Modern Vespa

It did go through the ultrasonic when I cleaned it to put it together. But it didn't come out looking like that!!

The tank was a clean looking one on install. It has half a tank of good looking fuel in it at the moment, can't see too much.

That's trippy. What do you use in the ultrasonic? And do you rinse it with hot water afterwards?

Hmmmm....

I'm not sure what's in that ultrasonic at work. Sometimes I use a pan with soap and water inside the machine instead of the fluid directly. This time I did not. And yeah, parts get a hot water rinse down after.

The plastic screen seems to have kept the goop below it and out of the carb itself.

I cleaned it out but a white film remains. I tried brushes and 3x through the ultrasonic. Weird. I think I will retire it.

The outside of it looks oxidized too. When I used simple green, but not the "safe for aluminum" aircraft stuff, mine looked like that too...

protomolecule

So let's say I was thinking of doing Rides of March next year. The way I see it, I could sell the PX, build my VBB and realize it's too slow, and then turn around and drop a 2 port 177 on there. Can all that happen in time while I build my ET4? Probably. Or, I could just pull the Malossi 166 kit out, clean up the aluminum schmear in the bore, and use the fresh piston MJRally gave me and plop that onto the PX 125 engine and just rock it. Choices, choices.

I get the blood sacrifice, but this might be taking it a bit too far. Still, sometimes I would try anything to get my scooter running.

I caved and put a new float chamber on. I don't trust that one not to gunk up again. If the rest of the carb gunks up as well I will assume something went wrong in the ultrasonic with detergent. In that case I'll just grab a new Spaco and be done with it.

Took the PX out for a quick spin and a check on 5 minute restart now that I have that new float bowl on there. Passed the test. The 125 top end is a dog, really. It's good for like 80km/h (50mph) indicated unless you are going downhill. It is nice and torquey, it just tops out early. Good for city work, I suppose.

Whenever my urge to build the VBB comes on, the bike is ready for sale. If anyone near San Diego is interested, feel free to PM me. I'm not looking to put it up right now but I'd sell if someone was interested.

Px for sale:

[topic184641]

no love so far, posted to Craigslist today.

my feedback from people I know is that the price is fair. I'm wondering if maybe it's a bit high. I'm hoping to land $2500 and call it good. No need to fret over a few hundo but if I put it at 2500 then people come in looking to get it for 2k.

Any ad/pricing feedback?

https://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/mcy/d/san-diego-1986-vespa-px125e/7619682482.html

Seems reasonable to me. Especially for a bike you can ride away with all the right papers for a DMV.

People seem to want to buy a cheap barn find that just barely runs…not realizing how much time and money they will need to spend to make it a reliable ride.

yeah maybe patience is just required - i have no compelling need to sell, just wanted to get rolling on the VBB is all. I'm not riding it but it seems to do fine with the occasional start and runabout.

Price is always a tough one! I just sold a Stella for what I felt was a good deal for us both. He was super happy with the bike, and I was super happy to pass it on to him.

I did have someone call me and say "First question - does it come with helmets?" I was polite but what I wanted to say was No, this isn't the scooter you're looking for, have a good day...

I know I haven't been any help, but here's to you finding the right person, at the right time, and the right place.

Speaking of right person at the right time. I had a P200 listed for a couple months - people super lowballing me, etc. Finally a dude calls and says he read the thread on MV and can he come over - now! That dude was Chris and we've been thick as thieves ever since! Right time, right person, right place.

exactly - I will ignore the people who are clearly not ready for a vintage often times. when you find someone who is genuinely interested and is engaging with you about the bike in the right way, the price ends up much more flexible anyway. the old "good home" syndrome .

Craigslist works ok for the most part, but I have had a lot more success selling on FB Marketplace as it definitely casts a wider net. On the minus side of it - you tend to get more people that haven't clue of what you are selling.

Yeah about a week and a half so far on fb marketplace but no real action so far.

Some offhand things:
2500 is a magic asking number.
I'd want to also see a walk-around video, perhaps explaining the mudguard and things. Warm first kick start and a ride up and down the street.

those are easy, will probably add them if no love. got one hit first thing on the craigslist ad, legit scooter owner who has a Rally but isn't sure if he can make it fly with his wife. we shall see.

Copied, pasted, and messed with

Hard to find 1986 PX125E euro version Vespa.
Compared to the earlier US market P125X, it has a fuel gauge, improved front braking, easier to shift and more robust EFL gearbox, and a larger glovebox. Side cowls are removed by lockable under-seat levers for better security.

Genius! I didn't sell that stuff!!

I'm surprised at that. FBM has always done 3 times the responses to CL for me. When I put the Stella up for sale to fund the P200, I had inquires from 3 states around me. But I tend to price on the lower side as I would rather sell it and regret it, then keep it and regret it. That and I have little patience when sifting thru the serious replies from the time wasters. It's a good looking machine done up right to your credit and Ray8's suggestions are genius - man knows his chit.

Take pictures somewhere fun, piece of local art work? Park?

So I had it out to work today, along with my lunchtime yoga session.

It's riding well. Gave me some crap to restart it after yoga, about 1.5 hours. I keep assuming rich but I was wrong. It was lean. I did some restarts in the afternoon, then I upped the idle jet back to 48/160, which went well. I had it dialed in for the ride home and it did the refuel restart with no issues. I'm pretty sure we've got the float needle thing sorted and this is just fine tuning of idle jet, etc.

Price dropped to $2500, obviously the $2700 was holding people back. I've got one dude in Long Beach interested but tied up for a few weeks. He's cool and interested, so that might still work.

Had a local interested. He was sure he was going to buy. I pointed out how helpful MV was when discussing my stickers. He found this thread and maybe lost his nerve, the troubleshooting aspects had him wondering if he has the skills. Oh well.

Vintage Vespa life comes with ups and downs and the thread is just a snapshot. But they do sort out and run well. It's not like it's a Lambretta .

Maybe that Malossi 166 should go on, it seems like a hard sell even at $2500.

at this point I'm waiting for my Craigslist ad to expire, then I will try to revamp my ad using the suggestions above (use some PX selling points vs P, probably a video of it riding by shifting gears, maybe some pics in a pretty location, etc).

my key question remains the pricing, it's probably going down to $2300 or $2200, I guess. I can't fathom that this thing would have to go less than $2k, it's all there, looks good, engine rebuilt, etc. but be honest if I'm way out of line on pricing. $2500 with some negotiating seemed fair to me.

$2250 now, added some new text per the suggestions

https://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/mcy/d/san-diego-1986-vespa-px125e-new-price/7631361941.html

https://www.scootnet2.net/1359

https://modernvespa.com/forum/post2613927#2613927

MV members - ask about a discount, we can swing something.

More videooooos!!

Another cold start, without mentioning "it's been a while"
Walk around, explaining the mudguard & things.
Warm start, throttle response, & a ride up and down the street.

Been too much March-June gloom this year
Can't imagine that not selling once the sun finally comes out.
Good luck!

Added to ad

Just a thought…when I first started shopping for a Vespa, I wouldn't look at anything below a 150. It didn't occur to me at the time that, even though I knew, that you could easily put a 150 cylinder on it. I was just mind-locked on the displacement. I ended up buying a VBB, which is probably slower than a 125.

I don't think a lot of people who are unfamiliar with Vespas would understand the value of the Malossi kit. But they would understand 150 cc. Cheaper for you. Just a thought.

That's not half bad. I have a px150 top end I could swap on. But I was hoping not to use it. But it might help….

Should I? Then the problem is always where to stop. Port the transfers? The instructions want you to cut the crank. I'm not splitting it. I kinda wanted this for the Stella engine.

I was thinking put a stock pipe on

You're probably more correct. I have a 150 top end that could be used. But if it isn't moving I'm not sure if I should make it fun for me or not. I May have a stock pipe but I am not sure.

put the 166 on and rag it around till it sells. don't touch nuthin' just snap it on and adjust the timing and jet accordingly.

oh, and get a stock fender on there. I think that may be a sticking point for some potential buyers.

the weather has been uncharacteristically "meh" of late, so I think people are just waking up slowly to the riding season. I know up here it's been slow up here so that may just be part of it.

this is a *great* bike, perfect for a garage kick around or a really good start for a beginner. for somebody that's got an MV and want's to dip their toes into NSM this would be an ideal bike to start with.

anyway, I say just enjoy it till it sells.

I'm with Greasy. I think the mudguard puts people off.

Get a stock mudguard on it and I think it'll move. It's the lone obviously non-stock element on the bike.

I thought the mudguard was fun but I'm thinking you might be correct. PIA to fix that, painting project and fork drop. Hmmm.