Modern Vespa

hi am new to the vespa px 125 and just wondering is it common that the gear markings on the grip dont line up when shifting into gear ie 1st gear marking is more or less the neutral position 2nd is in neutral its quite confusing , i know it takes a bit of getting use to , but mine is a 17 plate should the markings line up or is this common , if not is it a easy fix

so many of my bikes don't line up as you would hope they should. I go off of feel when the bike is running rather than looking at the grip for knowing what gear I am in.... Once you ride it enough you should know the feel of your bike when it is in neutral if not just give it a touch of gas and you will then certainly know if you are in gear or not.

It will take some cable adjustments to get it to be just how you want and that I am not prepared to explain on here. I just know it can't be any harder to adjust than the small frame cables.

thanks for reply , since i sent message second time ive taken it for a spin, the clutch has popped ,the shop i bought it off are going to pick it up and sort it said they will adjust it for me and double clip it , they said its prob down to me smashing it ive only done 15 miles but suppose i have to accept what there saying as am new to it and only 2nd time of riding a px all a learning curve i suppose

That would annoy me so I would get it sorted. You won't need to look much at the gears riding but it is useful to see when it is in neutral when you are stopping/starting without having to fiddle about.

yeh it is a bit especially when you can only get use to it by riding on roads ha ,suppose its just teething probs and hopefully the shop will sort it when they pick it up today jonny, this site is really helpful especially when your new to the vespa ive only ever rode a bike 3 times once on my cbt and that was i down 4 up by foot and other 2 by hand and only 15 miles ha but am loving it and cant wait to settle down on the vespa

I never use them. But if you don't have it reasonably close you may have trouble hitting 4th or 1st, so it's worth making the neutral line up by adjusting your cables until it does, and getting some tension in there (but it does not want to be tight by any stretch of the imagination). If you go too tight you may have trouble with jumping out of gears, so take it easy.

thanks sdjohn , yeh the shop will know the right ajustment

can anyone help me here , i have bought a 17 plate Vespa 25th July payed £2600 and rest on hp £57 a month had white wall tiers Vespa crome bumpers, carriers, perimeter rails the works sprayed 2-tone waited till October 12th for it to be deliverd by shop, i;ve gonr through the shop not vespa to buy the bike, yes 3 months i waited with a load of bull told by them , then when i rode bike twice 12th and 14th October 15 miles the clutch went, so shop came to pick it up 18th October to fix it said it will take a day just rang to see whats happening just said there waiting to hear from piaggio when will they get the clutch cable through the warrenty am a bit anoyed and don't know if this is normal practice or am i been mugged off by the shop , am thinking is this the way its going to be waiting around all the time and will things always go wrong with the bike

Sounds fishy. Clutch cables aren't hard to get and replacement is simple. Shop should be able to replace it in a day easy.

" had white wall tiers Vespa crome bumpers, carriers, perimeter rails the works sprayed 2-tone " this is the way you got it or you had this done ? fishy ?

The marks on my PX don't all line up very well with the actual detents in the batwing either, so whenever I have to mess with the cables, I keep them adjusted so that neutral lines up with the mark since I figure it's really the only position that I might conceivably ever want visual confirmation. After that, first is close, 2nd a little off, 3rd more off, and 4th way off.

I think it is just a bit of bad luck and you probably won't have a lot of problems with the bike. It is definitely worth looking around for a place you can trust to do any work on the bike. It seems to be so variable and sometimes you can find a decent bike mechanic who will do the work at a much cheaper rate than a Vespa authorised place. I recently was trying to get some tyres fitted to some rims and one Vespa authorised shop quoted £70 + VAT to do 3 tyres but I found a local guy who did it for a fiver a tyre.

Don't forget to post some pictures of your bike when you get it back!

mine always line up ... spend ages setting em up but its cos im more anal than owt else

me too, the hardest part to match the handlebar on a vbb while using a p series engine one thing is even difficult to line it up a lambreta handlebar while using p series engine

good luck with the lining and cheer mate

When I bought my LML Star/Stella 4T a few years ago the dealer adjusted the clutch cable too tight, which after a couple hundred miles of unintentional wheelies before it snapped (and me not knowing any better having never ridden shifties before), they fixed along with a similar problem with the gearshift/number alignment. They even replaced the rear bumper that I demolished after one particularly frightening/amusing wheelie on a busy San Francisco street. The dealer should be able to fix both problems easily. They are just cable adjustments.

sorry ive been away for a wile crimbo and all that, also a lot has gone on since i last spoke after a month of the dealer having the bike they said the gear box was smashed to bits , two specialist have had a look vespa them selves and outside both are blaming me, looks like i will have to pay for new gearbox to be fitted (anyone any idea how much this will cost me) this has been so stressful ive only rode the bike 15 miles ,hope your all well and had a great crimbo and all the best

Did you pay the two specialists, or did the dealer hire them? I wouldn't take the word of someone working for them. Hire your own assessment if you haven't already done so. If the dealer doesn't like this, that's cause for suspicion in itself. Someone secure and confident in their analysis shouldn't fear being challenged. Save every doc and note down details of every phone call. If you do end up paying for the work, you should have the assurance that you owe it.

As for the probability of the damage being your fault - I would think that if your skill was so bad that you ruined the trans (without intentionally abusing it) then you probably wouldn't have been able to make those 15 miles in the first place.

The possibility of a gearbox becoming "smashed to bits" at all - let alone from 15 miles of riding - is virtually nil. Take the bike somewhere else.

agreed

Man, these guys working on your scooter sound super sketchy.

or just give finance a call.

totally agree but iv'e had a solicitor involved since november even they have left me high and dry now the both specialist have had a look but having said that they haven't really listened to me just wasted my time and made the situation worse if anything, am really down in the dumps about it and haven't a clue which way to turn tbh as am really new to this its put me right off, there is no doubt iv'e been treated terribly, just seems like every one want money in some way, iv'e decided to just pay my self and never deal with these people again really disappointed in vespa them selves as they have taken there side without me explaining mine, has anyone any idea of a estimate of getting a whole new gear box fitted and supply just want a idea so they don't rip me off. totally gutted over it thanks for all your advise really helps

Why did you need to get a solicitor (attorney) involved?

There are plenty of Vespa experts in the UK. Surely one of them will sooner or later speak up and lend you a hand here.

It does sound as though you're being completely mugged off by this company mate, and so I wouldn't be paying them another penny if I were you...however if you do, you need to tell them to keep any of the parts they remove as you'll be wanting to inspect them.

Just curious, but what's the history of the scoot? And who are these so-called "specialists"? I'm assuming they've given you some documentation of their professional analysis that you've killed the gearbox within 15 miles of riding?

You also mention a solicitor and Vespa themselves, so what did they actually say or advise?

Hmmm, all sounds fishy as fuck.

i got solicitor involved because i wasn't accepting it was not my fault and i believe the problem was caused by the gear selector that had popped if you read previous messages you will get an idea what has gone on to get to the stage of them blaming me for destroying the gear box, Vespa sent one of there experts and the finance company sent there expert and yes i was sent a break down of the inspection, i payed £2600 in cash and i pay the rest on hp £57 a month i sorted all this in July they delivered bike in October i had bike for 4 days rode it twice 15 miles in total they picked bike up few days later said it will take a day to fix month later end of November they said they fixed gear selector but there is a rattling noise we need to inspect it they found after having it for a month that the gear box was smashed to bits and said they are going to put it down to miss use , i got solicitor involved but it has dragged out now its on going iv'e accepted them to get it fixed after they offed my two automatic's bran new but since solicitor dose not want to no they have said i have to pay storage cost since before Christmas its just stressing me out so much i just want bike back and not deal with this dealership ever again ill just store bike as an investment its totally destroyed my love for the bike and my dreams of owning one, any idea what it will cost me to get new gear box fitted and supply please thanks for all the advice really helps .

sorry snapper the bike is bran new 17 plate had 11 miles on the clock when they dropped it off to me , i fear if i see or speak to them my self am frightened of what i may do my blood is boiling and i know ill do something ill regret so i haven't a clue what way to turn just seems like am on my own and they are enjoying taking the piss out of me

Well there you go. The two experts are serving the interests of those who paid them. Their findings are likely biased. I'm not sure what your solicitor can do without some evidence to support your side of the story.

As far as getting the bike back and storing it as an "investment", I'd advise against: This thing has caused you so much undue stress as it is - do you really want to keep it around as a constant reminder? Use the time / money / space this will occupy for something you will enjoy.