Modern Vespa

Hi Modernvespa pals,

Sorry for not perfect english- I still learning;-)
Im Balki from capital of Croatia/EU- Zagreb. Two years ago I bought my 1st "bigger" scooter Sportcity 250ie with 24kkm after my few 50/70ccm "rockets". In same time I started to follow Modernvespa and get idea for some "upgrades".
I made bigger valves in original head and piston machining, tuned airbox, rised fuel pressure to 3.5 Bar, put Polini Hi Speed... but nothing happens. ECU simply doesn't alow any significant performance improvement.
Then idea was born about engine swap and research started...
Since Beverly 350ie share the same 250/300ie engine without any chasis or body adaptation I found that "project" can start. I found used 350ie engine with wheel and support arm. Wheel still had original tire what means that runs about 10~max15 kkm;-)
On ebay I found starter, airbox, manfold, exhaust, lambda, harness... and ECU without keys.
Guy from local forum mojskuter.com programmed me key transponder like "master key" and gave me needed antenna.
Original SC harness have 26 pins connector so I cut 350ie harness, found 26 pin male connector from faulty Bev500 ECU and made interconnection cable 26->34 pin.
From 350ie injector i removed original "rail" pipe (wo flow) and put rail pipe from original 250ie injector with flow- on this way I didnt had to make fuel pump modification.
With antenny and precisely placed transponder new ECU "recognized" key what I seen by added blue LED with 2kOhm resistor...
I successfully put original SC engine supporter to engine with small effort but found that whole engine and wheel stays 17mm "offset" on side. Small cut and weldings + few washers solved this problem and now all stays perfectly alligned. I must say that previously I "filled" support silent blocks with "SIKA Tack Drive" car glass seal and they are now much more stiff. Bottom end of shock absorbers also asked for modification but side cutter and welding machine was my friend again;-)
Finally I get what I want- fun, quick and agile scooter for city and local roads what not shame from longer seaside trips;-)
After few weeks of testing I found that gear was filled with gear oil but I replaced it with Eni i-ride 15-50 based on manufacturer SVC bulletin since they found that "wet clutch" doesn't like high density gear oils.
Here are some photos what can help if someone want to make the same on his Vespa or other scooter with Quasar engine;-)



Last edited by balki on Thu, 05 Sep 2019 21:11:56 +0000; edited 3 times

Fantastic project!

Thank you;-)
I added two more photos. During making all this I didn't even wash or clean installed parts more then necessery what tells that I put focus on function and not appearence in this phase. Since scooter is 2007 and black plastic covers are totally shaded my next step would be paiting of them (normally before I have plan to invest in new tires- probably Pirelli Diablo).
Probaly two component black Hempel yacht paint with added "non slip" deck coating compaund. Previosly all would be degreased and would be used theiy plastic primer. I hope I will get stabile rough black surface resistant to UV and hard wear. (If this is good for boat deck surface I hope it would good for scooter plastic covers and rain guard).
If/when I finish this I will post this above in the same place...

Big job!

Wheels are still rollin'



Last edited by balki on Thu, 05 Sep 2019 21:13:39 +0000; edited 1 time

Meanwhile front fork get Racetech Gold Valve emulators. Ordered new linear main springs and meanwhile I'm using original...






Last edited by balki on Thu, 05 Sep 2019 21:16:03 +0000; edited 1 time

Hello Balki,

It's the second time I read this, but I couldn't find any aditional info. Do you have the SVC bulletin were that is said?

Thanks!

I don't have any written confirmation about this. Just get the same info from two friends and one still working like main engineer in Piaggio svc center in Zagreb/Croatia. Based on my knowledge and experience this was enough for me to follow their recommendation. Like you could see here I still rollin'

Before two days just changed engine oil. Didn't found in local shop Eni so next choice was Motul 15W50 Technosynthese (ester). In gear is still Eni i-Ride Scooter 15W50 because no needs to change it so frequently.

Today I get inspiration and made helmet security wire- see video below.
Meanwhile I painted scooter in metalic black with few details in italian green. Modified steering angle from 25.5° to 26.5° and get stabile scooter at high speed. Last week installed Akrapovic slip-on. It vas originaly for Vespa 300 but I modified it for 350ie engine (have homologation for SC250ie and Bev350ie what was actualy reason for installation). Akrapovic made that all think that muffler material is titanium but it's stanles steel. It's still 3.1kg VS 7.2kg oem exhaust what is significant shaving of non damped weight. I'll try to make new video of scooter and share it here;-)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=raaLvtOkXyA

Last edited by balki on Thu, 12 Nov 2020 21:46:39 +0000; edited 4 times

I like you scooter project. do you know how much the scooter weigh with 350 engine installed?

SC250ie was 150 kilos with original engine. I heard that 350ie engine have just 5 kilos more. Finally I replaced original exhaust (7.2kg) with Akrapovic (3.1kg) so now is scooter almost same weight like before;-)
34hp/151kg

Wow good job, but the videos won't start

Hi,

I try to copy URL from browser and hope this would work now:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=raaLvtOkXyA

www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRTOTN8CuH0

perfect sleeper

I really miss my old SC250, and I know they sold some SC300s for 1 year into USA. For 2 years I looked for a SC300 before buying the BV350. Still, your project is CRAZY and super respected!

SC250 was lighter and much more agile than the BV, and with the BV's motor it must be a beast!

You're right- scooter is powerful, agile and light- really fun to ride. Faster in all situations then ew Xmax400 and new BMW400 scooters (acceleration from 0-100, from 80-120, till their top speed (and above..).
Sporcity 300 in EU had name Cube 300 and Derbi 300 (same scooters different name and brand). Derbi 300 even had better qualita plastic (not shade on sun).

so I was gonna add emulators to some of my bikes. I was hoping the stock springs could just be cut to accommodate the needed extra space for the emulator. did you cut factory spring or struggle getting compressed back together? how was switch to the spring they suggest? and any feedback on emulators at all would be nice. only feedback I have yet found was from silverwing owner. his description was "night and day difference" he used new shorter springs with his install..

Do you happen to have any photos of this interconnection cable? I want to put a MIU3 ECU in my 2007 GTS 250, and it will require the same conversion.