Modern Vespa

Hello. I just bought this 2010 MP3 500 last month, and already dropped it on it's side while attempting to back out of the garage.

Well, I guess this small drop on it's side knocked the front wheels out of alignment with the steering column.

When I have the handlebars pointed straight, both wheels are pointing slightly to the right.

Have any of you had this problem? If so, how can this be fixed?

Thanks!

Derwin

The 'quick and dirty' method: You can turn the bars fully right against the end-stop, and gently bang them on the end-stop. They should move bit by bit into the correct position.

The 'correct' method: Remove all the gubbins from the handlebars to reveal the central steering-tube pinch-bolt. Undo this half a turn or so, move the handlebars as above, then nip up to the correct torque.

I can't be arsed to do all that, so use the former method...

The former method works. I know!!

yep the former method. quick and easy.

I think I may use the "correct" method to fix this, since it doesn't seem to be too laborious.

Thank you, my friends. You helped me greatly, and you saved me a few dollars as well. You can't beat that!

UPDATE: I just took the parts off, and I wanted to make sure that I am tightening the correct bolt.

Is it this one that is being pointed out here:



If this is not it, does anybody have a picture or drawing that could help me?

Thanks.

Yep, that's the one.

Helpful hint: once you get the handlebars aligned, make some marks with a black Sharpie so you know where the bar should be if you knock them out of position again.

Thank you VERY much! This fixed it perfectly.

You guys are the best!

i had the same problem recently..

and the steering alignment gotten worse as I ride along, i have like 10-15 degree of wrong angle before I stop the bike in a safe place and put the bike on hydro lock, straighten up the 2 front wheels and using my foot to step on 1 side of the wheel and push the handlebar till its back to the straight up position. (just like how its done on a bicycle)

I will removing the handlebar stuffs and tightened the bolts again before it cause an accident on the move..

had anyone tried changing the handlebar to something else?

finding something else is the problem.

To elaborate on OAD's point, the handlebars on the Fuoco are not like those on normal motorcycles. They don't just get clamped down to the steering tube. They have a portion that clamps on to the (hollow) tube that's welded on.

You could get another set of bars, but you'd still have to figure out a way to attach them. That's where the trouble lies.

Mark

Check out this thread about reinforcing the MP3 steering column.


Steering tube plugs

got it..

let me do some measurement when i take off the handlebar assembly during the weekend.

from the image, it looks like something similar to a bicycle's setup. (i'm in the bicycle industry)

maybe a bicycle stem and handlebar with some modification could replace the assembly..
could lose the plastic around the steering area and may not look as standard as original..

Why do you want to replace the bars? They aren't the problem...