Modern Vespa

I'm riding my BV 350 on my Big Assed Tour/Bucket List Tour from San Diego to wherever I get. Right now I'm in Greenville, Al, having added KS, KY, TN,.Ms, Al, and FL to my Map. Tomorrow, GA and on to the Blueridge Parkway. I'll do a more detailed report when I get back in late June, with some unremarkable pictures and comment. I don't want this thread to become a BV 350 review (it's been great) , so you can pm me with any questions about the scooter. I'd update daily, but by the time I finish a day's ride, clean the bad boy, shower, eat and snark on FB, I'm layed out.

Looking forward to "some unremarkable pictures and comment"

Safe travels and have fun.

7,500 miles in, 36 States, Beartooth Pass today
Report will be posted after Amervespa... it will cover about 32 days.

I believe I meet JHop yesterday at a stoplight in Brooks, OR. He said he was at about 8,300 miles and 38 states. Looked like he was doing fine, though he said it was about time to get the bike serviced .

You did. Nice to see another BV350, and hard to catch.

200 miles home tomorrow. I finished my tour with a ride into Yosemite from the west and climbed out of upper Yosemite east to the 395 via Tioga Pass. I will finish just over that magical 10,000 mile mark. Full report a few weeks down the line. I have to cull over 500 photos,

Finshed with a great ride down the 25 and east to Fresno. West into Yosemite and out the upper eastern side on the 120. Finished Saturday morning. 34 days, 40 States, 10,100 miles. Editing photos and AV this week. Ride Report in a week or two. As we often find, I was fresh every day until I got home. Then whatever stress or fatigue I had compartmentalized said hello.

Hurray, you have my vote for 2013 BV350 ride of the year! 8)

(so, did you finally find someplace to get the bike serviced?)

I had been riding with a kludged gas cap since mine blew off the bike while refueling a couple of thousand miles back. I made one out of a spray can cap and used the cover plate to put pressure on it, but it wasn't really pressurized. Wheelworks in Eugene sold me one off of a scooter in their shop, along with an okl filter should I stop later down the line. Nice folks. I moved on without a service. I had had the 6k in Iowa City, Iowa, but they didn't change the Oil Filter. I'm not really sure what they did. Poor Service. Didn't tell me about the oil filter until I saw it wasn't on the bill. They knew I had to move on the next day. Who knows if they did anything.

I would have had to lay over maybe two days to wait for a Mech in Eugene, which would have been two more days of Motels. The bike carried me home without the change.

Why on earth would you change the oil, but not the actual filter it passes through millions of times in it's service life?

(Stories about dealers like this who obviously cant grab their ass with both hands really inflame me)

My guess would be because they had not serviced a BV 350 before, and it didn't occur to them that they didn't have the correct filter until they were already well into the job. (I agree with you, and it is one of my pet peeves, that there is such a large variation in the competency of various Vespa/Piaggio dealers - and scooter dealers generally, for that matter)

That may have been the case, but these bikes aren't new to market anymore and there are cross reference filters available (HiFlo to name one) which could be used.

At the very least they should inform the owner of their lack of a filter beforehand and let him chose to perform a partial oil service or not (I'd likely pass and try later/elsewhere)

They carried PIaggio BV 250's and Vespas, but...

The had to go to Piaggio site to find out what needed to be done.
The told me I was early for the service, which was due at 10K mile; I had to tell them they were looking at kilometers and 10k kilometers was 6k miles.

I caught the lack of charge for oil filter on my bill, waited in the morning for them to open and asked why. The Maint Mgr said they didn't have one in stock. I of course said he should have informed me. "oh, sorry for that".

I also asked why only a quart of oil when the bike holds more than that. He said something about the oil being clean.

Fact: They knew I had to leave the next morning. They knew I had ridden over 400 miles to make the appt. They knew I was in a hurry.

I'm not even sure they changed the oil or replaced the plug. I have an opinion, but can't prove intent to defraud I'm not sure what I should do, other than write Piaggio and call the owner (not the Service Mgr) now that I am back. Vespa Motorsport is putting in my oil filter, new air filter and oil change today.

Any advice would be appreciated. I don't want to crucify anybody; I don't want it to happen to the next guy. Iowa City Motorsports was the shop. Svc done June 5th I think,but I have the receipt showing what I was charged for, volume of oil, etc.

I'm one of those guys who believes a good job should be acknowledged, and a crappy one should be acknowledged as well. Sounds like the dealer in Eugene went the extra mile for you, and the one in Iowa City did a crappy job. I sure wouldn't hesitate to acknowledge what actually happened. Your thoughts above about follow-thru sound reasonable to me. How about a brief letter to the Iowa City dealer with a copy to Piaggio North America. (I don't imagine you want to sink too much into this - though that is certainly your call)

Your story, and the opinions of others reinforces how fortunate those of us who have good dealerships to rely on are. And how rare they are in the big picture.

Ive been going round and round with a fellow on "another" forum who begrudges dealers who ask for a penny above MSRP, and the fact that "he doesnt need them 'cause he does his own service", and it's attitudes like his that help produce dealers which are substandard.

For people like the OP, Dooglas, myself and others who may be capable or interested in performing our own service, the good dealers are still worth their weight in gold and can even add to the DIY service experience.

Dealers like the one mentioned in Iowa, unfortunately help perpetuate the bad impression some have and that makes it a vicious cycle.

For consumers: Find a dealer you like, and patronize them!

For dealers: Be a dealer customers trust and want to patronize!

Yep, especially those like SDG that bring you in to do your own work and then will sell you another scooter once you are complete your service!

Seriously, I wish we had the Vespa dealer/service locally, but I'm glad I have a Vespa dealer three hours away with whom I have faith.

JHop, I look forward to your ride report and photos once you Amerivespa is over.

Brilliant.

Locked at the request of the OP. Look for a new thread soon.