Built-in 2 series Vespa 160 GS is in the tradition of the manufacturer Piaggio to offer within a series also a sportier model.

The GS 160 was the first time a newly constructed front shock with damper (spring/damper combination) installed, which was otherwise used only in the successor Vespa 180 SS. (In the Vespa GS150 and all other Vespatypen was still the front wheel swing until 1979 equipped with a shock absorber mounted separately from the suspension spring.)