Modern Vespa

So I just got my hands on a seat from an '83 PX200, the kind with proper springs lining the underside, and as far as I can tell it's in okay condition. Not great, but okay. There's a little rust to the springs which I was planning on hitting with some rustoleum and WD40 and then just a light coating of oil, and the chrome grab bars have some rust spots on them as well but I was going to solve that by swapping in some newer ones I found. My problem is the cover itself: it's greyed slightly, and a little dingy, although blessedly there are no cracks or tears in it.

I'm assuming the material is vinyl. Meanwhile there are a thousand products out there that claim to work miracles on old, cracked vinyl. And those are usually found in the 'sucker' aisle of the car maintenance section. My question is, what actually works? How can I blacken and smooth out the material on this thing and give the seat a few more years?

Cheers folks

post pics

You could try rubbing this product on it... probably costs as much as two bottles of snake oil.



http://www.sip-scootershop.com/en/products/seat+cover+for+vespa+px80200_79003000

I would keep an old intact original seat cover any day over that.

Cracked seats are grand till it rains. Rains most days here

More for maintenance than repair... and maybe snake oil... but I like this product:

Another option is to find an old school upholster if the seat is too far gone. I had one do my BlueBadge seat and it's hard to tell it's not original. He stuffed it a little too much, but I can't complain. Matched the torn panels of this particular vinyl to a late 50's Chevy pattern.

After...

Are tho old sprung seats more comfortable than the new foam over plastic shell seats? Old leather bicycle saddles are more comfortable than modern plastic/foam ones, is it the same with scooter seats? The seat on my 05 Stella is shot and I'm trying to decide if I should reupholster it or switch it with an old sprung one.

^ IMHO yes the sprung seats are more comfortable than the Stella seats. Only issue is if you're a tall guy (or girl) like me something like a P series seat has a bar down the center between the rider and passenger section of the seat.....that area can be a bit uncomfortable sometimes but still worth it IMO.

Thanks dcumited!

send a message to JimmyB.. he'll get it.. he just did a lambretta seat and used some kind of vinyl "paint" and it looks brand new.. it's very shiny but looks like a new seat.. I don't know what the stuff he used is called.. if I see him I'll ask. but you can PM him.. Jimmyb865 (I think! )

Thanks for the tips everybody. Vader -- I can't seem to find this JimmyB anywhere here. Could you lob me his full username here?

before you fit the cover, wrap the foam in a couple of layers of glad wrap, that way when the vinyl cracks the foam has less chance of holding water

"jimmyb865"