Modern Vespa

My fully kitted Malossi 250GTS runs very well. Drop in behind someone that's rolling on the freeway and triple digit indicated speed comes easy, and it will run 80+ all day long. I rode it a lot immediately after modding, but haven't had the time the past few years. The increase in displacement helps, and it seems to breathe much easier. If I found myself only having one bike, the GTS would be my keeper. It's easy to ride and park, handles brilliantly, very stable at speed and has been completely reliable. Blowing by folks on the motorway always gets the WTF look, and hanging behind someone cutting a hole in the wind is a hoot. I've also upgraded the suspension (Malossi) and bushings (Clauss Studio), tires, exhaust to Akrapovic with a SIP exhaust stub, lighting to ScooterWest's LED kit and Brembos fore and aft. I'm also running a Vespa short screen. It's a sleeper, sporting the stock rear rack, front bumper and crash bars. I've contemplated purchasing a 2020, but waiting for compatible brake, variator and engine tuning options. As I understand, they're limited in speed by the variator and speed limiter?

My kit is in the country.
Just waiting for customs clearance and delivery.

Do I detect a need for photos of the upgrade going in?

The Malossi Forcemaster2 over rides the ecu rev limiter restrictions on speed.

I wasn't aware that Malossi offered this for the new GTS/HPE. Thanks

My kit is in the country.
Just waiting for customs clearance and delivery.

Do I detect a need for photos of the upgrade going in?

Easily overridden by fitting a Kubler rear wheel sensor ring. Increases top speed by about 10 kph, I believe. That's the very first mod I would make if I had one. Not that I travel at those speeds much, but it is the principle of the thing!

My Polini kit was delivered this afternoon from my contact in Germany.
(Ask no questions and I'll tell no lies how I got it before the official agents...) D

Vespa guru and I looked at it and it is fascinating...!
The cylinder is Nicasil finish with a small step at the top to squish into the standard 75mm head.
That means that the piston will not pass all the way up through the cylinder.

I am off to the Dyno guy on Tuesday morning for a "before" benchmark reading.
We will do another "after" reading, fitting the Polini kit only.
Dyno guy is in racing developments, so we may do further development thereafter with head skimming work to up the compression ratio a bit.
I live at 4 500ft ASL so every little bit helps.

The outcome will be better if you don't try to fix it, but use the centering bushings that came with the kit and follow the instructions. The kit doesn't use o-rings. You can probably look at it and figure out what's going to happen if you enlarge the holes enough to install the o-rings on the factory cylinder.

PS: Getting those three rings into one slot in the Polini piston is a serious pain in the posterior! It took longer to get them in that to reassemble the motor.

So, Vespa guru and I started the installation of the Polini kit today...

One word of warning:
When stripping the engine the little ring on the back of the compression release cam EASILY drops off and can fall into the crankcase via the timing chain tunnel. (See pic from manual)
Stuff a rag into the timing chain tunnel before removal to prevent this.

All went well until we started fitting the kit.
Don't get me wrong, the materials are really quality.

The instructions suck. ("Remove the engine from the oil.')

The real pain in the posterior was NOT a manufacturing glitch
The standard head requires the installation of two centering dowel tubes
and 4x O-rings.
The Polini cylinder top has not been milled to accept these - BECAUSE THEY PROVIDED ALTERNATIVES!

If you buy a Polini kit, ensure that you look for the tiny parts in the little plastic bag that fell out of the box onto the cluttered workbench and then onto the floor!

I usually don't mind seeing a short skirt but isn't that one a little too revealing?

I can't tell... is she wearing nickers?

BTW, where does this diagram come from?
There definitely isn't one in the kit.

Hmm , we're waiting with bated breath on the next installment. Now how does it goooo....

Hi Fudmucker, is there any new news from your sunny. Because I also want to order same polini 294 cc kit to my scoot. please share your opinion with us

I collected Sunny back from her paint repairs yesterday.
Now I have to wait for the dinamometer place to be permitted to open again after lock-down.

Is there any news?

Is there any news?

Still not open for business...

Dynamometers are not classified an "essential service" - along with hairdressers, beauty consultants, open-toed shoes, short sleeved T-shirts and a long list of activities.

Automotive service shops are permitted to do "emergency repairs" on vehicles with an "essential service" certificate - but they are not permitted to service them.
Unbelievable, I know.