Modern Vespa

I'm thinking to make one, shouldn't be too hard.

Not these:
https://scooter-speed.com/inner-tube-3-50-10-100-90-10-sip/

As close to tubeless as inner tubes can get.

Nice! The spare is already assembled on the bike, but I think it will be ok as a spare.

I think I'll get some of those next time I swap tires though.

+1 on those tubes. they're only a few bucks more and they're gnarly tough.

John, I wouldn't sweat that rim as a spare. it'll probably be fine to ride on, I'm just hyper sensitive from having smoked a few tubes on questionable rims and replaced tons of client tubes for the same reason.

i'll double check on that rack hardware later today for you!

I realized after I buttoned it all up that I could have just used one of the rims you tossed my way Greasy. The spare cover makes it a non-issue about what color paint is on the rim. But since I did all the work, might as well use it as a spare and keep the better one for later. I ran it over the polishing wheel before I painted it, there shouldn't be anything too sharp there, just divots. Let me know on the hardware.

Holes filled. Painted over the repair. Cross brace etched and oiled.

I'm kinda stunned now that I take inventory on this bike - all that remains is to pretty up a pair of cowls. After that, the optional project remains to rebuild the original PX engine with the top end that is on this LML engine, and swap it back. That part is for fun, and whenever. Gonna break out some more of that filler soon and fix up my dimpled panel. I learned a bit already from my tiny repair. This filler sets pretty fast, so you don't want to mix much. Better to end up needing to mix more than to end up with a hard, non-spreadable chunk on your mixing board .

Good plan. Small batches. Less bubbles to deal with later.

BTW don't mix filler into a chunk. Mix and keep it laid as flat as possible on your mixing board while you work with it. Generates heat when mixed, and will harden rapidly as a chunk.

Prepping cowls. This guide coat thing really works!

Easy sand is on, fingers crossed.

Looking good... use a block and sand in long strokes across the length of the panel.

I did, but the edges need hand work. I did my best and shot some primer on top. Couple minor repairs to do but good enough.

looking good man!

the left panel has a high ridge along the stamping line. I can either try to knock it down or to just smooth it out using glazing putty. I'm leaning toward the glazing putty approach. there are other defects but that's the one that I'm looking at going "you can't leave that".

The right panel has an area that I tried to sand too early, and it needs a quick sand and fix on that. primer is easy for that stuff though.

the left inner panel is only in primer, so I guess I have to spray something on it, even if it's just some rando leftover paint sitting on the shelf. I have doubts about leaving it in primer, even though it won't be visible. Probably easier to maintain / clean / etc. with some actual paint on there. you know the 2 stroke spooge will accumulate under there, so 2 coats of something probably required. Under the right panel there was the insulation from the Stella. It's kinda crumbly so I tossed it. Looks like ass with glue everywhere that was holding it in but I don't care, the protection looks decent enough.

I'm such a novice at this that I just remembered I'll be done with primer when a guide coat and sand says I'm done with primer . all these little things "will this show up? will that show up?" guide coat it, sand it, and know instead of guessing!

I'm thinking that process will probably have me doing another shot at easy sand for a few low spots based on what I can see even without it. (must... be.... patient...)

Great work man.
Gonna look the snazz!

I will probably redo the cowls on both scooters. They seem to take the most abuse. The 200 will get automotive acrylic enamel as I bought matched paint. The Stella will get rattlecan. I think I found a rustoleum color that is a good match.

Yeah that would have sucked. The big red patch in the middle is primer that was under the filler.

Better, still will want another coat of primer later but the break throughs are sealed.

Looking great!!!

Patience pays off

Left side sanded on new coat of primer.

Right side needed glazing putty and has been primed again.

It's looking good!

Bodywork is, as others have noted, mostly about patience and attention to detail. I have a few spots on the VBB that looked "fine" until I finished with them, and now I wish I'd taken the extra time to do one more round of filling and sanding.

I'll be honest I doubt I'm going back for the guide coat and sand again, but I'm glad I did it at least this once to get closer. After all, you gotta remember the destination bike is hardly pristine, but the learning is worthwhile.

And there's always stickers if nothing else!

I can't agree enough with this!

First actual longer ride today, about 30km. The engine is all right for a stock 150. It holds hills about 75-80 km/h in 4th. Its happy spot is geared to 80km/h but 90 is fine.

Swapped the sissy bar for a more functional rack. Andre the giant p series cowl pulled out since I've not painted the other yet. It fouls the fly cover a bit, but so did the other ones be I tried. I think the cover may be a cheapie and that is the issue. Tried "adjusting" with a rubber mallet but limited success.

Bike is cleared for work transport now.

Whoa!! You can get that sticker still! I think I'm gonna put it on the first run or defect I see on my painted cowls

https://www.etsy.com/listing/762522014/vintage-1980s-style-andre-the-giant?gbraid=0AAAAADtcfRISzl-_O-BPg7nDpl2x6WrEP&gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_us_e-art_and_collectibles-collectibles-advertisements&utm_custom1=_k_Cj0KCQjwvqeUBhCBARIsAOdt45atXzIiSzOiLdeZYYmsKzkVg1Ns2i0ggsm1TRxI5xyMXZj8T73ZzzMaAnDoEALw_wcB_k_&utm_content=go_12570709857_119179594723_507438476600_pla-354119749163_m__762522014_136752132&utm_custom2=12570709857&gbraid=0AAAAADtcfRISzl-_O-BPg7nDpl2x6WrEP&gclid=Cj0KCQjwvqeUBhCBARIsAOdt45atXzIiSzOiLdeZYYmsKzkVg1Ns2i0ggsm1TRxI5xyMXZj8T73ZzzMaAnDoEALw_wcB

I couldn't resist, it has been ordered.

I can respect that decision.

Well it did say there was only one left and it was in someone's cart, but it let me order so I snagged it!!

OBEY

I did it shipped already. Yeah some OBEY goodness might work too. Maybe go back and hunt for some of those as well.

You got the one that started it all.

These are bits of history that I was oblivious to at the time. I had no knowledge of the 80s mod scene and was never a skater. But I like the aesthetic.

I'm a bit young on the 80's mod scene but we had plenty of skater folk at my school. I don't think my bit of suburbia ever did mod revival .

Yeah... skater/punk scene is what I always associated Shepherd Fairy's stuff with.

I always associate it with the underground art world. He started that Andre the giant sticker/poster thing when he was at Rhode island school of design in Providence where I grew up. He was much older than me so I never crossed paths with him, but I did grow up in the local art and music scene that was an eclectic mixture of RISD students and Rhode island local artists and hardcore/punk/noise metal kids. Fort Thunder (RIP) was the epicenter of that mixture of RISD art and local music during my time there. And Shepard Fairy was the patron saint of that community at least during my time in bands growing up in Providence.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Thunder

But even before my teenage and early 20s years spent playing shows in the local music scene, as a kid.. you couldn't go anywhere in Rhode island without seeing an Andre the giant has a posse sticker stuck to literally every pole or mailbox.

The modern equivalent, at least in NYC is kest/gak and coma stickers

I think either one of them.. kest, or gak lives on Staten island although I have no idea who they are.

**Sorry for going on tangent**

no worries we were already on that tangent, and I have some time before I find that day to spray cowls. I need a day off and no spouse around the house to achieve it. That is a surprisingly difficult combination to achieve.

It's huge! About 3.75" by 5.75". Now I can cover a huge paint run if necessary:)

This can only mean one thing….

Let's build a gutless 2 port Bajaj sprint engine for the VBB!