Modern Vespa

I think it is the PX150. Anyone know about this stuff? My Dad has one, he says it was the last Vespa 2-stroke sold in the US and there weren't very many.

Just interested in the history.

Thanks.

I think your dad's right as far as Vespa is concerned.

Other companies still sell 2 stroke bikes in the US (Husqvarna, for example), but not for street use.

Yep. 2006 PX. Wernt hot sellers so they pulled the plug on the US market.

Random fact, you could still get them in Mexico until the very end. A few San Diego guys brought some over by riding down, swapping plates and riding back. Then walk back and grab the original scoot

I thought it was the 2005 Px150 was the last one. They show up on seller sites usually for stupid prices, especially the limited edition ones.

2 Stroke WHAT? There are plenty of 2 stroke engines still being turned out of factories. You can buy various 2023 model year, 2 stroke dirt bikes.

https://dirtbikemagazine.com/2023-two-stroke-buyers-guide/#:~:text=For%20now%2C%20two%2Dstrokes%20aren,both%20off%2Droad%20and%20motocross.
https://www.dirtrider.com/story/dirt-bikes/how-to-buy-250-300cc-two-stroke-motocross-bikes/

If you mean scooters, one can still buy 50cc 2 stroke scooters, like this one:
https://wiztem.en.made-in-china.com/product/dZJTwYXviCkO/China-Best-Selling-Standing-2-Wheel-50cc-63cc-Mini-Gas-Scooter-on-Cheap-Wholesale-Price-From-China-Factory.html

If you mean full bodied, sit down scooters, requiring registration for road use in the USA, I'd still say that the Genuine Stella outlasted the Vespa PX. It was sold in the US as a 2 stroke until 2009. https://www.bestbeginnermotorcycles.com/genuine-stella/

Although arguably, the Stella IS a Vespa PX.

Sorry, more specifically, I was wondering about two-stroke Vespa scooters. I wasn't thinking of the 50 cc, but you are correct. Also about the Stella. He has one of those, too.

I think my question is answered, 2005 or 2006 for the last Vespa 2-stroke scooter > 100cc. Looks like it wasn't that good? But he still says it was the best Vespa he ever bought. Until you ask him tomorrow. (he still has 7 scooters at age 89 and rides alot)

Thanks for the info guys.

They were a one year only 2005 model. Probably some of them that didn't sell in 2005 were sold as carryovers in 2006.

Yeah, about that...no sense arguing about that since i vehemently oppose that false statement. I'm going to set it straight so that future generations will realize that they are completely different. Let's start from the top...
-the headset cover is different.
-the lower headset is different.
-the throttle and shift tubes are different diameters.
-the headlight is different
-the switches are different
-the hand grips are different
-the whole super crappy LML wire harness is different
-the center mat is different
-the ignition is different
-the LML engine is a great reed valve, the PX is rotory valve.
-the LML have a super crappy crankshaft.
-the LML transmission is only kinda crappy.
-the LML have a different air filter.
-the LML have a lower quality paint
-the LML has a different low fuel sensor
-the LML has its mirrors mounted in a different area
-the LML comes free of charge with a bend brake drum
-the LML uses a different speedometer
-the zinc plating on everything (from centerstand, all the way to nuts and bolts) LML looks less refined.
-the LML was about 8mph faster than the PX out of the box.
-the PX came with shiny paint. The LML came with less shiny paint.
-all the rubber on a LML have a 6 month half life.

That's just the short list off the top of my head. Both are great scooters. And yes, they do look exactly the same to the layman...but they DEFINITELY ain't even close to being the same thing. I'm now looking for a whole box of mics to drop.

100% this. Don't get me wrong - my Stella is a blast, but it ist NOT a Vespa!

I had a PX150 and while it was slower, it was way more refined compared to the 2008 Stella.

That's not to say I don't LOVE Olive, the Stella, cause I do, but just different.

The finish on the engine cases is different on LML, very ruf, same for the inside. Same goes for the internals.

Brand new piston from LML 150 5 ports




The quality is on a different level

Reminds me of HDs back in the early 70s. There was a saying at the time - Harley Davidson builds the bike, you do the final engineering. The EVO engines were so much better.

What about during the period between the mid 80s and the late 90s, when LML was badging the scooters they produced as Vespas, and selling them to the Indian market? Were these machines Vespas at that point in time, the myriad differences notwithstanding? If they were not, what were they?

Stella 2 stroke, Stella 4 stroke, Bajaj Legend, SX200 Honda Elite, Yamahauler Morphous, gsxr fixer...dems all vespas. You win.

Vespas were selling 2 stroke scooters just like many other companies. Are we talking shifty vespas? Stellas were also being sold in the US after the Vespas PX150.

Love answering this question when I pull up on my 09 Stella and someone asks "is that a Vespa?"

"Do you want the short answer or the long answer?"

Well......LML did not badge THEIR scooters or produce as Vespas. The chicken came before the egg. LML (Lohia Machines Limited) Produced yarn making machinery in India. Piaggio approced them to start building Vespas in India 1984. Piaggio provided all of the machinery and tooling to start building PX150 as the Vespa NV for Asian markets. Around 1993 Piaggio allowed them to begin selling LML badged machines for the local market and ended their collaboration in 1999. LML retained machinery and tooling and began selling the Star. They sold under different names in different markets. Hence the Genuine Scooter Co. Stella etc etc etc.

I saw this in an ad in the VCOA Newsletter:

This beloved icon is a limited edition PX 150 Serie America. This is #130 of the 500 limited production run ONLY 400 miles! Original owner.

Probably what my Dad is talking about with his.

Qascooter used to own one of those Serie America....paging Scott?...

That special edition is the only flavor 2005 PX that i haven't been able to procure just yet. Maybe someday one will find a home in my shop?

Yeah, that's one of the scooters I'd like to still have. 2005 Series America...

It was super slow though and after talking with Hot Rod Al, I chose to sell it and got a GTS250, which I tried to like, and I did, but it just didn't fit me, so I sold that too.

So I asked my buddy with the 06 and he said his was a late model 05 on the vin. Curious, I went out and looked at my 05 Series America and that has 10/04 on the legshield sticker.

So now im thinking last sold in 06, but were 05 manufactured leftover models?

10/04 is when the scooter was manufactured. Think of it this way...if a manufacturer waited until 2005 to build a 2005 vehicle, then they probably wouldn't get there first vehicles out of the manufacturing plant and into the dealer's showrooms for at least a couple precious months. That would mean lost sales for both the manufacturer and the dealer. The only way to do that is to have the 2005 vehicles in the dealer showrooms a few months before 2005. To sum up, 2005 was a only year that they were imported to the US. The 2005 PX's arrived in late 2004. The ones that didn't sell in late 04 and 05 eventually were sold in 2006, but all were 2005 models. This is exactly how every vehicle manufacturer (car, truck, moto) operates.

I just scrolled over to look at the one for sale in the VCOA Newsletter. It appears to be priced a bit on the high side of things. Needs to knock 50% off the asking price...then subtract another $500~$1000 off of that price.

Correct!

If you go to the top post you'll see I put 2006 originally. I still backup 2006 as the last year sold, but adding that they were leftover 2005s.

How much are they asking?

I have mine cause I liked the paint job. To get a Stella or PX painted the same was easy $3k for the pearl/flake/mint custom color plus prep and the cost of the donor scoot.

If you just want a scoot, buy a Stella. If you want something special, you're probably gonna have to shell out a little extra.

Yes, you are correct. In fact in the dirtbike world, many times you'll see dealers sell brand new bikes that have been sitting on their showroom floor for 2-3 years! I used to see brand new 2005 Honda XRL's on dealer floors that were being sold in 2008...they were still 2005 XRL bikes on both VIN and on title though. So in theory, the last year sold for a 2005 PX150 could be 2008! Another for instance, a local dealer was selling a brand spanking new 2004 Baja 4T scooter a couple years ago (yes, is a true story that i saw with my own eyes). So going by that logic, 2019 was the last year for the 02 Baja 4T.

Exactly my experience!
I bought my first 2005 PX150 in July of 2008.
It was still in the crate at the dealer.
It got totaled in 2018 so I bought a used Serie America - #107 of 500.