Modern Vespa

story:

$600 (with title) 1979 P125

none of the parts match. lots of parts missing. (most of the headset, brakes, cables, top-end, exhaust, tail light, seat, gas tank)

to-be owner doesn't have a big budget

...

ended up doing what I could for free, replacing parts cheap via the internet and what I had lying around in my garage

- euro style headlight
- duplicolor chrome spray paint on chrome parts with bad finish
- custom mix yellow paint on parts that had some surface rust
- flat black paint on everything else
- truck bed liner on the bottom of the frame
- 150cc top end from a Bajaj
- 20/20 carb from a Stella
- gas tank from a different P
- new cables and mostly new nuts and bolts on everything
- new wires and switches
- new turn signals
- new horncast from a T5

also note: exhaust and seat are from a stella (original seat is having a custom cover sewn together). steel kickstart lever is from a mystery bike. new tires from Jet200 (Heidenau k58).

still some work left to do. the to-be owner hasn't done much work himself... so some friends and I are going to give it a "custom theme" of his favorite animal: the unicorn, and his favorite color: rainbow.

most photos/videos soon.

Some people don't care for lots of pics but I like them and they'll help out others that are planning to put one back together. Nice job. What was the red desolvent your useing?
Lynn

it's Naval Jelly... basically phosphoric acid in jelly form so you can spread it on something. it'll dissolve the rust without scuffing the surface -- perfect for something like a piston or cylinder with minor rust caused by sitting in a damp box on a garage floor. or aluminum pieces with rust caused by iron or steel.

I used it to clean up a Bajaj 150 top end (I replaced the rings of course) and to clean up a clogged fuel valve. also replaced the cracked tubes.

I get a lot of crap for "fixing" a fuel valve when you can buy a new one for $20... but consider it was free and I spent $5 on a few brass tubes (enough to fix 3) and it's better than new.

Hi Andrew,
Props for a great job! Here's a bike that shows what can be done with a good attitude & creative thinking in a 'Do the Best You Can With What You Got' situation. And it's ALWAYS good to lend others a hand, paying that karma forward. Thumbs up.

like .... thats how the bitza came to be

well done mate, i like it alot

enjoy the bike and cheer

Gotta love a bitza put together by someone who knows what'll do the job.

Couple of years down the track, when this threads long forgotten and after the bikes provided lots of fun riding, wrenching and learning and when the wowsers see it in a different context you'll have them sayin' "that's the wrong this and the wrong that for that year/model - must be a 'nammer".

ha! exactly

I like the stella seat.

Good Job.

i once got grief from 2mods on nammers for basterdising a t5 .... they freaked when i told em the frame was about 3yrs old when i cut it ........... i say its your scoot you ride it do what the hell you want with it

Exactly!
Oscar Wilde couldn't have said it better.. but then again, Oscar Wilde wouldn't have said it.... but if he'd tried... it wouldn't have been better....... I think.

keep in mind it isn't finished... still have cowls to paint and badges and stuff...

That is going to look sweet. "Scooters are meant to be loved, not understood."
Apologies to OW.

Amen to that, good for you.

more more more pics.

redid the wiring... lights!






finishing up the details...






chrome trim from autozone






custom seat badge

Well done!

Awesome job!!!

love it. especially the cupcake badge.

so this whole time, my friend has thought we wouldn't be able to get it finished until next summer when the weather got to be a little warmer. little does he know I've been working on it the whole time. revealed it to him tonight (his birthday)... told him I needed help carrying something up to his apartment on the 4th floor... he came out the door to see it parked.

What a good friend you are!
He looks pumped!
Awesome story!
Looks good!

Edit:
Just noticed what was going on with the unicorn!

That's rad man. Good gift.

That's freaking bithchen brotha. You're boy was so stoked. Then to go speeding off with no helmet, running red light.....thats truly non thorough thinking stoke there. You are a good friend. More needed like you

good karma for you mate, now ur friend bike is officially a member of Bitsa and Vader club as they share almost the same colour

hope ur friend enjoy the bike and cheer

Saw this on the Reddit Vintage Scooter page, and wondered if it was one of us! 8) 8) 8)

Dude, that's awesome.. smiles all around!
+ on you for that one!

Very cool and very true about the "budget built". What is that pink product?

naval jelly. basically a really thick acidic jelly product you can spread around on things. used it to clean a lot of the rusted or gummed-up components.

Loved this part.

Sincerely,
Cheap Bastard

well done you .... ya mate looks well pleased ............... if everyone had a mate like you itd be a whole nicer place to live

I did not think there was anybody on the whole damn planet as nice as you. Your story inspires me. THANK YOU.

Well done all around!!

Very well done. I gotta ask though where does the name cupcake come in?

his nickname is cupcake

Ah I see, I thought I was missing something about the scooter.

Love that build. You sir, are a great friend. You also put me over the fence on throwing a T5 horn cover on my P.

just keep in mind it's not a direct bolt-on -- you'll need all the hardware and the different badges (PX style) and the different horn bracket. you also will have to drill a 3rd hole in the top of the legshield.

I did this and used one of those little license plate screw hole things

Thanks for the heads up.