Modern Vespa

Hi. I'm very new to the world of scooters but I've been a flag carrier for years. I'm thinking of purchasing a vespa with a sidecar from this guy: www.modscooters.com I'm very leary since I am still learning and not quite sure if they are legit. Has anyone heard anything about them? One of the reasons I want to get one with a sidecar is due to the fact that I'm really small (4'10) and vespas aren't as small as they seem. I went to the Newport Vespa dealership earlier this year with the intent to purchase a LX150 even thought I prefer vintage vespas but I couldn't even tip toe it and they weren't very helpful at all. Any advice or suggestions? I live in Orange County, CA so if anyone knows of a reputable place, please fill free to share. I know there's The Scooter Shop in Orange and I'll be going there this weekend but just thought I'd throw this out there for any suggestions for the locals. Thanks in avance!

Nic

Do not buy a "modscooter"

how about a honda they are pretty low to the ground

Finding a good dealer in Orange County can be pretty tough. Where you get your repairs done to me is more important. I have found the sales at Newport is much better than it once was but I think their mechanics do a great job. I would get the bike from someone who is willing to work with you to find the best deal you can and I think your best bet is to buy from the same person you want to maintain your scoot. I hate to say it but Newport Vespa might be your best bet but look around and go with your gut. Oceanside has a great looking facility but I would not give that store a dime of my money. I feel that way about a few others but I want to stay positive and not change the direction of this thread.

Good luck with your decision and I am sure others will give you good advice. By the way, welcome.

care to explain why? they look good to me.

Nic, you'll find several threads here about scooter options for those of us who are "inseam challenged". I have a low-profile seat, available as an option for ET4s, but not for LX150's for some reason. The stock seat can also be shaved.

There are other scooters that ride lower: the Buddy, Yamaha Vino, Honda Metro all sit lower to the ground. I helped a friend who's 5'0" pick out a Vino, and it fits her easily.

I'd explore these options b/f going w a sidecar.

Cheers,

--Deborah

These are almost certainly "viet-bodge" bikes. They may look pretty if you don't know vingage scoots but once you buy one, you quickly realize they are pretty unreliable, pretty dangerous, and a pretty good waste of your time and money.

Check out Eric's site on spotting a Viet Nam bike and why you should stay away: http://www.rovers-usa.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1938

Never mind the scooters, I want one of those 1973 Jawas! Are those Viet bodges, too? Man I like those bikes. They're awesome.

Mate? Come on i thought my eyesite was bad

Vi-ate-my-bank-account. These bikes are death traps. An accident waiting to happen.

Nic, Please do as much research as possible. STAY AWAY from these "People" mate!

Buy an original that's straight. Then throw 2k on a good paint jobbie.

Cheers

Thank you for all the replies so far. They have been really helpful. Part of the reason I am intent on a vespa is because it's the first scooter I ever saw and fell in love with it. I just love the way they look. However at this point I just want to ride.

The main hold back is the 'inseam challenge' as Deborah said. I already budgeted myself for a scooter. I am determined to ride. The sidecar was just my way to work around that. I tried the Vino and while I could tip toe on it, it didn't feel nearly as solid. I also tried the Honda Big Ruckus and boy was that thing heavy, especially since I *barely* could tip toe on it. You have to keep in mind that I'm 4'10 and weigh 110. Although the weight on that is a lot, it was more the combination of the weight and the lack of balance that made it difficult.

I'm part Vietnamese and I have to agree with your on the 'Viet' jobs. Unfortunately it's part of the culture. It's a country where most people do not have a lot of money and everything much be done on a 'duct tape' rule of time and supply. Everything must be done on the fly and on the cheap. Just like the garment industry, there will always be people who will come in to take advantage of the cheap labor. You work with what you have at your disposal and unfortunately most of the people there do not have the means to get proper parts or the money to buy it. They've resorted to these rather creative if short term solutions of repair. But I'm digressing!

So in trying to work around my inseam challenge issue, Deborah you said that the ET4 had lower profile seat? Any idea of the seat height? I tried sitting on a few scooters and motorcycles to get an idea of a passble seat height and about 27" seems the be the max I can comfortably tip toe. I also tried googling the seat height specs for the small frames but no luck.

As for 2007GTS's advice on buying from the same place you intend to get your scooter service, that's what I would like to do. I'm a pretty loyal person and I will stick with a place that might charge a little more but does solid work and is honest. I found this guy who owns a shop in Costa Mesa named Massimo. Has anyone in Orange County had any dealings with him or has heard anything about him? This is his website: www.massimovespa.com His shop is closed until mid October for service but I plan to go down and take a look once he reopens.

JimH I will take heed and follow your advice. I am trying to do my research, hence I joined this board. With the little knowledge that I currently have, I already knew to stay away from the littel yellow boots.

Thank you all for the welcome!

Nic

Oh and in case anyone is curious. This is one of the bikes Modscooters is selling on E-bay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Restored-Vespa-with-Sidecar-New-5-Port-ES-Motor_W0QQitemZ320160615587QQihZ011QQcategoryZ6721QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Not the one I am looking at btw. I am not a Pink kinda girl. I was going to have him custom paint one for me but now I will hold off. I can't tell anything about it other than it doesn't have little yellow boots. The guy however was really nice and was very quick to answer all my questions properly. However I haven't asked him where the restoration work was done. I'm interested to see what anyone can point out that shows it's a Asian Resto job.

They're not Viet, They're Indian. Modscooters is affiliated with Motoitalia in the U.K. who have a pretty good reputation

Mate, A VBB or the likes should be fine. My sister is 5ft approx and she rides a VBB with a shaved seat.

I understand you mate, i think we all love vespa. But as a first scooter then i would just buy a beater scoot, just till you get use to the basic stuff.

Then if you dump it who cares?

I might come over heavy about these shite scooters, though at the end of the day, i never want to see anyone get hurt.

Nobody looks stylish with feeding tubes.

So, on a more positive note mate, buy an old Yamaha or Honda passport, so you can start off sure footed.

We are here to help ye mate.

Cheers and goodluck

Scooterworks also, Means FA pal.

And when have we ever got quality out of India? Baja,LML,SIL etc.

All REAL Winners eh! All their Vespas are sold! Made to order, Right.

2 Letters mate, GP

Cheers

i mostly said that because napacoach didn't explain why not to get one. i was pretty sure the reason was because they're VBBs.

http://www.scooter-scene.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7648

If you are concerned about stability and "holding up" a bike, look at the MP3. It has two wheel in the front, and a switch that locks the wheels parallel when stopped. Stop at a light, as you slow down flip the switch and the bike cannot tip, you can keep your feet on the floorboards. Accelerate, and the lock comes off. Works great for me! I'm a big guy, but I can't dance, if you know what I mean.

Modscooters.com used to be Motoitalia or is associated with them directly.
I used to own a GP200 Lambretta from them and it was pretty reliable, not one problem. it was being restored in South Dakota and was then sent out to me, via some guy they hired that drove heavy machines all over the U.S. That was the only thing that was really weird. Most of the parts they would order from the owner of Motoitalia in the UK. The guy who owns motoitalia would supposedly fly out to you wherever you were with issues that were extreme. New Zealand or someplace like that from one person I talked to.
Unfortunately I no longer have that scooter, I was in a wreck last year when a guy turned left in front of me and I woke up in an ambulance, the Lammy was totaled. Since then Motoitalia has changed to Modscooters and as far as I am aware they are still reputable. Unless someone as experienced differently assuming that they are Vietbodges would be ignorant.

Welcome to MV artblack01. That thread petered out last October so the discussion isn't currently a hot topic.

That being said, there isn't anything wrong with giving an older thread a kick in the ass, but, doing so with your first post and posting that anyone with different opinions or experiences is ignorant..................................

I would hesitate about recommending a sidecar to you if you have no experience with them. They ride very differently than a stock scooter and require much more strength in the arms to steer. Most scooter/sidecar rigs are pretty underpowered as well. Just go with a scoot that fits your size and reach. Certainly consider an LX150 with a custom seat. My advice is to go try a Buddy 125/150 or a Yamaha Vino 125. Both have a significantly lower riding position than the LX150. (stay away from Honda metros - they are really down on power and don't hardly belong out there on the street IMO)

THE Art Black ?

You know, I thank you for pointing that out, I wasn't paying attention to the dates.... As for the ignorant comment, I apologize, I just meant that if someone has no experience with something then maybe that person should do more research first and not assume that, modscooters sells vietbodges, or that something does or doesn't suck....