Modern Vespa

Hello, my name is James and I have been considering the purchase of a 2009 MP3 500. I have located a used one in Louisiana and wanted to introduce myself and share with you what I have learned these last couple of weeks while I go through the "process".

I've done some research, registered with this site (thank you modernvespa.com!) looked over the Repair Manual PDF's, poured over pictures and acquired a workshop manual. I'm aware of the steering head "notch" issue and made a checklist of what I would want to look for during pre-inspection and after I got the bike home.

Seeing that I'm the adventure type with motorcycle-impulse-buying issues, I figured I would be bringing the bike home with me regardless. I have several motorcycles, but I recently purchased a scooter for my wife and now I have the bug to have one myself.

I drove out to Monroe, LA to look at the bike on Wednesday. It was dirty from sitting outside at a pickup truck wholesalers lot for 2-3 months. They replaced the battery during that time and it started right up.

I rode it for about seven miles total and it's an unusual motorcycle until you get a feel for it. I noticed the odd steering behaviors right away...

I was prepared for the steering issue and picked up on it right away as it was all over the road a low speed and I noticed something strange from the transmission too. I made the seller aware of the steering head issue and negotiated an already low price to an even lower price, and loaded the bike up and headed home.

From that first ride it was obvious, it has a VERY LOOSE front end, with quite a bit of play in the steering. You can see the lower steering-head bearing slop around when you move the handlebars. It doesn't seem to be the "notch" I keep reading about, but its all over the road at low speeds, almost as if the steering head nut and jam-nut have backed off, like it needs to be tightened back up in the steering head. You can easily see the slop at the lower head bearing, the bearing looks dry and the balls tap around when you move the handlebars.

On my way back home, I stopped by a Vespa dealer (very friendly and helpful), they felt if was in need of some adjustment, but said it could be wasted bearings too, they would not commit until they could get it torn apart, they figured 2.5 hours of labor, I'm fine with that. I'll make an appointment in the coming weeks.

The bike cleaned up very well, I mean its in fantastic shape with 7900 miles. The plastic doesn't have a scratch, the Maddstad windshield is absolutely flawless, it has a RAM mount neatly tucked in above the dash. It has the modernvespa highway pegs and a MMG (?) tailcase that I know nothing about, but it is in great shape and comes right off without unbolting anything. The tailcase mounts to a well-made (homemade) baseplate.

ALL the fluids look nearly new, everything is topped off, the brake fluid looks new and there is no scoring on the rotors.

The air filter was immaculate. It has a new Michelin City Grip rear tire, front tires are original and look a little thin.

I'm perplexed by the steering head issue. The bike seems well cared for, I'm getting quotes for 1.5-2.5 hours of labor to get it diagnosed. Repairing it could be as high as $600.00, no worries, i just want it sorted out right, but the bike rides very well, despite this issue. I've read some people just live with the sloppy steering, don't see how...

I'm not sure about the grumble/stutter from the transmission, I can describe it like a cars worn-out automatic transmission almost, as it shudders going into second gear. But after riding it 50 miles today, the grumble goes away if you give it a heavy throttle through take-off, as if its "geared" for a tall first gear, might be inherent to this particular bike or different vsr rollers from stock, I don't know.

The bike (2009) seems to have one owner from Madisonville, LA, purchased in April of 2011.

The bike came with four keys including the master and an extra blue key, I have not found the Security card.

I appreciate the information I've learned from this site and look forward to many happy miles.

James

Don't worry about the card it's just about useless. Enjoy it and plan on going to Amerivespa in New Orleans next June.

You should be able to lose that grumble by installing Dr. Pulley sliders in the variator. Maybe at the 6000 mile service they just installed new original rollers. Or maybe the 6000 mile service didn't happen. If you want to install Dr. Pulleys, there's a lot of discussion on MV about what weight to use.

Congratulations on new scoot and finding Modern Vespa.

I'll be installing my Dr Pulleys shortly...

Does the team think its also worth doing the mod described in this post to take away excess radius metal in the variator as well while you have the variator disassembled?

Grundling Gone! Forever?

Or is there no benefit if you install Dr Pulleys

I don't know if this will help, but here goes. I dropped my MP3 a few times in the first year. It developed a lot of play that drove me nuts. The handlebars would turn an inch or two out, and still steer straight while the handlebars were still off to the left. My dealer just tightened the steering, and it's been fine since then.

This kind of seems like what you are experiencing. It was a cheap fix to an irritating problem. The person who had it before might have dropped it a few times and did what I did. The fix was around $40 I believe.

Taking away the metal on the variator is the hard way. Do a search for "fuzzy washer". That is a simple installation that makes a big difference.

Thank you for the replies. The more I read these forums and ride the bike, it seems to be inherent to the MP3. It feels like clutch chatter, but if I give it more throttle at takeoff, it goes away.

What a cool scooter and I'm glad I found this site, you guys know your stuff!
James

also look at changing the clutch spring to the malossi white one. gives a firmer engagement of the clutch.

Say, I don't think I ever saw this tip before. Is this new information?

Hello Sooner Nation - welcome aboard my brother!

Boomer Sooner!!

I have the malossi spring and fuzzy washer, so they are all going in together!

I'll have a look at the variator and see if there's any reason to do a little work on the radius and report back.

Thanks for the advice.

Welcome!

The roughness at low speeds is a well-known issue. The suggestions already given (Fuzzy Washer, Dr Pulley sliders) will help.

Hope you can join us for some of the MP3 Gatherings!

Thank you for the warm welcome.

I'm building my list of mods, fuzzy washer and maloosi spring are on the list.

I just put the bike in for inspection at my local Piaggio dealer, good folks, nice shop. They're looking at the clutch, belt, rollers and software update too, but first, I have to figure out the bearing issue, waiting for the diagnosis, keeping my fingers crossed...

James

I finally have the steering head bearings sorted out...

The steering head got a replacement "bearing kit" from Piaggio, $79.00 parts USD and $170.00 labor. They had the bike for about 4 weeks.

The steering works perfect and the handling is much improved.

The belt was "worn" but in good shape. The "crunching" at 20mph is becoming unnerving (do I hear the belt "squeaking?, or is it the sliders mis-formed from wear?), I need to get that on the service schedule.

I'm 230lbs, carry a passenger about 10% of the time, not much distance touring as I have other bikes for that, highway 20%, city 80%. I'm planning on replacing the belt, Dr Pulley 17g sliders (18g?) and doglegs, white Maloosi? springs and the Fuzzy washer. I'm going to have them install the steering bearing grease plugs then too.

What belt should I be looking at? Still trying to source all my parts, any suggestions?

James

Hey James, welcome to the MP3 family .... and thanks for doing your homework in the beginning.

you will find a lot of experience in here, since the MP3 came to the USA in 2007 a lot of old timers here have torn this down completely and rebuilt it, while painting the scoot different colors.

Maksor, OAD, Fuzzy, Stickyfrog, just to name a few.

Keeping notes on what you read, things you want to add to or mods. Thanks.

Hope to find you some times at some of our riding trips.

FM