Modern Vespa

Hey everyone, first post here...long time reader etc, (you know the story ) Anyway, I was experiencing some major squeakage from what I thought was a loose/ungreased kickstand, but it turns out to be something more.

So anyone else who is having a similar problem, and are still under warranty, take it back to your dealer as they have issued this notice to all their service departments. The notice is pretty recent too.



I scanned the printout I got from them this morning. Hope that helps!!

- Chris

Hey. thanks for this. I have the same vespa (in the same color!) brand new (60 miles total on it) and took it in for that same squeaking/chirping sound and the dealer told me they need to replace the swing arm! dealer said it takes up to 3 weeks to get the part and it isn't dangerous to ride the scooter in the meantime.

Not a problem! Go Portofino! Luckily my dealership has the parts in stock right now, so I won't have to wait that long. Then again, I HAVE been riding on it with this issue for a little over 4 weeks now My appointment isn't until next week, so I figured what's another 7 days going to do? hahah.

so is this a flaw in the 2007 lx150 across the board- in other words is it a recall? or were we just the lucky few who get to experience it?

That's what I make of it. Looks to be a recall in the sense that if you have the problem, you were just an unlucky one vs. EVERYONE with an LX needing to take their scoots in for a replacement.

A few days ago I posted about my new LX 150 chirping and squeaking. If not for this forum, I'd still be wondering what the cause was and if it were dangerous. Thanks for posting this notice. I love this forum.

Your dealer sucks, Chris

-Drew

I just talked to the local dealer who told me that it was not a Recall and that this info was off a UK website. Chris if you could show the right side of the paper you posted here you will see that it say Piaggio S.p.a not Piaggio USA. This is not for our market, but I will look into having my wifes LX150 checked out since I want her LX to be safe o ride. Thanks for the info in any case, but your dealers tech needs to look into this more carefully.


Jon

Interesting find Jon. Thanks for the update. It seems like he had the replacement parts on hand and was not confused or surprised by the Piaggio notice at all. I'm no technician whatsoever, but me and my friend could definitely pinpoint the squeaking sound coming directly from the swingarm.

I will ask them when I drop of my scooter next week for the repair though.

The U.S. dealer where I bought my LX mentioned the swing arm when I called and described my bike's squeaking / chirping.

I'lle like you know what I find too. The Tech said he would look into Monday. Keep us updated.



Jon

Just want to mention that this problem's also being described over at Scooter Diva.

It's also being discussed on the dealer boards. I think an email was sent out to service managers a few days back, and it's going to be addressed. Not a functional problem, but damn annoying!

Last edited by drewteague on Mon, 06 Aug 2007 14:26:01 +0000; edited 1 time

Dang will this happen with my LX?

possibly.... just listen for those squeaks that sound like your shocks... bounce up and down on your seat. I can make the squeak happen at a stand still by doing this.
bummer.

I have the same issue. Just faxed this info to the dealer so they will have it when they open Tuesday.

Thanks to all and Modern Vespa.

just wondering- is it your green one or the plum one?

Green one.....Plum is an 06

I think it's so interesting that it's the green ones that are having trouble. are there any other colors out there experiencing this issue?

Man it better not be yellow.

Slight hijack-Beast was that your Portofino I saw on Riverside with alongside a red LX a few days ago?

Either way, love that green.

I have a 2007 Plum with 3200 miles. I have not heard any squeaking as described here.


BTW, where is the "swingarm"?

Is it only the 2007 models that are having this problem?

Basing it on the fact that I've only heard of people experiencing the squeak recently, and with brand new scoots, I'd say definitely an '07 deal.. and possibly coincidentally, it seems like it's happening with the portofino greens.. I guess we'll find out if Piaggio did modify the new swingarms in some way to remedy it..

~Drew

Maybe - SQUEAK! - it's (also) not easy being portofino green ! - SQUEAKkkk!

No I don't believe that was mine. I take it half the week to the North Hollywood Metro parking lot (where I subway it to work), and the only other Vespa I see there is a Vintage Green GTS.

I hope there's not an imposter out there! haha kidding.

i don't know if it's a strange coincidence or what, but it seems to be affecting only the portifino green ones. maybe there was a flawed batch somewhere? weird.

**UPDATE*** I got my swingarm replaced (no more annoying squeaking!) and the difference is night and day I never truly appreciated how great the engine sounds until now.

My dealer ordered a replacement swingarm on Aug 6th. As of today, still not in yet. Anyone know how long it takes for the dealer to get this part?

Umm...what's the swing arm?

Italy closes down [sort of] for the month of August, so they won't have shipped it till this month.

[I have contacts in other industries in Italy, and they experience the same thing: Italy is closed in August. Neat, how a whole country can close for a month, eh?]

My 06 squeaks over bumps all the time, but I guess it's probably not the same thing?

it sounds exactly like the same thing.
take it to the dealer.

(just because all/a lot of the 07 portofino greens have this problem doesn't mean it couldn't happen to another model)

It's a pivoting attachment to the chassis, (a fork arrangement on many motorcycles) that supports the rear wheel. On our MV's, it's also the engine mount.

huh... hope you guys get your squeaks silenced! what it's worth- i have an '07 LX (bought in january, i THINK it was built in 12/06) and it does not have this problem. my GTS' exhaust has the crap piece though. glad i didn't get 2 boo-boo scoots.

Just took my lovely new LXV in for its first service and figured I'd have this fixed at the same time, but it was not to be.

According to the tech at Vespa SF, Piaggio are saying that the replacement swing arms only solve the problem temporarily at best and they'll start squeaking again. So now they aren't doing the replacements and are waiting for some new fix from Piaggio (which will be delivered on Italian time). Very disappointing.

Anybody else have insights or recent experience getting rid of their squeak? For those of you with replacements, did the problem return?

-Jonathan

Not to jinx myself i don't have the squeak. I've got the plum. My quirk is the gas guaage Stays on E

I just took mine yellow LX150 in yesterday---same scenario--first service and hoping to get the swing arm replaced. Mine has squeaked--more like screeched--ever since I bought it in June and it is bad enough to take all the fun out of riding it. Reading this is really upsetting.

MY GTS DOES THAT!!!!

then i got the swing arm replaced... and, IT STILL DOES IT.

Anybody have any news on the fix for this? The service guy at the dealer says the warranty swingarm for this issue on my wife's LXV is still on order, though he has no idea when it will show up and claims he doesn't have anybody at Piaggio he can call about it (which sounds like BS to me). Neither did he have any info on a change from the swingarm recall to the 'fix' mentioned above.

Of course this is the same dealer who said they ordered a replacement fender (it was scraped) the day we picked up the bike--they did not...and apparently they did not order said fender again when we arranged the bike's first service about a month ago, as they had no record of it when I spoke with them today. I know, I know, I ask too much for mere $7000.

Dongoose
Squeaky in SJ