Modern Vespa

I had a crazy thought ... what if I filled the spare tire with water or something
heavy ... would it off set the imbalance caused by the engine ?

not really a big problem but may be it would make it a better ride and easier to handle .

also i don't see my self using the spare while out riding , its more of a ornamental piece for me any way .

By all means go ahead with a cement spare, but realize you're trying to solve a problem that only exists in a theoretical mind.

Vespa has been making scooters this way for a long time, and if it wasn't a problem in 1946, 1955, 1964, 1973, 1987, 1996, or 2003 then why would it be a problem in 2015? Even the new ones are weighted a bit towards the left side (the twist and go scoots).

Yeah, if I were racing these machines it might turn in better one way than the other, and side stands aren't really good on the left side, but other than that it's more of a theoretical issue than practical.

I'll wait for brighter minds to chime in if I'm wrong.....

Ding, dong

I too have issues, it is harder to ride to work than home again, as I seem to keep riding into the gutter in the mornings!

I see the makings of a excellent April Fool 2016. Thanks for sharing.

In all seriousness, I totally agree with those who say you're solving a problem that doesn't really exist except maybe when you're balancing at traffic lights or coming off a full stop.

Because your lever is only a few inches long (if we assume that the longitudinal center of mass is the fulcrum), you'd need a fair amount of weight to offset the weight of the engine (its lever is also pretty short, but it weighs something like 75 or 80 lbs).

So you're talking about basically adding a small passenger all the time. My daughter is bigger than that now, but even when she was that weight, it was noticeable in the bike's performance to have her on the post.

Also, given that you'd be adding that weight inside the cowling, you'd be raising the center of mass a (very) little bit at the same time, so you'd wind up with a slower (due to increased mass), slightly less stable (due to higher CofM) scooter than you started with.

But it would be longitudinally balanced.

OMG, I just realized the fork is out of balance too! Heck, since it's one sided it's not really even a fork, more like a tine!

Just ride more, and worry less.

Iv never found the balance of the thing to be an issue. I think your body automatically sits in such a way as to balance the thing better

Waste of engine power...

I've heard of people putting a brick in the left cowl but really...it's a Vespa (Stella)...it is what it is.

I guess I'm another one that really has never noticed this.

If you want better handling I would suggest that the way to go would be to upgrade the suspension...that can make a huge difference in handling.

You really don't need a spare...until you have a flat. It hasn't happened often but it has happened to me. It is really nice to have a spare to change out in like 10 mins instead of splitting the rim on the side of the road to replace the tube...I've been there too!

Went don't you see yourself using the spare? I don't have one and quite conscious of it at times. Doesn't fit with my expansion though

I don't have a spare in my Stella right now and have run both with and without one. Upgrading the suspension is not cheap, but it makes a HUGE difference in how the bike handles and accelerates if you go all-in (shocks, rear mounting buffer, tubeless rims & quality tires).

Typical engineering problem... x is inversely proportional to y.

Unless you *removed* weight from the engine side. Then you could achieve a better center of gravity as well as better use of power.

If you really feel the need to add some weight, add it over or near the front wheel. Seems to handle much better for me.

On the other hand if you find you're often inadvertently spinning the rear wheel at every traffic light, go ahead and load up the rear.

Most of us load up the rear with our fat asses.

Just ride with both of your legs on the left side...

get a smallframe or a lambretta.

Wear one diving boot on your left foot.

Let's see here, obviously first thing would be to ditch that boat anchor cast iron cylinder and install an aluminum one. Aluminum RH cowl and move your coil/CDI over to the left side with your spare. Lightened flywheel and plastic fan cover. Then maybe a magnesium kickstart lever - or just eliminate it & always bump start. Then you can take out the sector gear & spring + the little ratcheting gear and plug the case. Lose those rubber bumpers inside too, you don't need 'em now.

That's probably close to a tire full of water. You're welcome.

Don't forget the lightened flywheel.

I was thinking just chop the frame, but ok.

My handlebars are slightly offline (6-7 degrees to th right), It always goes straight & evenly is weighted... A nice cheap fix

I had a bit more on my first scoot, but think it was a bit much

That'll buff right out.

Sure hope so, th insurance company didn't deregister it, nor write it off.... So it's 'still running & roadworthy'

This reminds me that years ago a coworker had a small american made economy car, Chevette, Omni, Escort, I can't remember which. I told him I thought it was a little funny that the steering wheel was not perpendicular to the car. The left side was about an inch closer to the dash than the right. He said that he had never noticed it before but since I pointed it out it was all he could think about. He wound up selling it. My advice is to not worry about it and ride on.

Forgot the starter motor, thing weighs like 5lbs.

strap a small child to the spare