Modern Vespa

Ambitious plans. Stay tuned to see how much I manage to pull off.

Cosmetics:
total dechrome -- everything removed, black, or bodycolor
bodywork -- filled mirror holes and horn cover trim
blackout -- wheels and trans cover satin black

Motor/trans:
190 kit + upgear

Chassis:
urethane motor and shock top mounts

Running gear:
GT/S brakes and 12"wheels with low profile rubber

Exhaust:
custom exhaust -- Yosh? Leo Vince? Akra?

Couple weeks in a vat of acid and your chrome parts look like this.

In theory chrome plating is a reversible process, but didn't have any luck finding a shop willing to do it with plastic parts.

Plan B: Muratic(hydrochloric) acid. Available at your local hardware. Takes a couple weeks because Vespa chrome is quality "triple-plated" stuff. Use only in a well ventilated area(outside) and dispose of properly.

Last edited by bluecloud on Mon, 14 May 2018 05:00:59 +0000; edited 3 times

airfix

Hi guys
Looks like lxs very interested as I have a 125 and am wondering what to do next year , leaving her original looking as poss but thinking malossi 190, pipe and other performance up grade as needed.
New member and 1st post
Thanks

cool .. let me post some pics to help inspire you. i love the idea!


i have the rims being painted black, going to get them back friday. also have a performance pipe on it. love the look.

i tinted the blinkers i love the look, kinda hard to tell with the flash but it looks sharp. also have the euro light kit in.

this is a hole closure i can paint in the orange if you would like one for your scoot, the ones from scooterwest don't fit the S so you would need a different size. drop me a line and i can send some out to you.

Yeah, that's the idea.

I'm taking it a bit further and filling the the holes with plastic. Will post details when done.

cool, i wanted to do something like that, but just never did. if i ever had to have it repainted i would though.

Here is my question for all about this project. Will the hub of a GT go on the front frok of an LX or S? I am thinking about doing the same to an LX front end but didn't know if the hub would bolt on or what. I have the caliper, shock and master because I may try to fit the LX front end on a GT with some lengthening in the tube section. Straught front ends are hard to find and quite spendy.

The brakes and hubs can be mixed and matched for some improvements on the on the LX but the forks need to be correct to the bike they are going on for the ride height to be correct.

http://modernvespa.com/forum/topic61069?highlight=brake#860646

O.K. Thanks
Does anyone know how much difference there is in the lower section of an lX front verses a GT fork. How much of a ride height difference are we talking about and what would the pro's and con's be of said change? The GT shock bolts right on and the GT fender fits. I have the fork on the bike the clearances around the fender look right. The tube is just a little too short and I can't get the bars on with the shrouding and head light.

read this thread. this gut did what you want to do. Vespa LX - New and improved!

Yeah, got the idea from that thread and this one:
Rosebud LX200 Super Special

Update: bodywork pics.

Liquid ABS. http://www.oatey.com/Plumber/Shared/ProductGroupDetail/167/ABS+Medium+Black+Cement.html

Simply tape up one side of the hole and fill. Multiple thin layers to prevent voids.

Pros:
= original material
solvent "welds " to original material
sands easily to shape

Cons:
voids/pinholes as it skins over then outgasses as it cures.











Last edited by bluecloud on Mon, 14 May 2018 05:05:11 +0000; edited 1 time

Update: tires finally arrived from the Netherlands.

Key piece to making this project work -- 12" low profile rubber. Diameter same as OE 10/11"s

110/60-12 Maxxis. Upmarket Cheng Shins.





Last edited by bluecloud on Mon, 14 May 2018 05:06:55 +0000; edited 1 time

But wouldn't a low profile tyre mess up your handling due to not being the correct shape? Its all good on a car as they don't have a curved profile on the tyres, i cant see it working well on a bike....

Correct shape?

These will be sportbike tires on a scooter.

i will say to go through all the mess of ordering the tires and all you probally know that they will performe just fine, but it also to me seems like you need the curve of the tire to get the proper performance out of motorcycle tires. but like i said you must have done your homework.

let me know how it goes with the tires. they look great!

And then tell that to those who run on the 'darkside'.

You can get used to almost any tyre's profile. Which is why many don't notice theirs are shagged... (including me on a couple of occasions).

Well on the standard 12" rim you will have the normal tyre and that makes a roughly semi-circular shape right?

If you reduce the overall diameter without reducing the rim then surely you have to make the profile less curved and more flat right? which in turn means that when you lean the bike over in a corner, your running on the edge of the tyre and the contact patch is smaller.

Or maybe i'm talking shite, i'm not really sure

If you could post a pic of the tyre when you have it fitted that would be great, i am really interested to see this.

Thanks

I suspect yes.

I'm right there with you on this project but powder-coat the stock wheels (size)and leave them. If you want more tire choices than the 11 inch rims can offer throw an ET 10 rim on and you can get whatever size 10 inch tire you want, they make a ton of 10 inch tires.

Wheels are the the whole point of the project. Want the GT brakes.

I own the black LX with the MP3 wheel and Brembo setup on the front that was mentioned earlier in the thread.

I have quite a few thousands miles on my new setup and there have been no problems whatsoever with the swap. I have a lot of experience with both the stock size and the low profile 12" size and the handling is very nice and the bike never wants to just lose grip when leaned over in the corners.

Good luck with the project and try not to grab the lever too much and go over the handlebars when you get those big brakes (relatively speaking of course) installed!

If you have any questions feel free to ask.

it will look bad ass... can't wait to see the outcome

Yep, liking this! 8)

Yeah,me too.

Getting close. Wheels are out for powdercoat. Axle is at the welders. Still missing a key part though -- anybody got a GT final drive idler gear they don't need? Might have to break down and buy new.

Update: modified GT axle, cut and welded. Only piece of the project that's not "parts bin."

GT vs LX/S bearings = different size but similar specs -- longevity shouldn't be an issue.





Last edited by bluecloud on Mon, 14 May 2018 05:11:25 +0000; edited 1 time

Update: partially assembled pics. A long way from running yet, but this is what it's gonna look like.

Really looks stuffed in there at the back, fender will definitely require modification.







Last edited by bluecloud on Mon, 14 May 2018 05:17:25 +0000; edited 1 time

hot damn. i like.

That does look great are the wheels painted? I will be interested to here how it rides. I bought a project GT to build just so I could get 12 inch wheels, well the the liquid 200 was also a big pull. But after reading about the steering shake that comes with the bigger bike I have been having second thoughts.

Yeah, that's the big unknown. Either will be the greatest modern Vespa known to man, or an expensive exercise in futility. Somebody had to do it, was it possible?

If this works, suspect it will be the first of many. Pretty much a simple parts swap. So far looks like the only pieces that have to be modified are the axle and rear fender.

It's all down to form and function. Looks? Handling?

And it's all reversible if it doesn't work.

I'm looking forward to seeing more of your progress and the finished product. Great work!!!

Hi

what a good project
I have a vespa S 50cc with a mp3 12 inch frontwheel.
and I like the rear end 12 inch conversion.

I am wondering if its possible to use a 12 inch rearwheel,
from a piaggio fly.
my only worry is the drumbrake, is it the same size,

I don't need a discbrake on the rear, my scoot is only 50cc

Fly 50 maybe.

Quick check of parts book looks like it might work. Need to stop by your dealer and take some measurements. Definitely will need low profile rubber to fit. Get the tires here: http://www.daxdodo.com/catalog/index.php

I have a 110/60-12 fronttyre, on the rear I want the same size.
www.4strokeparts.be is cheaper than daxdodo.com

next week I will visit some dealers

Update: it runs.

No big brake up front yet, but able to get a feel for the handling. Rear axle position is approx 2" rearward and 0.5" lower than stock -- combined with heavier wheel/tire/hub assys seems to slow things down a bit. Turn-in not as twitchy and a bit more stable at speed, feels like a bigger bike. Pretty much as expected.

Rear disc not significantly more powerful, but hydraulic modulation is huge improvement.

Rear fender cut and moved approx 0.75" rearward and angled 15 deg.

Issues:
1) rear master won't fit the bar cover without modification -- interference with signal switch. Fix is countersunk screw on bar clamp.
2) centerstand is short -- works but rear wheel touches ground. Fix -- GT stand or weld additional length.
3) rear wheel is offset approx 0.25" to right -- had to add spacer washers at exhaust bracket for clearance. Think this may be due to difference in wheel offset as front appears same.











Last edited by bluecloud on Mon, 14 May 2018 05:35:31 +0000; edited 1 time

Man that is so cool.

lovin the tyres!

what size wheels do u have on that bike?

Great work. You should make a new pipe to hug that cowl. The stock pipe looks like ass.

BTW - did you weld that shaft in a jig on a lathe? or how did you keep it true?

Hope all is going well on this project, and at this point it might be done?? From the last pictures this looks very nice, and you will have a very unique scoot...

Please update pics as soon as you can.. Would love to see this when finished!!!