MotoItalia launches Italian motorcycle brands in the Philippines

by Vernon B. Sarne October 13, 2009

Photos from MotoItalia

Good news to those who want to try motorcycles as an alternative to cars, but are too sophisticated for the Japanese and Chinese scooters that swarm the roads of Metro Manila: Italian motorcycle brands Piaggio, Vespa and Gilera have arrived.

A new motorcycle distributor called MotoItalia Philippines--a joint venture between the Autohub Group and Garden Barn--last week officially announced the arrival of the three Italian motorbike brands from the Piaggio Group. Founded in 1884, Piaggio apparently is the fourth-largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world, the top three being Japanese. The company currently has six motorcycle brands--the abovementioned brands plus Aprilia, Derbi and Moto Guzzi--but MotoItalia is bringing in just three for now.

The first MotoItalia showroom is located at 324 Ortigas Avenue, North Greenhills, San Juan City.

To differentiate among the three brands, we'd say they're distinct from one another in that the first is urban (Piaggio), the second is classic (Vespa) and the third is sporty (Gilera). Below are the models to be marketed and sold in the Philippines:

* Piaggio Xevo 400 - P470,000
* Piaggio MP3 250 - P550,000
* Piaggio MP3 400 - P625,000
* Vespa LX 150 - P245,000
* Vespa S 150 - P280,000
* Vespa GTS 250 - P345,000
* Vespa GTS 300 - P370,000
* Gilera Runner ST 200 - P315,000
* Gilera Nexus 300 - P415,000
* Gilera Nexus 500 - P535,000
* Gilera Fuoco 500 - P640,000

Obviously, the price tags are much higher than what we've grown accustomed to with the scooters sold on our market. But if there's one thing the Italians are very good at, it's style. And when you want to be stylish riding a motorbike, you have to pay some premium.

• Related Stories

• Popular Stories

• Mitsubishi Montero Sport vs Toyota Fortuner

• Isuzu launches 2010 Crosswind variants

• Hyundai to launch Tucson ix in Manila

• Motorists' most trusted brands

• Suzuki Celerio enters RP market

COMMENTS

• astig says At least, sosyal na yung mga scooters na sasayad sa auto mo, di ba? Di gaya nung mga kinakalawang na motor na naglipana sa kalye. Hirap kasi dito sa tin, gusto lahat naka-motor. Pampasikip lang naman. Peace! (October 13, 2009 05:46:21 pm)
• Glock R says Ok nman sana yun design,kaso yung price nya is not good.Much better na bumili ka nalng ng 2nd Hand SUV car mas safe kapa.Ang taas pa ng CC nila we never run this things too fast.40-50km/h speed is usual speed.kaya more dangerous kung mas malakas ang machine.better to those people who have a lot of money. (October 13, 2009 10:41:56 pm)
• boo says Very expensive IMHO..Heck the Suzuki Gladius midsize sports bike is much cheaper(priced at 470K Pesos) than those Gileras and Vespas..No wonder its showroom is in that area cause the target buyers for those bikes are from those plush villages of Greenhills North,East West,etc,Valle Verde and Corinthian Gardens. (October 14, 2009 09:31:43 am)
• Roy Eusebio says masa maganda ang front na 2 wheels kasi di kana matutumba!!! (October 14, 2009 10:39:58 am)
• AM3 says The Vespa S 150(stripped down LX) is supposed to be priced lower than the Vespa LX 150. US prices... Vespa S 150: $4,199 Vesoa LX 150: $4,399 Its nice that they brought in the Vespa GTS 300 Super, the quickest Vespa in the lineup. http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/9342/vespagts3001.jpg The black chrome lip wheels add a little custom touch. (October 14, 2009 11:11:35 pm)
• Tina says For more details on Motoitalia Philippines' Products, please visit their official website: http://www.motoitaliaphil.com (October 19, 2009 02:05:08 pm)
• Lee17 says naku... these things are cool and all. I even want one. but in our streets? if bad elements get a hold of how much these things cost. It'll be as easy as taking candy from a baby. at least with a Japanese or Chinese bike, you wont regret your investment that much. still a really cool bike. i want a Vespa (October 22, 2009 02:32:28 am)
• Lee17 says naku... these things are cool and all. I even want one. but in our streets? if bad elements get a hold of how much these things cost. It'll be as easy as taking candy from a baby. at least with a Japanese or Chinese bike, you wont regret your investment that much. still a really cool bike. i want a Vespa (October 22, 2009 02:32:29 am)
• hotpaping says Glock R comment is correct...its pricey!!! Even here in the US, when you compare the horsepower/price ratio bet a Yamaha R1 and Vespa GTS250, the R1 (or any other Japanese street bike) is cheaper. But damn, chicks love it...my wife does!!! It like having a Volkswagen Bug...a chick magnet (total classic). For reliability, we have been using 2 GTS250 for 2yrs and no problem so far. (October 31, 2009 09:41:15 pm)
• motorocker says @astig - bossing cager ka ba? ingat sa comment mo.. yup madami kami and may mga pasaway ding rider kanina nga pala nakakita ako sa may wilson ng SUV na kung mag swerve parang naka xrm lang.. FYI paki obserbahan ang kalye specially edsa kung sino ang nagpapasikip.. Kasalan ba naming umaabante kami at ikaw ay naipit sa trapik? Anyway, your still entitled to your own opinion.. Peace! ; ) (January 14, 2010 10:10:39 am)