Modern Classics

Of the few scooter places I’ve been to in DC (Vespa Arlington, Redline, Modern Classics), this is the better of the three. However, it’s still a bummer to come here.
1. The owner is a *huge* jerk. The guy lectured me a) about leaving my keys in the ignition b) about using the emergency switch c) he went on to tell me my scooter was designed for 14 year old Italian boys, and that I needed to upgrade. Leave your jerk attitude at home dude, learn some freaking customer service!
2. The repairs are expensive. I have way more experience at car repair places, and usually if a small electric part is needed, it’ll be less than $ 50. This place charged $ 110 to change an electric part in brake lever. It’s really hard to imagine how a part that probably costs $ 5 and 15 minutes to install was then rounded up to a $ 110 charge. The guy told me it’s not as easy as it seems, but based on my years of car repair places, I’d say this dude is absolutely full of it. It just seems like a massive ripoff for what you get here.
3. Damn the location is ***awful***. Getting here is just the absolute pits.
I’ll never return. I’m either going to do things myself, or try to find a motorcycle shop. I hate giving these people my money.

These guys love classic scooters and it shows. I brought my 1975 125TS Vespa in thinking it was a serious problem as it was slipping out of gear as soon as I kick started it. Greg called me up a couple of days later and said it was no big deal and they didn’t have to open up the engine. A selector box problem which he was able to rig to work without replacing it. I picked it up yesterday and it ran like a dream. Greg and Gerry made sure it was checked out once more before I took off. Greg checked the cables and filled the tires with air. I had my two kids with me and they seemed to enjoy having them around… always a plus for a parent! Love these guys, you have my business for good.

One of the best things I have done since I moved to the DC Metro area was buy a scooter. My first, a Vespa LX 150, was inexpensive in so many regards: excellent fuel efficiency, virtually no parking fees anywhere, cheap insurance, exceptional reliability, and low repair costs. Most of all, it has been FUN and I’ve ridden more than 10k miles in the past few years.
Despite the reliability of Vespas (of which I’ve already owned two), they do require servicing. I’d heard about Modern Classics some years back from the Vespa dealership in Baltimore, which told me that the guys running Modern Classics used to be a Vespa dealer on Wisconsin Ave in NW DC. So, despite the long distance (they are in now NE DC and I’m in Rockville — a long drive!), I scouted out a route and took off.
This was the beginning of a great relationship. I have never used any other shop on any of my scooters. Wellesley, Greg, and Jerry are always open and willing to talk about the problems with your bike or anything else. Greg can sometimes be grumpy (especially in the heat), but they are all very competent and, most of all, enthusiastic about their work. I’ve had oil changes, new tires stator replacements, lock changes, and many tune-​ups with these guys, and I’ve never had a serious complaint. They’ve even did some ignition some work on an old Honda CB125 I have.
In addition to being a repair shop (which I mostly use Modern Classics for), they also sell Buddy scooters and a variety of classic Vespas they have repaired themselves. Wellesley especially loves the old Vespas, and the love affair certainly shines through in their work and in the models they’ve fixed up for sale. They used to sell Ural motorcycles, but I don’t think they’ve had one of those in years. Helmets, road armor, clothing, and accessories are also available here.
My only beef with Modern Classics is its location. They are at the end of a one-​way cul-​de-​sac in NE DC, near the BET building, and it is a royal pain for me to get there and back. Fortunately, they do great work every time and the Vespa is so reliable that I probably only have to visit once a year, or even less often, so it’s hardly an issue.
The service, enthusiasm, dedication, and personal touch of the guys at Modern Classics is what will keep me going back. If you have a scooter or motorcycle in the DC area and need a reliable shop to get work done for a fair price, I would highly recommend these guys.

Called to get my Vespa looked at. Carb problem. Jeffery (?) was Courteous and knowledgable and suggested a day to drop it off later in the week.
Found the shop OK and Jeffery was able to walk outside fix my problem without even having to to service the bike. So an honest and helpful place. I will be back to get new tires and likely a wind screen later this year.
I am hooked.

The folks at Modern Classics are really helpful. I’ve brought my Buddy Italia 125 there several times for tune-​ups, tires and repairs. They saved the scooter after I got busy at work and left it outside for months, cleaning «the dirtiest carburetor they’ve ever seen». Some neighborhood kids tried to steal the scooter a few days ago and broke some things, so of course, I am heading back to Modern Classics for their help.
I can also recommend Tom of DC Scooter Transport. He is really helpful when you need to get your scooter or motorcycle transported.

These guys are great. I have brought my motorcycle to them for service on numerous occasions and they have been nothing but reliable, honest and reasonable.

I bought a scooter yesterday, first time ever. First time I had even been on a scooter. I’ve got to say that Wellesley and crew were wonderful! From walking in the door, dealing with the DMV, buying accessories. and actually taking time (an hour to be exact) to show me how to ride the scooter. I’ve bought many cars in the past, and it was never an enjoyable experience, but the atmosphere of the store, and the people you deal with can’t be beat!

Ugh,
I hate to write a bad review, but after Modern Classics had my scooter for 2 months and I had to listen to excuse after excuse why the work was not done I grew frustrated and I eventually picked up my scooter. The scooter was in worse shape than when I left it with them.
Frustration is an understatement when dealing with this shop.

It is clear these guys do this because they love what they do. Feel very lucky to have an operation like this in the area; just wish they are in Arlington :). I bought a consigned vintage Vespa from MC and Wellesley worked on it for months to make sure it’s in the right condition to take home. Yes, you do have to be patient working with vintage vehicles and perhaps even with new vehicles when working with MC but they make sure you are taken care of. While it’s a hike to get to them, we wouldn’t trust anyone else.

Jerry wants you to be happy. He wants to fix your bike and at a fair price. I recently had a problem with my Vespa, and he insisted that we start with the cheap options first before doing «silly things» that cost a lot more. Refreshing.

I didn’t actually buy or get my scooter serviced at MC but I spoke to Wellesley and he answered so many questions for me about my wife’s S50 and what we should and shouldn’t do. Wellesley was extremely nice and helpful and as soon as we need some scooter or motorcycle service we will definitely be calling Wellesley and MC again!

It’s been 3 years since my return to Modern Classics. Let’s just say that the local alternatives were pretty terrible.
To my surprise, Modern Classics remembered exactly who i was and immediately referenced my review here on Unilocal.We had a quick chat on the phone about it and i told them i believed my review was fair and reflective of my experience and feelings at the time. I was expecting a big confrontation but that didn’t happen.
The job was simple. Change flat back tire.
They didn’t have the same tire and recommended, while stressing that it was not necessary, that i change the front tire as well so that both match.
I agreed and they had it done and ready to go the next day.
I think we all deserve a second chance. The reason that i am chaining my rating from 1 to 4 today isn’t because they did ta phenomenal job with the tire change (which they did by the way and the new Michelin City Grip tires are very smooth) but because of the way they handled the situation.
The fact that they remembered the review meant that it potentially affected their bottom line. They made an effort to be extra professional and courteous to me. As a business they showed real maturity.
It’s also a stark reminder that we as Unilocalers have a responsibility to be honest in our reviews and to take the time to write updates if necessary and not just vent for the sake of venting.
Based on my last interaction, i give them 4 stars.

I’ve only taken my Vespa LXV 150 once so I may not have much leverage here but from that one experience, I can attest that this is a very reliable, honest, and trustworthy place that does care about their clients and their scooters.
I made a call today to take my scooter in for another routine maintenance and after the owner inquired about my mileage of my scooter, he said that it had far too few miles for the maintenance I was going for – instead of just booking me, working on my scooter, and charging me, he was upfront and honest. He also said that I had a good 1,000 more miles until it was necessary.
This speaks volumes to what this interaction did for me. From a novice’s point of view, it makes me appreciate not just that he was honest, but that he taught me something as well. Jerry also reminded me of keeping up with my tire pressure, and asked me if I had done something about my helmet situation. Last time I was there he noted that the helmet I wore was not the best one for safety, unless I didn’t mind having an even uglier mug. ;P
It’s these kinds of mindful interactions that is missing in today’s corporate culture, and I am so glad that I found this place.
Wilson

We’ve just recently purchased a Vespa, and went to Modern Classics because of a carburetor and battery issue. They charged the battery for us for free, and all we had to do was pay for a new battery. The price was the same as an online price – which is surprising because I figure a place like this (one of very few in DC) would upcharge. The price they quoted us on the carburetor was actually higher than what we ended up paying. They were very timely and made sure that they gave us pointers on being new Vespa owners. Also, they helped me pick out the right size in helmets, and took their time explaining helmet safety, etc. This is really honest service, and it’s a dying breed these days. I hope these guys are around for a while.
Overall, really good service, and swell people :)

I can’t say enough nice things about this shop and its employees. I don’t own a scooter, but my boyfriend does. He purchased it through Modern Classics, and when he was involved in an accident, they went out of their way in the middle of the day to help me pick it up from the impound lot after it had been towed there. The staff is courteous, knowledgeable, and won’t try to rip you off with unnecessary repairs, accessories or service plans.

dropping in to upgrade to 5 stars because my experience today was stellar. an errand I’d been putting off for months was solved quickly and easily. Jerry fixed up my turn signal while I waited, and I was out in a jiffy. THANKS!

For some reason, it took me way too long to find out this place existed. I dropped my ET4 in March, my first accident in six years of riding, which was bad enough. After some frustrating dealings with two other shops, I felt like the universe was conspiring against me. I was about ready to give up altogether on scooters.
The guys at Modern Classics solved all my problems. Not only were they able to repair the cosmetic damage to the scooter, but they were thorough enough to notice damage to the front fork, which the other shops had missed. The scooter now looks better than it did when I crashed. I’m treating it as a learning experience, and looking forward to getting out on the road again.

Modern Classics is an outstanding operation and the mechanic that I always wished I had. In fact, folks there have said the following three things to me that I have never heard come out of a mechanic’s mouth before and that practically guarantee I’ll always come here first:
1) «We can get that for you, but I’d look on eBay because it’ll be much cheaper.»
2) «That’s probably a good choice for racers or long-​distance riders, but it doesn’t work any better than this one that costs half as much, it’s just a bit lighter.»
3) «It turns out I was wrong and the problem was what you said it was, so I only charged you for the parts, not the extra labor.»
In addition, they’re all riders who love their bikes and have given me all the advice I’ve ever needed. They’ve been more patient with a new rider than they need to be — they’ve even taken me into the back to give visual aids while they answer my stupid questions. Despite my dumb questions (and there have been many), they still treat me like an intelligent adult — like they know that just because I’m new to motorcycles doesn’t make me an idiot. In short, they’re one of the only outfits I can still find who seem to believe that if they keep their customers alive and happy, we’ll all be better off.
They have only a couple of tiny drawbacks. They’re a bit too hardworking and popular for their own good; they’ve got a small staff and if they’re having a busy day, getting a question answered can be tough. I also think their floor space is smaller than average, based on my limited experience, and so their inventory is a little limited. Scooters are their bread and butter (they’re in the middle of the city, after all), and so motorcycle equipment is particularly lacking (but I think everybody who works there rides at least one motorcycle, so don’t mistake this for neglect). They’ll order anything you ask for — even if you just ‘think’ that the next size up will be a better fit.
Transportation is a bit of an experience; the Rhode Island Ave. Metro stop is probably ten minutes away through a strip mall parking lot, and Rhode Island Ave. can be… um, thrilling… to drive a bike on during the weekday.
Overall, Modern Classics is just an amazing operation. Having these folks nearby was what made me decide to buy a motorcycle. The day I can find a mechanic halfway as reliable for my car, I’ll really be set…

I’m relatively new to town and needed to find a reliable place nearby to do routine service on my sportbike (Ninja ZX10). I highly recommend these cats. They’re professionals, down to earth, and they have a great story about getting started in the repair business. I’ll be back again. I’d highly recommend you check them out, too. (Just be prepared to hoof it to/​from the Metro. Taxi service near the shop is non-​existent, and Metro is about a 15 – 20 minute walk.)

At modern classics it’s not just about going in and buying something they have– it’s about making your dream bike/​scooter a reality. Personally, I’ve basically started two projects with the help from the A-​team down there, and they are not only knowledgeable, resourceful, and helpful, but just incredibly patient and, well, they like talking about bikes (so do I). I’m pretty sure this shop would make the best reality show ever, because it’s just chalk full of great vibes, fun energy, and AMAZING bikes. And, no I don’t work there, I just show up as often as humanly possible.