On December 14, 2024, a new version of the Italian highway code was introduced, finally putting to rest one of the most arcane and archaic bits of motoring legislation in Europe.
Original Piaggio promo for the PX in 1977, before the addition of indicators. At the time, only two of the three versions were allowed on the motorway. Now, all can legally be used on the motorway…
150cc Why?
Those of us of a certain age will remember well that the Vespa PX was offered in three different cylinder capacities in the UK. There was 125cc for learners or 200cc for those who wanted maximum performance. Then there was the PX150, following on from a long line of other 150cc scooters that made absolutely no sense in Britain.
The 150 was still sold around Europe right until the end of PX production
So what was the point of all those 150cc scooters that were produced?
It was primarily to satisfy legislation that prevented anything less than 150cc from accessing the motorway network, or more importantly, the network of dual carriageways used to bypass many Italian towns. This made 151cc a capacity that the likes of Piaggio could not ignore.
- Never mind that a PX150 was little more than a bored-out PX125
- Never mind that the performance difference between the two capacities was negligible
- Never mind that a Vespa T5 125 was way faster than any PX150
- All that mattered for the Carabinieri was the number on the sidepanel and the registration document
The 150cc capacity proved popular enough to be made all over the world
How ridiculous was this law?
Marco from Rimini Lambretta Centre told me that he got kicked off an Italian superstrada on a GP150 because with a bore of 57mm and a stroke of 58mm the actual capacity is 148cc. He argued that once the cylinder is on its second rebore, at 57.4mm, then the capacity is already bigger than 150cc. The policeman told him to get off the superstrada anyway. Rules are rules, even if they make no logical sense…
Betta Getta Offa My Motorway…
What else has changed that affects scooterists in Italy’s revised Highway Code?
- The new minimum capacity limit for motorway/superstrada/ring-road is now 120cc
- Learner riders on ‘pink slips’ banned from carrying passengers
- Number plates and insurance are compulsory for electric scooters used on the road
- Increased fines and penalties for speeding, drink or drug driving
Sticky
Thanks to Marco and Roberta at Rimini Lambretta Centre for help with the images.
