Modern Vespa

A local dealer has made me a generous offer to take my LX50 on trade. He's presented me with a couple of options in and around my price range.

- the first is a new '06 LX150 (I really like my LX currently so I know what Im getting here)

- the second is a modded '05 PX150 with barely any mileage. It has a Malossi 166cc cylinder kit, Front and rear Bitubos shocks, Prima chrome performance exhaust, chrome rear rack, corsa seat

Truthfully, I have no experience with a manual transmission on a bike. My car is a manual, so I gather that I'd have a feel for the shift, but being a new rider Im a little worried about having something extra to worry about.

Also, how reliable are the newer PX's compared to the LX150?...and what type of differences will I experience from the PX mods?

Any insights would be greatly appreciated.

If you want reliability I would say go for the lx-150. But that is because I know nothing about how the px150 and the malossi has been set up.

If it is done correctly or you can get some sort of warranty on it, the PX might be a better choice, but I tend not to trust modded bikes unless I have done them myself. A properly setup malossi 166 is very reliable if it is set up correctly. However, because it is a tuned two-stroke and more powerful than the LX it will make a lot more noise and might annoy your neighbours.

The stock LX has about 9 hp at the wheel and a conservatively tuned malossi 166 starts at around 11-12 hp.

So if you want to shift gears, pollute more (noise & emissions) and not be able to stop too quickly, go for the PX. It will definately be more fun too. If that is not for you, then go for the LX. Thats a nice scooter too.

I like the look of the PX, and respect its vintage heritage, but still would be tempted to take the LX150. Unless you are satisified that the mods added to the PX were done well, or if the dealer was going to warranty that scooter for you, I would wonder about reliability.

You may also consider if you are the type of person who likes to shift or not. I do, in my car. However, others have posted that shifting a vintage Vespa (includng the newer PX) can be hard on the left wrist if you are prone to such injuries.

I'm lazy and don't want to shift, so any scooter I buy will be a twist-n-go.

Thanks for the insight....very helpful.

I think Im leaning towards the LX, as Im already so comfortable with my LX50, it should be an easy transition.

Read this thread from only a month ago....

PX 150 or LX 150? Which would you choose?


I recommend the PX!

I copy this from another post from another member who couldn't decide between a px 150 or a lx 150

I just bought a 2005 PX 150 three weeks ago. I paid little more than I should have and I don't care. I loved the the bike, color and it has extremly low milage and its still under warrenty. I thought the chances of finding another limited Canadian Series, locally, would be rare. I was wrong. Any way thats another story.

You be happy with a PX 150 when you change the configeration from a choked 2005 emission setting to what it was really designed for. Basically change to a no cat exhaust, like the basic Sito plus, and increase the jets and adjust the carb. Otherwise, you will be riding a bog down scooter with little mid range power and no upper range power. Not to mention, you will be beaten and be embarassed by a much lesser scooter.

Also, I believe, if you care, the limited px 150 (1 of 500 of American series or 1 of 350 Canadian series) will be a better investment in the long run, because the riders who thought they really wanted a 2005 limited Vespa PX150 and later decided it not for them are selling at a lost to those who do. In time, those limited Px 150s will be in the hands of those who don't want to sell, like me. You will then enjoy and own a not enough supply and more demand Vespa that is good for at least 30 yrs.

good luck
rudy812

According to the Vespa website a stock PX 150 is 9 HP, while a stock LX 150 is 11.5 HP. Don't know what effect the 166 kit would have on the PX 150. The other difference is the PX 150 has a 10" front wheel, while the LX is 11".

If you already had a t&g 150 or 250 I'd say get the mods-on PX as a SECOND scoot. If you only will have one get the LX.

no brainer - get the PX.

+1

You know even though I own and love my LX, if given the choice let alone a kitted PX with performance pipe...I'd deal with learning how to shift.

I've owned an LX and now I own a PX. I wont go back to automatic scoots because I feel I have more control with gears. I'm not going as fast on the PX, but I use my scoot to travel in town and going 45 mph seems like 75.

I'd go with the 05 PX 150, Better deal than an LX for sure.
I on the other hand have a street fight Derbi 150...So what do I know.

Heh

Dave

Like I said, a mildly tuned px 166 might have 11-12 or more hp at the wheel. An LX doesn't have any more than 8-9 hp at the wheel. A stock px150 is about 6-7 hp at the wheel.

Did you ask why they have a kitted PX on the floor? It's not something you often see. There has to be more to it than they have let on, and maybe not good. You need to find out who built it. It may have low mileage because it seized all the time and the crank-side bearing is going out.

They actually did the mods there. The bike came in with stock set-up w really low mileage and they wanted to give it the custom flare.

Get the PX. Lose the "Prima" pipe and buy a SS SIP or JL.

How many miles on the stock motor? Who kitted the scooter?

The main issue with a kitted scoot is Timing (make sure it's on the button)
Take it for a ride, Can you do a plug chop?

Guesstimates about HP Morra is in the ball park. However, it varies somewhat. Just make sure it's not set-up by a Subaru Mechanic who's brother had one in college 30 years ago.

As you said you drive a stick. So, a manual shift shouldn't be an issue mate.

Go get it! And post some pictures when you bring it home

Cheers

+100000000000

Get the PX

In 2002 I bought a new ET4. Over the next year and a half I put 6500 miles on it. There were a few issues, but it was not a bad scoot. A bit expencive to maintain.

In 2005 I replaced it with a PX150.

I'LL NEVER GO BACK!

Not only has the PX been more fun, deliveriing more of the true flavor of the Italian scoot, its been way more reliable. In 2 1/2 years I've put 10,000 miles on it, and its been a rock. No problems at all, and I love the looks. Its also been a fraction of the cost to maintain, a consideration since I really use this scoot as my second car.

Soon as it was broken in I put the Sito plus and carb jet upgrade in. (Well, the guys at Vespa of Washington did) and it really woke up the preformance. I really think its as fast as my old ET, or so close to it its hard to tell the difference. The only difference is on long steep upgrades, the 2-stroke does not have the midrange torgue of the 4 stroke my Et had.

But I don't care, I love the PX150 so much I'll forgive it that one thing. Or maybe one day I'll put a PX200 motor in it!

Get the PX and savor the real flavor of a Vespa!

Get the PX. Lose the "Prima" pipe and buy a SS SIP or JL.

How many miles on the stock motor? Who kitted the scooter?

The main issue with a kitted scoot is Timing (make sure it's on the button)
Take it for a ride, Can you do a plug chop?

Guesstimates about HP Morra is in the ball park. However, it varies somewhat. Just make sure it's not set-up by a Subaru Mechanic who's brother had one in college 30 years ago.

As you said you drive a stick. So, a manual shift shouldn't be an issue mate.

Go get it! And post some pictures when you bring it home

Cheers

i would get the px too, but get what you feel comfortable with. keep in mind that the px is going to require more maintenance from you too, but most of it's easy so don't worry if you're not mechanically inclined. carry spare cables, plugs, oil, and tools with you at all times. you'll feel like you know your bike much better being on a px too. i know absolutely nothing about my 4 stroke bikes other than how to check my oil. i can do all my basic maintenance including changing cables on my two stroke bikes though.

Afaik the prima is just a good copy of a JL, isn't it? It's definately not like the [redacted] exhaust. These are not guesstimates, tho. A month ago I was at a rally where we tested a whole lot of stock scoots to be able to do a proper comparison with the kitted ones. A PX200 and an LX150 both have about 9 hp at the wheel. The most powerful malossi 166 kitted scoot I've seen had 20 hp at the rear wheel. I think that might be the most you can get out of a px150 case. In any case, 11-12 hp at the wheel for a malossi is quite a mild tune.

In any case, I think the shop should give some sort of warranty on their tuned px150 if you are going to buy it. Otherwise I'd take the LX-150

Prima= India?

20HP from a 166 kit? What else, other than the kit did this scooter have mate?

Cheers

I don't remember, but I suppose the same kind of stuff that lets a 210 kit make around 30 hp. Long stroke crank, mmw reeds, mikuni-something carb.. and a JL right hand or some other custom made pipe.

I've only seen this one 20hp scoot based on a 166 kit, but plenty of 210 malossis with 30 hp. I guess it makes more sense to spend that amount of money on a px200 based engine than a px150..

As for the Prima, I thought that was some sort of american copy of the JL. I'm just judging from the pictures I've seen. They're not available in Europe.

The PX actually only has 120 km on it....and I believe that the cylinder was installed from the dealer. I need to double check though.

Im going to take a look at it this week and make the call.

Im still a little apprehensive about the PX as I really know nothing about the mechanics of a bike....also, I often drive with a passenger. Any thoughts on how the 2 bikes will compare when factoring that 50% of the time Im riding w someone on the back?

you haven't got it yet? Hurry up before it's gone....!

jacqui