Today’s adolescent lifestyle is indeed more advanced and open compared to the past, starting from their appearance style in public, how they speak, leisure time entertainment, food and beverages choices, homes, vacations, and so on, even vehicles that saw as an indicator of the owner’s taste and sense of style. Arief (2017) said that some adolescents choose the motorcycle brand Piaggio Vespa not only for mobilising themselves but for style. One social phenomenon is a group of adolescent Vespa Matic users in Semarang City called Modern Vespa Enthusiast ‘024Scoot’. This group is a group of people who are enthusiastic about the Modern Vespa and have tastes and characteristics different from adolescents of their age. Adolescents in this group spent thought, time, and money on their Vespa, and one of the informants said he actively saves his money so they can modify their Vespa later. Based on observation, one of the adolescents uses Instagram to build a relationship with others who also use Vespa Matic, and he uses it for various purposes, such as posting his modified Vespa and reposting an aftermarket Vespa modification part. They also do activities together, such as Sunday Morning Ride, Nightride, and Touring. This study will examine the social phenomenon of adolescent Vespa matic users regarding: (1) the beginning process of using a Vespa matic till they modify it, (2) their interpretation of modification of the Vespa, and (3) the social and economic implications of their behaviour and attitudes.
This research uses a qualitative research method with a phenomenological approach. With this approach and methods, the writer will uncover a phenomenon revealing the nature of the existing symptoms. This research also uses two sources of data: primary data obtained from the adolescent Vespa Matic users of Modern Vespa Enthusiast ‘024Scoot’ and secondary data obtained indirectly through the media and other parties. This research also uses three data-collecting procedure, which is observation, interview, and documentation.
The results of this research are (1) the beginning of using the Vespa Matic and modified spare parts and accessories can be known through the four stages in the ‘Act’ from George Herbert Mead’s theory of Symbolic Interactionism, starting from the recognising impulses, then they perceive and the final stage is the consumption stage where the adolescent buys, uses, and modifies their Vespa with various previously made considerations, (2) the meaning of their modification is the desire to be free from the behaviour and attitudes taught by their parents, namely by deciding to modify it and they also consumed the knowledge they get from their interactions with others Vespa matic modifications users both directly and through internet channels, and (3) the use of a modified Vespa Matic has implications in social and economic terms, such as verbal and non-verbal reject for the social implications and saving activities and negotiation practices to fulfil their lifestyle for the economic implications.