Modern Vespa

Hey everyone! I recently picked up a 2006 LX150 that I eventually want to ride from Portland, Oregon to Denver, Colorado. The scoot has about 10,000 miles on it and has suffered from some serious deferred maintenance. Here's what I've done so far:

Change engine oil and filter
Change gear oil
Flush brake fluid
New iridium spark plug
Replace clock battery
Replace air filter
Replace belt and rollers
Clutch re-seal and re-grease
Clean the bendix gear
Evap removal
New fuel tap, fuel lines, and vac lines.

I'm going to have the dealer do a valve adjustment and carb cleaning. What else should be on my list to get this scoot into tip-top shape? Any known issues with this vintage?

Thanks!

That is a beautiful scooter.

Thank you! That's definitely it's pretty side. The previous owner had a 5 mph tip over, so it's pretty scratched up on one side.

Consider fresh tires if the tire manufacturing codes show them to be more than 5 years old. Get yourself a mid size fly screen, that will make the trip more comfortable.

If it's running good I would skip the carb cleaning.

As you'll probably be running WOT a lot of the time, take some extra oil with you.

Nice, thank you! The scoot runs fine... I was thinking about skipping the carb cleaning and just running some Seafoam through it over the next couple of tanks. I'm a big fan of flyscreens, need to get one ordered for sure. Luckily the tires are only a year or so old.

Definitely going to bring some oil with me. This is my first air cooled scoot, does their oil tend to run hotter / do they consume more oil than a water cooled scoot?

Easy one: Wouldn't hurt to squirt a bit of lubricant on the brake lever pivots.....

If it runs fine, I think you could skip the carb cleaning and adding the voodoo sauce (seafoam). What Vespa is next to it in the pic? Guessing a smallframe?

Looks like an ET3 Primavera.

I rode my 150 LX from Florida to California and back. One problem, but premaintence would not have helped. Other wise it ran perfect and no oil needed. Had about 5, 000 miles when I started. Each ride is different.

Are you turning around and going home once you get here? Hit me up for an oil change if you need one, on the house.

Spot on! It's a bit of a frankenscoot - 1971 Primavera frame with a 1973 ET3 motor. Just got her running last week. What a blast!

Oh wow, thank you so much! My plan is to leave it out there. My parents live in Edwards, which is where it'll live, but I figured I'd need to come into Denver at least for new tires.

Any thoughts on changing the carb jets for riding mile high and above?

You might consider replacing the throttle cable, or at least take a spare one with you. And the tools to replace it, if the original one breaks.

That's a good idea, thank you! Has anyone done this before? I've replaced throttle cables on my vintage Vespa but not on a modern one.

I ran this question past the owner of a Buddy dealership when a friend of mine travelled from Colorado to Florida with her 125 on the back of her RV. I was told the carb would be fine. I'd put a fresh plug in when you get to Colorado, and pull it after 500 miles or so to see the color. Maybe start a new thread posing this question.

I'd ask for a show of hands from Vespa owners who have broke a throttle cable before I pulled the scooter apart to do this.
Speaking of throttle, pick yourself up a big yellow O-ring to use as cruise control. Your right hand will thank you.

Make sure you have a decent amount of tread left on your tyres before you leave.

You've done almost everything I'd do maintenancewise, and I agree there is no need to clean a working carb or replace cables that look and feel OK.

Why bring in somebody else to do the valves? You're clearly more than capable of that job. They might not need to be adjusted anyway.

If it starts fine now, and you're short on time, go ahead and leave the valves alone. If you have time to kill, go ahead and check them. It's not a must for the trip, it's just something that's usually overlooked.

Thank you for the vote of confidence! My best scooter friend / mechanic / adult supervisor just moved out of town, which means I'm flying solo on my repairs from now on. I don't have any kind of service history records for this scoot so I'd at least like to check the valve clearances.

I just found the Wiki on the valve adjustment and it doesn't look too bad. And it looks like an excuse to buy some new tools!

That's the spirit!

No need to rejet the carb. The LX150 has a CV type carb that will do a pretty good job of adjusting for the altitude. If you were moving to Denver permanently, you might consider making an adjustment. But if you'll be returning to lower altitude after a visit, I wouldn't bother.

-Craig

Many motorcycle tire manufacturers (Bridgestone, Michelin, Dunlop, Continental, etc.) say ten years is the service life, even on sportbike tires. Avon says 7.

As the manufacturers say that tyres can be considered *new* up to five years old on the shelf, seven years is probably more like it.