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Basem's Motorcycles Blog

By Basem Wasef, About.com Guide to Motorcycles

End of an Era: Vespa's Iconic PX Scooter is Discontinued

Thursday August 28, 2008
Vespa PX Scooter

The Vespa PX scooter is no more. The two-stroke model has been a fixture in the hipster scene since it arrived 30 years ago, and while annual sales have plateaued at around 15,000 (according to Motorcycle.com), its wheezy powerplant is simply too antiquated to survive these eco-conscious times. "The new emissions regulations, known as 'Euro 3', make the production of a two-stroke engine larger than 50cc not economically feasible," explains Vespa's U.K. executive Tony Campbell in a Telegraph report.

The loss is a considerable one, even if PX sales have long been eclipsed by the 60 million + Honda Cubs sold worldwide. And while the current lineup does an admirable job of attempting to carry the torch of Vespa's unmistakable silhouette, there will be no replacing the old school charm of the PX.

Photo © Vespa
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