Modern Vespa

I own a 2018 Piaggio Medley that has done 9,000 km so will be due for its 10,000km service soon and in the service manual it states that rollers and belt should be inspected and if ok replaced at 20,000 kms but the dealer insist that the belt and rollers should be replaced since they are going to the trouble of removing the cover. I know that some scooters shops recommend that a belt gets replaced around the 10,000km mark but since Piaggio recommend 20,000kms what would you guys do?. It will get very expensive having the dealer replace the belt and rollers every 10,000 kms (6,000 miles).

Cheers, Paul

Leave it in for 20K km and see what happens.
The dealer probably has no idea how long belts last and is just trying to take your money. For all you know, you might be the first person they ever sold a scooter to.
They're probably exaggerating about how often you need to change your oil too. If you inspect it, and there is still oil in the bike at 10k km, leave it in until you change the belt, or motor, whichever occurs first.
The big problem with Piaggio service intervals, is that they only give you the "in a perfect world," schedule, because longer service intervals are good for marketing. Sort of like Ducati valve adjustment intervals. They changed absolutely nothing and doubled the suggested mileage between valve adjustments. Why? Because they sell more bikes by telling you to service it less. Most of the other manufacturers will give you the "perfect world" service intervals, but tell you to service your bike earlier under harsh operating conditions, and then give a description of harsh operating conditions that are pretty much how everyone rides a bike.

I'll crank this one out again.

Iv'e destroyed a OEM belt at 2500 miles because it never got a chance to cool down.

Belts on Cannonball are changed as a precaution around 2000 miles for the same reason.

Some GTS belts have lasted 10,000 miles with light use.

Don't recommend doing that that though.

Bill x

Thanks for the replies. Motovista, the dealer actually do sell a lot of scooters mainly Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha but I do think they are heavy handed when doing services and quite expensive. They did state that the Piaggio service intervals are too long and I can see your point about the marketing because it worked with me as that was one reason I purchased it, long intervals. I had a couple of Kymcos (Like 125 & Like 200i) before that and they had 2,000km intervals which were way too short but had to be done for warranty.

Somewhere Piaggio has a chart that shows what percentage of belts fail at 10k km, and how much the failure rate increases after that. That, and a healthy dose of optimism, are how they arrive at these service intervals. If you tell the dealer you just want them to inspect the belt, they will probably put the bike on the centerstand and rev it up. If the rear wheel turns, it passes.
If you're worried about expensive, wait until you break a belt.

Honda Forza 300 belt replacement is at 16,000 miles.
Never heard of one breaking before that mileage.

The technology and materials are the same, so if the belt can reliably last 16,000 in a bigger heavier faster more powerful scooter than a GTS.....?

My Kymco AK550's belt is changed at 48,000 miles.

So what's your point ?

A bigger heavier more powerful scooter will have a more capable belt fitted.

Bill x

Which one?
You might want to read the manual again.

Well it I didn't read it. It came out of the mouth of my local Kymco Mastertech's mouth.

Now if I misheard it I'll put my hands up.

Bill x

What is the outcome of having a belt fail while being ridden? Catastrophic secondary damage, or just "well, time to replace the belt"?

The belt will often turn itself into candyfloss then get consumed by the Variator where it tends to knot itself inside, like a total bastard.

Bill x

Your Medley looks very similar to my BV350. I don't know about your engine size so I'm not sure how valid a comparison is. For what it's worth, I've changed my belt and rollers at about 12,500 and 25,000 miles, the recommended service interval (20,000 km). I've seen very little wear on the belt and rollers. On the other hand, I change belts about twice as often on my smaller scooters, a Yamaha Vino 125 and a Yamaha Zuma 125. They are smaller belts, and cost about half as much as the 350's. It could be that belts on larger scooters are supposed to last longer. I too think it would be very expensive to do 20,000 km service at 10,000 km on my BV350.

A complete new clutch (OK, driven pulley assembly) is ~$200 give or take. I point this out, as, if you do happen to grenade a belt, you may be left with a decision to rebuild a clutch. If you aren't interested in doing or hiring the work to do maintenance more or less 'on time', you probably aren't interested to spend the money to rebuild a clutch.

If you do it yourself, a new belt, rollers, sliding blocks, and the tools to get you started are ~$200 or less. Without tools, less of course.

https://www.scooterwest.com/deluxe-belt-transmission-service-kit-bv250-300.html

I'm sure Motovista could show you a similar deal.

Then there's the unlikely possibility of damaging the crank seal. Or rear hub seal. Or the sudden stop due to locked up rear wheel (which some folks would tell you can't possibly happen, right to the [internet] face of someone who's rear wheel locked up on them when the belt blew).

My mistake -

1st change 12.500 miles.

2nd change 48.000 miles.

I must have just heard the last bit.

Bill x

Thing is there's two belts in an AK, a regular final drive belt as fitted to Harleys and the like and a CVT belt.
So which one lasts 48,000 miles, or is it both?
Until you read the manual you won't know.
You really should read the manual cover to cover when you get any new vehicle, otherwise you'll be unfamiliar with its foibles.

It's both.

My buddy is the warranty guy at Kymco HQ in Wales.

No reading being necessary.

Says the man with no actual scooter.

Bill x

Yes, I'm expecting and hoping Motovista is speaking with sarcasm. Anyone they waits for a belt to break is nuts as it will likely cost much much more money to sort out the problems that can cause.

It's a 125cc bike. The belts don't last long from what I know about it. Changing it at around the 6-7,000 mile mark is perfectly acceptable to maintain reliability and smoothness of the bike.

My GTS gets done every 9000 miles inline with Vespa instructions. It can also work out cheaper to do it that way as the bike will need to go back in again just 3000 miles later to have even more labour and parts to do the job. Doing it slightly early will save money.

To use one of your favourite catchphrases... and your point is?

I try and have a good relationship with my dealers and just go with what they recommend. Maybe I've had some parts changed out a little early and the dealer has always given me the choice and a recommendation. This way if anything goes wrong with the bike I find I get great service. In this case I think they are being honest. I know I much prefer to not run with a part right to its recommended end of life. Better a little early than late and blowing a belt would sorta suck on the road.

The quote is "so what's your point" rather than "and your point is ?"

If you're going to quote me, at least quote me right.

If the manufacturer suggests changing the belt at 6000 miles and you're going to use it close to WOT for hours on end cut that number at at least by half, maybe even less than that as it will soon de-laminate.

All the riders who have run GT/GTS's in the Cannonball know this trick as it will probably fail roughly half way through the rally if you don't.

The belt is the weakest link in the transmission and to think what it has to put up with I'm surprised that they don't fail more often so change them regularly especially if you're doing a lot of touring, ride two up or you're riding in hot conditions.

Bill x

And your point is?

That's the spirit !

Bill x

I have the Medley 150 (155cc) and was going to upgrade to a BV350 but not sure now due to the dealer cost in servicing. Great scoot to ride though, I have a lot of fun on it.

Paul

Nope, that's what I'm preaching now. Do absolutely no maintenance and report back how it works out.

Yeah...from you I'd expect that...lol.

There is a way around that cost issue Paul. The BV is a very very easy bike to diy service. But it will require you to buy tools and get a workshop manual if you don't have them, and learn some basic skills too if you don't have them. It can actually be fun in a scary sort of way! Of course, that's assuming you have the time, something many folks just don't have these days.

+1
I actually prefer working on my BV over working on my Honda. I have a video on how to make transmission tools for less than $25.

I'm with Moto. Following the manual does not provide amusing forum posts.