So, I finally buckled down and started tracking my Vespa ET4’s mileage. Secretly, I didn’t want to know what it was getting, even though Lisa told me she got over 60 mpg with it, and I was pretty sure I was getting more than the old Vespa ET4 specs page on VespaUSA.com claimed.

Back in the “old days,” before gas prices were as much of an issue, the Vespa USA site listed mpg in its scooter specs (current models don’t list mpg). Sadly, it states that ET4s get a measly 42 miles per gallon. After owning a Honda Met II that got around 100 mpg, it would be totally embarrassing to get only 2 mpg more than a Toyota Yaris.

So, I started tracking my gas mileage. Imagine how happy I was that I figured that I am getting over 70 mpg “city” (start & stop driving, carrying heavy loads, hills, short trips), and nearly 82 mpg “highway” (longer trips with less starting/stopping). Overall, I’ve been averaging around 75-76 miles per gallon. Now I can wear one of my own t-shirt designs, and really mean it!

A friend of mine posted a mpg calculator on a private forum, which was a simple Excel file that did the calculations for me. You can find a miles-per-gallon calculator simply by doing a web search for “miles per gallon calculator.”

You can also do it manually:

- Write down your odometer number just before you fill up. Say it’s at 800 miles.

- Fill your tank (but don’t top off) and ride, ride, ride, ride, ride.

- Now, next time you’re at the gas station, note your odometer reading. Let’s say it’s 905 miles. Let’s assume you put in 1.25 gallons to fill it.

- Take 905 and subtract 800 = 105 miles. You did 105 miles with the 1.25 gallons used. So, divide 105 miles by 1.25 gallons of gas (105/1.25) and you got 84 miles per gallon.