Modern Vespa

I've had a 2010 Vespa GTS 300 for 10 years, and after 57,000 miles, the engine blew. It'll still start, but doesn't sound pretty.

Dealer said it would cost $3,500+ to rebuild engine, maybe more once they dig in.

So I'm looking to sell it and buy a new scoot.

Thinking I'll list it on Craigslist, and Motorcycle Trader -- selling as Parts Only.

One dealer told me they'd give me maybe $100 for it as a Trade In.

Body, frame, and lights are all in excellent shape. Has a lighted topcase, windshield, and front rack.

Have any ideas on where / how to sell a scoot that is not working?

I think a 2010 GTS that has an excellent body with everything working that just needs an engine is worth at least $1000. Sell it on FB marketplace that way. "Needs new engine".

ps where are you located?

What's the expected life on a GTS? 50k miles seems low.

I realize there are things like maintenance that are big factors, but now I'm curious.

Can you get a crate engine? They have them for most cars. Or, I'm thinking a rebuild. What did the dealer say is specifically wrong with the engine?

Where are you located? I could use a project. My kids always say that if their dad can't fix it, when he's done nobody can.

Probably not in the cards. I only go through LA once a year in November.

There are a couple of complete 300 engines on ebay from that era for $900 with free shipping. Swap it out, and put another 57k on it.

PM Sent. Would be interested in your scooter if you are in the SoCal vicinity. Thanks!!

Thanks for the ideas.

Scoot is in the SF Bay Area.

I'll consider an ebay engine swap - good idea, thanks!

I don't know lifespan of these. I will say, I am second owner, did all regularly scheduled maintenance, through a dealer, since I bought the bike in 2012 with 2200 miles on it.

Also, a ton of the miles were on the freeway, driving full throttle -- don't know if that could be a factor.

We all want to know... Did you follow the correct run in procedure from new?

Znomit wrote, "We all want to know... Did you follow the correct run in procedure from new?"

Yes. At least, that's what the original owner told me...

To clarify, it's a 2010, and in 2012 I bought it private party sale with 2,200 miles on it. The guy I bought it from came across as very responsible. He had all the service records, was organized, and he said he bought it from a responsible Vespa dealer, where I immediately took it. They knew him, and told me he'd brought it in for all of its regular service needs. In fact, they described him (in a positive way) as the kind of guy who liked to come by, and check on any possible little thing that could come up.

Freeway miles would not kill it, running it out of oil will. And to be clear: I'm not saying you did. Sometimes, things just happen. It would be nice to know what happened, but meanwhile you could probably install a used engine out of a wrecked scoot for far less than $3500.

I understand.

I'd like to know why the engine died too.

Definitely going to look into getting a used engine installed, to keep this little guy running.

Doesn't sound pretty… maybe the variator nut is off, maybe you've dropped a valve? These aren't immediately $3,500 problems.

Sounds like an engine autopsy is needed to establish the reason for the engine siezure.

re: Engine Autopsy, clarification:

Dealer said based on initial diagnosis, the top head was damaged and would need to be replaced. Their tech had done about a half hour of labor, for which I paid $100.

Based on the above, they said rebuilding the engine would cost roughly $3,500, but that cost could rise, as the tech may find more issues once they started taking the engine apart.

Option B - to do a full Engine Autopsy, they told me, would involve 3.5 more hours of labor, which would cost me $700. Just to diagnose the issue.

I've listed it (sadly) on craigslist here:
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/mcy/d/mountain-view-2010-vespa-gts-300-needs/7484080556.html

dam if you were 2000 miles closer I would be buying this

you have nothing to lose. Drop the engine. Open it up, and see what happened.

I don't really have the space / shop / knowledge base to drop the engine and see what happened.

If this was closer to me (wrong coast), it would already be in my garage. Pick up a used engine and have fun. Someone is going to get a good deal here.....

It would be nice to know if the bottom end is ok. I bet it is. You are being quoted prices that would buy a malossi barrel, piston and head and I bet you have the expertise to install it.

57k is considerable but there seem to be quite a few bikes that went further with no troubles in the bottom end. It would be a shame to trash this if it were only a decompression mechanism problem that would rattle and hold a valve open.....

but then, major engine work on the kitchen table isn't feasible for most people.

Put me firmly in the camp that if it were closer, I'd buy it.

Curious: Have been receiving offers on this ranging from $100 to $500 to one offer of $750.

But -- if I were to buy this used engine off Ebay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/115365760696?hash=item1adc55ceb8:g:jO4AAOSwp9NibVJH

...for $900, and pay $420 to have it installed (quote I received today), would this potentially be a reliable scoot again good for a ton more miles?

Any concerns with that ebay engine I'm not considering?

Related - in weighing whether to sell - if I'm reading correctly, a 2010 GTS 300 - that actually runs - according to Kelly Blue Book, "in good condition with typical mileage," is worth roughly $4,245.

I'm not bellyaching about the offers - I get that if it doesn't run the buyer would be taking on a project. But with the offers so low, I may be better off having a used engine installed.

Granted, the mileage is probably not typical. So would it be reasonable to assume this would be worth roughly $3,500 with a running engine in it? Or are there other factors I'm not considering?

Also - for those saying that if you were closer you'd buy this -- if you were closer, how much would you offer for it?

I'd start at $1000. Buy a used engine, just under $1000. So, I'd have $2000 in it for a $3-3.5K bike.

If the donor engine is in good shape, theoretically yes!

This
Though, I'd take apart the current engine first, and hope for a diagnosis that's even cheaper.

Replacing engines has kept both Rocket and Vanessa on the road for me.

Rocket's engine was replaced after it wore out at 76,000 miles.

Vanessa's after it lost all of its oil out when the dipstick unscrewed itself on a highway ride.

I drove to Atlanta for Rocket's replacement engine and paid around $600. Also bought wheels and a few other parts.

I bought an entire wrecked scooter with 850 miles on it for Vanessa's engine.

I paid around $500 to have them installed.

They both run perfectly now.

It was well worth it to me.

Bill

Hi Bill,

Thanks for sharing your story.

How did you track down the wrecked scooters? That is, how did you find a wrecked scooter with a good engine?

I'd give $1000 for it. It's probably only worth about $2500 in my area in running condition with the miles you have on it. In SF, it's probably higher than that.

I would risk the ebay engine personally. You may want to ask the seller more questions about condition/mileage of the scooter it came out of.

I found the engine on MV.

A rider in Atlanta had crashed a 6000 mile 2005 GT and was parting out the scooter.

That was around 2014, and I beat several others to get it.

The nice sellers eventually sent a box full of parts that they didn't sell at no cost. Nice folks.

That engine now has ridden 26,000 miles in Rocket with only one issue a few months ago. That turned out to be a fuel pump so the engine remains perfect.

Vanessa's engine came from an entire wrecked scooter that Lostboater found for me.

It belonged to his mechanic in Bradenton, FL.

Darren had bought it from a customer after they wrecked it.

That body had some rust and corrosion, plus a bent steering shaft, so I had my mechanic, Chris, remove the engine and put into Vanessa.

Poor Vanessa has been in several incidents as well, with lots of body damage.

Most riders here would probably be parting her out, but she rides so well that I chose to bring her back to life.

I probably could have done it myself, but I still work, and chose to let the experts do it.

Bill

yeah if it were near me I would be in the 5-750 offer range because of the risks to source and replace engine, parts and labor would probably be in the 12-1500 range. So my all in costs would be probably around the 22-2500 . retail around here would be in the 2500-3000 range.

The guy's very accurate with his descriptions and has been around for a while. I've bought a few things from him when we had a shop.