Modern Vespa

Enclosed are 7 modification to the Vespa GTS250ie to increase the comfort level of the operator. Most of the items have their own thread within the project section of this forum. Each thread will introduce the item/modification, outline the intent and/or benefit of each modification, walk thru the fabrication steps or installation and provide observations and reviews annotations. The modifications include:

1. Termoscud scooter skirt, retains nice warm air within the footwell cavity.
Termoscud Tucano Urbano install and review on a vespa GTS


2. Heated jacket liner and heated gloves, wireless troller unit, like being wrapped in a heated blanket.
Vespa GTS 250 Heated jacket and gloves install step-by-step


3. Passenger footpeg extensions, keeps passenger feet away from operator, useful for 2-up riding
Vespa GTS passenger footpeg extensions install and review


4. Homemade adjustable lumbar support system. Acts like and provides much needed back support. Breakaway feature for safety.
Make a Scooter Lumbar support step-by-step walkthru


5. Throttle lock. Maintains hand comfort level for long distance riding.


6. Faco adjustable wind screen. Can adjust while riding. Could be a tad higher. Cuts 60 mph noise levels in 1/2 or so.


7. Ear plugs. A must for high speed > 50mph riding to attenuate wind noise. Complements Faco wind screen


Now on to those storage mods.....
Enjoy!
Keithm

Nice work, Keith, but living in Sydney, thermoscuds and heated grips are hardly relevant for me. 8)

And as far as I am concerned, you left out an important comfort mod - replace the GTS seat with a GT one to get rid of that hump. But then I am a 6-footer and like to sit in the middle of the saddle.

I also fitted the aftermarket eco-leather grips and found them a bit more comfortable for my hands because they are fatter. 8)

And you haven't yet included suspension upgrades for more comfortable riding.

Mike

Mike,
Thanks for the comment, I have not considered suspension upgrade, the OEM suspension seems to handle the bumps well. Guess I'll need to try a scooter with upgraded shocks to see/feel the difference.
Keithm

Very nice write up. Thumbs up from me. Mike is spot on about the shocks. You just don't know how awful the stock ones are until you get a malossi on there. Lie riding a different bike. I don't know how many miles are on your 250 but as the mileage goes up the stock shocks get worse. We have horrible roads over here so they were definitely a God send.

Keith,

You re amazing amigo! You have created "Franken-Vespa" - the new and improved version.

All kidding aside, those are some great mods and such detailed posts. You have some great knowledge and we all appreciate your sharing it. Thank you.

Judy,
Thanks for the tip. My GTS has ~700 miles. I'll be keeping a eye on the shock degradation over time. So far no issues with my suspension.
Keithm

We use the same Warm and Safe wireless heat troller with the Powerlett plug for controlled heat during the ride. It rarely gets too cold but when it does it keeps you nice and toasty. I really like the level of thought and attention you put into your mods.

I really like the warm and safe brand, as the jacket liner has no insulation which allows for a more compact storage when not in use. The vespa provides plenty of excess power (watts) to keep the jacket and on gloves on full power, if needed.
Keithm

Thanks for the step by step instructions and photos on the foot peg extensions. Great post.

Just glad I don't need the thermoscud.

The Thermoscud provides an 80 degree F foot well cavity, + coupled with a heated jacket liner and gloves makes for a nice scooter ride on a cold day. Only real concern is that when the Thermoscud is cinched to the fwd glovebox when not in use it kinda blocks the radiator vents. I'll need to find a way to offset the fabric from the vent.
Keithm

Based on MV member recommendations, I added Item 8 to the list, Malossi RS24 front shock.
The detailed step-by-step install thread is located here:
Malossi RS24 Front Shock Install on Vespa GTS Walk Thru


Keithm

Ok...I added comfort item 9 . Malossi RS24 rear shock install and review thread in the project section here:
Malossi RS24 Rear Shock Install on Vespa GTS Walk Thru

Keithm

Comfort item # 10
"no drill" hiway pegs for the Vespa GTS
Step-by-step fabrication here:
Fabricate hiway pegs for Vespa GTS step-by-step walk thru

So how are you liking the shocks and did they make the ride more comfortable? Mine sure did. Nice mods. I don't need the warm ones but very nice or the colder climate riders. Now id someone only made one with a/c i'd be all over it. Have fun riding now.

Thanks for sharing your comfort projects.

Really appreciate those that have the tools, hands and ingenuity to tackle these projects.

Thermal comfort features...perhaps not...but others worth considering.

Thanks!

Judy,
I'm really enjoying the way the scooter is handling with the upgraded shocks. The benefit of 2-up riding is well apparent. I'll need to check if the Termoscud still fits with the hi-way pegs.
Keithm

Convinced, my shocks are 40 000km, ordered a set F&R

A necessity for 2-up riding
Keithm

Fitted RS24 front today. Yes it's good but in my opinion RS24 should only replace a worn shock, not a new one.
Got some improvement on turn, direction is more precise when "on the angle".
Rear fitted and the bike is a bit higher ( 4th position setting), need more ride to define the imrovement.

the knob likes the Moog synth.

I chucked the Faco windscreen, which I was never satisfied with anyway and replaced it with a Vespa tall wind screen. I cut down the wind screen to a level which:
1. eliminated wind buffet and noise
2. allowed clear view over screen
The cut-line and trimming process can be found in the modernvespa project files located here:
Trimming down a Vespa GTS windscreen step-by-step walk thru


Before trim, tall wind screen, must look thru screen


after trim, can look over screen and no buffeting!
Keithm

It isn't the tall windscreen that makes the scooter look funny, it is all of that crap you have hanging off it. I mean, who is going to notice a few inches of clear windscreen when you have a wheel stuck to the front and square black boxes (that clash with the curves of the scooter) bolted to the back?

it is a Battle Scooter!!

Very true!

Had an opportunity to go out for a longer ride. The screen provided the much desired wind noise/ buffet reduction needed. I also noticed more hand protection also. I experienced a much more comfortable ride. The key is finding the correct screen height.
The correct screen height goal is attained when:
1. rider can just look over the screen
2. Have the airflow buffet transition point be 1/2 inch above your helmet, while at speed (65 mph).
I found this point with 3x iterative windscreen cuts as described in the project section.
All the best!
Keithm

Team,

I noticed the design for the front highway pegs, I live in a metropolitan area and have no access to those tools, does anyone sell those? any other ideas for those front highway pegs, i do have the plastic pan underneath so I would have to remove that to remove the one on the picture? Let me know