Dirt Build,
This thread is for discussion and pics of scooters that are used off road or on unimproved roads. Vespas are certainly no strangers to unpaved travel, but sometimes they've been modified to handle it better, either by not getting stuck or by not breaking down from the continued abuse.
I've ridden mostly stock Vespas offroad quite a lot and now I want to build something that can maybe do it just a little better than stock - reinforced floorboard, frame to column brace, no muffler underneath, extended rear shock and a few other ideas that have occurred to me when I had problems riding in bad places.
I'll be taking and posting pics of what I've come up with so far. I'm hoping that others will post their experiences and ideas, as well as asking anything they like on the subject.
There seems to be some interest and riding an old Vespa in the dirt is too much FUN, especially when you run into random civilians in remote places!
Here's the dirt riding thread that got me scheming:[url] Dirt bike Vespas I'll just continue the build part here.
Last edited by V oodoo on Sat, 17 Jan 2015 17:01:44 +0000; edited 1 time
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Style Maven
'74 50s x3 '78 P200 E '84 Cosa '91 PK50XL2 - & - '58 AllState '68 Sprint '66(?) Super125 and '72 DanMotor Super150
Joined: Tue, 23 Nov 2010 02:37:37 +0000
Posts: 9325 Location: seattle/athens |
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Style Maven
'74 50s x3 '78 P200 E '84 Cosa '91 PK50XL2 - & - '58 AllState '68 Sprint '66(?) Super125 and '72 DanMotor Super150
Joined: Tue, 23 Nov 2010 02:37:37 +0000
Posts: 9325 Location: seattle/athens |
Fri, 13 Sep 2013 07:52:46 +0000
quote
From the Dirt Vespa thread:
Quote: These pics & videos ARE getting to me, getting an itch. So now I'm getting more & more stoked for a winter project building a frame up just for dirt riding. These are some of the random ideas that have occurred to me and I'm sure some will be stupid or impractical or doomed for some other reason, so fire away with your own suggestions or the problems you see in mine. I was thinking about the widebody I posted earlier, it's not good enuff to restore, but maybe still too nice to make into a dirt bike. I can get a decently beat up Sprint very cheeep, with only a badly rusted floor & no motor. I was thinking of putting on a new 1/8" or 3/16" steel plate floor but leave off the reinforcing struts, to handle any ground contact. I'd also brace the frame to the column top. The Sprint fork should be OK, I'd remove the mudguard anyway & see if I can maybe use a different shock & shock mount points to get more travel, then add a hugger. I have an electric start 150 motor w/ 10" wheels I'd try converting to 8" so I effectively get 'lower gearing' and I can run that 4.00x8 tractor tire. No kickstarter needed to catch on stuff too. Electric start is NICE when you're using both legs trying to stay upright. At the back I'd stick the longest travel shock I could fit, moving the back of the motor down some and modify the pipe to clear. Maybe bring it over the top of the motor or over thru the toolbox cowl. High as I could route it I suppose. I'm thinking of running all control cables outside the tunnel, on top of the floorboards tucked into the corner next to the tunnel. Tractor seat probably. Match my back tire, right? Needs to LOOK like a Vespa, so both cowls on & Euro Sprint headset w/ huge lite. Might cut down the floor a little, but full legshield for me.  Other ideas welcome  If/when I start, I'll prob do a project thread. |
⬆️ About 1y elapsed between posts ⬇️
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Style Maven
'74 50s x3 '78 P200 E '84 Cosa '91 PK50XL2 - & - '58 AllState '68 Sprint '66(?) Super125 and '72 DanMotor Super150
Joined: Tue, 23 Nov 2010 02:37:37 +0000
Posts: 9325 Location: seattle/athens |
Fri, 10 Oct 2014 06:04:02 +0000
quote
finally progress
 Where I found it a couple years ago and winter was coming so I adoption & covered shelter were offered         3 ported Bajaj cases w/ new 166 top end, light flywheel, 20/20 carb & SIP Road 2.0 running on alky free gas  16 ga bash plate is three times thicker than floor, will be bolted at edges as well     OK, now it's a bodge. Wings added to make it official. Almost done, now looking for some 3.50x10 knobbies... |
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bodgemaster
63 GL, 76 Super (x2), 74 Primavera (x2), 79 P200, 06 Fly 150
Joined: Thu, 26 Sep 2013 22:01:08 +0000
Posts: 6934 Location: So Cal |
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Style Maven
'74 50s x3 '78 P200 E '84 Cosa '91 PK50XL2 - & - '58 AllState '68 Sprint '66(?) Super125 and '72 DanMotor Super150
Joined: Tue, 23 Nov 2010 02:37:37 +0000
Posts: 9325 Location: seattle/athens |
Mon, 13 Oct 2014 23:32:44 +0000
quote
Thanks for the tire info. I think I might try that fatty 3.50x10 in back and the 2.75x10 in front.
 I got the bike running and I went for short first ride & it is pretty fast at first blush. We shall see... gotta do the rear brakes & a few other things still. Headlight grill? Ask and ye shall receive. Maybe i should do a headlight too. 
Coming soon hopefully: Rolling shot |
⬆️ About 14w elapsed between posts ⬇️
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Style Maven
'74 50s x3 '78 P200 E '84 Cosa '91 PK50XL2 - & - '58 AllState '68 Sprint '66(?) Super125 and '72 DanMotor Super150
Joined: Tue, 23 Nov 2010 02:37:37 +0000
Posts: 9325 Location: seattle/athens |
Sat, 17 Jan 2015 17:32:47 +0000
quote
Some progress, it runs pretty good but I still need to sort out the shifter box to find all four gears. I'll probably put an old tractor style seat on it too.
The blue cowl is from an old POLICE bike.  Now I need to get those knobbies ordered, lose the whitewalls & find some dirt! 
all the floor bolts in and sexy new pipe Last edited by V oodoo on Thu, 24 Mar 2016 21:58:03 +0000; edited 1 time |
⬆️ About 8w elapsed between posts ⬇️
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Veni, Vidi, Posti
74 Super, 75 Super, PX project, LML off-roader and '66 Blue Badge Smallframe
Joined: Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:47:42 +0000
Posts: 8370 Location: Victoria, Australia |
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