Modern Vespa

Bajaj kept the round tail with the later style Sprint body otherwise. The American import ones had the italian CEV lights too.

Hard to tell with rubber trim in place kind of masking juntion.

Waiting to see if another one shows up in my area in decent shape. I like those round tailS and tractor lights.

Handy data point for bodgespotting there, too.

I'd rock one of those Bajaj's in a heartbeat.

(To note- Motovespa also kept the round tails going through the 70's)

interesting.
Agreed - the Bajaj has a nice looking tail.

I think they must have saved a bunch of money by not having to provide a plate mount. They did it before they squared off the lines on the body. VBA ?

for us in the USA, though, Bajaj are relatively common compared to Motovespa. Those UK guys find those things all the time. but yes, point taken!

Whatever they saved on the plate mount they must've spent on the humongous glove box. It's the size of a freaking closet. My favorite Bajaj feature.

Are these right?

I haven't removed the old ones yet, but looks like the top race fits inside the tube, and the bottom one fits outside it?

Thanks for all the help on the wiring! I feel pretty confident. Only problem is I probably won't be able to find the wires in strange colors like purple/gray stripe.

But the connectors and wires look like they're fairly easy to replicate in the original spec.

Agreed. They came up with a solution that didn't have a problem if you ask me.

I'm happy it's square. That round tail would be really hard to fabricate!

That's a valid point. I can't weld (yet) so that one doesn't bother me. That roundness though… perfection.

Here's another puzzling one.

I got this 3m seam sealer. It's supposedly the top quality.

But it's an industrial product, and had no instructions. Does it just go in the regular caulk gun? It has a metal can opener at the bottom, and metal top.

thats the goods! Poke out the metal top seal, install plastic applicator; rip the metal can bottom off slap it in the caulk gun and get to caulking

Thanks! I was hoping.

This seemed like the best stuff. It's supposed to last forever.

I used the same stuff several times. Dries firm with a little flex. If you want a super clean application, use masking tape on either side of the seam.

Apparently the ultimate seam sealer is a 2k type that uses a gun that holds 2 cartridges and used a special mixing tip.

I have never used it and probably never will. I have regular auto body seam sealer that has held up for decades in my bus.

The original stuff was like rubber cement or something.

And they only sealed the area inside the tank, I think.

It was pretty tough though…

Lots of random things. Wanting to get this done!!

I found a wiring diagram for a 1974 American market Rally. It's from Scooterhelp, but for some reason is not published there.

Anyone familiar?

There was also a 1973, which looks similar. These were on a blog page, and show up in MV threads.

The wiring doesn't look *too* hard, with the barrel clips and crimper. And then all these little parts are easy to find.

I'll try making one!

I don't understand why diagrams are so complicated. How about "Blue wire goes from stator ro headlight tang at the top" I always struggle with em

They make it look scary.

But half the wires on there are the stator and Femsa, and that's all done already.

This thing cleaned up. Pretty well.

I'd be hesitant to rechrome it, bc the original chrome is so good. But there are spots where it's eaten away. The only really bad parts are on one post and a spot on the underside.

for me that looks perfect, it shows that it is old and at the same well cared for. All new chrome on an old bike to me always feels a bit cheap...

ry the ole wet crinkled tin foil treatment on her.

I'll try that! Thanks!

This was a nightmare.

Nice one! Way to use those welding skills.

Your bbq rack cleaned up nicely. I like to have old stuff show a little wear. The chrome door handles on my bus have a little pitting, but otherwise look good. Repros have terrible chrome and don't work nearly as well as the originals.

The quality of the chrome on those Vespa of America accessories was so spectacular.

Not too bad! It's like subtle patina. Like something you might do to make something look a liitle aged,

Need to get these rechromed.

Is there a good place to mail them? It's so hard to know of a chrome shop is good.

I don't think they've ever been chromed. I'd use enamel paint or something similar for the black part and polish the letters / border. Even the ones sold by Piaggio look like the repro ones. Here's the ones I got in 2015 directly from Piaggio…

I am pretty sure those are polished alloy and not plated.

Only the originals with the "R" mark will do if you're a hyper-purist.

They definitely have some kind of plating or coating. You can see where it's worn off.

I tried polishing, and it took more off.

Might be that American ones were different. The R was a US-only thing.

I would paint the black part a flat black, the clear coat the whole thing. You could use a brush or mask the letters. You could also just put them on as-is.

Have you tired Bar Italia for a NOS (or close) VESPA plate? I might have a rally 200 one somewhere but I would repaint the black part and reuse.

Looks like clear coat over the silver to me.

Use a paint stripper to see it it removes it.

Anodized?