Modern Vespa

This happened last Thursday

First thing every morning after I log on to my computer I check Craigslist motorcycles. This morning the first ad I see says 1966 Vespa $5 (it's actually a 1968). I think, yeah right, another guy goofed on the price. Let me preface this by saying I've never had the desire to own or ride a Vespa, but my 28 year old daughter thinks they're the coolest things ever. Even more so after we visited Italy last summer.

So I read the ad. This guy has owned this particular Vespa for over 20 years, but about 15 years ago he parked it in a barn and it's sat there since. He said he'll never get around to fixing it and yes, he's asking $5 for it. The ad was 10 hours old. All he wants is a super simple transaction with zero hassle. I noticed that he lives about 8 miles from me.

I'm pretty good at writing a convincing letter, so type away I did. And an hour later, he texts me and said the Vespa is mine! He liked what I wrote and the fact that I'm so close. Told me he had over 100 inquiries in those 10 hours. So, tomorrow morning we're meeting at the DMV to transfer it then we're headed to the barn to load it up (he liked that I have a Kendon). Looks like I need to learn about them, but it's for my daughter. I gave her brother a Ducati so it's the least I can do for her.


I got it back from the shop today. All they had to do was ultrasonic the carb and put new gas in it. She's ready to ride.

Now, the important part...I know nothing about this machine. Can someone please tell me what I've bought?

Tires are already 15 years old and so are tubes. I would replace them for a daily use rider.

Hard to say what you've got there, though the picture and the story don't exactly add up. It has Asian elements (IMHO) and the price says it as well.

Need more detailed pics and probably an update about how it performs over the next few hundred miles; then you'll know what you've got. In any case, it's sweet looking and at that price any major issues can be overcome without going into the red on value.

What kind of shop did you take it to ? What did they have to say about it ?

Kind of cool the guy basically just wanted to give it away when the trend is to ask the sky.

More pictures please !

For a start, read this page to ID your model
https://www.scooterhelp.com/serial/vespa.serial.locator.html

Welcome to the forum rd400racer! I saw your posting over at advrider last week. https://www.advrider.com/f/threads/got-a-5-vespa-today.1655591/

All the scooter people over there are into modern twist and go automatic scooters, so they know VERY little about the vintage scooters (it can be seen in all of their replies in you thread). Yes, your scooter has a few telltale signs of it being from Southeast Asia (aka- SEA). Most all of the scooters that come there are kinda bodgy....as in they are a bodge to be more accurate...which is a very bad thing. But at $5 for the buy in, you can't go wrong whatsoever! We need some more pics of your scooter so that we can deduce exactly what it is.

-cheers

Interesting that you bring up SEA because the shop I took it to said they think it's Vietnamese. The serial number is V462I2T60500. I looked it up but couldn't find anything. They are an excellent vintage shop. I race an RD400 and an RZ350 and they do all the work on them. They're very familiar with Vespa's. I rode it around the block and it seemed quite fun. I'll hook up the sidecar this weekend and see how she goes.

You got a hella good deal here, a great adventure for $5 at the very least! Good on you for sticking your neck out and pulling the trigger for your daughter(be careful YOU don't get hooked! )

I want to suggest that you wait until next month, or even next year to hook that sidecar up. A couple of reasons:

1) you need a chance to see how it runs a lot more than just around the block before you commit.

2) It IS a SEA bike and you really need to check out the frame carefully before you hang a sidecar on it. Let's see some closeup pics of the floor from underneath, and pull the gas tank to stick a camera looking inside the tunnel

3) they can be tricky and troublesome to hook up right if you have no experience - post up some pics of the hardware involved for comments from experienced ppl here that should help when you do.

4) I understand they can be a lot more challenging to ride, especially if your daughter's first time on a Vespa. Maybe let her try it as is first?

This is the connection setup.

Oh, come on. No way you can possibly go wrong for five dollars. I want a copy of the letter you wrote.

It was pretty simple. I noticed that he lived about 3 miles from me, I stated that I had a motorcycle trailer and could be there whenever he wanted and told him that a Vespa has always been my daughter's dream bike. I gave him my number and he texted me 1/2 hour later saying it was mine, come get it.

Look at that smile! She said she cried when I gave her the news.

HAS to be a pre-1971 Bajaj (India). Thank your stars that isn't from Vietnam.
They were badged Vespas under licence until 1971. That sidecar is another clue.

I'll try to find more in a bit.

kickstarter and headset look very indo.

Here you go.
Look at the VIN. Last pic in the image gallery.

https://www.hemmings.com/auction/1970-vespa-150-edmonds-wa-255613/sold

The guy I bought it from said he had it shipped from India.

Thanks Ray, that's it.

Well, that guy paid $13,000 for his, but you paid $5 for yours. He must be feeling that the universe is a bit unfair.

There's no proof that any of these hemmings or bat auctions are actually real. I think they are ai generated links to make it seem like there are a ton of rich dudes spending absurd money on these things than there really are.

That's the only rational reason for them. haha!

Funny, I remembered that V462 from two years ago but I can't remember what I had for dinner the night before last

Have your shop go through that bike completely.
Every little bit.

Well, I didn't think this bike would be such a hit, but my kids love it. I took it over to my sons garage because I was running out of space and I can't keep him off the darn thing, and his regular ride is a Ducati 1098! I'll do some maintenance to her over the winter but it just chugs along. And wherever they take it, it draws a crowd. Never thought a goofy scooter like this would be so much fun.


pic host

Will the sidecar fly? I know they do on more powerful bikes, but I always wonder about the Vespa rigs.