Modern Vespa

I am currently restoring one, and I am assessing how much I should really invest. I'm open to any suggestions I really love older vespas 1970-1995 I grew up with a 1968 which I love but please recommend a model that is both reliable and classic. Just putting it out there thank you.

What kind of riding do you plan on doing? Fast? Backroad slow? Carrying a passenger? A 100 sport tops out at 40 mph on flat ground with just 1 person. As long as you're ok with that, then ride the 100 sport. If you want faster or with a passenger, I'd recommend a 77-81 P200. $3-4k SoCal prices. Tops out around 65mph. If you can find a Rally 200, even better!

To make any classic Vespa reliable, you should go through it once with a fine tooth comb. Fuel tank clean, carb clean, wire inspection/replacement, cables, spark plug and maybe a new exhaust. A weekend of fun or dump it off at your vespa mechanic.

Paint jobs on scooters get pricy quick! Easy 2-3K with additional labor to disassemble/reassemble. If you're handy, have fun painting!

With that knowledge, what's your budget, what are your thoughts and how far do you want to proceed with the 100 sport?

100 sport is a great small frame. it takes mods and upgrades easily, the motor is robust and a perfect building block for mild to wild builds. they already have 12V power.

as far as investment? you'll never get out what you put in. ever. not on 100 sport. even if you got it for free and did all of the work yourself you'd be hard pressed to turn a dime when selling. small frames don't command a ton of money unless they're a really special model.

a smallie can be reliable and has the classic looks. you just have to spend the money and build it right.

but for flat out reliability? P125/150 or 200. bone stock with some very tasteful mechanical upgrades will be stone axe reliable.

This was my 79 Vespa Sport 100 ... or at least that's what the badge on the back said it was.

This probably won't be of any help to you, it was more geared towards people who had never seen a vintage Vespa before and how things were done.... but... something to watch while pooping I guess?

Invest as much as makes you happy.

I really enjoy my 100 Sport. Its got a lot more pep with a DR130 kit and LeoVince exhaust. Climbing hills is not a problem anymore.

For myself, I don't want to own something perfect, then I'm afraid to damage it. I like something with some patina that is still safe to operate, runs great, so I can take it out and enjoy it.

https://impbarn.blogspot.com/p/vespa-100-sport-v9b1t.html

I'm invested a lot in my Special and absolutely love how it rips, sound and runs.
On the other side I'm invested very little in my PK S but I also absolutely love it too. Calm and easy riding on the streets or around town.
I'm also have P in which I threw even more.
Different scoots for different moods

If the sport is just for buzzing about local on at 45 mph and thats all you want to do then great. If you decide you want to go a bit further on the cheap, throw a barrel kit on, better exhaust, refurb your engine to take the extra load, new clutch etc. If you want to go full loco speed monster and have deep pockets, you can do that too. OR, do what many do, and im with Roland on this one with the same setup.

I have a PX with a 177 for longer rides, touring etc, it cruises about 58 mph and setup for max 65mph.


I have a PK XL75 for making me smile, buzzing to the beach, heading no more than 10 miles in either direction, its actually more fun than the PX. One thing I love about the smallframe its just so light and the stability of them are great for thrashing about corners etc. They sound like they are going fast, you feel like you are going fast, but you look at speedo and its like 45 mph. Great fun.

As said previously, you wont make money on scooters, invest in whatever you choose for you with an aim to keep it and dont look back at the receipts on what youve spent as it might make you gulp slightly and mutter F***

Uhhhh i think we lost the OP

Oops . Can't help wondering what his scoot looked like before sanding back ? I prefer them ratty over resprayed and also respraying them ends up costing more than the value of what you end up with. Few scraps, dings and rust gives it that patina I like and a bit of dolly Panel beating on major dents and retro stickers is the way I go.