Modern Vespa

Hello all. Either my stand is broken or I have a flat rear tire. Either way, when I press on the center stand pedal it goes right to the floor and there doesn't seem to be a way to get the bike up. Any thoughts on how to do this? I don't have a tire gauge handy and it's actually difficult to tell if it's flat just by looking. Thanks!

It's the stand. A flat would prevent the pedal going down even as far as it normally does before you had to apply real weight to it.

You can get it welded up, or perhaps better, just buy a new one or source one from a breakers.

Thanks! I suspected it was the stand at first, but it just seemed very weird. I guess after 15+ years it was going to break at some point. Sadly I don't have the equipment to DIY-it, so into the shop it'll go.

Unless someone thinks it's a good idea to install the side-stand I've seen advertised on some of the scooter web shop. They make it sound easy to install, I just don't see it as being very stable.

I welcome further thoughts.

Greetings:

I installed the stock Piaggio side-stand on my own ET4, and I'm very happy with it. The Buzzetti chrome side stand on my S50 is not in the same league of stability and quality. Neither pose a clearance problem on sharp L banking as I have heard is an issue with the 300s. Stands are easy to remove, but the springs are um... Challenging.

Thanks Wheelman! Great review of the side-stand. Poking around on the web also led me to conclude that a replacement of the existing stand is possible, but that those springs are a challenge. In Manhattan I simply don't have the space to work, or really the time. The side stand may be the best option for now.

Thanks again.

Be very careful of a side stand. These scoots have no park or neutral if the engine is running and the RPM's are high enough on the engine it can drive itself off. Use it with caution and don't trust it.

Thanks for the reminder, Pinkscooter. It has occurred to me that, unlike the center stand, the rear wheel is not off the ground. No doubt i will learn that lesson in real time someday, but i appreciate the notice. There aren't many places nearby to got the center stand replaced; the nearest one in Brooklyn involves a $60+ Uber ride there and back!

It's not the hardest job to do but is easier with a lift and a jack to support the scooter when the center stand is off. Some pictures of you problem might help is come up with a quick fix.

Always worry about my bleedy knuckles with those spring pullers.

You can lay the scooter on its side - you might have to swap sides occasionally to get the stand off.