Modern Vespa

A new 177 contender has been announced from VMC, going on sale in mid November. It's a cast iron copy of their aluminum cylinder (Stelvio) with a CNC head and a 2 rings piston. It's price, ONLY 129EUR!!!

The aluminum one is already a great kit and it's been making a name in Italy for it's price, performance and overall quality. A friend of mine, has been riding everyday with a Stelvio kit on his PX150 for the past 6 months and after 4830Kms his is very pleased with the kit. Apart from a little piston rattle (had it from the start) the kit is bulletproof so far...

Following, a video (don't use Chrome cause it won't play) from a dyno run with the Stelvio, installed as P&P without porting. Standard re-jetted SI24/24 and a Polini Original BOX exhaust pushing 17HPs. Not Bad...

For me, the cast iron kit is a sure purchase for my non-indicators P150X...

A new piston and a re-bore on a stock cylinder will cost more than this kit...

Specs
Diameter: 63mm
Stroke: 57mm
Displacement: 177.59cc
Port timings: 110°/170°
Suggested squish: 1.2mm ±0.1mm
Timing: 19°
Jetting: 125-130

129EUR? Where?

Italy. I will send them an email for shipping costs. They charge 11EUR for Italy but for Greece we have to ask...

From their direct reseller (kit not listed yet)...
https://www.avotecnica.com/

And their FB announcement...
https://www.facebook.com/377243309404809/photos/a.387390548390085/524588498003622/

My Italian isn't very good, but it looks like 129EUR only gets you the cylinder and piston. The whole kit, including the head, is 249EUR. Still a decent price.

https://www.avotecnica.com//index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=155_156&products_id=1678&zenid=6at3teg0kf1beukosru0f3hjl4

The cast iron kit will be sold at 129EUR. It's not listed on the site yet. It will be available in mid November. The aluminum kit sells at 249EUR as you already mentioned...

Thanks for the heads-up, I'll bet the introductory offer won't last long. I like iron and this is a nice piece of kit and a hell of a deal. 8 bolt head and I am liking that exhaust manifold!

Mike, I figured out how to translate the announcement and hot damn, it confirms Safis' good news!

Does anyone happen to know if either of the VMC kits can be fitted with the e-starter gear still on the flywheel? I have a brand new, but never used 2014 PX125, and I'd like a bolt on kit which requires no modifications other than an upjet and a Polini box pipe. Elestart is a must, but I don't want another DR177.

I've asked a FB friend who's fitted one, will let you know when he gets back to me.

Cheers Michael. This PX is a keeper, and I want it to be as close to factory as possible, but it would be irresponsible of me to leave the 125 top end and cat exhaust in place!!

Haven't heard many stories from this kit yet but looks really good. Nice short thin ring piston. Large transfers from the base. Removable stub.
Iron barrel is so easy to modify. What's not to like. Could easily be made to do anything you want.

If Jack likes it, now I really want it!
Maybe time to get in line... Anybody got any idea if they'd ship to USA?

Picture from a friend's Stelvio kit in Italy. He has put almost 10k Kms on it. Notice the excessive "burn leak" below the ring. He also had the "rattle" from the beginning, so it's probably a tolerance fault on the first kits. He told as that the newer kits have a better fit. His kit was never properly broken in and WOTed all the time. They tried his piston on the cast iron kit and they managed to soft seize it three times so far (WOTed it immediately) but after that it worked fine. It gets the OK from me

Terry, I can get one for you and ship it your way. I will definitely buy one for me...

Out of the box, any theories on how it would hold up next to a malossi 166?

Thanks! @ 129EUR I just can't say no. Can you have mine shipped to Peiraias?

What about statestide shipping? Can i jump on the wagon?

I am so getting this. Thanks for the info Safis

OK. How do I get one shipped to Australia?

Will there be any U.S. sales ? My italian is crap and am translating web site.

Oh, hey! There's now a video on the FB page. Thing has some serious ports alright ...

https://www.facebook.com/377243309404809/videos/467593163648425/

FYI....

Prompt in replying to my email.

Available 15th Nov 2018.

70 Euro to post to NZ ($120ish $NZD). Same price regardless Ali or Cast iron.

I've replied and asked if it will work with Elestart or if a fin needs chopping off. Will let yous know what they say.

Maybe postage will be same if getting some other little bits and pieces at same time to make it bit more worthwhile? That shop in Cologne is good for a flat rate in this way (27 Euro it seems to be every time).

Cheerio

PC

Yeah. What's up with Shipping to the USA? I want one of these.

So I asked if it works with Elestart and received this reply:

It also mounts with the electric starter rack, at the limit it gives a polish to the cylinder. For the engine casing only the central hole for the candle should be made

Hope this info helps,

PC

@Terry: How long will you be here?? We are preparing a team order. The kit will be out on the 15th of November but maybe we will manage to get them a bit sooner...

Kit is out. Normal price will be at 199EUR after the promotion ends...

https://www.avotecnica.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=117&products_id=1209&zenid=hcv3617a63dli4rplmncu7dr84&fbclid=IwAR0dmK8s7708phsBku1tafkcosNwcAikW4-9T14yK5TT60vFn9904Pow8_E

Safis, could you share how much is delivery to Greece?

I might go to thessaloniki next week and I hope my friend is not traveling anywhere so I can order on his address.

Because we've made a team order for a whole box (10 kits), shipping costs were low. A friend will receive the box in Ioannina and then he'll send us the kits by bus to keep it on the cheap side (final cost per kit, including the bus fare, stands at 13EUR)...

You'll have to contact them to get a quote for individual orders...

That's a lot of faith!!

I agree, but the price gave no room for hesitation...

True! Around here it would be easier herding cats than finding ten people who would agree to buy the same kit at the same time! Must be a good community you have there.

Ordered one for the PX125 which I might use next summer. Cost of shipping to UK = Euro 15. Total cost = Euro 144. It will be interesting to see how well this runs with an upjetted 20/20 carb! I will probably use a Polini box as they look closest to a pre-Cat stock PX pipe.

He only had to find 8 others around there besides himself when I jumped in. At that price and with such a devoted bunch of Vespa shifty fans there, I don't think he broke much of a sweat finding more guinea pigs.

We shall see and this is only my 2nd real kit(don't count DR70's on old 50 smallies) so I am pretty stoked. I just might stick it on the 3 ported Bajaj motor in my AllState. With 10" gearing and 8" wheel, just adding a tooth on the primary isn't enough, still wants a higher gear after winding it out in 4th. But assuming this will rev higher, it will still be geared too low but will have higher top speed(50ish now) and be a ton of fun getting there.

Big thanks to Chris for putting out the word and arranging this group order so frugally. Even looks like he knows somebody to bring it down to Athens for me, that's going the extra mile kilometer

My kit arrived yesterday. It looks really good but I've not checked the ports or the piston to bore clearance yet. The welding around the exhaust flange looks a little rough, but I'm sure a bit of filing and finishing will sort it out. The fit of the head into the cylinder recess is very nice.

I would have preferred the traditional angled position for the spark plug, as the centre plug means cutting a hole in the cowling. This detracts from the Piaggio stock look, and I know from past experience that the stock HT lead on a 2011+ PX will not reach the centred plug. Not a problem with the old Ducati CDI, but the new ones have the HT lead moulded in, so you cannot just replace the lead with a longer one.

Just a heads up. VMC has redesigned the piston to eliminate the rattling problem. They changed the skirt, pin position and uniformity of the piston (conicity & ovality).
Good news, our team order is delayed cause we're getting the new pistons... 8) 8) 8)

Looks like us guinea pigs have dodged at least one bullet .
Better this than this .
And looks like BGM is on their game and doesn't want launch problems with a large group of important customers. Hopefully they'll make the new pistons available for kits already shipped. What's up, swa45?

Hi Guys...anyone recieved there kit yet?
Are there any instructions withe the kit like squish recommendations?
I only see paper cylinder gaskets & no metal gaskets?

I ask before I order one...as I would like to know for sure what the squish should be..

My dad once said to me.
'Carefull son, that's Mutton dressed as lamb'

Avotecnica is sending me a new piston. I've not taken the kit out of the box yet, so I cannot comment on the issue that has been reported.

My replacement piston arrived today. I cannot spot the difference at first glance, but I can say that I have been extremely impressed with Avotecnica's service.

[Edit] The new piston skirt is 2mm longer than the original one.

That's impressive service! Some other companies might learn from that!

I've ordered bits and pieces from Italy in the past, and it was like throwing money into a black hole. Will it ever arrive? Will it arrive this year? Will the company respond to emails and phone calls? Like I said, super impressed