Modern Vespa

Clearly I'll be taking the bike into the shop for this one, but I'd like
to run this by you all - as it was quite unnerving.

And I haven't initiated a topic in a while .....!

Extended ride today in magnificent dry conditions.
On two or three occasions when coming to a quicker stop there was quite a violent shudder to the front end - marginally eased by releasing the brakes.
Didn't happen every time.

I'm at 7200 km.

My baby is sick

Could it be anything to do with the new Corbin seat ?

Thanks for your help, MsD

It's very simple, the poor thing has be given the cold shoulder for so long due to the MP3 being ridden so much, that now when you take her out she just doesn't want to stop!

Seriously, I don't know what it could be off the top of my head. how's the front tire condition/pressure? Any signs of the front shock leaking?

How do you like the Corbin? Obviously I didn't make it over for the rally - poor weather and more important other commitments.

Dave

Dave we missed you at the rally ! I was one of only two red GTS's! The rest was two stroke fever. I assumed that more urgent matters arose and the weather was a little iffy.

The 29th Vancouver Motorcycle Toy Run is on October 7th ! *hint hint*

Neglecting the GTS?? I rode the GTS all weekend - and it was wonderful. The Corbin seat is absolutely fantastic, firm and is beginning to mould to my posterior (they refer to that as "breaking it in" also!)
I rode today for about 150 km and the whole ergonomics for posture and my lower back are spot on! Best money I've spent on any scoot.

But the shudder - aighhh!
Intermittent. I topped up the tire pressure before my ride. Will pretty much take it in asap to get it checked out. Could my brake pad be worn? Lots of city riding ?

I'm frowning because the GTS is one helluva bike and this pains me!

Di

[quote]coming to a quicker stop there was quite a violent shudder to the front end[/quote]

Greasy will chime in with a laundry list of possible problems......

Could be any of several things.......most of them easy to fix.....but perhaps hard to narrow down...

My bike has 25,000 km on the speedo and has the same shimmy/shudder on hard breaking....

I think its the front shock....but who knows.

I hit the front hard then release then hit it hard again to avoid the violent shudder......works so far....

hope this helps....

R


8)

Same thing happened to me at about 3,000 miles.
The Vespa dealer replaced the front shock and the brake rotor.
It fixed the problem.
I think it was the shock though, not so much the rotor.....

Your brake pads may have picked up moisture somehow, or you might have some contamination on the rotor. You might try gently warming the front brake up by using light braking while you ride a couple of hundred feet. Let up and try again, gradually increasing pressure. Then try a normal to heavy handed stop to see if the shudder is still there.

This can work on a car that has damp pads or a cruddy rotor.

Warped rotor

Thankyou !

I see the topic came up on the forum only a month ago.
A helpful PM prodded me into searching for "jackhammer" and voila.



Diana learns how to use search function!!

PS: I feel better knowing it's happened to others

I spent most of the weekend getting ready to come back to camp for the month. I had to clean up my place after 3 months of general slothfulness and beer drinking.

The motorcycle toy run sounds like a great idea! I'll be home by then and rarin' to ride! Will you have your GTS or the MP3? I'd really like to see (and sit on) the Corbin. I'll be in touch via PM as time goes on.

Dave

I had the same thing it started at about 800 miles. It would come and go. It was what I would call a violent shutter. It would happen if I would start braking between 35 and 39 mph. It would also happen if I would start braking between 25 and 29 mph. I then suddenly went away at about 1100 miles. Now there is a small shutter when I slow through those speeds.

It is very confusing but we are not the only ones to have it. Not sure what it is or what the fix is either.

Front end shutter during hard braking

Dave

I have to agree ... stop riding like a grandma and take it out more ... I've just cracked 600 km and I've not had my GT a week!

You need to get it out for those nice long country rides a bit more before the rains come in and you park it til spring in favor of the MP3

And get the brakes checked ... but don't take my maintenance time!

rocci

PS -- does this qualify as an intro post?

Nice intro post rocci !

There's nothing like entering the fold with some fellow poster abuse
More please .....

You're right, I do ride like a grandma at times. It's the MP3 curse. When you move from the MP3 to the GTS it's like:

"yikes, I've lost a wheel, I can feel every bump, this thing is faster and the brakes are worse!!!"

The combo of factors bring out the granny in me and I become the happiest cruiser in the world. No speed demon here. I remind you that my occupation is medical imaging and I like my bones intact and straight.

But I did have a chance to race a Harley on the Lougheed at non granny speeds. Before anyone laughs at that (harley!) he was gunning it trying to impress his pillion.

Shuddering in my shoes (brake shoes)

No many people ask for more abuse ... careful what you wish for

Considering I'm a Health & Safety Specialist I'm all for safety first ... but sometimes Grandma driving is more of a hazard.

Get Allessandro fixed up in a hurry ... there's not much good weather left this year.

Speaking of Harley's ... I've gone past 2 groups so far that have been pulled over ... when the fuzz see me they grin ... another advantage to living in Vespa-ville

rocci

I've never seen MsGTS ride her Vespa, but I did watch in absolute horror when she went head to head on her MP3 with some bone head talking on his phone and pulling a trailer on the I5 heading to Amerivespa.

Dave

PS rocci911, I'll keep my eyes peeled for you when I'm on the mainland, welcome aboard.

After putting on a few hundred clicks today with MsGTS using her MP3 ... definitely noticed she's not so much a Grandma rider ... though by the end of the day, I could see her rolling her eyes and secretly sighing after having to explain the MP3 for about the dozenth time.

I'll even admit to speeding up around the corners when I was leading so I could sneak a peak in my rear view mirror to watch the MP3 take the turns ... haven't gotten tired of it yet

You can't miss me on the road ... purple scoot with an all white helmet and jacket ... I trust we'll see you at the toy run? I've had MsGTS sutbly mention it to me a few times