Modern Vespa

Hi people,
I have just got back from a 3 day 356 mile around the Yorkshire and Lancashire dales with three other chaps. Them on a 210, 200 and a 175cc. I'm on my 125 with a 150cc replacement cylinder etc. Generally I kept up, but I was lacking on top speed. Reved out at maximum 50mph. Also the hills of any duration left me slugging along. Do I need more cc or could i be clever with gear ratios and gain something? Currently it's a 1972, gtr 125cc gearbox.

Also we all got back safe and well with only myself breaking down with a throttle cable and the HT lead breaking down, but managed to bend it in such a way that it kept the contact to get me home.

Nice looking scoot.

You can get a little more mph with a 20/20 carb and a SIP road 2 exhaust. That upgrade got me up to 55mph but it took a long flat road to get there.

I vote for more CC’s.
There is no replacement for displacement.
Look into a 177cc kit. It will make you happy.
There are plenty of guys on here hitting 60+ mph on 8” wheels.

Man what a great tour and what a stellar ride.

Agree... you'll have a bit more grunt with a SIP road and bigger carb.
Probably could flirt with 60+ with a 177 top end.

Sorry guys forgot to say, but I do have road 2 and a 20 20 carb. Just wondering about gearing from a std 125 and if it could be improved .

Also if I put on a 177 for example would the gearbox need changing or would it just rev even more? Because as it is it seems like it's going to explode at full licks.

If it were me I'd try a bigger top end first, then adjust gearing as needed. I'm sure the guy's here can point you towards a higher revving top end that can help you keep up with the p200. My DR with some work could hit 60 MPH, but like you wasn't the best on hills. That top end is supposed to be old technology and the newer setups are better for power.

To answer your question on gearing, likely you will need to swap the clutch gear for one with more teeth to take full advantage of the bigger top end. Once you have more power, you will be able to run the engine at a lower speed for a given MPH. Most people doing small block 177's seem to end up on a 21 or 22 tooth clutch if they are on the standard 125 gearbox. You should not need to dive in and move individual gear ratios unless you are running a fancy pants pipe.

Fantastic trip, and beautiful scooter!

I've got an Allstate, 125cc, 3 speed. 67 tooth ring. I put a 2 port 177cc kit on and upped the clutch gear to 23 tooth, up from the 22 it came with. Much more comfortable at 60mph.

But all kidding aside, the engine isn't working as hard and "feels" better.

Mattgyver is the one that I got help from in doing this. It's a bit of black magic to me, but he made sense of it to me and has done this exact thing before.

Hope this helps.


The blue 62 is three speed, the red 64 is 4 speed. Both 67 primary and same ratio for 3rd-4th gear...

All of this is adding up to getting a second scooter in my book. My interest in this type of riding meant leaving the VBB for the around town stuff and investing in a Rally or PE/PX for extended stuff.

But that's a sweet looking scooter so I can see why you want to use it instead.

DO IT.

Every true scooterist needs atleast 3. 1 to ride, 1 to build, and another the fix real quick to ride when the first breaks down. Probably best to just make it 4, so you have a backup for your backup

Yes. N + 1

Yes exactly!

N+1.

How about take the 125 cc out…and replace it with a later model p200 engine. Keep the original 125 for a later date, that is what I did to my 68 sprint. Kept the original 150cc and replaced it with a p200. Upgraded the carb and exhaust. 60 mph pretty easy. Just a thought….

By the way…L4NFF beautiful yellow scooter.👍🛵

Great pic btw, as they say no substitute for cc’s.

Looks like Honister pass to me?

Close Cgt, it was actually Austhwaite Brow, we took that route to avoid Hard Knott Pass. Some of the lads were in fear for their clutches. Hopefully we will be back there next year for more incredible scenary.

So from all the comments it appears it is more CC's makes more top end speed. I'll have to consider that over the winter I think.

Think I'll just be happy with what I have got for now until I get the urge to spend some cash.