Modern Vespa

How as your MP3 stood up to the ravages of an English winter. Are there any weak spots to look out for?

Only one that I know of - the parking brake cable can freeze, so don't use the parking brake if there's a severe frost or it goes below freezing. My Fuoco has withstood six winters so far outside, the last two without being attended to in any way for several months.

If you're using it on the salty roads, invest in some ACF-50, and with a brush work that in anywhere there might be unhelpful corrosion - transmission case, front wheel bolts etc. Ensure all switches and connectors have been dosed with silicone grease or other dielectric lubricant.

Thanks Jim for the advice.

As a complete engineering numpty, I have to ask about the dielectric grease. Do I have to take the switches apart to apply the grease or can I do it without tools?

If you get the spray version, then you can spray inside the switches and then work them a few times - have a cloth handy to wipe off the inevitable excess mess! The most vulnerable connectors are the ones behind the rear side panels plus the starter relay and hidden fuse.