Modern Vespa

Hi, when I try and start my 2015 GTS 300, the screen will flicker and not turn on. Does anyone have any idea what's happening?

Sometimes the display will come on, sometimes it doesn't, it might flicker, but cannot start. It ran fine yesterday.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Nrww56k3J5mKYgFH7

Battery, battery, battery. All is down to the battery.

Charge it up fully, then when the bike starts, check the charging system (refer to Wiki if you don't know how).

If the charging system is OK, but the bike won't start again after a few days, you can assume the battery is due a funeral.

Jim,

thanks for the quick reply, is 12.1v enough, see https://photos.app.goo.gl/bzFZGNLCoptDFJ4k7

12.1 means your battery is dying.

If it's 12.1V an hour or so after being fully charged then yes, its dead, dad.

Plus, *please* put photos on MV's servers, and use Youtube for videos.

any recommendation for replacement batteries?

I will transfer videos now

Personally I like this one - it's proved very reliable here, better than Motobatt - but I my just have had the bad luck to have three failed Motobatts in a row...

https://www.amazon.com/Weize-YTX14-Battery-High-Performance/dp/B07P6Z7TV3

jimc - Is there a wiki with "recommended" replacement parts like that battery? If not, would it be a good idea or too much of a pain to maintain?

Too much of a pain to maintain - the Wiki doesn't have nearly enough member editorial participation as it is.

Plus one person's favourite can be another's all-time worst possible choice.

JimC,

Looking over some of your old posts, should I trickle charge the new battery until it shows full prior to installing it in my Vespa?

Yes, absolutely. But use a proper motorcycle battery charger/maintainer, not the old trickle charger Grandpa left behind...

You may find it shows fully charged right from the get-go - all good in that case. Some AGM batteries will be fine like this. Others. and especially the ones where you add acid yourself, definitely need a decent forming and equalising charge.

The very first thing I do to any scooter is to put in an SAE battery lead/port to use a battery tender/maintainer/charger. But yeah, I'd check the charge and charge it up ... inside or outside the bike... before first use.


SCCKE 3FT 14AWG Ring Terminal to... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08GHV9F1S?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

I use these maintainers:

Mroinge 12V 2A Lead Acid &... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MCTXFC7?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

The Mroinge kit comes with a battery lead, but it is too short for the Vespa the way I route it.