Friend at school had a Vespa - his dad owned a moped shop, so he was riding with illegally large engines at 16. They're cool if you're not old enough to get anything but a basic bike permit, but other than that they're a bit wimpish...
Fine if you live in a sunny mediterranean town with tight narrow streets and a nice chick grasping on to you for dear life though...
Much prefer a Yamaha R1 or something along those lines....