Modern Vespa

This 1969 Sprint 150 is listed for 2100, is it a good purchase? I've had a Kymco People 150 before and loved it.

This vespa
"Has a small gear oil leak. This is fairly common. Can be fixed with new gasket, or left alone"

and was supposedly used as a display.


Would I be making a good deal to buy this? And, can the gear oil leak be fixed easily as suggested?



- Thank you for any/all responses

like the color, but stay away from this one - looks too bodgey
others with more SEA experience will chip in. Look for a P200.

Stay away. Typical Vietnamese import example...

http://www.thevespawizard.com.au/the_black_vbb.htm

http://www.baritaliaclassics.com/Site/Vietbodge.html

Bodgespotting

Things to Consider before Buying a Vintage Vespa

Your best bet for a vintage Vespa is to find a currently running, riding example. The nicer the exterior, the more questions about the authenticity.

If you're looking at 50 year old scooters, then a few scratches or a bit of surface rust (not rot) is to be expected.

Ask the seller all sorts of questions about the scoot, what works, what's broken, what parts are new, and what probably needs to be replaced. Any sellers should be able to wax on eloquently about all sorts of details, even if they had a shop do the work.

I always say these things:
-meet the locals who ride vintage
-study the bodge threads
-buy something from one of the locals if possible
-a P makes a good first vintage
-if not a P, go for something with ugly US turn signals to prove it's not a bodge, then keep them because they show the provenance of the bike

Lyonmaker -

"Bodgey" or "bodge" is a slang term for a scooter that has been "restored," most likely in Vietnam.

Non-OEM parts are often used, and repairs, bodywork, welding, wiring, etc. are often poorly done and quite suspect, often in how much safety the scoot will provide once you start riding it.

There are instances where bodges turned out to be safe, well-perfoming scoots, but more often that not, a disaster waiting to happen, under bondo, shiny parts, and lots of flashy chrome.

Buyer beware.

Welcome to ModernVespa Lyonmaker!

Floor mats are usually a giveaway of a bodge. I've found if it looks shiny and has low miles, it's probably a bodge, but not always.

And it's leaking? Yikes. Give a look at the links SaFis posted. Good info!

Also, you can find out more about this model here: http://scooterlounge.com/vespa/buyers-guide/vespa-sprint.shtml

I hope this helps!

Lyonmaker: if you like the vintage stuff...stick to your guns. Find a vintage scoot. If you have to have someone give it a good “look over” than so be it. The “P” scooters don’t interest me at all. Just so you know my 68 sprint has a nice paint job, floor mat, a drip of oil and it’s not a bodge.
The 69 your looking at might be worth having someone critique it in person. You never know. You will find on this forum if it has a nice paint job,floor mats,low miles....it is going to be considered a bodge. I would say for the most part the forum is correct....but you never know. I have a bodge and it has been a great scooter. Nice paint, floor mats and a bit of chrome. So far I’ve put about 1000 mi on it. The one your looking at looks like less of a bodge than the one I bought. You might add a bunch more pictures, so you can get some more feedback. A lot of members with a lot of knowledge are on this forum. Most don’t have a problem with expressing their concerns or ideas. Scott

Heres the craigslist ad, it gave me a boner too... You mainland scooterheads have no idea. Been waiting years for the right vintage vespa to pop up

https://honolulu.craigslist.org/oah/mcy/d/1969-vespa-sprint/6764912316.html

Good luck OP!

Imagine that, a bodge that can swim!

$447 also due in registration arrears.

Also note the link to our MV thread on buying a vintage!
Using US to help sell his bodge!

Jess should send him a cease and desist!

I can imagine decent vintage Vespas don't wander out your way often. And if they do, you know the owner didn't go to all that trouble just to sell the darn thing.

Just what does it cost to ship a Vespa from the mainland to the islands?