Modern Vespa

So I picked up a Vespa VNB that had been sat in someone's front room for 20 years - 15kms on the clock - no keys - any recommendations for keys/how to get into side storage etc without damaging the scoot. Planning to flush fluids through - prime everything & try kickstarting her in a couple of days.

Does not look like a VNB, more like a Sprint. More pics if you can, including the VIN.

I paper clip should open the side storage compartment.

Dollars to donuts the bike is from Asia somewhere; possibly Indonesia i reckon. 15kms on the speedometer but in no way is this the true measure of bike through the years. probably just a new Indian speedo installed.

not a VNB, more like a Sprint/Super.

Are the locks all unlocked? doubt they are original locks, i might just buy new ones and install.

Even more suspect. Green paint on the engine cases and green paint over the center stand bolt heads on the floor.

Hate to break it to you. Most likely not sitting in someones room for decades, but probably rebuild and repainted to look that way.

There's a ton of dust on the motor, like "under the furniture" dust, not road grime, do I'd believe it's been sitting for a long time.

As to what it is... I'm thinking "mostly a Sprint." PX floor mat is not a good sign, nor is that tail light or the extra metal plates that were added on under the center stand bolts prior to paint.

Also, that headset is turned to an unnatural angle. Never a good sign.

And it looks like the seam gets pretty indistinct under the fuel tap lever. Right where two frames would be welded together.

OP, can you post a picture of the brake pedal?

One of the motor, a closeup of the speedo, and one of the underside of the floorboards? If you're feeling really brave, pull the gas tank and get some pictures of the inside of the frame and up the tunnel.

I say all this not to deflate you, but to help determine if that scooter is safe to ride in any state.

As to your original question, these are not high quality locks, especially the repops. A three or four pin standard cylinder with no security pins. Basically, the same quality as cheap commercial office furniture.

If you have ever picked a lock in your life, you'll be able to pick this one.

You could also try drilling it, but that's going to be a lot more work and could easily mess things up if you're not careful.

Option three would be to pull the tank and rear tire, then grind off the heads of the bolts holding the cowl on and get at it from the inside.

Good luck and welcome!

Thanks folks for the replies really appreciated 👍 Looking forward to getting in to it tomorrow & will post more pics - not really bothered if it's an indo one as a crap load cheaper than importing one anyways 😁

Brake pedal shot

My favourite colour for a vespa, vibrant green I have a smallie in almost exactly the same colour.

as many said before frame is like a Sprint, Headlight is like a Sprint, so def not a VNB (proper VNB is 8" wheels, 125cc and split headset). I don't recognize the speedo though, not Bajaj...

Check the mechanics (brakes, engine) and electrics and start driving!

Thanks Sjoerdo - my thoughts exactly - I'm not exactly a purist more of a collectorist & rider. Also have a 2000 ET2 & an ET4 to tinker with 👍

You're excited to get a bodge. Good luck. At least the motor is late 70's veloce if the motor numbers are correct. Inside of motor may be questionable. Frame def questionable and prob unsafe without a proper inspection from someone in the know. The whole thing looks like a hot mess. More of an out house find then a barn find. A bunch of those were shipped to Australia in the 2000's and was quickly realized as P.O.S. You got the name of scooter wrong, the actual decade it was built wrong, so someone is not being upfront about that thing.
Gonna need more then changing the fluids.

So long as it's a solid frame, you can work with that. The odds of it being a runner without a LOT of time and money are really small, though. Someone took an old bike, shot a coat of paint over it without disassembling, then slapped back on the parts they couldn't mask around (i.e. the floor rails, which are also for a P-series btw), and parked it.

The brake pedal is correct, even if it was left on while the bike was painted, so that's good.

That being said, when you pull the tank to replace the fuel line, please verify that there's not evidence of welding together multiple frames. If you see ANY signs of welds in the tank cavity or tunnel, it's not safe to ride, full stop. The P-series floor rails and floor mat may just be the assembler not caring, but may also be evidence of deeper problems.

Keep asking questions and posting pictures as you run into things and we'll keep helping you along as best we can.

The concerns here are not snobbery (well, most of them), but rather the fact that it's probably mechanically somewhere between "needs more work than it's worth" and "unsafe to ride."

Other than the stuff that jumps out from experience working on these beasts, I love the basic concept and color, I just wish it was built on a better base.