2004 Vespa ET2 Review

Now a defunct product and named after its two-stroke (and single-cylinder) engine, the ET2 was one of the scooters that Vespa--a subsidiary of Italian automaker Piaggio--produced during the 2000s.

The 2004 Vespa ET2 is a rather small machine. Each one has a length of 69.4 inches, width of 26.4 inches, and wheelbase of 50.4 inches. The seat height is set at 31.7 inches, and its dry weight is 216 pounds. Each 2004 Vespa ET2 rides on 10-inch wheels fitted with Pirelli® tires.

The engine powering the 2004 Vespa ET2 produces 5.1 horsepower. It has an air cooler to cool down its hot parts and thus prevent malfunction via overheating. The bore and stroke is measured at 1.6 x 1.5 inches, and the engine’s compression ratio is 10.3 to 1. Each Vespa ET2 engine uses a reed valve configuration. The manufacturer provides the choice of starting the scooter via its manual kick starter or a more convenient electric starter.

The engine on the 2004 Vespa ET2 is paired with a continuously variable transmission, with is also referred to as a CVT. It is an automatic transmission that is able to choose from an infinite number of effective gear ratios to make the engine run in a more efficient manner. This leads to an improved fuel economy. Each 2004 Vespa ET2 gets a gas tank that can hold up to 2.4 gallons of fuel.

Made of sturdy steel, the 20004 Vespa ET2 has the regular front and rear fenders, halogen headlight, and rearview mirrors for enhanced visibility and a side cover for protection of the scooter. A center stand enables the driver to park the scooter anywhere, and a rear rack--in addition to an under-seat and helmet compartment--is provided for storage. The seat on top of the scooter is a one-piece vinyl component that provides enough space for the driver and a passenger.

For braking, the 2004 Vespa ET2 has a 7.9-inch hydraulic disc brake at the front wheel and a smaller, 4.3-inch drum brake at the rear wheel. Although not as good as the all-disc brake layout, the front-disc-brake/rear-drum-brake set-up provides greater braking than scooters with twin drum brakes. For absorbing bumps during driving, the Vespa ET2 uses a suspension consisting of a Link-Rod (or tie rod) at the front and a single-sided swing arm at the back.

For this model year, the 2004 Vespa ET2 is a decent choice for a scooter. This is mainly due to its better-than-average fuel range, engine power, and compact yet sturdy build.