Modern Vespa

OK so first and most important things first... I am looking for name suggestions, she is almost a month old and still no name!

NOW, with that aside time for the fun stuff I am assuming this is probably a good place to keep up to date about my ride and what has been done to it.

Disclaimer: I am not a sparky, any electrical mods/drilling/etc I have paid a professional to do... I will probably have to learn these things in the future but NOT TODAY!

What I have had done so far:

Had GPS power hardwired (WIN) (specific pics to come in a bit)
Installed Ready Track GPS Tracker (EPIC WIN until it failed to respond to programming commands... not so win)
SH50 Top case installed (pics below) (Done by the team at Scooter Central in Sydney #ThankYou)

What I intend to do:

Get the "STU" number plate installed... should be arriving this week w00t
Install Stebel Nautilus horn in tandem with the existing horn, including a switch to allow me to flip between the two. - i.e. by default use the Nautilus, but if I am at lights and someone is just not concentrating/needs a prod, let me fall back to the original horn. (This is being done for me by the team at Scooter Central in Sydney on Tuesday w00t)
Install a hazard light switch because I am extremely surprised none already exists to flash all four indicators at once (think... in the case of a flat/issue at night etc making the bike visible) (Also being done by the team at Scooter Central... I hope... LOL they don't know about this one yet!)
Temperature recordings of the Pet Carrier, Glove Box and Top Case to figure out the safest place to store items - I have a Lascar EL-USB-1-Pro recording thermometer on the way should be delivered this week --> http://www.lascarelectronics.com/temperaturedatalogger.php?datalogger=382.
Replace the failed GPS tracker with a new solution with a more reputable company... lesson learned, you pay with peanuts, you get monkies.
(POSSIBLY IN FUTURE) Givi Large Windshield... that buffeting is driving me batty
(POSSIBLY IN FUTURE) SH50 top case lighting kit
(POSSIBLY IN FUTURE) Some sort of front and back black box video recording system

Shoutout goes to Scooter Central team in Sydney who have assisted with my mods, I am not a sparky, I am a noob when it comes to scooters and they have let me get parts delivered directly to them from around the world, then they have ordered in special parts and then put it all together for me. If you are in Sydney, it is WELL worth the journey out there to Brookvale. (If I am lucky I will try to get some in progress photos as they do the next and more technical stages).

Happy to answer any questions about my mods if you have them, and I will to the best of my ability.

Now for the pretty pictures

nice ride they do not offer that color in the states.

I would suggest you change the hose clamps to the screw down type from the squeeze ones. They leak it would be a good idea to do it ASAP. I also installed the large GIVI windshield .

This is just my .02

John

Aloha and welcome to the forum from Hawaii. Sorta your neighbor but on the other side of the Pacific. Cool bike. I see the L on your plate. The Brits have the same L. Have fun but be careful. Need to get some "roo" bars for it.

OOh that is good to know... I have also been considering the large Givi windshield how do you find it (i.e. looking through the windshield especially)?

*waves hello* haha and NOOOO I hope I never encounter a roo... somehow I think I would come out worse for wear!

I rider till the roads get iced. So I look for the most coverage. The box is a 55L The largest they make unless something larger is out now.

John

Welcome from Chicagoland USA!

I ride a BV500 aka Blue Dragon or a Honda CTX700DN aka The Dirty Dancer.

That's a fine looking scooter!

Not sure if you are looking for just feminine names or others. When it comes to female names for bikes maybe:

Adara - one of the brightest stars in the sky

Altair - another bright star

Bellatrix - female warrior

Luna - the moon

Nova - birth of great energy

Paloma - means dove

Raksha- mother wolf from the Jungle book

Sheba- Etta - Denali- Asia - Dakota- Frosty - Scout ...

OOH very nice and I love the all black How do you find the Givi Shield?

OOOOH there are SO MANY AWESOME NAMES in there...

Bellatrix and Luna are awesome but then Sheba, Scout, Dakota... OOOOH I have some thinking to do... Luna rolls off the tongue nicely!

Welcome to the forum. Hope you enjoy the new scooter!

Small tip - I would take all of those other keys off the keyring for the scooter. Less stress on the ignition switch and also less chance of all those keys ruining the trim

That topcase looks like a good useful size too! The silver trim matches the bike well.

A screaming banshee module will allow you to have both horns with one button. A tap gives you stock. Hold it down. And the air horn kicks in.

OOOH that is a really good point actually, thank you I had not thought of that, I should reduce the weight as much as possible.

The topcase is an absolute GEM, I can fit my wet weather gear (vacuum packed) full face helmet, armoured textile jacket in the top case, and my jeans and shoes in the under seat storage so can put all my clothing on the bike if needed when I go out.

SOOOO much good storage

OOH I will have to have a look at that... wonder if I can source one before tomorrow

No, only available from www.screaming-banshee.com

Also this 2 piece horn fits in places the Stebel won't
http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/denali-soundbomb-split-dual-tone-air-horn

BOOOOO lol... might have to add it later as an accessory.

And that is kinda cool, I got the Stebel compact so I am hoping they will be able to find a place to squeeze it (I did spend the bit extra so it can be externally mounted as it is fully waterproof and sealed just in case).

Can't WAIT to hear it

ALSO in other news today, the data logging thermometer arrived and I have started with logging the temp in the glove compartment to start with... can't wait to see the data.

are they using ethanol in your fuel?
can you snap a pic of the temp gauge after a ride.
I'm using ethanol free and my gauge went down. Just looking for some reference note the outside temp too if you can.

John

No, no ethanol in my fuel.

So today the ambient bike temp was reading 31 degrees Celcius. Below is the diagram of what the USB temperature recorder got. At the end of my 45 min commute it was 41.5 degrees Celcius at the peak.

That was in the left hand side glove compartment, tomorrow I will be doing a longer ride at higher speeds, that will be interesting to read the glove compartment temps. #thisIsFun



Also pics of the new toy:

I'm a line and a half below center on the temp gauge. When I was using ethanol in the fuel it was dead center all the time.

I would like to see what others are using (fuel) and see where there temp gauge is.

When I'm in stop and go traffic the needle rises to half.

John

Oh sorry, got you, that temperature gauge. Most of the time I sit just under half, then occasionally if I am in traffic for too long it goes above half and the fan kicks in.

I am using 95 RON petrol (no ethanol).