Modern Vespa

Ok so still running the engine in and quite enjoying myself doing so,until however Iran out of petrol. Not a massive disaster as Only a mile away from home. Managed to wiggle the tank a bit and get enough juice to get me up the hills.
Anyway any tips tricks or after market equipment that can help me out here. Yes I know take a look before you set off. But anything else?

I ran out of fuel last week too..

I usually fill the tank up just before I get home so I know how much is in there when I set off next time. Another plus with a full tank is there'll be less air and less moisture, so less likely to corrode.

This

Hello.
I did that once and learned the hard way.
What I do now is when I fill up I take a 5 litre can with me and fill that too. Also I add the oil so I don't have to sod about with that little joy.

I bet you thought like me and 10,000 others, yep I know I've got half a tank or so. I just want to ride, not go arsing about at the Garage first because It's Sunday and sunny. I'm sure I'll get away with it.
5 Miles later.....Brrrrrrrrrr.

So now if I know I'm going for a ride, (Not a ride to work which is at 5:30 in the Morning and no buggers about), I can top up and go.

Worrywort, your right, but not sure I want a 5L tank strapped to the scoot so I may invest in a small fuel container I can hide.

However is there an after market addition I can add to the scoot without making changes to the originality of it? I don't want to drill holes or anything.

Hello.
I should have explained it better. I fill the 5L can and leave it at home.

when I want to go out to play as opposed to commuting. I fill the tank at home first. I don't carry any with me.
Cheers Del.

Don't you guys have a reserve position on your fuel tap? OK, I do too but for whatever reason, all too often I've run out of power and reached down only to discover it's already on reserve . So I always carry one of these full of fuel and don't worry about it. Where I ride I'm never more than half a liter away from more - no pushing it home or phoning for rescue 8) . Fits easy in toolbox, glovebox or under the seat on a smallie.


May not be per code or even illegal in places, but experience indicates they are gasoline proof and don't leak with the cap on tight. I fill them a little short and squeeze out some air before capping so any heat expansion shouldn't be a problem.

Of course there are many nice small portable fuel canisters I could buy, but I do like to recycle and I have several bikes which already eat too much money .

I made the mistake of running out of gas a while back. Now I have a 32 oz. aluminum MSR fuel bottle full of gasoline in the pet carrier of each of my scoots. Hopefully I'll never be in that position again!

You can get a 1 litre "fuel friend" from a few of the shops, and they are a legal fuel container.... they have a proper size lid for filling up from the petrol station.
The coke bottle is not but it does hold fuel without eating through the plastic.

This

https://www.corazzo.net/product/1-liter-fuel-friend-jerry-can/

If there are issues with jetting there are a few signs to look for that will make the fuel go a bit further. These maybe won't help not running out, as it will go longer between fill ups but will make it a little more economical, nicer to ride and possibly faster as well.

Doesn't matter if your scooter is factory stock or a 10,000 rpm screamer, the rules are the same. First thing to look for is the end of the exhaust pipe. If there is wetness or oil marks around the tailpipe, then the main jet is too big.

Next is the exhaust stub and downpipe. If there is black splooge dribbling out, then only the pilot jet (and/or needle jet for the big carbs) is too big.

Apparently a perfectly running 2 stroke doesn't burn 25% of the fuel, one with the jetting wrong could waste an awful lot more.

All true, I know. In my case I always buy gas in big containers like Worrywort, then premix & gas up at home because I get alky free several miles from home in the US 15 gallons at a time w/ my truck hauling the cans. Here in Greece most gas stations are small & cramped, so taking up space fooling w/ 2T oil in a hurry is sometimes uncomfortable. But I do carry a small bottle of 2T as well as the coke bottle of premix.

As for the small mouth bottle, it makes it easier to put gas in the tank, especially a smallie. I do need to use a funnel to fill, but with 3 inches of air left at the top and a built in funnel, I don't spill when pouring into the tank.

I just checked Amazon for giggles and the 1 liter fuel bottles are very attractive and mostly north of ten dollars. If I only had one bike maybe I'd get one of those w/ a fancy spout.

jack: Thanks for the tips, I've often thought about what/how regarding getting the best fuel economy. Now you've got me thinking more...

I use this,just enough to get me out of trouble and also just fits in both my scoots toolboxes..
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwj_sr_Gw-DeAhUN3KQKHVZGBh8QFjAAegQICxAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fitm%2FMOTORBIKE-SCOOTER-RESERVE-PLASTIC-FUEL-CAN-BOTTLE-2LTR-WITH-POURING-SPOUT-%2F121631698343&usg=AOvVaw3CJOEEJL_8ODtx9GX8lx84

I brought an updated SIP fast Flow Fuel pump with the additional LED light to show when you are getting low. Need to think of somewhere to mount the LED that looks original-ish.

Also, I brought an empty Oil can like this (not my actual bike) and attached it to the Spare wheel, I plan on painting it to look a bit more vintage but will contain enough to get you to the next petrol station.

Loopy, I think ill have one of those. I'll just check the measurements when I get home.

Here is my spare gas can - Ha - No, I store the 5 gallons at the house and fill the scooters from it, and also the lawn mower and chain saws.

I have no backup on the road except the reserve.

In the past I have carried something like this for a little extra fuel, with the idea that I wouldn't be far from home and that 1/4 gallon or so would be enough to get me far enough further down the road.

https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/54199?page=msr-fuel-bottle-20-oz

I think that most of us use the reserve portion of the tank as our "low fuel indicator" When it runs out of fuel the first time, you switch it to reserve and go straight to the nearest gas station.

Please don't store gasoline in your scooter in a soda pop bottle. Also, if you do carry a spare can, make sure to use it regularly and then refill it so it doesn't go stale.

Hi Jack221: those jetting tips are great. If you have more tips like those, please share them with us.

Mine doesn't have a reserve, or does it? How would I know?

I just calculate miles per gallon at each fill up and fill up when I've reached half what I think I got left.

OK.... so what kinda miles per gallon are you getting?

I haven't ridden in a few months but my p200 gets close to 40 and I think my Sprint was 46. I've never bothered on my super but I'm sure it's over 50.

PS, I've never rebuilt the engine in my P and struggled through pinging issues. I've swapped CDI's and stators and even jetted rich. I really C10 in it which solves it but they don't sell that at the pumps. Ultimately I just run it at half choke. I'll be back to riding after a few more months of "peace keeping".

My P200 gets about 40MPG and it's pretty much stock

So maybe I'm not as bad off as I think.

Ok so it arrived and should cure my running out of fuel problem.

Well done,i think they`re top gear for the price.

I use the same MSR bottle that JetPeddler does and I strap mine to the underside of my rack using pipestrap (not shown). It's out of the way, it stays in place and is easy to reach. I figure that it's good for only a few miles but I've never run out of gas and I'm usually never far from a gas station anyway. If I'm taking a long trip, I have a 2.5 gallon can I take with me.

Hello.
Just for reference dear reader. Please remember to carefully compare US Gallons with Litres and then do the same with UK measures.
Stay sane and sober.
Cheers Del.

That's a very good point WW!

A UK gallon = 4.54 litres
A US gallon = 3.78 litres

Fortunately the sensible measure, the litre, is the same whether you live in Mississippi, Milton Keynes, or Moon Base Alpha.

Is anybody else a little spooked by a fuel bottle next to a gas stove?

My boss was when he saw it on my screen at lunch! I had to explain it was brand new and not full... at least I hope not.

All great ideas...but I just carry one of these 32 ounce cans in my storage area. I could actually fit a lot of them but one is enough. TruFuel.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/TruSouth-Trufuel-50-1-Pre-mixed-Fuel-Oil-6525638/202532877

It's actually what I use anyway. I buy the larger cans to fill up. It's expensive, but it's the ultimate in premixed fuel.

OR you could go to Home Depot and get a can of this and keep some oil with you. Seems a lots safer.
They sell premix but only in 50-1 and 40-1.. Not sure what mix you guys use.

Seems like many are against gas in a pop bottle, maybe it sounds radical and dangerous but it's not really. Seems safer?.... Why, IMO pop bottles are just as safe as these.

I've had cans get punctured but never a pop bottle. They are made from thick tough PTE to hold the pressure of the carbonated pop. DON'T use water bottles, no pressure = much thinner. Just be careful where you stow either bottles or cans.

Suit yourself, metal or plastic, purchased or recycled. I like recycling pop bottles because they don't rattle like metal and my experience is that they are safe, easy to stow & easy to use. My carb leaks more gas than my gas bottle ever has, now there's a safety issue!

I used to have the issue of forgetting to flip the reserve lever up as well. Only took one time that I ran out of gas on Route 66 on a ride back from a Rally (early 90's) to never forget again. Some kind soul found me on the side of the road and drove me to a gas station and back. Like others I started carrying a little extra gas with me when I knew I was venturing out of the city. I had to carry a bottle of 2-stroke oil for mixing with with me anyway so it's wasn't a big deal.

Funny statement right there welcome to the joys of owning a vintage vespa.

Go to a paint shop... 1lt of thinners or similar come in metal containers