Modern Vespa

I've started making changes to the stock scooter. I painted these side grills brown, but right after I did I was thinking I should have gone with chrome. What do you think?

I switched to white walls.

The brown looks good-it complements the seat. Are the knee pad covers the same colour as well? What make are those whitewalls-not Schwalbe I hope.

The knee covers are stock black, for about the next hour. I'm on my way out the door to buy some brown leather to laminate over the black. The paint is drying on the bag hook as I type, it's going to be silver/chrome paint.

The tires are continental. Can't risk a look for low quality tires. I wouldn't buy the shenkio white walls either. Tires are mostly purchased on faith in the company.

Changed the stock grips for leather ones, and the heavier bar ends that came with the top case.

Both ends.

I've also switched over all led bulbs, for all lights other than the headlight. I'll try to post some photos of this soon, but they don't turn out well in photographs, too bright.

So far, I really like what you've done. The only thing that I wonder about is how the paint holds up. Especially on the bag hook. Where did you get the new grips? I'd like to get them for my GTV. Love the white walls!

Well on the bag hook won't get much if any use from me. I've used lacquer based paints on it so I'm hoping it holds up. I like to fiddle with things so I won't be too worried if it needs a repaint in a year or two.

The radiator louvers are the bigger question. I'm concerned about heat and fading. So this will likely have to be painted every year.

The hand grips are a vespa branded item. I bought them from my not so local, local shop. They are quite expensive, but nice. I bought a black set although capped end, for my wife's lx 150. Her scooter will be another thread.

The knee panels were really easy to do.

Pictures didn't post

Both done

Overall.

Sewed my cool ass seat cover in place of the factory cover.

Nice!

Oh yeah, I think you will like the chrome smooth grips. This is a very classy and elegant looking Vespa GTV. I really like the white walls on your scoot.

them bar ends look rude

Thanks, it's coming along. Still lots of things I'm working on.

Indeed they should. Thanks the white walls do look sharp.

Indeed, some get nervous when I roll by.

More changes. I painted out the black rubber on the footboards with a red brown to see how it holds up. If it works I'll mix up a better colour match for the other browns already on the scooter

Looks nice. The next 'mod' should be to remove those stickers.

Hi, Great Lakes Roller:
I just came across your posts here on Modern Vespa. I love your leather grip covers, and would like to find your source. I have replaced my grip covers with brown rubber, but they aren't nearly as nice as yours. Your scoot looks really nice. Thanks
Lowell

I just bought a 2015 GTV 300. I've been waiting for Vespa to offer different colors for the GTV than they had for the past few years. They finally offered a color that I liked so I bought one. It was expensive!! But it's beautiful. I want to make the same color changes as you did. Yours look great!!

I love the brown theme on your scooter, but I hope you have better luck than I did with those Piaggio eco-leather grips. Mine (black) have split along the length, and for the present I have glued them together. But I am now looking at the grips on the new 2015 300.

Mike

These look like Continental whitewalls. Where in the world did you track these down?! :shock:

[quote="great lake roller"]I've started making changes to the stock scooter. I painted these side grills brown, but right after I did I was thinking I should have gone with chrome. What do you think?[/quote

How does that chrome spray paint look?