Modern Vespa

You're correct, you do have to modify (beat) the frame so it doesn't contact. At that point there is no side load, but as the suspension compresses, then that's when the side load rear it's ugly head.

I think for 5 years? And if there was ANY sort of mod that we could have done (withing the racing class of rules) that we could have taken advantage of, we would have done it for sure! I went with the tubeless for the only reason that they were much lighter weight than the stock steel rims. I have much better acceleration with them. But that also meant that i had to buy two sets...one set for the slicks, and one set for the rain race tires. For all my road going scooters i still use the stock steel split rims though.

I think the 11"x 3" wide version look totally rad, but there's definitely a fair amount of work to get them to work in harmony with the frame and suspension. (i have the 3" wide version on both the front and rear of my pink PK200.

https://www.scooter-center.com/en/shock-absorber-upper-mounting/frame-cmd-silent-scorpion-vespa-largeframe-px-sprint-rally-gt/gtr-ts-super-vba-vbb-vna-vnb-two-piece-support-carriage-adjustable-0-15mm-also-for-wide-tyre-conversion-replaces-cmdss0010?number=CMDSS0010 This popped up on the market a few years ago. I haven't installed one yet, but i'm guessing it might involve a sawsall to get the shock spring to rub against the frame?

Christopher - just to clarify: Mine are all on 2.5 wide rims.
I have never mounted the 11's on the bike - but I expect them to fit like the 10's - which is to say - no cutting or mods needed.

The 100/80-10s on 2.5" wide rims don't require modifications.
No cutting - no shock stuff.
That's what I have been running day in day out.
These are not as wide as some of the 3.0 rim stuff - but they still look pretty beefy to my eye.

So if you prefer to max your size, but not get in to cutting of casings and what not - the 2.5 width rims offer a pretty big footprint as an option.
Tho of course - you can always go full pontoon and use it on lake Minnetonka on the weekends.

🙂

That shock mount looks like a great idea... but ouch at the price!

Might try and bounce up and down on the Vespa with the fiber scope looking at the rubber shock mount - would imagine significant lateral force would deform it?

I need to adjust my shocks anyway. The front is definitely too soft atm. I actually just noticed small contact marks on the swing arm and fork where it must have hit. Guessing when being test ridden by the mechanic.

Cheers PP, must have missed this before.

If you could remove the spring and cycle the suspension, then it would be easily seen (and possibly felt too). You probably won't ever notice it if you're just bouncing up and down on the seat.

I haven't looked at the price on that shock relocator bracket. I first saw it a while back randomly on a google search, and when i did, i knew exactly what it was and why it was made though. Crazy Monkey seems to make some cool stuff that no one has though of before to put into production.

This doesn't have adjustment, but it definitely is simple and entirely do-able at home. The location of the shock hole is a way to adjust I guess.
The bottom pic is an early version of the AF Parts shock mount... not sure what difference you'd feel with and without the rubber mount at the top.

Yeah, a "handy" person could probably whip up an upper custom mount fairly easily. The upper mount just needs to run parallel with the cycling of the suspension. The only way around that is by using heim joints on BOTH the upper and lower shock. It can't be just be on one end though because then it would still cause binding when the suspension is cycled.

Try mine


Less then a $1

Going to stick with 2.5” or less, don’t want to move upper mount, it’s a rabbit hole I don’t feel like dealing with. Especially with a new Clauss upper mount.

Clauss could make a wide tire mount by moving the hole in there mount. Don't think it would take much for them.

Also a joint at just the top still has the bottom at an angle, the bottom would have to pivot also.I

A smaller diameter rear shock coil over spring would also solve the problem of the spring hitting the body.

And I’m gonna take this advice seriously and look at shifting my upper mount. Sigh... just when I was getting so close.

Nvm... the weather is so wet that riding isn’t likely anytime soon.

I got my Indian wide tyre out to take a look. Going to take a little work to get it to fit.

that has to be done!!!

if only to be sat at the back of the bike and powered by a belt/chain of some sorts.......

While sitting here board stiff for 40 min and 46 seconds while performing maintenance on a dental sterilizer. I was thinking about scooters. If we grind the motor mount to make a 3" wide tire fit, is there room to do the same to the shock mount? Inquiring minds want to know.

You could use the Crazy Monkey rear shock mount. It has up to 15mm adjustment for wide setups (you need ~10mm), but it's crazy money for what it is. This assumes your frame has enough space. I've not bothered with one, but I've heard that spring clearance can be an issue.

If you mean the lower mount on the motor - shifting the spring 10mm left would mean it contacts the tire.

Yeah, you mean that gap that I can’t get my pinky finger into between my shock spring and tire? 🤣.

That what happens when I sit watching a sterilizer run for two hours. Man is that boring.

You could add the tire weights here, with the other wide tire kit stuff.

This is the thread I was looking for.


Pinasco Tubeless Split Rim Install

old tires (stock LML/Stella with Continental Zippy's and tubes) and they came in at 10.05 lbs each

Stock Piagio rims with Continental Zippys and tubes. 10 pounds each


FA Italia Margherita rims with S1s. 7 pounds each

Pinasco rims with Heidenau k61s. 8.6 pounds each

Pinasco rims with S1s. 8.4 pounds

stock rim w/Michelin tube and Kenda tires 11.6 lbs

Pinasco+K61's with 20lbs of air, came in at 8lbs each.

SIP 11" wheels with K61 tire 11 lbs.

Last edited by Christopher_55934 on Sat Nov 28, 2020 5:56 am; edited 1 time in total

...so how much more do the Pinascos+K61's weigh with 25lbs of air, compared to just 20lbs of air?

And with the wheel nuts done up to 18lb...

Not much difference, my scuba tank doesn't change that much with 80cf of compressed air at 3000 psi.

To cold and snowy here, a little gearing, tire diameter math, it looks like the taller 120/70-11 is a little less than 1 tooth adjustment at the main gears clutch cog. Also found DRT makes a 22 tooth gear that's supposed to fit the 65 tooth main gear. So if your going a little wider and taller and don't like the up gear there are options.


My P200
5750 rpm = 96.72 kph
3.50 rear tire circumference equals 1357mm measured.
36 tooth 4th gear
24/65 main gearing

5750 rpm = 100.21kmh
120/70 - 11 rear tire = 1406 calculated circumference
36 tooth 4th gear
24/65 main gearing

5750 rpm = 95.86 kph
120/70 - 11 rear tire = 1406 calculated circumference
36 tooth 4th gear
23/65 main gearing

5750 rpm = 92.06 kph
120/70 - 11 rear tire = 1406 calculated circumference
36 tooth 4th gear
22/65 main gearing

5750 rpm = 102.42 kmh
120/70 - 11 rear tire = 1406 calculated circumference
35 tooth 4th gear
24/65 main gearing

5750 rpm = 98.09 kmh
120/70 - 11 rear tire = 1406 calculated circumference
35 tooth 4th gear
23/65 main gearing

5750 rpm = 94.11 kmh
120/70 - 11 rear tire = 1406 calculated circumference
35 tooth 4th gear
22/65 main gearing

Very helpful comparison Christopher.