Modern Vespa

ok so i just bought a 2005 200L, I rode a friends and got rid of my china junk piece.

So the 200L isnt in crazy bad shape (i hope) its pretty clean and WAS running upon purchase lol. The odemeter isnt working and the clock is out and a blinking red light and the muffler needs to be replaced it looks like.

but after riding it for about a hour and then pulling of to check directions... no more start up, it would turn over at first but now not even a sound for the start up. The oil light is on (which i assume it should be if its not starting up).

the head lights were on... but not any more.

The red oil light gets dim and dimmer...

plus i tried to jump it with a car and it seemed to charge up a bit as the lights came on but then it died even while it was still hooked up to the car battery.

leading me to think its a battery.

I am no rookie to mechanical work, but never a scooter and i assume vespas arent like most other scooters.

i need to know what kind of battery to replace it with as i am going to grab one today and battery tender.

but if anybody has wisdom as to my situation... please help a brother out!

im going to be trying to do all the maintenance i can today and tomorrow and then take it to a mechanic here in south beach and see if they find anything else I dont know about...

I would just like to keep it as frugal as possible. for the start up ha ha ha until i get all upgrade happy (not for speed or power but just a usb and possible a better horn and rollers maybe even some aqua speakers) I just want a smooth fuel efficient and hopefully a quieter vespa... i like to chill and relax no need for fast and the frivolous.

I thoroughly enjoy the mods and the help i have seen around the board.

hopefully i can ride this sucker to 300K! thats my goal.

just to have a little clean and sleek ride. its already fast enough!

if anybody is in MIAMI and wants to give a brother a hand...

Ill grab some stouts and colombian burritos. lol

Start with a new battery. The older Vespas use a different form factor than the newer ones. I learned that last month. Pull the old one and measure it up.

w.

The 200's are the best IMHO. They last forever. Does sound like the battery. Do you know it's maintenance history? If you don't i'd do all the fluid changes. Change out the tires (rubber degrades over time) and swap out the fuel and vacuum lines (they will go sooner than later). Have fun

so im ordering a new battery today.

i also have a muffler that needs to go... any suggestions for a economic or quieter option. price isnt really a factor although id like to spend as little as possible (and hand potiosn as well)

i have heard lights and horn are also a good option to upgrade.

has anybody put a remote starter or a alarm on a 200L ?

Remote starter? Not on a scooter.

I wonder if there are take-off OEM mufflers available from people who have upgraded theirs? Might try a Wanted ad on craigslist.

Forgot to say, change out your fuel and vacuum lines. Mine (fuel line especially) last 4yrs. Stranded me once. 4yrs went by to fast. You won't be able to tell just by looking at them either. Mine looked fine and they crumbled when i removed them.

Judy, do you know the size and length you used for the lines?

No. I have a LX so even if i did it wouldn't be the same. Give scooterpartsco a call. 843-642-5671. George will know. He's in SC and is closed Sun and Mon. Good luck and sorry i can't help more

thank you Judy, and its cool i want to try and compile all the info and then repost it for any other 2005(not sure how the rest of the models compare) 200L folks out there.

I suspect the problem may be with the stator or regulator, or the connections between them. If it started and ran, then the battery (even if weak) should have been charged enough while running to allow it to start again.

Once you get the new battery, measure the voltage across it once the bike's started. The voltage should rise above 13.5 volts quite happily, and shouldn't exceed 15V. If the voltage stays at around 12.5V and gradually falls - then investigate the stator and regulator.

Workshop manual and wiring diagram available at:
http://tinyurl.com/wotmanuals

Use the Vespa/GT125 GT200 Euro2 docs.

so it was the battery and the gas fuel pump... it was a little bit dislodged!!!


thanks for everybody's help!

Looking to getting myself a 150 for the Next Vespa! 250 is great but Miami has no hills lol!