Everyone knows that one of the main reasons to have a scooter is to have something to accessorize, right? That’s why I started the whole seat cover thing - I couldn’t afford an official Vespa designer seat for $450, and there were no other options (other than the beautiful Corbin seat, also out of my budget) available. Plus, I can throw a seat cover in the wash, and you know I’d get grease on a $450 seat within seconds.

Add up the prices of the “official” accessories and you can almost buy another scooter - Vespa matching trunks are $350 to $450 depending on the color, matching helmets over $300, a little official leather hook-purse is $325, and Vespa Genuine Italian Leather Top Cases are almost $400. Now, I’ve seen the canvas version of the Roman Holiday top case (a copy of the leather one) for over $240, but I got mine on the cheap over at Scooterwest.com for $89 (reg $129). I’d been eyeing it for months, and finally broke down and got it (just in time, too, the sale is over). I’m impressed with the quality, even despite the vinyl straps rather than leather ones - it seems very waterproof, is totally tough, and has tons of room. And if I get it covered in grease, it won’t break my heart.Oh, the official Vespa black rubber mat is still on sale, by the way, for $19… you’ll protect your paint, and you’ll be sporting official couture.

added 05/06/05 - Daniel from Colorado wrote to tell me he got an official Vespa rack-mounted Roncato executive briefcase on ebay from scooterwest.com (aka Motorsportscooters.com) for $99, an item that has a suggested retail of $375. Click on Motorsport Scooter’s ebay store link for more deals on official Vespa stuff.