Do I specifically need a Vespa scooter to join VCOA-Chicago?

No! The Vespa Club of Chicago welcomes all scooters and all scooterists! That said, we must impose limits to keep group rides safe for everyone:

All scooter makes, models, and vintages are welcome, but all vehicles on our rides must be street legal, titled and plated, and capable of a minumum of 45-ish mph. We ride in traffic at traffic speeds and obey traffic laws. If you need to run lights or ride in the bike lane to keep up , or insist on stunt-riding, you’re creating an unsafe situation for the whole group, and we’ll ask you to catch up with us later.

At the other extreme, motorcycles (and maxiscooters) are welcome, but we ask you stay towards the back on the group rides to let the smaller bikes set the pace. If we’re too slow for you, jump on the highway and meet us at the end of the ride.

People-wise, we welcome (and thankfully attract) all ages, genders races, colors, creeds, even (most) musical tastes. So long as you have an open mind and can respectfully co-exist with others, you will be welcome at our events.

Note that some events we publicize or co-sponsor have their own rules regarding specific requirements for scooters, such as marque or vintage, but we’ll do our best to be clear about such exceptions in our listings.)

But the Vespa is…

Yes, we get it. In most of the world, the Vespa is considered a class of its own. Most international events are limited to Vespas only. We’ve travelled around the world, and seen the international Vespa community turning up their noses at “lesser” scooters (and vintage Vespa riders turning up their noses at modern Vespas!” and of course Piaggio, who controls the Vespa World Club, wants the club to only include their brand.

But here in the U.S.A., things are different. Many of us have been riding scooters for decades, and the VCOA was founded in a period where Vespa had abandoned the U.S. market and only a handful of us were keeping the brand alive here. “Vespa” is no longer a household word in the U.S.A. We’ve been hyping up the Vespa for 30 years and we invite all scooterists into a welcoming community that holds the Vespa at its core. There simply aren’t enough motorscooters in the USA to get elitist about it, and frankly, a rising tide sells scooters; a lot of our members eventually end up on a Vespa, and/or own multiple scooters, and bring their friends and family into the community.

How do I join the VCOA Chicago Chapter?

Simply join the VCOA! If you’re in the Chicago area (Illinois’ McHenry, Lake, Cook, DuPage, and Will Counties) you’ll get a VCOA Chicago patch with your membership kit. That’ll automatically subscribe you to the national newsletter, but be sure to subscribe to our local newsletter, too.

You’re welcome to come to (most of) our events and follow our newsletter and social media, but we hope you’ll soon see the value in the club, and start paying dues (only $35/year). If you’re not paying dues, you’re not a member!

What sort of events does the Vespa Club of Chicago organize?

We host a “meetup” on the first Tuesday of every month, which is mostly just an excuse to hang out and socialize (and in decent weather, ride!). We also host some sort of other ride or event every month, we try to mix up times dates and locations, both for variety and so people with complicated schedules can attend at least some of our events. In the temperate months, it’s usually a group ride and/or some sort of outdoor get-together. In the winter, it’s more likely to be a ‘garage night’ (to work on bikes) or a get-together at a restaurant, bar, or coffeeshop.

Do your events cost money?

We generally don’t collect a fee to participate in our events.You’ll probably want to bring some money for gas, food, and drink. Sometimes there’s an admission fee or cover charge at our destination. We’ll be clear about that in the event listings. Some events that we co-sponsor or participate in, such as weekend rallies, might have a registration fee that covers a patch, goodie bag, and food/drink/entertainment… again, check the event description or event webpage for more details.

Find answers to lots more questions in the
Vespa Club of Chicago Guide to Scootering