Don’t get me wrong, I totally embrace the practicality and ease of use they represent. But, well, I’m clearly not evolved enough to reckon I don’t look a little ridiculous on one.

No such problem exists on Vespa’s hero offering, the GTS 300ie ‘Super Sport’. It really is a double-cool thing, representing the brand with a real nod to Vespa’s heritage alongside a modern bent.

The scooter is all matt-blacked out, with sweet design cues such as the rib-stitched and piped seat and a distinctive red front spring. The all-analogue instrumentation is neat and functional with white numerals set against a black background. Readouts are minimal, but as much as you are ever likely to need, with a speedo, odometer, engine temperature and fuel gauges. It’s easily read at a glance.

The bike makes use of the brand’s ‘Quasar’ 278cc, fuel-injected, Euro-3-compliant liquid-cooled engine, claiming 15.8kW (22hp) and 22.3Nm (16.4ft-lb) at 5000rpm, which feeds a CVT ‘twist-and-go’ transmission, the latter offering real-world user-friendliness. It’s a very sprightly engine and the capacity is just about perfect for a bike that has some degree of sporting aspiration. You’ll get away from dreaded traffic snarls with ease – another element that has made me look at scooter commuting in a different light.

There’s an all-steel body that is nice and rigid, while the front tyre is a 120/70 and rear a 130/70 – that puts a lot of rubber on the road, on 12in wheels.

Front suspension is the tried-and-true single-arm link with coil spring and dual-action hydraulic shock. At the back there are twin hydraulic shocks with four-position preload adjustment.

A nice touch is the anti-theft coded key immobiliser. Scooters are dead set easy to knock off, and this offers a strong deterrent.

Brakes at both ends feature 220mm discs and the stopping power is a highlight. This thing stops on a dime – again, a very attractive trait from a bike that is going to have to deal with tight going.

It’s not the cheapest option out there at $8290 (plus ORC), but I have to say it is the most competent and stylish scooter I’ve ever ridden. Given the fact it’s capable of just about anything a motorcycle of similar capacity is, and even a touch more based around manoeuvrability and ease of parking/storage, the GTS delivers on a bunch of fronts.