Modern Vespa

I have acquired a 2007 Vespa GTV 250. I am the third owner. It only has 1824 miles on it and some body damage where it was dropped on its side (cosmetic only)

I have not been able to learn anything about prior maintenance, so I am going to assume it has spent most of the past 10-11 years sitting in the garage. It ran well when I drove it before buying it.

I have no background with scooters but do pretty well with tools. Been doing some reading and watching youtube. I am thinking of changing/flushing the fluids and filters along with any seals or O-rings that go with those tasks. I could really use some advice or recommendations of what else I might consider changing/checking/replacing for a scoot in this condition?

Appreciate all help!!!

tires. they are probably original and hard as a rock.

Do you know if the fuel is fresh?
Before you put it on the road, if it were mine, I would do:
Engine oil and filter
Gear oil
Coolant flush
Brake fluid flush and bleed.
Clean and re-oil the air filter
Fresh spark plug

Are the tires sound, w/ no visible damage and holding air? If so, ride them and keep an eye on them

I would drain the gas tank, and see what comes out before I rode it too much. If it has old gas with a bunch of crud in it, you shouldn't introduce that into the engine.

+1 on draining the gas tank. Do it right away.

You should also check the fuel line and vacuum hoses for cracking, brittleness and replace if bad. You might want to replace them anyway even if they look fine.

If it ran well when you did the test drive that is very good for a scooter of that age and mileage. Feel fortunate.

You must change the belt too! They degrade whether the bike is ridden or not. This forum is full of folks that didn't and the belt has broken shortly after the scoot has been put back in service! It can do damage when it does. Personally, I'd change every coolant hose as well. They will already be going bad. Good luck and enjoy the new ride....oh, post often.

From OP, "It ran well when I drove it before buying it."
Why is anyone recommending he change fuel, it runs????

And as far as tires, get rid of them and get new ones.

I will go against the tide here and say if the tires are not cracking and you can put an indentation in them on the tread area with your thumbnail, then ride them but keep an eye on the tire pressure. As far as the belt goes, I would do the same - keep an eye on it. It is mainly heat stress that kills the rubber, then age. Change all the fluids, oil filter, fuel and vacuum lines, etc....

What i would do.
Change both tires
All fluids changed (oil,hub oil,brake fluid)
Belt and roller changed
Do this and you can ride without having to worry about a belt or tire going out on you.

Sorry you would be wrong, UV is the biggest killer of tires then age. Heat from a properly inflated tire should never be high enough to be of any concern. And it's not the just the rubber on the outside of the tire, the fiber belts in the tire age and break down too. Going highway speed on an old tire, the centrifugal force can just pull the tire apart, BTDTHTB.

If this was a 50cc or 150cc not as big a deal, but once you're over 55 MPH you damn better have good tires, or they may come apart on you.

Point taken, but most of these scoots spend their live in garages out of the sun. Again,I would see how supple the rubber is before making a decision if it were mine. As far as the belt, rollers and spark plug goes, I would leave them alone and take care of the fluids.

You need to do some research on belt and tire life and WHY they get old and need to be changed. Hell belts on cars AGE out at 5 years and they get no stress on them like a CVT belt does.
Have you changed a broken belt? Or replaced driven pulley seal or bearing after a broken belt?

Changed many belts. Tires too. And I am surprised the Piaggio/Vespa ones last such a short time. Honda belts are usually good for 12.000 miles but usually go longer. A guy rode to my house the other day to get his belt changed out on his Helix, 1994, 21,000 miles and he has owned it since '96. Been all over the southern US with it. Tires- yes, UV plays hell with them. Friction and heat make the life of them shorter. Belts? It is mainly heat as they never see the sun. If I was going on a long trip or extended highway, yes, the belts and tires would be changed out. But not if just putting around town.

The fluids and filters, I definitely will be clearing those.
The fuel, that is a great idea.... I will catch that one as well... thank you!!

The tires do not match, one is newer than the other.... I am going to see how those feel when I am able to ride a little but will likely replace.

I will need to check out the belt and roller to see if that is within my skillset. Otherwise will get it done.

All excellent advice and thank you all for the help!!

Happy New Year!

Moonpie,

I would be very careful on those old tires. They will not have the traction of a new tire so go very easy on the curves and brakes.

About a year ago I dumped an XS650 in my driveway just taking a short test run in first gear the second I touched the brakes I did a face plant and lost a tooth. Granted those tires were about 20 years old.

Hard to say if the belt and rollers are doable, how handy are you? there are a couple special tools that make the job much easier that will pay for themselves if you keep the scooter and ride it enough to change belt a couple times.

If you think you might want to try someone should be able to point you to a good Youtube video on how to do it.

+1 on being very careful with the tires, especially the front.

Yes, the front is the one that did me in! Might not have helped the matter as while working on the front brake I had lightly sanded the front rotor to clean off some light rust.

Yes, the front is the one that did me in! Might not have helped the matter as while working on the front brake I had lightly sanded the front rotor to clean off some light rust.

You just must not know how to ride, because according to Tierney tire age makes no difference if you're not at highway speeds.
Hopefully people don't take his advice and end up learning how you guys did that old tires are dangerous.

I think if I had been able to get out and put some easy miles on the tires first it may not have been as bad. Thing is the tires were close to 20 years old and driveway was close to freezing temps and had been sealed a year earlier so was a bit smoother than most roads. All things added together and it was not good.

Then again brand new tires can be dangerous for the first several miles before the release agents used in manufacture have been scuffed off.

It also make a major difference of how and where scooter/bike and tires were stored. I have hear the worst place is a hot area near running electric motors. Apparently they tend to give off ozone that degrades rubber very fast.

I recently posted a similar thread about a new to me 2007 GTS I bought. I ended up deciding to change all the fluids to start. Its super cold here in Ohio now, so the other stuff will happen around March or so. However, come that time, I am going to change the belt and rollers just to be safe and for peace of mind. Then, finish off everything and get some new tires. I am riding out to Amerivespa this summer and want to be sure everything is in good order before I leave so I can really enjoy myself. Congrats on the new bike and have fun!

Good advice. This is exactly what I had done when I bought my GTS.