Modern Vespa

Well for the past week or so I have been riding the vespa lx125 without the speedo working after it broke on me. Tricky with all the speed cameras etc here in London. I ordered a new one and it arrived today so I thought 20 minute job max thinking I just had to remove screen, headlamp cowl, glove box and take off 8mm bolt at the bottom.....but oh no not with a Vespa....you have to remove the wheel and then the two bolts that hold the front shock in place at the top and then the screw that holds the cable and brake hose and then you have to loosen all the nuts and bolts that hold the mudguard on.......and then your all hot and bothered and covered in dirt! And I'm thinking this is crazy. But the outer was bad as weĺl.
Now getting the new cable back through the mudguard area was a PITA. Much swearing and got it through but what a palava and then replacing the hex bolts through the shocks with the cable guide was tricky to line up. Got there in the end and as everything was off I greased the head bearings and painted some rust on the inside with hammerite.
Job completed 3 hours later. I was going to change the oil plus filter but that and the exhaust copper gasket will have to wait a bit longer! Phew.

Well persevered!

I had to do this job again after 5 year and 3 months and it's still a PITA! No wonder the Speedo doesn't last with all the clamps and kinks. I still have to still finish fitting the mudguard screws so will take some pictures if I get a chance.

In the end I didn't put the speedo in the top clamp with the brake pipe because it looked much too kinked and strained. Plus a bit of Hammerite paint on the fork. Fingers crossed I get more than 5 years 3 months out of it. Bike has 20k miles! So I'm hopeful it will last the life of the bike.