Modern Vespa

Hey everyone. A few months ago I bought a low Mike '05 PX150 series America. I've been tinkering with it since the weather is warming up, trying to get it tuned. The engine cover has this sticker on it. The bike had a bunch of misc mods on it. Curious if an engine swap was one of them?

Here's a pic of the engine.

That paper sticker came on all the '05 PX150's. Normally they just decompose off the shroud over time. That engine looks all stock from what I can see.

That's a PX200 motor. Part code (4870445) confirms that. Take a pic of the exhaust near the kickstart...

Here's some pics.

The JL exhaust is also for a P200 according to what's stamped on the side of the engine.

More pics.

Last one.

Definitely a 200 and I also see an aluminum cylinder so it's also kitted (Malossi, Pinasco, etc.). Very nice...

WTH! That's crazy. It explains why this thing isn't running right as I try and tune it. I assumed it was a stock '05 PX150 with an exhaust on it. It sat for years. I bought it from a millionaire collector from NYC who kept it at his beach house in the Hamptons. I replaced the fuel line, fuel tank, and fuel selector valve. Disassembled the carb and replaced the jets with jets that would work well with a 150 engine and a slip on exhaust. It has run like crap ever since. Acting very lean last fall when I bought it, so I parked it for the winter.

Guess I need to start over and very all the carb components.

I'd start with a 55/160 and a 160/BE3/130 combo...

Anyway to find out if the gearbox is a stock '05 PX150 box or a box for a 200? I understand the 200 doesn't play well at cruise speeds when using a 150 box without changing the 3rd and/or 4th gear ratio.

I'm stoked if this is indeed a 200 engine, especially a kitted one. I paid $1800 for this and it has 160 miles on it.

Since there's the part code I mentioned on the flywheel cover, it's a complete PX200 crate motor that was put in. Piaggio used to sell them as spares. They are still some available here and go for 3,5k euro. You definitely got a deal there...

Wow. Now I'm more stoked and can't wait to get this thing running! Guy I bought it from said he had $10k in it in labor since he bought it. Said he took it to a motorcycle shop in the hamptons to make it run. Had no idea what was done to it, just that it didn't run again after sitting all winter 2018-19. I thought he was exaggerating and/or being ripped off by his shop. Now it makes more sense.


Mind if I pick your brain about some other things on it? Any recommendations on a spark plug? I put a new oem in from scooterworks for a stock PX150. A NGK BR7HIX. Would something hotter or colder work better? Also curious, should the carb be a 24 or 26 sized carb?

Since it's a PX200 and kitted you need a different plug (long thread). I'd go with a B9ES. Standard carbs for these motors were 24...

If you havent already, try removing the plastic cylinder cover. Its a few screws and one bolt by the spark plug. Then pull off and you can see the cylinder and some kind of manufacturers stamp in it.

A 24 or 26 carb could work. Larger is preferred but the 24 came stock and matches with everything else in line (air box, inlet).

If its a 200 you want to switch plugs entirely. Go to an ES plug. B7ES or B8ES

It's a Malossi! Says something else below Malossi. Looks like brevette but I can't read the rest of the letters, they are hidden behind the cooling fan.

Malossi 210, from the stamp it looks to be the "old" one. The other word is probably "brevettato" which means patent in Italian...

Ah ok. Well now I now what's on this bike. Thanks for the help on IDing this stuff! Time to get some new jets and spark plug ordered and get it tuned.

Once again I was wrong...
Never in a million years would I have thought that someone would swap in a PX2 crate motor...with cylinder kit! Yes, I've heard about quite a few PX2 crate swaps into a 2005 PX150 in the US, but never heard of one in a Series America. I had always hoped that someone would do it in that particular colorway. I bought a PX2 crate motor years ago through ASC, but I don't recall it having that paper sticker on it. All of my '05 PX150's had that sticker on them, but they were mostly illegible by the time I bought them. I currently have two of those PX150's converted over to a full PX200 and a PX215 (both EFL). For the US at least, I would consider a 05 PX200 the pinnacle of speed, reliability, up to date electronics, braking, and lighting (of any stock Vespa that is).

Congratulations on the score. Just be verrrry careful with your jetting! A Malossi and a JL pipe can be a quick piston disaster while trying to cruise at 60-65mph in the highway if your jetting is off.

Im super stoked that I scored this thing. Bargain of the century. I do plan on installing a CHT gauge, maybe even an EGT gauge as well, to minister the engine parameters. As soon as I find a place to order the SIP digital replacement speedometer I'll get to work on ordering and installing everything. Also have a bunch of jets and some spark plugs on the way from Scooters West.

Is the JL expansion chamber type exhaust just more prone to leaning out at the top of the power band? I really don't want to put a box type muffler on it. The JL pipe looks and sounds absolutely amazing.

Quite the score.

That JL's a top-notch exhaust.
It's no more prone to leaning out than any other pipe if your engine's jetted correctly.

I'm sure someone on the forum will come along and give you some jetting tips. In the meantime you might look here to get in the ballpark. Search for similar set ups.

http://www.lfs.alexander-hepp.de/index.php

Thanks. I'm really looking forward to seeing how it does on the open road. Will be nice to cruise on 55mph roads when needed, without being topped out. I did get some good advice on tuning in another thread. I have 5 main jets ranging from from 130-140 on the way. Already have a BE3 thru 5 air correctors here. If the 50/160 low speed jet doesn't work well I might have to order some of those. Have some 7 and 8 heat range spark plugs on the way as well.

congratz mate, its a great deal

enjoy the bike and cheer

I don't think a 7 has any business being on any tuned engine. A B8ES is the recommend plug for a stock P200 that frequently sees highway speeds (a 7 is for stock bike for riding around in the city). The B9ES that Safis recommended is the money plug. I think a 130 main would be WAAAY lean. I'd start out with something in the 140 range and go from there.

Good luck with the bike that is definitely the best colour PX