVT (continuously variable transmission) and the take-up from stationary is smooth and progressive.

The steel chassis and basic suspension continue, as do the 12-inch wheels, but with its low centre of gravity and compact 1375mm wheelbase, the Vespa GTS SuperTech HPE is a breeze to guide through city traffic, yet it's also stable at highway speeds.

The relaxed ergonomics deliver an upright and commanding stance and the new saddle, with attractive contrast stitching, is compliant and comfortable.

Of course, it's also practical. The underseat storage compartment accepts an open-face helmet (but not a full-face), there's a shopping hook, and there's a locking glove compartment with USB outlet and room for a smartphone.

But while the Vespa GTS SuperTech HPE delivers on performance, handling, and practicality, it's that classic Latin styling that draws buyers in.

The changes are minor, but the Vespa GTS SuperTech HPE features a redesigned leg shield, an all-chrome front guard crest and yellow accents on the louvered central horn cover, amid other subtle cosmetic updates. But those iconic, flowing Vespa lines continue, and the fit and finish of the SuperTech's construction is sublime.

It's bang up to date for tech, too. There's ABS and switchable traction control, plus an LED headlight and an LED daytime running light.

But the model also boasts 4.3-inch colour TFT instrumentation, a comprehensive trip computer and Bluetooth connectivity. Downloading the Vespa app adds notifications from your phone, audio streaming, call management, and turn-by-turn navigation, among other features.

The Vespa GTS SuperTech HPE is a comprehensive step forward for the brand, and a brilliant blend of old and new. At $12,440 ride away this isn't the epitome of budget commuting, and some of the new tech may go against the grain for purists, but for those who embrace the Vespa ethos the Vespa GTS SuperTech HPE is a superb model that delivers the Vespa legend in spades. Congratulations, Vespa.

Best Scooter: 2020 bikesales Bike of the Year Awards

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