Modern Vespa

Pulled a service on my wife's "new" 2002 ET4 with 980 miles on her. Question is the 11 YO belt that's on there. Obviously the scooter has sat still the vast majority of it's life and I've read all the posts I can find on Belt wear and replacement. Most talk miles and heat but but none on just plain old.

I guess the question is going ahead and replacing warranted or needed or am I just worrying over nothing? She is well insured but I really like having her around and don't want anything to turn her off riding.

So replace or wait till my 3k oil change.

All belts deteriorate with age, it is not possible to know what shape the belt is in just because it is low mileage.

It really comes down to is how much you value reliability (i.e. the possibility of getting stranded somewhere due to a funky belt)...

I have an 06 ,who knows how much older stock belt was put on at the time .The belt looks new as a new belt.They don't get any sun light.Im gona run it!Take the cover off and have a look.The way I see it if no cracks it should be good to go.Good luck

Since one of the main failure modes of a broken belt is to wrap around the clutch pulley and lock up the rear wheel while riding, seems worthwhile to change it.

Old rubber is old.

That's a good point .

I'd be replacing the tyres and the carb hoses as well.

I had an old chain snap on a yamaha RD350LC on the motorway and wrap around the rear wheel causing lock up, I am sooo lucky, the truck behind me ran over me but fortunatly I came out the other side, going under the axles(front of my full face helmet was trashed, If I had been wearing an open face I would not be here now) Dont take chances with the final drive of any machine, it can kill.

Having experienced a belt explosion, rear wheel lockup, I am with the replace it now crowd, no matter how it looks.

Rule is, you can tell when a belt is bad, you can not tell when a belt is good. Replace rubber parts at 5-6 years max.

SOLD!

Belt replacement this weekend. I checked all the vacuum and fuel lines and it looks like those were replaced a few years ago as they look good with no cracks or wear but I doubt the belt was ever touched. New one is going on.

Good and better safe than sorry. I went 7yrs on tires and belt on my LT and that was pushing it. I only rode him around the neighborhood and to the store a few miles over but still when they go it's not pretty. Good luck with the change out.