Modern Vespa

Hi All,
Just bought my first Vespa LXV125. It's not in the best of conditions, but I'm happy to get my hands dirty and will be trying to get it back up to scratch soon. Looking to build it back fairly standard, but expect I'll be modding it before long.
Cheers

Crocko2

Good luck on getting parts in the UK.. I'm doing a gt and everything is coming from Germany as UK is too bloody expensive and most of the shops don't want to help..

Greetings Bath chappy , MMMMmmmmm struggle to see were Derek's coming from, Parts plentiful here and I restore Vespas, Example Ebay purchase 2 days ago, F and R GTS wheels fair condition with treaded Michlin tyres £50 inc delivery, shop around and there's lots of breakers here, Personally I find Germany very high on P&P.

Vespajets are online in Colchester and Ebay selling lots of Vespa obscure parts and offer free postage and packaging with telephone number to ask questions.

Get all my piaggio colour matched paint from Ireland P&P F.O.C.

The only supplier I use abroad for some genuine Piaggio vespa parts is a company in Cyprus, whose P&P avg's £4 and Items usually arrive within 4 days.
Welcome to MV, good crowd on here.

Not everyone wants to put second hand stuff on their bikes especially service parts which I imagine he will need..you are correct that there are lots of parts on ebay but for new parts prices are crazy..

I agree, the only part I want at the moment is only available from Belguim and it's 25.00 Euros delivery yet for some reason it's 10 or 15 euros for the rest of the world.

Thanks Brexit

eBay prices seem to have stayed similar pre / post Brexit. SIP is also a fantastic resource for parts.

Really cool looking Vespa. I hadn't been aware they made an LXV until I saw this post!

Welcome to MV Crocko. I will look out for your scoot around town.
I've found some parts only really obtainable new from the EU, so know all about the 'Brexit bonus'...
Service items generally ok though from the usual suspects.
Get some ACF50, Waxoyl or similar into the insides before winter!

Croko2,

Welcome from across the pond. Dashing around town on a Vespa is the best.

Bob Copeland
Frostbite Falls Minnesota

Thanks all for the warm welcome
I have spent a few hours working on the bike this week. Managed an oil, filter and air filter replacement. But am struggling with changing the spark plug… not the easiest placement! The old one is out (and very worn), but cannot get the angle right to fit the new one

Have you tried a bit of rubber hose over the top of the sparkplug rather than the plug socket?

I'll give that a try, thanks

If there's no blood you're not trying hard enough.....or you have small hands.

It's a right PITA. Having the engine out to study orientation is a help....but you really don't wanna go there....

I like it! Have fun!

Yeah right pig to get at, have you tried putting the new plug in the socket locating it by feel, screw in by hand then you should have enough room to get your ratchet on and tighten.

Yeah I'm gonna give it another go later today, I'll try that 🤞🏼
If all else fails I'll go the route of dropping the engine. But that's got to be a last resort as there must be an easier way…

Use the spark plug removal tool that came in the Piaggio toolkit for the LXV. It's about the only tool that fits in without all the swearing and wanting to drill a hole in the side of the bike.

Success at last! Managed to swap the spark plug over without dropping the engine, just took a bit of patience.
Glad I did it though as the old plug was knackered 😳

Patience and persistence! Congrats! Yeah, I'd say that one is pretty much toast.

I've a Gt200 and Fowlers and Fleabay have been fine for me, what problems have you had?

I get my matched Piaggio paint from Paints in Ipswich, just bought large base and laquer rattle cans, £30.. .this is pro automotive paint shop gear, goes on so much better than civilian paint.

Not a friend of rattle cans due to the lack of spray control, learnt from my teenage years to use guns and airbrushes when we was metal flaking Lambrettas to look like Christmas trees in the late 70s, the paint I use is 250ml tins and go's along way when thinned and hardener added.