Modern Vespa

EDIT: ignore the comments below, my long term observations are it is not actually helping for standing starts (rolling starts not carefully analysed). confirmation bias / wishful thinking

some observations ...

I had it installed for about 2 months and have temporarily uninstalled for the last several days (will stick it back in soonish).

with installed (not high speed / freeway):

1. lower mileage. 30-32 km/l -> 27-28 km/l This is to be expected

2. more clutch slippage / shudder at lower revs (10-15 km/h in carparks etc)

3. more 'go' when taking off at the lights (with ASR disabled). WIN!


I'm pondering the clutch slippage still. Was able to easily adjust my style. May install a malossi or polini clutch ...

Notes:
* It's a supertech so I can check things like mileage by using the phone app that records the telemetry
* using an Arrow after market exhaust

Lower mileage might be because of the way you take off with the Lambda Emulator installed.

Dr.Pulley HIT clutch is good for locking the clutch and preventing slipping, but this can cause jerks when you open the throttle at low speed. It is expensive. But I don't know anything about tuning the HPE transmission, having only worked on earlier models.

doubt this as this should be a minor effect when doing enough kms

does anyone know how the emulator works?

I don't know this emulator of yours, but generally speaking, the idea of omitting the Lambda sensor, would be to allow the engine to run richer.

Not sure if the Vespa also has a temperature air sensor on the inlet, but that normally works in conjunction with the lambda sensor.. (not all engines have it).

So, I'm presuming that, that is what your emulator is doing. Is telling the Vespa ECU that either the fuel mix is lean and/or that the air temperature is low..

When an engine run too rich, that is when you get the shudder at very low revs..
But the soon it picks up a bit of rev the acceleration should be much, much better than with the OEM Lambda

Obviously you are getting a fraction lower mileage because you are putting more fuel into the combustion chamber when accelerating..

It is a bit of a compromise, but at least you know it is working as intended..

The malossi emulator intercepts the o2 lambda sensor from the exhaust only (no air temp)

That's good. It makes it a lot easier for the ECU to be trick into thinking that the fuel mixture is leaner that what it is..

It richens the air/fuel mixture to about 6K RPMs. That's when the Piaggio ECU stops taking in information from the O2 sensor.

I was having the engine warning light coming on with my 2023 HPE. First only after a long, hard ride, but then more and more frequently until all the time.

Took it in to get the diagnostics read out, and they told me the emulator was giving erroneous signals to the ECU. Removed the emulator and after a couple of days the warning light was off.

Has anyone else had this problem with a Malossi lambda emulator?

nope

I think I have found my problem. My Malossi TC unit is for a 2023 Euro 5 model, number 5518988, but my scooter, being Vietnamese built, is Euro 4. The Malossi one for a Euro 4 HPE has different connectors, so I guess I am stymied unless I buy the Euro 4 version and replace the plugs.

hmm ...

it could be the problem. As the Euro 5 has a different exhaust / catalytics and I'd assume a slightly different mapping to match this.