Modern Vespa

So I sold my GT200 and bought a GTV 300 last week and can honestly say I'm disappointed in the fit and finish of these newer bikes compared to my GT. I have a handful of examples but lets just focus on the headset....

When I first picked it up I noticed it looked like the clamshell was not closed properly. The front (by the windsbield) was closed but it's loose and open closest to the rider.

Bottom piece has two screws. Too piece has two screws. I removed the windshield today and removed the top two screws to loosen the headset pieces to try to fit them back into place but that didn't help.

So basically, I have the two clamshell pieces that aren't closing properly. Sure it doesn't effect performance by it looks like ass and it certainly not what you'd expect on their flagship model.

Any ideas? Defective/warped pieces?

My GTV is tight and beautiful... Did you buy used or new?

Looking at the parts diagram it looks like there is a tab at the rear of the lower handlebar cover. If this tab is broken or not snapped in you may have a gap at the rear. Also it looks like there are four screws holding the lower handlebar cover in place but you have to remove the top handlebar cover to get to them. It looks like you have to remove the two screws under the lower cover at the front(above the horn cover) to remove the top handlebar cover and instrument panel.

Click on AF1 racing parts manual, select GTV300 and go to page 52

The link to the parts manual is here:
Workshop Manuals

Also reference page 253 in the workshop manual

Did you buy it new or used?

Scoot,

A picture would help.

It sure does not sound like you have had a positive purchase experience. Especially when your talking about the amount you had to plunk down for a GTV.

I bought a 2012 with 100 miles on it from a private party so it's not like I can go back into a dealership and gripe.

THANKS for the parts diagram. The only thing i can think to do is take the thing apart and try to put it all back together more carefully than they did at the factory.

I'll snap a pic later...but it's embarrassing. Certainly not what you'd expect from Vespa.

BWAHAHAHAHAHA
awesome.

Yeah, that clam shell set up is a bit tricky to get it set just right. I too would be suspect of whether that little plastic tab is intact or not.

Is there anything holding the instrument gauge in place?

When I took the bottom two screws out (towards the front, above the horn) I couldn't really lift up on it. I know it's connected to the speedo cable and wire harness but it was so dang tight and I didn't want to pull on it too hard.

I'm always extra cautious when I'm doing anything like this for the first time. I see the tab and it's clearly not catching where it needs too...

Did you look at page 253 in the workshop manual?

http://www.scootermanuals.us/manuals/Vespa/GTV250/GTV250%20Workshop%20Manual.pdf

This is for the 250. I couldn't find the 300.

Yes Hachi, thanks for that reference. It's the "slightly pulling it upwards" that might need to be changed to "it's tight as heck, you might need to really yank on it."

I didn't yank on it too much and wanted to get everything back together and ride so I put the job on the back burner for now. Seems like a nice winter job but don't really want to damage the parts by riding around with them the way they are now.

From the picture it actually looks like the bottom handlebar cover moves down. I've never taken one apart but only going by the pictures. I'm sure you'll figure it out. I know that when I take the handlebar covers off of my GT200 I have to carefully pull a little aggressively to get it undone.

Has it been over a year since they bought it? If not shouldn't it still be under warranty to whomever owns it?

I think the fit and finish HAS degraded in recent years. I remember when the 300's came out and there was an outcry from the Brits about how quickly they were showing rust. My 2007 paint WAS much nicer than the newest 300's I just saw last week. My acquaintance the custom painter noticed it too. Too bad.

i have a list of about ten things that I noticed right away.

Mainly...and this really chaps my ass. Every time I removed the wheels on my GT, I admired the brand "Grimecca" (sp?) and "Made in Italy" on the back of the wheels. The GTV has the chrome rims and they look identical to my GT wheels did....although, now...on the inside, they are stamped....wait for it.....MADE IN CHINA.

I just threw up a little in my mouth typing that.

You are very particular, I hope you get it sorted. I think it's almost unfair comparing any newer GTS to a GT. They were superior in build IMO and from the dozen or so I've seen up close. IMO a GT Vintage Red would be the perfect home mechanic rig. At least in my shop.

I finally took some pictures today...

Looks like hell.

I took the front two screws out and the headset is very 'firm' in place. If I wiggle the top piece around enough, eventually the speedo cable comes unplugged and then I have little more wiggle room. (it's still held in place by the wire harness)

It appears the back of the clam shell has a lip (as previously mentioned) but then a smaller post on each end, to the left and right of the tab. One of those is broken. I can't imagine that this tiny tab is making the entire piece fit like shit.

This is the kinda thing I can't help but notice and wonder, "i bought a vespa....and have to stare at this?"

Gee - it's sad to see you are having these problems. My GTV300 was certainly not perfection, but that clamshell to me is not a fit and finish issue, but a problem after manufacture. I can't see how a machine could leave the factory looking like that.

Scoot,

We've got to resolve this. I took a photo just now to compare, and see if the top or bottom or both is the trouble.

I thought it might be the top... but now I'm thinking your base and top are mismatched. Perhaps one is of a different dash design, and the factory didn't match like-for-like...?

I wonder how hard it is to remove the lower half of the clam shell. Short of trying new pieces, I'm not sure how I'll ever know which half is bad. Definately a winter project; just pisses me off looking at it in the meantime.

How about some measurements... Hope this helps.

I'll run out there now!!! THX!!!

Thanks for all the help guys!

Scoot

After study of your stuff, it looks like the bottom piece is too high in front. Needs to be rotated down in front, letting the rear rise up. Wish I was there to help.

Looks to me like the handlebars are rotated too far up/back. See if you can rotate the handlebars more forward/down, and perhaps it will no longer interfere with the upper part of the clamshell.

Further review, I see this handlebar cannot be rotated (I am from bicycling background, handlebars can usually be rotated in their stems...). Anyway, perhaps the handlebar clamp is not fully inserted onto the steering tube. Or unfortunately the scooter was in a head-on type collision, causing the steering tube to be bent up a little, enough to cause the handlebars to interfere with the plastic clamshell.

I had a similar situation happen with my gts after getting it back from the shop. The top and bottom trim pieces on the handlebars looked very similar to yours. I took everything apart completely and realized there were several tabs that had been broken. I ordered a pre-colored part from scooter west and now it looks like it did before it went to the shop.

My headset tabs are broken and mine doesn't look as bad but i have a rattle that drives me nuts. Things have gone downhill since the ET'S and GT'S IMHO. Good luck on the fix and i'd bet it's a tab.

I don't believe it's broken, it looks like the retaining tab at the back of the bottom half of the clamshell just isn't locked properly into the top half. The two pieces should snap together if you give the rear end of the clamshell a good squeeze. If you'd rather be more gentle about it, remove the two screws beneath the front of the clamshell (use a magnet to prevent the screws from falling inside the legshield), lift the front of the clamshell slightly, locate the tab at the rear into its slot on the top half, then replace the screws at the front, again using a magnet to keep the screw from falling into the legshield. FYI, you may need to remove the horn cover to access those screws. Presto fixo.

Or if you're really bent out of shape about it, you could take it back to the dealer for a warranty repair and chide both them and the factory for doing a sloppy build & PDI, respectively.

And be sure to check that your spark plug cap is screwed securely onto the HT lead. Luigi never screws it on all the way and it invariably pulls out after a couple hundred miles.

Hey Scoot,
Resolved?

yep!

i see you live in Lake Geneva and I am sure that you know there is a Vespa place there that I have been to and they seemed quite nice, perhaps they could help