Modern Vespa

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In Europe there are several Chinese scooters with fuel injection to meet euro 4 & 5.

Oh, and Benelli's are built in China and come with fuel injection. Even their pair of scooters if they can be found.

That 169cc seems to be a pretty standard size. My wife's Genuine 170i is an awesome machine. Fuel injection as well as an oil filter. And 99MPG all day long.

I was looking at one that size. The Lance Cabo 200i.



169cc, fuel injected, ceramic coated cylinder, 2 year warranty. Don't know yet. For a lot less money I could do a lot with the ZNEN.

And not to shamelessly promote someone, but there's a guy out by Denver who has a site called Rolling Wrench. He has a lot of upgrades as well as just free advice for people with GY6 engines.

This was a really good video.

I'm sure the new addition won't be as fast or well built as a Genuine or a Lance, but I was intrigued. I had pretty decent luck with my last crate scooter only that I wanted bigger wheels and a bit more pep. I don't know if it's just the muffler but the new one has a decided bark to it that the older one lacked.

Sigh. I decided that it's finally time to sell the mighty ZNEN. I proved a point, hit 10K miles and it's still an excellent bike. The timing is just right.

LINK







Not sure what's next, but I'll be around, I'm sure. It's not like we don't have three other bikes, right?

Hopefully it goes to a good home. I always try to put the bikes with someone I'll never see again. Then you only see it in your mind as shiny and running like a Champ.

I don't know if I'll see 10k on my new addition but it will be fun to see if it does.

Maintenance, maintenance, maintenance. Magnetic drain plugs. Watch your vacuum lines. Frequent oil changes and good oil. Every time you change your oil get underneath and roll around looking at exhaust nuts, frame bolts and all the miscellaneous things that can vibrate loose. I've added a lot of lock washers in places. Grab a couple of tools for valve adjustments and learn that.

Ever own an air cooled VW? It's a lot like that.

I hope you hit 20K.

(in the voice of an english butler) ... I don't understand if it's complacency, sir ...

In this Country complacency has been the enemy of most scooters. Too many people who only buy a scooter to save gas have an automobile owners attitude. They never check fluids or inflation in their cars, let Jiffy Lube or the dealer clean their floors and haven't a clue what's under the hood.

Then they go to the local Pawn Shop, Hardware store or temporary corner lot and buy a 50cc Chinese scooter because they don't need to register or insure them in many States. When they cease to run, because they're out of oil, left out in the elements daily or just plain beat to crap, it's because they're Chinese and what do you expect?

I belong to over five scooter forums and several Facebook pages. I can only grimace at some of the things people say. Absolutely clueless.

Seamus got 10k out of his Znen and could have gotten much more. He just said all the things he did to keep it happy. Probably 5% of Chinese scooters owners are as scrupulous. And not just Chinese scooter owners either.

This is definitely a very true thing, the best that can be said in this topic but not everyone thinks like Seamus or you (95%).

This.../\ /\...fully agree with the sentiment kz.

This is the inside of the engine compartment of a 1999 Yamaha Majesty 250 DX ABS.
It is from an elderly friend who only had one service every year and changed the tires.
I want to see what will become of a chinese scooter in twenty-two years.



And I'm talking about years and not miles, you can even do 20,000 miles in a year but we'll see in twenty years what's left ...
Provided it is not preserved in salt and in a bunker.

PS: Oh I forgot ... that careless, the Majesty has traveled "only" 115,521 kilometers (71.781 miles), not much.

You are aware that in later models the engines for the 250 Majesty were made for Yamaha by Linhai.

Built to a Yamaha design, with Yamaha specs, and Yamaha quality control. I don't think anyone said quality fabrication can not be done in China. The issue is building to a price - a low price - as the primary consideration.

And not just Yamaha, but Harley Davidson, Suzuki, BMW, Sinnis and others are also made by the Jinan Qingqi factory in China. All made to the highest quality. The factory is huge. They make not just engines but the completed bikes too. The cars that many of us drive also will have many parts from China, not just electronics, but suspension and body parts too.

... ah yes, now they produce and export everything ...
But absolutely everything, a few words to the wise.

One day they might even make kiwifruit.

You do not know? They make (and export) them already.
And those who make quality productions should be worried, I am also indirectly a supplier of a well-known New Zealand brand because I am certified Global G.A.P. with Boerica quality:

https://www.ceradinigroup.com/en/boerica-2/

I don't think everyone thinks that everything from China is junk. There are large quantities of IPhones doing duty here with no complaints.

Attila is suffering from indignity of seeing much Italian manufacturing being exported to Asia. Let's be clear on this though. Benellis being built by QJ are worlds better than they had been before the buyout. The CEO of the bike division stated that many of the designs they receive from Italy use Unobtainium not available in China. Appropriate substitutions are used and so far most of the reports on Benelli quality and reliability have been good.

I can tell you already that my new addition has much better Tuperware than the 2008 model it replaced and many of the mechanicals look better thought out with LED directionals and tail light.

Exactly... + or -.

Guess what phone brand I have ...

And look Attila. Even the British are letting the Chinese build their stuff.

https://www.rideapart.com/news/504705/zongshen-norton-powered-cyclone-rx6/

And by Zongshen, no less. Watch it come to this Country via CSC Motorcycles. They just introduced a 400cc twin to their sales roster.

Aaaarrgh!

Holy crap! I think I just sold the ZNEN!!

My son’s Support Coordinator and I were talking a few weeks back about scooters. He used to ride trail bikes back in the day. He mentioned that he’d thought about a scooter, but Vespas were expensive. I told him all about the ZNEN and said it had been for sale at one point. If he were ever interested, let me know and I’d make him a good deal. I’ve had that conversation several times in the past with other people, but nothing ever happened.

He’s bringing his checkbook with him next week! 😳

What the heck do I do now?

Well, looks like you have room for a Vespa now.

Funny you say that. After Pam’s incident with the voltage regulator it got me thinking. I’ve been looking at the new HPEs and stuff. The ZNEN served its purpose … I know I’m going to be on scooters for a while. I got in on the cheap and it paid for itself. I can warrant spending up now.

Here’s the thing … I already have a parts bike for - you guessed it - a 2008ish Granturismo 200. Minus the voltage regulator, of course.

If I bide my time I can scope out a good 200 of that vintage and have a parts bike. For less than half the price of a new GTS.

Just in the thinking stages.

Oh, look … here’s one now.

LINK

I hope he buys an HPE so we will know how much oil it consumes.

I'll be sure to check it AT LEAST every 5k miles.

...keep in mind that the HPE 300 is also installed on the BV 300 and MP3 300, if it were an oil devourer I would know but ... no one here (at the Piaggio store where I help) complained so far. Mystery.

If the electrics were a little further along I'd really consider one. Then I wouldn't have to worry about oil consumption. GoPam has proved that you can go a long way if you simply carry a box of batteries.

Maybe I'll give the Elettrica a test ride ...

Come on ... It's the Cannonball and not the rounds of countryside and cities, breakdowns happen a lot more ... It's part of the event.

I know, I know … I shouldn’t bust her chops like that. She’s had a hard ride.

Incidentally, she might be willing to make some folks an offer on slightly used batteries.

Just got a call from my insurance company. Back about a month ago my Porsche exploded. Real fire and brimstone stuff. They’ve decided it’s totaled.

Not sure what the payout will be, but it would make getting into a Vespa a little less painful. Sad to see it go that way, though. She sure was pretty.

Hi buddy,

Vespa in our part of the world (asia) involves a lot of passion. I wouldn't say it could rank amongst the Ducatis or triumphs or harleys but certainly most owners heart flutters when they see their vespas. It's a little piece of gear that we would accessorise, give it a good clean once a week. And then we will admire it, take a pic, and post it on our fb page.

Vespa do have reasonably good quality, but if utilitarian use is a main consideration, I will go Japanese all day. Daily operation radius of 10 miles, probably I will go for a Honda pcx, any bigger operation radius ( 15 miles and beyond) my choice will be the yamaha Xmax 300. Nobody beats the Japanese in quality here.

I have a 2018 Gts, really perfect ride for me. Had 3 earlier sub 200cc vespas, but when the gts arrived. I really found my perfect ride. In terms of size/manoeuvrability/power triangle, it ticked all my boxes. I do yearn for a bigger cc vespa, but deep down, I know at 300, the above triangle parameters is all just right, anything bigger, the triangle will be compromised.

Here are some of my personal opinions about the HPE. It was really exciting when the HPE was launch, I applaud Piaggio for that move, instead of just increasing the cc to meet user demand for a slightly more powerful engine than the previous gen whereby so many manufacturers do. They actually started with a clean sheet, looked into every part, and made a more powerful machine with all the available technology of the day, without increasing the cc.

This cc increasing trap is something manufacturers do not really understands. Yes it meets a demand of the increasing power hungry customer base. But unknowingly, there are some that stays away from bigger cc. We can already see this in the Honda Africa twin, Honda realised the 1200 is not moving as desired. So very quickly they are moving into the 850 market to capture the 'why do I need a 1000cc machine category' This vicious trap, we can see even clearer in Harley, they have moved to the 1800cc category. It is really a move that is isolating users that do not mind a 1500cc machine sitting at their garage instead of a 1800cc unless you are a diehard fan.

Back to my HPE views. My model is 2018, pre HPE, advantage of it. Longer belt life (15000km). Less of heavy engine oil consumption; with slight power compromise. U still can cruise all day happily in the 50mph to 60 mph range all day. I will recommend this pre HPE model if u can get your hands on it.

I am sure the Italians have heard about the HPE issues, let then sort it out for the next 2 3 years. I am sure the product will improve. Just like when they fitted fuel injections onto vespa lx(ie) initially, there were tons of problems regarding injection pump etc. But they will get their act right, nowadays no one complains about the fuel injection system.

Do post a pic of your vespa once it arrives. I am sure many of us will be really happy for you😊

Some of you may be wondering why my Falcon 200 is no longer in my profile. Well it is no longer in my life either. It was stolen a few weeks ago. I am not really sure if it is a blessing or a curse. It took me 9 months to get a new exhaust because the original exhaust just fell while I was riding.

Regardless of the object itself I am very sorry for you ...

Thank you a lot a lot. That is a very nice thing to say.

Man, that is terrible. Sorry to hear that.

It’s one thing for your stuff to blow up, but entirely different when it’s stolen from you.

Max, that really is the all time bummer. Special place for thieves as they say…

As the former owner and rider of, among others, a wonderful Kymco People 50, several late 80's Honda Elite CH150's, a cute-as-a-bug's-ear little Yamaha Vino, a made-in-China but solid-as-a-rock Aprilia Scarabeo 200, and currently an older Vespa GTV, I've read this thread with great interest and fascination. It's been educational and entertaining. But---

BUT the one thing I don't think anyone really mentioned till now is: your old ZNEN... was one truly beautiful scooter. Seriously. True, design-wise, it falls into the overall group of Scooters who owe many design cues to the almost-ancient-since-it-was-made-so-long-ago Honda Joker - but the ZNEN people did a beautiful job with it.

Having a scooter that doesn't merely ride well but looks good too...is part of the equation. Thanks for all the posts and thoughts and info.

As an addendum, we had a disastrous wildfire here in southern Oregon some 9 months ago which burned down nearly a quarter of the small town I live in. I was fortunate - my house - and my GTV - survived. But a close friend and fellow-scooter rider lost his home, bicycles, cameras and two scooters which he was unable to rescue. One of them was a relatively old GT (GranTurismo) 200 which he had let me ride on occasion - one of the nicest, and truly smoothest (engine-wise) scooters I have ever ridden. Additionally, its speed instrument design is probably the most readable - and elegant - of most of the scooters I've ever seen. So---good luck with yours. It will be worth it!!!!

I recently bought a 169cc cousin of your Falcon. Anything I should look out for. I will keep a sharp eye on the muffler and securing hardware.

No, they weren't. The tooling was sold to Linhai after Yamaha decided the engine was obsolete. The people paying you to post might have been less than forthcoming about this. You know that Honda doesn't use the Helix motor and Suzuki doesn't use the first generation Morini 400 anymore, but your employers are still churning them out? It's sort of like that.
Next time you turn in your list of pro PRC posts, ask them why all the major players are pulling production out of China. What do they know that a handful of shills on the internet don't?