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Heading out to take a look at a Scooter tomorrow and I thought it would be a good idea to get some info from the experts


A bunch of my old riding buddies have picked up Honda Groms to cruise around with and I am looking to join in on the fun

I am not really a fan of the grom's looks and since I have always kind of wanted a vespa I figured why not.
I used to ride a GSXR600 back in the old days so this will be a new experience for me.

This is the scoot in question
https://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/mcy/5229399808.html

Questions:
Is that price reasonable for that bike?
How much will the upgrades listed affect the bikes road manners?
I am 6'2 260lbs will this thing have a problem lugging me around?
Any issues I should keep an eye out for on this model year?


Thanks a bunch fellas
@astromags avatar
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Veni, Vidi, Posti
'80 P200E, '76 Primavera 125 ET3. '59 Vespa 150
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@astromags avatar
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UTC quote
I wouldn't pay that much for it, but i don't know the market where you are.
@larrytsg avatar
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Ossessionato
1979 P200e
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Ossessionato
@larrytsg avatar
1979 P200e
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UTC quote
It's got plusses and minusses.....

+ It's a P200
+ Nice kit

- Not sure how the parts of the kit play together
- Not the prettiest scoot out there

If the body of the scooter is solid, you can just paint the cowls/mudguard/horncast and it will instantly not look too ghetto.

But unless you know what you're doing with a tuned engine, you may have trouble maintaining this one, as the engine appears to be highly modified. I would suggest finding someone in the Brooklyn/NYC scooter scene who can look at it and tell you if it's really what they claim it is, and if the parts will all play well together. Also... many shops won't touch a highly modified engine like this one

It all depends on what you're looking for... if a reliable daily rider is it, then a stock P200 is more right for the job. But if you have experience with stuff like this, it might be a real scream to ride.

More experienced minds will (hopefully) chime in.
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Molto Verboso
1967 Gran Turismo 1963 Lambretta S3 TV175 1971 Rally 180
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Molto Verboso
@danyouhandleit avatar
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UTC quote
That seems like a fair price for a nice running P. If the body looks good enough for you to consider buying it, that's good enough!
@subetherbass avatar
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1997 Italjet Formula 125, 2 matching N.Z. '69 VBC Super, 177cc Racer, VespaCross Bodge, Puch SRA150, Piaggio Zip 100! & others
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@subetherbass avatar
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If you get it... Get a dynotune first up, get it tuned correctly before you ride
@wangta avatar
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Ossessionato
'10 GTS 300 Super, '79 Vespa P200E, '04 Vespa PX200, 2011 SportCity 300 Cube [Sold]
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@wangta avatar
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UTC quote
If you don't want to have to tinker, I'd get a stock P200 vs. a kitted 210cc one. The kitted one can obviously have better performance, but you gotta really be dialed in. The stock P200 are pretty reliable if you don't mess with them...and '79 p200s are the bomb.
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Enthusiast
69' Rally 180 : 66' 90SS
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@adwood_99 avatar
69' Rally 180 : 66' 90SS
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For Reference
Here is a P (not mine / not affiliated in any way) posted in the Facebook group "Vintage Scooter Community" for reference. You could probably get this bike (which is much better shape) for nearly the same price as the one your posting.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1190616414285575&set=pcb.658389084262892&type=1&theater

again - not mine, not saying this is the greatest deal, it just a price point for reference, a P200 in much better shape for nearly same price.
OP
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Picked it up this morning. Ill post some detailed pics late this week.
@bigben avatar
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Evil
p2, jet2, lml166
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Evil
@bigben avatar
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i know the cat whos bike that is. its got a HUGE weld behind the engine because the kid bought it with a 210 mal kit but also a GAPING hole in the frame. he had a friend weld it up, got a cheap but halfwhat professional repaint from a painter in SW philadelphia/Delco, and then later decided to move to brooklyn and had to sell it. He was on the fence about keeping it for a while so it was on and off the market for about a year or two.

honestly, i considered buying it for about a grand at one point but put it off to save the coin, put it towards vacationing overseas.

to the best of my knowledge the engines in good condition, i think he said he did a loom swap but i cant remember.
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Not sure about that. The bike does not appear to have any real repaint done.

I and as far as I can see in to the rear area I see no signs of welding or a patch.

Ill take a close look this weekend
@bigben avatar
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Evil
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UTC quote
behind the engine, it take off the cowl, behind the bellow/carb box. that part of the frame. look under the bike signs of an incomplete paint job.

i never saw it in person, but i was sent some pictures from the seller. i think he originally posted looking for help with it, or looking for a replacement part on CL, some sort of want ad.

PA title?
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Here are the pics of the scooter. It is def the same one you are talking about.

External inline image provided by member with no explanatory text
External inline image provided by member with no explanatory text
External inline image provided by member with no explanatory text
External inline image provided by member with no explanatory text
External inline image provided by member with no explanatory text
External inline image provided by member with no explanatory text
OP
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Any idea what caused the whole in the first place?

Is it a structural/safety issue?

Im not going a for a resto bike, it just needs to be a fun weekend toy
@subetherbass avatar
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1997 Italjet Formula 125, 2 matching N.Z. '69 VBC Super, 177cc Racer, VespaCross Bodge, Puch SRA150, Piaggio Zip 100! & others
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@subetherbass avatar
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UTC quote
Looks like the front end has been replaced, poss accident?
@astromags avatar
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Veni, Vidi, Posti
'80 P200E, '76 Primavera 125 ET3. '59 Vespa 150
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@astromags avatar
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UTC quote
It may have a nice motor, but all that frame stuff concerns me.

You don't sound like you really need a kitted engine, and for a novice a stock 200 motor will be much more to your liking. At best one with a bigger exhaust should do you fine. Mine hauls plenty ass with just an added pipe and minor upjet. Much faster than I ever need to travel.

I'd wait around for a better scooter. You can find something a lot more solid for that money.
@larrytsg avatar
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1979 P200e
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UTC quote
Too late, Astro... he bought it already.

I agree with you about the stock P200, it's more than enough for me... and mine was "down-jetted" many years ago to give me fantastic MPG at the cost of a little top end speed.

So now that he owns it... what do the collective minds here think he should do?
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Moderibbit
1980 P200E - "Old Rusty", 1976 ET3 Primavera
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@xantufrog avatar
1980 P200E - "Old Rusty", 1976 ET3 Primavera
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UTC quote
I'm not that bent out of shape over it - I know its suspicious where the hole came from, but it looks like the repair conforms to the original shape pretty well, and it's not structural. If you have indeed already bought it, I'd just look elsewhere for holes forming, and confirm it is structurally sound at the upper rear shock mount, which isn't SUPER far from that zone. If that checks out, ride it like you stole it and have fun. Even without the metal repair, you were never buying a mint original bike, so if it's safe, enjoy it
@bigben avatar
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Evil
p2, jet2, lml166
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@bigben avatar
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UTC quote
I wouldn't concern myself too much with the 210 v 200. You're only novice for so long. I wish I'd of picked up a 210 when I started. My stock 200 pulls, but there's always the need for extra oompf, and I live in a city. I'm /assuming/ you don't, suburbs perhaps? Correct me if I'm wrong.

I went through my emails and found pics. I wasn't terribly concerned with the damage when I saw it originally, but it's also been patched.

PontiusGlaw, I have a copy of the convo and can send it if you'd like. I wouldn't want to disclose any info or correspondence from the seller online.
original photo of the hole
original photo of the hole
after the patch
after the patch
@astromags avatar
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Veni, Vidi, Posti
'80 P200E, '76 Primavera 125 ET3. '59 Vespa 150
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Veni, Vidi, Posti
@astromags avatar
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Looks like a decent patch at least. I guess they just slathered the Bondo on without too much concern since it would be hidden.
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'74 50s x3 '87 PK125XL '92 PK50XLS Plurimatic - & - '58 AllState '68 Sprint '66(?) Super125 and '72 DanMotor Super150
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UTC quote
Looks like a decent start, plenty of tacks to position things, but I'd want to see the welds filled in. That area is somewhat structural, it will want to flex a little as the rear shock loads and unloads. Then you could start breaking those welds one by one if that was all that was done, w/ just grinding & a bondo topcoat.

External inline image provided by member with no explanatory text


Stay on smooth pavement or sand it down for a good look if no more background pics are available. At least I don't see any bondo cracking at this point.
⚠️ Last edited by V oodoo on UTC; edited 1 time
@bigben avatar
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Evil
p2, jet2, lml166
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Evil
@bigben avatar
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UTC quote
for what its worth, in our exchanges, the guy never mentioned wanting to sell it exclusively. he had wanted to figure out a way to repair it, then nearly a year later I saw it again on the market. i don't think he patched it up and then put it on the market just to flip it on an unsuspecting person.

was the patch disclosed when sold?
@tract_punk avatar
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Hooked
1974 Rally 200
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1974 Rally 200
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UTC quote
Yeah, for $1800 (around NYC, anyway) that weld wouldn't bother me.

I'm with xantufrog. Ride it hard. It's nice to have a scoot that's a bit banged up. You don't worry about anything but getting on and riding.
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Ending up paying 1650 for it . I got it to romp on around the twisty areas up here in westchester with my buddies on their Honda groms. Good to hear positive comments. Gonna do some maint and ride it hard Clown emoticon

It does start up very easy and feels very very quick.
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250 Super
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Looks like at some point the body was cut out for a modified carb, and it appears the patch has enough welds in it to not worry about the structural integrity. Just for peace of mind you might want to pull the plug for a look/see. If ithe plug's not showing real lean I'd just run it and not fool with anything if it's running well now (if it ain't broke, don't fix it).
UTC

Molto Verboso
Lambretta GP200, Vespa P200e, Motovespa do Brasil PX200E
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Molto Verboso
Lambretta GP200, Vespa P200e, Motovespa do Brasil PX200E
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UTC quote
Well - you got the motor. If you wanted to screw the frame you can get a brand new ready painted LML frame
http://www.scooter-center.com/de/product/767FRPXSL/Rahmen+komplett+LML+Typ+Trommelbremse+Vespa+PX+Lusso+inkl+Kotfluegel+Seitenhauben+Gepaeckfach+Lenker+Kaskade+silber?meta=767FRPXSL*scd_ALL_de*s19262438556528*PX%20frame*9*9*1*16
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Like I said before long as its not a safety issue I dont mind the weld.

Any recommendations on a place to get it tuned in the NY area?
@bigben avatar
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Evil
p2, jet2, lml166
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Evil
@bigben avatar
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The only place I know is scooter botegga in Brooklyn. I used to see a girl more out your way, up in purchase and I vaguely remember a dealership that way, most don't deal,with old bikes anymore tho.
@bigben avatar
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Evil
p2, jet2, lml166
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Evil
@bigben avatar
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UTC quote
Beat me to it. I swung by to get a part from Robbie, guess what jawn I saw out front...
Strong runner
Strong runner
@vader19 avatar
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Mr. Clean
P,SUPER,V90, 50 Special
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SubEtherBASS wrote:
Looks like the front end has been replaced, poss accident?
whatever the case. that front end looks very straight in the front shot.. straighter than most I've seen
@t5bitza69 avatar
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Veni, Vidi, Posti
T5s
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Veni, Vidi, Posti
@t5bitza69 avatar
T5s
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UTC quote
no red hooraaah
ride drop ride fill ride enjoy .... then when ya get bored ya can rebuild ... n if ya full of money n lazy do this ....................

http://www.scooter-center.com/de/all/search?query=lml+vespa+rahmen+Typ
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bigben wrote:
Beat me to it. I swung by to get a part from Robbie, guess what jawn I saw out front...
Haha yeah I dropped her of on thrusday to get cleaned up and ready for some fall riding
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