Modern Vespa

I found a local guy that has a stash of PT Danmotors Vespas for sale. Mostly Super T's, I think some P ranges, maybe some Sprint versions too. I havn't seen them all , only a few pics so far. What I have seen is a little rough looking... but says he has about 10 to sell.

I have done some research here and online about Danmotors. So I know the basics details of them being licensees for Piaggio, years and most of the avaiable models. I read through searches/threads on this site. I also know that even if the high quality bikes were sold off the lot, they were most likey ridden hard through the years... I also know they can come with some interesting featuers. Trap headset with small speedo and 3 port case! P-series square headset ala MotoVespa, etc

I'm not necessarily looking to buy, but tempted if there is anything actually worth bringing home. 10 scoots just sitting there is a sad sad thing 10 rotten death traps is a more sad thing haha. So just wondering the experts thoughts on this one

Not an expert but from my research they made an excellent product. As you know it is what happened after that is the issue. Years of hard use then bodgery.

That barely ridden untouched Danmotors Vespa is like hens' teeth.

That single photo says it ain't one of them.

Why 10? What's the story to this all? Collecting bodges? Was he looking for hens' teeth and after 10 tries at the lottery gave up?

Of course there is the chance that one of them or even the other 9 are all amazing. Just probably less chance than hitting the lottery.

I'm not sure why he has so many, still in talks. Will see if I have some time to swing by and see/talk in person; as its not too far from me. That green one is their personal bike, so I believe they are from Indonesia and brought them over as an 'investment'.

TBH, I'm pretty sure the rest are even worse. Ridden hard and put away sloppy wet. So my hopes aren't high. But maybe worth a look just to see what else is there

Bodgespotting

Even though I don't mind the DanMotors Motors

Thanks for the link. I know ALL about them bodges

Anyone on here actually have/had a Danmotors Vespa? My concern would be that even if one of these looks solid, even if JUST for the motor; who knows what lurks inside.... risky risky risky. But yeah, one of them motors would be nice...

TBH I mostly just want one of those trap+small clam headsets for a future project.

Got some photos

First one looks like a P150S with the square headset. This one could be a great project. The others are crap...

But usually, Indonesian restos are not that bad as their Vietnamese cousins...

I would defo grab the P...

about the PS150 from this thread: Dan Motor Indonesia
Dan Motor Indonesia

As explained by: koenig blues

vespa ps 150 (1989-80's) i am not familiar with this model but i know it have super 150 engine inside but bigger crankshaft and diffirent gear ratio but still have 8" tyre and not using trail link suspesnsion like other p series and the frame were already build with p series (although in first year this model still have glovebox in the left cowl and no turn signal and no battery) the last year they come out with turn signal, battery and spare tyre were under the left cowl similar with px 150 but have a giant square head

If that's a PS, nab it. Very cool.

I have a P150S and love it. It's an ongoing project

Nice!! Love the blue. I've always liked the big square headset. Digging the P frame down on 8" wheels. Any details to offer?

Hoping I can go see these this weekend, waiting on the seller.

I'd be willing to buy the lot of them for $1k, and do this to them on my farm...

Vespa Art Farm!

It's a Super T. Stamped 1977-born VBC engine and frame. It's a unique bike, however. It's got the trap headset with a speedo in km, plus shop made cowls and front fender, early acorn tail light, funny stuff like that. Oddly, everything functions well on it. 6V system, no battery. Pre-mixed gas.

Folks on MV-NSM helped me determine it was originally built by PT Danmotor, probably with a 3 port engine. Sadly, it does not have the Super cowls or front mudguard, and I don't have the story behind that. Also, it sports a sheet metal plate over the tunnel area between the floorboards, I've heard that's sometimes seen on scattered classic Indo Vespas, but fortunately for me I can find no signs of any frame bodgery or serious rust. It also has an Indo license plate -- Bali area -- which I've kept on it because... well, tropical, summery New England.

I've maintained it in the few years I've owned it, replacing the carb, tires and suspension, other little things, but since the motor pulls strong I haven't rebuilt it yet. It's been reliable, but it's just an occasional coffee-getter for me (I have other bikes and I like to show them all some love, when they actually work that is... )

I'm ready to bust into this engine maybe this winter and see what's what inside there (now that I've rebuilt a few Vespa motors within the last year). I paid little for this one at an estate sale that almost no one attended, so if it's semi-bodged and packed like a jack in the box with springs and shrapnel, I figure it's already given me a fair amount of thrills at least.

Love this bike! Looks like it's in pretty decent condition and I am a sucker for the multi blue look .


I'd swap my left whatever for that mudguard crest .

zachyzach This is a beautiful scoot! Thanks for sharing the story and history. I love to hear the back story. The blue is sharp!

They all look pretty shite to me

hey there Brother Z, ur is indeed a Indo bike, the front fender and the cowl it does a super cowl but is someone already reshape it to look more rounded, i see it so many time here and yes ur blue is indeed look sharp

Hi there Ebeth! Quick question for you, if you happen to know: these PT Danmotor 150 Supers... I haven't cracked the cases yet on the blue one here, but wondered - if it has the 3port engine like people expect, and the larger crank, does that mean the crank and even cruciform are same as the P series or still like the standard earlier sprint/super. I do want to replace the shifting cross this winter. Thanks!

it depend on the year Brother Z, if its a late 1977-1979 it does have a 3 port and 19mm crank but the cruciform is the same as sprint/super.. danmotor basicly didn't change the gearing to efl model until 1986 so the its basicly the same, hope thats help and cheer Brother Z

Is this a PT Danmotors P?



https://santafe.craigslist.org/mcy/d/santa-fe-1980-vespa-px150/6946086118.html

yup its a early ps150

Caveat Emptor, but these are NOT your typical VN bodges

Recycling this old thread because there's lots of good Dan Motors info here that's hard to come by. I got a deal on one of these but w/ motor out & in pieces, so am now waiting & looking for any way to help my buddy in Eugene Oregon get this up to me in Seattle. He's coming up in September, can bring frame but the motor-in-a-box I'm hoping to get sooner to start rebuilding, so if you know anybody...


It looks from the paperwork like this was a one off imported to Oakland in 2007 as 'personal effects', and passed thru a couple of owners since. In 2010 a different owner in Portland bought motor rebuild stuff from SIP, including not only a 177 iron Pinasco kit, but new crank, engine bearings and more I need to dig thru. Even if the case is cracked or something else fatal, I have a decent case I could use.

I know that solid Bajaj scooters can be desirable and usually get some respect, but maybe primarily because of the coveted gloveboxes, LOL??? . I believe that there are other solid old Vespas around that were made elsewhere than Italy - like Spain, England & more. The biggest BODGE problem seems to be Viet Nam and those are Italian made, just too often badly worn out but artfully presented in pretty colors. Bajaj & Dan Motors not so much IMO.

That lot of Dan Motors bikes that Geek Lion found does LOOK ugly, but maybe skin deep and looks more like rust & cheap skim coat meets bad weather over time to me is all we know for sure. I hope I got lucky w/ mine. So far the frame looks remarkably straight & solid despite the typical paint job. Probably some skim coat too, but magnet test says no thick layers or chunks, and the bike does not look beat. Fingers still crossed... If it IS mostly junk, you will soon hear me squeal !

PS I emailed Ebeth a few days ago, nothing back yet.

I wanna go over to Eugene and put a sticker on it!

Leta do it!

Good score VooDoo! I'm glad to see this thread revived, and more so to see your new project!! It looks like you did really well with this one! I hope to add a DanMotors Vespa to my stash one day.

Just out of curiosity… Is your buddy, by chance, affiliated with Top Dead Center SC?

I see 60/8 Club membership in your future

Do it, I double dare you!

Not yet, but contacts have been set up. If you know anybody headed that way & could bring the box of motor stuff up to Portland, I've got a way to get it up to Seattle from there.


And SoCalGuy... Do you have those in size 50/8 for slower old ppl?

More pics:

I'm rooting for your DanMotors purchase, voodoo. I hope it works out!

Thank you John, I STILL don't know really how good or bad that frame is, but the signs are encouraging from what we can see. So far I think I'm a bit ahead of the $$$ game on this one anyway. If you count the current price plus tax & shipping of the SIP parts that are included and that lovely Jaguar on the front end leading the way, it's already more than I paid.

Indo Super is half here, at least the motor in pieces, seats, muffler, fork & headset have arrived thanks to a few friends helping out and relaying two big boxes and the fork up to me. Our man Macgerk volunteered to pick up the load in Eugene so he went down a week ago and visited family he has there, and then held it until yesterday when a local friend was down close by and brought it from Salem the rest of the way up to me.

I'm not gonna lie… That bitchin' trap headset was at serious risk of "falling off the truck" lol

Really looking forward to seeing this one come together.

Got any pics of that original manual? Didn't really get a chance to check it out.

Dig the team work to get this thing to you Terry.

Watching this space.

Motor cleanup and assembly has begun, but I am taking my time and wanting to get every detail right. Motor was really clean and except for corrosion in the crank case not much further cleaning was needed. I did a quick dry fit on the cleaned up cases and EGADS, it was like they were MADE for each other!!!



The engine has obviously been worked on before, and there is a small chip out of the flywheel lip right next to one of the cylinder ports . I left the repair to set overnight, going down now to review and take motor back apart to install crank. But all in all, it has not been abused and the rotary pad is nice. The bearing seats are gorgeous, I've already installed new seals and a new rear axle needle bearing set next to the shift box.

Terry on a roll already! Nice work! and LOVE the teamwork frog leap to move this scoot north. Following!

So exciting to see this come together -And happy I could be a part of it!

Hopefully that chip is the worst of the repairs! Glad the rotary pad passed inspection and there was at least a sliver of the original surface there for a gasket. The gasket that came in the box was a bit warped (hopefully you have a better one on hand).

motoseal on that base gasket and you probably will get by

LOL indeed, that was the first thing I checked for! That Indo trap headset is some kinda stepchild, I'm pretty sure all the ones I've seen before were Italian and use the older fan shaped speedo that you CANNOT find anymore except cheap repops and ultra costly Italian EBay rumored pieces occasionally. These beauties take the newer more common smaller clamshell speedos.

No manual came with it, but the original owners log/title booklet showing the original owner as the same person who sold it to a woman in Concord CA in May of 2007 w/ declared value of 10 million rupiah and was shipped to Singapore. It shipped in June from Singapore and arrived in Los Angeles in June and delivered as 'Personal Effects' valued at $2900(oops! $2000 limit!) let's say $1999 in Oakland in July.

Next up I can see from the few docs I have is a guy in Portland buys all those new parts from SIP in early 2010. Then my seller got it in pieces probably from him. Fortunately they all took fairly good care of it, I don't think it ever sat out in the weather except maybe the motor after it was pulled from the bike before it was split.

damn!