Modern Vespa

Hello Everyone,

New to the forum, but have read many a MV post over the last year and a half since I got my first scoot.

My current ride is a Derbi GP1 250 - has similar guts to a GTS250, but with a different look and performance-bent. Mods from stock at the moment are a Costa variator (for the extra performance) and a Yoshi pipe (for the sound). Love this scoot, especially pushing it up and down a mountain through some nice twisties. Doesn't have the best carrying capacity (no flat floor and don't want to wreck the look of the scoot from the rear with a TB), but found a tank bag that sits nicely in the tunnel and the GP1 is fun and practical as a commuter.

I have a friend who installed a Malossi V4 head and cylinder kit in his GTS250 (did the work himself). Got me thinking about doing a similar upgrade to my GP1, though I lack my friend's wrneching/technical skills, so I would need to get a shop to do it for me.

Have read a lot of posts about these, but most date from a few years back when the head first became available. Not too many follow up posts by people who have been running them for a while.

A question or two:

* for anyone who has done a similar mod - what sort of labour HOURS are involved in this cylinder/head upgrade, assuming a competent mechanic who has done a few before? Just trying to get an idea of potential labour costs.

* what has been your experience re: reliability of your scoot post upgrade?

Ride safe, J

Hi Scoot


I thought about what you want to do when I had need to replace my cylinder head, but I opted for the better economy of stock (though I'd love to have the oomph of the kit). I'm sure the users will show up soon -- they haven't woken up yet.

Welcome, Welcome, Welcome!
What took you so long?

I can't help you with advice about the head but welcome to the forum.

Hi Donald, RangerAJ and Hachi,

Thanks for the warm welcome. Never joined before now because I didn't ride a Vespa. Still don't, but feel like riding a Quasar engined scoot gets me close enough to post a few things and share the passion.

Thanks again and ride safe.

scootcrazy,

Close enough. Welcome to the forum!