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@billrush avatar
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@billrush avatar
Vespa Primavera 50 (sold), 2021 Vespa Sprint 150 (sold), 2022 Sei Giorni 300ie
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UTC quote
When I look at GTS's for sale, I just move on when I see a nasty dent/scrape on the front fender or the left or right rear panel.

But I think this is largely a math problem. I'd be willing to pay X for the bike without that mishap. The scrape (if just cosmetic) will cost about Y to fix. So I can pay X-(Y +25%) for the bike. and yes, the pre purchase Inspection (PPI) will look for any other damage done.

So i'd like your rules of thumb for these repairs.

How much to fix a rear cowl dent and scratch where the bike fell over. (not a crash)?*

How much to replace the front Fender?*
*many of you don't like having to estimate costs when there are many variables and unknowns. Feel free to give a range or note that it is a WAG.
rear panel scratch dent
rear panel scratch dent
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Hooked
2013 BV350, 2014 GTS , 2016 GTS, 2013 Downtown 300i, 2018 Like 150i
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Hooked
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UTC quote
As far as I'm concerned, that's a $1000-$1500 mistake. That's about what it takes to have it properly stripped, Dent fixed, and entire bike repainted.

I would never pay it. I would buy the bike for $1500 less than other perfect specimens are going for. And I did. My 2014 GTS has two small bullet hole-like dents on an otherwise perfect bike... I paid 2800 for it. Perfect would have been more like $4000. I will never get them fixed.
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The Hornet (GT200, aka Love Bug) and 'Dimples' - a GTS 300
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@jimc avatar
The Hornet (GT200, aka Love Bug) and 'Dimples' - a GTS 300
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UTC quote
Buy it cheaper, sure. Repair it? I wouldn't bother to start with, get to know the bike first. Then if you want to repair it, treat it as an opportunity to learn new skills. I'd never pay someone else to do it under those circumstances.
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Molto Verboso
2007 GT200, 2008 Yamaha C3, 2009 BV250
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UTC quote
Any insurance company would write that off as a total loss. It would have to be a major reduction in price to even consider it. Can you do the work yourself? Are you looking for a project?
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Unless you have a trusted shop in mind, fix it yourself or keep shopping. Body work might be $1000 but the results depend on the artistry and honesty of the worker. Consider your tolerance for the possible over spray, orange peel or mismatch. Maybe put stickers on it?
OP
@billrush avatar
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UTC quote
MV is so great.

Thanks for those perspectives. Its just another part of evaluating these prospective bikes. The longer it takes the more I learn.
@dooglas avatar
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GTS 300ABS, Buddy 125, Buddy Kick 125
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@dooglas avatar
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UTC quote
Billrush wrote:
When I look at GTS's for sale, I just move on when I see a nasty dent/scrape on the front fender or the left or right rear panel.
These are really two different discussions. A bad dent/scrape in one of the rear cowls or the metal leg shield is a big deal and an expensive fix. Damage to the front fender is something different. The front fender is plastic. Usually it is easy enough to obtain a replacement painted to match and replacement just requires removal of the front wheel (and fork-edit).

https://www.scooterwest.com/gts300-front-fender-painted-65102900.html
⚠️ Last edited by Dooglas on UTC; edited 1 time
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UTC quote
Dooglas wrote:
Usually it is easy enough to obtain a replacement painted to match and replacement just requires removal of the front wheel.
Agreed that a paint-matched replacement is easy enough to get. But you actually have to drop the fork to install it.
@dooglas avatar
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GTS 300ABS, Buddy 125, Buddy Kick 125
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jess wrote:
Agreed that a paint-matched replacement is easy enough to get. But you actually have to drop the fork to install it.
Thanks - corrected.
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The Hornet (GT200, aka Love Bug) and 'Dimples' - a GTS 300
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UTC quote
Dooglas wrote:
These are really two different discussions. A bad dent/scrape in one of the rear cowls or the metal leg shield is a big deal and an expensive fix. Damage to the front fender is something different. The front fender is plastic. Usually it is easy enough to obtain a replacement painted to match and replacement just requires removal of the front wheel.

https://www.scooterwest.com/gts300-front-fender-painted-65102900.html
Edit noted, but it's still far more complicated than 'just' removing the front wheel (fork). The whole headset has to come off and the front fork dropped. Not just a half-hour job, and not trivial to DIY unless there's some means of lifting the front of the scoot some way off the ground.
@dooglas avatar
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@dooglas avatar
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UTC quote
jimc wrote:
Edit noted, but it's still far more complicated than 'just' removing the front wheel (fork). The whole headset has to come off and the front fork dropped. Not just a half-hour job, and not trivial to DIY unless there's some means of lifting the front of the scoot some way off the ground.
Doesn't this miss the point of my post. I am trying to tell the OP that repair of a damaged front fender is a very different discussion than repair of a badly dented/scraped rear cowl. Anyone who has a badly damaged front fender is going to replace it. The painted to match fender is generally easy to obtain - unless it is in a rare color, and then it may need to be painted locally. Some of us would do the swap ourselves, most would have a shop do it for us. The repair is not cost prohibitive and the result will look good as new. My advice would be that there is no reason to avoid purchasing a scooter with a damaged front fender (and no other damage - such as to the fork) as long as a price allowance is made for the replacement. Do you disagree?
⚠️ Last edited by Dooglas on UTC; edited 1 time
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UTC quote
Dooglas wrote:
Doesn't this miss the point of my post. I am trying to tell the OP that repair of a damaged front fender is a very different discussion than repair of a badly dented/scrapped rear cowl. Anyone who has a badly damaged front fender is going to replace it. The painted to match fender is generally easy to obtain - unless it is in a rare color, and then it may need to be painted locally. Some of us would do the swap ourselves, most would have a shop do it for us. The repair is not cost prohibitive and the result will look good as new. My advice would be that there is no reason to avoid purchasing a scooter with a damaged front fender (and no other damage - such as to the fork) as long as a price allowance is made for the replacement. Do you disagree?
Not at all! Just with the use of the word 'just' in your description of the work. The OP doesn't give the impression he's a DIY type, so he'll be paying quite a bit to have the fender replaced. Not as much as a dent removal, sure, but not a small amount either. A shop would probably insist on checking and refurbishing other items that get touched in the process - brakes, bearings etc.
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Gigi, '13 GTS 300ie Touring
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UTC quote
My husband's '12 and my '13 were both scratch and dent Vespas. Somebody else suffered and we reaped the benefits via a lower price.
@greasy125 avatar
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Weird 80's Vespas & Cool Vintage Lambrettas
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UTC quote
body and paint work can vary wildly both in price and level of competence/quality.

generally, what you'd want to do on vespas is breakdown the body work and paint by panel, seam to seam. repair and have plastics painted at the same time or buy new and have sprayed to buy color matched.

the breakdown and reassembly you can do yourself. the fender would be the most difficult of the jobs, but still doable for a DIY garage enthusiast.

then, it's up to you to find a shop you trust and get decent work done. you gotta haul it there, wait on them and then haul it back once done.

anyway, figure if you take it to a shop for repair, any one panel repair is going to be in the $1500 range but could easily balloon to 2ish depending on what little bits and bobs are damaged as well.

hth
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Triumph Bonneville 2022, Triumph Street Scrambler 2018 (sold), Suzuki VanVan200 (sold), 2015 Sprint 125 (sold)
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UTC quote
Mayby add the obvious to the discussion, just in case:

Large part of a GTS belong to the frame, 'monocoque chassis'.

When buying one with broken front fender or larger scrapes in side cowls, it is good to try to ferify that the frame itself is OK. No bad dents/broken metal seams at the front, no funny feeling with the steering, no misaligned wheels...
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@attila avatar
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Veni, Vidi, Posti
In garage: Yamaha Tricity 155 Urban 2019 - MV Agusta 125 RS 1956
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