Modern Vespa

Hi,

Left my Vespa overnight in a public parking place whilst out drinking.

Turns out today it had been reported "abandoned" and the police wanted it moved pretty quick. Went up in my lunch break to move it, but the key won't turn in the lock.

Looked at the front of the bike, and there's clear marks where something metal has scraped into and popped off the panel at the top/front of the bike.

Obviously unfamiliar with the piaggio logo method, they've just broken in, and gotten access to the inside, presumabley in an attempt to hotwire it?

Anyway, I don't know what it should look like in there, what they've done, or how to fix it, and need to get back on the road ASAP to avoid repossesion.

Unfortunately can't post photos, but appreciate any help within the next hour or so.

Crappy news, Old Pink. I had something similar and no longer leave my LX anywhere but outside my flat.

I'd get it recovered and taken back to your own gaff. I know its money, but if the police repossess your bike they will charge you a fee for every day its in their care and more when they release it.

If your LX came with Piaggio Assist they can do it for you, or tell you someone who can. Failing that, call your dealer, they should help you out.

Hm, I have Piaggio Roadside Assistance, I'll give them a call. Never got my account card and stuff through the post though.

Shame it's so damn heavy. Might get some mates to lift the front of the bike with me, and the back wheel should roll along.

It's clearly been played with a fair bit. The collum is fairly loose considering it's locked, the key won't turn, the front has been forced into.

Thing is, nobody would ever pass where it's parked, it's at least a mile from any housing, social places, anything.

Worried about this. Ah well, might get it derestricted while it's in the garage

Mate, Is your steering lock on? If so, sit on the scooter, turn the handle bars tight to your left in order to take any tension off the colum.

I really wish i was there to help you


Cheers

Cheers, I'll give that a shot in a bit when I head back up there.

Mate, I am way too slow at typing.

So your key goes into the lock but won't turn. Try inserting the key wiggling up and down as it goes into the ignition, go back and forth a few times (Raking) the wafers inside.

I'm a Locksmith and sadly iv'e seen this too much on scooters and bikes when i worked in Glasgow.

Cheers

So what's the cause? It's definetly been tampered with, but in which way?

I did try fiddling with key entry, I'll try that too though

Thanks.

Because i am not there it's hard to pin point.

Though, the most common causes here are.

1 Stuck or damaged wafer inside your ignition lock!

2 And or, Steering collum loose because of extreme force used whilst trying the SHEAR method to unlock your scooter

(This is the method most Tow truck/Repo guys use )

I Can't reveal how it's done, Though again this is a very common method.


And if your collum is loose, that's what has happend here or at least attempted.
Cheers mate

BUMP!

Mate, did you get your scooter sorted?

Hoping all turned out well here.

Cheers