Modern Vespa

I use my P 200E mostly for riding around town, but I noticed today that I'm hardly ever in 2nd gear and seldom in 3rd. Mostly I'm in 4th, even at ~30 mph or so.

I had the same problem years ago on my bigger motorcycle (a Norton Commando), and I solved it by putting a smaller sprocket in the front to increase the gear ratio to the rear wheel. That made 2nd and 3rd more usable around town and made the bike less buzzy on the highway.

Obviously a Vespa doesn't have a drive chain so I can't change the ratio that way, but is there some way to change it with replacement primary gears or something?

Mike Taglieri

By "buzzy on the highway", do you mean that the engine will run at a lower RPM? Because swapping to a larger tooth count front sprocket (on a motorcycle) will raise your overall gearing, causing the engine to run at a lower RPM. While installing a higher tooth count sprocket in the rear will lower your overall gearing, causing it to rev higher.

So let us know what speed you usually ride in at the town you live in. That will help us give you recommendations of what we (we have lots of options here!) the collective thinks is best for you.

https://scooterhelp.com/cgi-bin/vespa.gear.calc.pl

https://scooterhelp.com/tuning/vespa.gear.calc.html


Just let it rev a bit more?

I would be careful about letting it rev out more without doing other things to prevent problems. Years ago someone built my p2000e motor and did not count the primary gears and it turned out the primary was from a p125. The revs were much higher with those gears and a lighten flywheel but over the years the cosa clutch basket mushroomed out and could barely hold the large clip that keeps the plates in place. Also the main seal wore out quick which caused gas and gear oil to mix. I have the motor out and replacing parts now.

We are not talking racing here. Just within the normal range up to 6000.