Modern Vespa

I'm looking for something a little different.

I've owned a GTS300 and GT200, Majesty, Burgman 650, Helix, Honda Aero, Silver Wing, and lots of motorcycles from 50cc to 1100cc. I enjoyed my GTS300 and am looking to buy one at the end of the riding season.

I'm also looking for a project, and I'm thinking about a shifty 2T Vespa or Genuine. I'm good with mechanicals, paint, etc and have an extensive tool kit.

So, what can't you do with a two-stroke classic, specifically 150cc and up? How do they compare to the large frames for power and ride ability? Are parts hard to source?

Thanks.

Parts are not hard to source but you need to become comfortable with constantly fiddling with your ride! Something will inevitable break at the worst possible time.

You can do quite a bit with any of those vintage scooters. Just start browsing some of the great build threads going on right now. Boss hog is a great one for the extreme options available!

There's literally no limit to what you can do, especially if you're willing to experiment with carbs and cylinder kits. When you see what's been done around the world on vintage Vespas over decades, from Italy to North America to Asia, there are no limits (though I avoid freeways on my 150).

How much cash do you got?

That’s about the only limit.

You asked about how they compare to large frames GT twist and go vespas? They dont! Everything is different. Seriously!

-Wheels are smaller and narrower
-Frame is smaller and narrower
-Suspension is shorter, dives more and bumps feel harsher
-Brakes are weaker and or possibly missing
-“ride feel” feels like you’re on your grandchild’s bmx bike.
-HP is lower and feels slower than what you’re used to
-Manual gearbox is more limiting than a CVT
-engine whine and exhausts will be louder than you’re used to.
-any work will be in tighter corners and everything will be greasy/road grime when you work on it.
-I forget anything else fellas?

As far as parts go, parts for popular North American models are easy to source. Lots of stock and performance parts depending on what you want to build.

^^^^^
All of this.

...and that's the charm. Going 60 or 70mph with a 2t, manual on drum brakes with dubious suspension is equal parts chaos, poetry, and joy... "Buy the ticket. Take the ride."

I will disagree on one point with my friends above: parts are getting harder to source. There are lots of aftermarket parts and kits available, but some essential bits and bobs are starting to get thinner in supply with each passing year.

How close are you to LA and how much of a project do you want?

*insert mr burns gif here*

You would be entering another world. Lots to learn, but it's all here. Plenty of good people willing to help out. And, if I may add, a deeper level of commitment. But there is nothing like riding a machine you have brought back to life.

One you will be able to jump on, start, twist the throttle & off it goes, then stops when you squeeze the other lever...

The other actually takes skill & is enjoyable to use

I'm in Abilene, Texas, a stop on a past Cannonball, if memory serves.

This appears to be nearby, but not much of a project left:
https://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/mcy/d/rowlett-2005-vespa-px150-resto-mod/7352350509.html

This is also reasonably close, but more of a project:
https://dallas.craigslist.org/mdf/mcy/d/north-richland-hills-2003-genuine/7348611912.html

I'm reaching out to both as to availability.

I'm only 300 miles from Louisiana, and 965 miles from the Florida Panhandle Gulf Coast of Lower Alabama. Is that what you mean?

As for how much of a project, I've rebuilt several rotted out MGBs and Triumphs, and a bunch of junkyard Suzuki GT750s, GT500/Titans, and RD250/350/400s. I'm rarely happier than when I'm sweaty, exhausted, achy, and cursing fluently at some effing frozen part I just snapped off or cross threaded. My better half understands it's something I need to do every couple of years.

I still ride sports motorcycles on the road which do 0 to 100 in a few seconds, handle like on rails and can stop faster than ever needed.......my 221 feels faster, is harder to ride, way more unstable, stops if planned in advance and more enjoyable than any of them. Get one.

Che lau, the other LA!

The ONLY L . A . Los Angeles baby

Sounds like you've got right mindset for a Vintage Scooter. Personally..... I'd steer away from the PX / GS conversion. Not much true value there. The Orange Stella could be a good option for the price.

Greasy will take care of you proper, even if shipping is required. He know's his ish and will steer you right. Or keep searching local. Plenty of options pop up near you if youre patient. Patience is key here. Either way, good luck! I hope to see a new project post from you in the near future

nah... nah... I peddle in projects!

all kidding aside, you're in the right. a P/PX is the good jam for somebody getting into it. easy on parts, easy on price, tons of info, not too finicky.

if you're down for a project, yes. I'm you're huckleberry. it's in pieces, well, everything I have is in pieces, so easy to ship really. but if this is your first rodeo? buy one that's complete and runs to start.

and I swear to christ... you better ride that shit for a year before "taking it apart to restore it"

to note, southwest flights are cheap... I will show up and kick you in the sack.

also, SDjohn is out of room, so somebody needs to buy my crap.

1. Fit tubeless rims

2- fix electrical

Ehhhh ... you can do better. Keep looking.

Every time I ride one of my twist and go bikes it's a leisurely ride. I enjoy the sights and smells and the sounds around me until I reach my destination.

Every time I rode the P200e when I got where I was going I was out of breath, glad nothing broke, I smelled like gas and I felt like I'd survived an MMA match. It felt like I'd really accomplished something. And I had to apologize to anyone I was visiting for the spots I left in their driveway.

I thoroughly enjoy both for very different reasons.

Call Kyle's Scooter Shop in Dallas. He'll have something.

Good advice

As stated before, there are immeasurable amounts of fiddling you can do. But, if you want to ride more than tinker, P200E, research all of the available cylinder options from touring, racing, etc... wild to mild. Plenty of good all around choices that will give you a better powerband without being a breakdown dragster. Lot's of talk on this forum in that category. BGM, or SIP box type exhaust. Disk up front if you want to stop. You've got a fun ride that will mostly get you where you want to go.

But, the same rule always applies.....

What can you do with a Classic 2T Vespa?

Wow. Lemme think.

I can only give you my experience.


Friends. You can make friends you never knew you didn't have. The kinda people who'll be carrying the thing you really need to get home one day, and really need the thing you're carrying to get home the next. Each will be given with a kinship few people know.

Skills. You can learn skills you never knew existed. The kinda skills that let you build, rebuild, refresh and renew a machine you never knew the working of.

Community. You can be part of a worldwide community of advice, kinship and knowledge that was previously a mystery. This site, and others like it are full of people that want to help, advise, assist and live your joys and disappointments vicariously.

Adrenaline. Till you've done it, no one knows the burning taste at the back of the throat that comes at WOT on a 40-50 year old vibrating, humming, buzzing, and ever so slightly wobbling Nona's shopping trolly that's being abused way beyond it's intended purpose.

Inventiveness. You're going to break down. Where you shouldn't. Where you can't possibly fix it. But you're going to have to, and you _will_ learn to, no matter what.

Engineering. It's Nona's 1960s-1970s shopping trolley. You're going to want to update it. Welcome to the world of re-engineering. Luckily, the MV NSM alumni as an incredibly giving bunch of humans, and they'll help you through.

Adventure. This is the best one. You'll take it places with your friends. Depending on your wants and needs, those places may be as close as the local coffee shop, or as far as the other side of the country. But they'll always be an adventure.


Depending on your attitude, all these things are possible. When I talk to them, riders of plastic, reliable bikes tell me they all have all the things I've listed above. I like to smile and agree with them.

Of all the thing above, when I look at my 2T Vespa adventures, it's the friends, both in person and online that I treasure and appreciate.

Buy a bit of gorgeous, curvy, stinky metal. You'll get so much more than you pay for.

^ I say we make this a Wiki ^

This is the most poetically beautiful explanation of the hard life we've chosen. ❤

I love this - it's exactly the same experience here - you summed it up perfectly! The whole thing with the plastic, reliable bike crowd - I cracked up because I've experienced and done the same - just nod and agree.

But we all know, it's not the same - nowhere near the same. I've done both. There is a common thrill of being on two wheels - yes, but not the same as on a vintage. 10" tires are way different at 60 mph....

Thanks for spitting this out - made my day!

And everyone nows someone who had a Vespa at some stage of their life, & if they have ever ridden one, they understand why a Vespa is what it is


I know that if I had a "real bike" (specially a fast Jappa), that I would be dead many years ago!

I would delete this if I knew how

I’ve copied it and saved it. Good piece

He has a bunch of Allstates, a rusty/worn P125X, and this P200E, with too many chrome farkles. He says it will need engine/fuel system rebuilds, electrical work, tires, etc. He's asking $1800. Seems a bit high, especially since I'd also want to convert the front brake. Opinions?

FYI, the orange Stella was sold. MV member Aircooled's Restomod in Rowlett/Dallas is still available, and seems downright reasonable given all the work that's been done.

1800 is too high if it needs a rebuild and electricals.

The disc conversion is on you, IMO. It's an optional thing that costs an arm and a leg, and isn't really the seller's problem or relevant to their price to part with their bike.

But I'd only pay 1800 for that if the engine was good to roll for a while

It's slightly less expensive conversion now. Grimeca finally has a 16mm axle seat for disc brakes now. So you can at least use your p forks with this new seat and the disc hub/caliber and master cylinder. I plan on doing this with my p200e.

https://www.sip-scootershop.com/en/product/axle-seating-grimeca-disc-brake-grimeca-nt-16mm_39070100

That's good - it was a whole affair the old way, including grinding. I love it though - really transformed how I felt in heavy traffic. Enjoy the ride