it was moved then just disappeared when I was answering it??
anyways here's my reply for what its worth
Hey Nathan sounds fun, you'll have a blast!
No offense to Jim, but don't do what he did! Wear a helmet (I think you have to anyways). As a veteran Parisian scooterist, I wear body armor that would suit someone one with a Ducati Monster. If I may, at the very least, no t-shirts and shorts with beach thongs. Even a blue jean jacket is better than nothing and will help prevent some nasty burns, leather is better and the new jackets with pads better still ... hands in europe is where you get dinged the most so gloves are aa good idea. Tell the ladies no high heels or Espadrilles -- I have lots of stories about women and heels
They can put em in the top case and change
Its cool if you have your motorcycle license but you don't need one for a 125cc bike and a valid driver's license. And thats all you'll need unless you plan on taking highways. If you and your wife plus luggage are on the same bike a 125 might be a bit light. But if you are just making short trips in Tuscany, you won't be going more than 50mph. If you do happen to rent a bigger scooter (quite common to have 650cc scooters). Remember that often for a 250 or a 400cc scoot you have half the room under the seat compared to a 125.
Ah and if it doesn't spoil the fun and is still possible, AVOID vespa's ... its no longer Roman Holiday with Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn. They are unbalanced, are not great for wind at anything more than 50
KPH, and the breaks even with ABS aren't the best for hills. (I'm talking about the 125cc which is what they rent the most of on package trips -- the 50cc is bloody dangerous) Try and rent an Aprilia or a Piaggio. I have an Aprilia Atlantic and its heavy (stable), very fast from 0-30kph and has a lot of pickup. If you already rented 125cc Vespas, just be cool passing trucks and on rainy cobblestones -- you'll still have fun no worries.
If I can offer one bit of advice though, in city traffic in Italy and France especially, get in front of the cars - you want to be seen -- there is a sort of unwritten third lane for scooters -- pass all the cars when every one is lining up at a stoplight so you get ahead of them -- the police are very cool about that (but NOT cool about taking bus lanes). On a multilane road, the "bike lane" is between the left and the middle lane (not between the right lane and the middle lane) -- cars often move over to let you pass them. Oh and unless this has changed recently, Italy still has a priority from the right rule. Please verify this one ... in France this is one of the biggest reasons for accidents with foreign drivers. Unless there is a yield sign (also marked on the pavement btw), even on a bigger street, expect a slow vehicle pulling right out in front of you from some tiny side street -- they have the right of way and you don't have airbags.
People on motorcycles or scooters are super nice and helpful. None of the gang persona which sometimes is a drag in parts of the US.
I love my scooter in europe so much now that I put it on a train the night before I go places, and its waiting for me at my destination. ANd as for parking its a dream to park just about anywhere.
Have a great time
