Modern Vespa

So I'm butt nekkid, slathered in motor oil... she's got an arc welder and she's good with it.

I forgot that she was also wearing a gimp mask.

Alright, here's where it gets weird...


I'm checking out my buddy's Vespa. I don't know anything about them.

He also has a 2009 Yamahahaha WR450F that hadn't run in 9 years and I got it running. I cleaned up the carburetor, re-jetted it for the altitude, changed all the fluids (oil, coolant, brake fluid), and checked the valves (not because it was due, just because I was curious, and have only worked on Ducatis (eff what you heard, there are springs in the desmodromic valvetrain, they're only helper springs, and they only really "help"at idle, and from what I gathered, we're not used on the Race bikes) and Hardly Ablesons.

I jest, mostly...I have 2, a 2008 Street Bob, and a 2015 Road Glide Special (that makes 112 horsepower and 118 lb-ft of torque, built by me, but the fueling map was made by a guy with the username K5brd from one of the Harley forums), 3, if you count my 2008 Buell XB-12S that came with a 1200cc Sportster motor with performance cams (signed by Erik Buell, stock except for a Drummer exhaust)..in addition to a 2002 Ducati 998 (133hp/81 tq) with a 999S motor (essentially a 996R without the sand cast cases) and a 2007 Ducati 1098S (172 hp/91 tq)

Anyway, so I've been around bikes most of my life, started riding on a dirt bike, and just bought a 2008 Honda CRF450R. It's the last year they came with a carburetor, and was the last year Honda made a CRF450R that was worth a damn until 2017. It has an FMF Slipon and a K&N XStream air filter. I re-jetted the carb for altitude, and it is A BLAST TO RIDE! I changed all the fluids on it too. Oil, transmission, coolant, and brake fluid.

Yes, working on and test riding the Yamahahaha (which is an awesome bike) WR450F for me interested in dirt bikes again. I'm only into it for $3K. I'm planning something silly with it. Like getting a lighting stator, and making it a street legal supermoto.

Anywho, I just pulled the rear right fender off of this mystery Vespa, and after I removed two screws that seemed to be holding the top of the air filter cage (I'm guessing), I decided to do a little research.

And here I am...not afraid to dig into it, but don't want to bend or break anything that's irreplaceable.

I'll add the pics of the Vespa first. Then my harem of two-wheeled beauties.

I'm kidding, i was wearing socks.

Mystery vespa...

The ladies...

Welcome to the world of Vespas, or maybe in this case maybe "Vespas". The pretty ones are sometimes not what they seem.

Could be a Bodge, but too soon to jump to conclusions: Bodgespotting

The bike is likely a bit of a mashup in any case from what has been shown so far.

Frame is a VNA-VBB but could also be a Bajaj
Engine looks to have a Ducati flywheel, sign that it may be a P series or LML engine.

look for the frame and engine numbers to help sort out what we are dealing with.

http://scooterhelp.com/serial/vespa.serial.locator.html
section: Vespa Large Frame - 60's - 70's (with fixed left hand panel glovebox)

So where can I find something resembling a service manual? Also, is there a place or website that is a good resource for parts? Like this intake tube or mudflap, or maybe a rebuild kit for the carburetor?

It's a 2 smoke, and it was running before, so I think once the carb is good, the rest should be cake. But this is a completely new venture for me, so please be kind (or just NOT disrespectful, it won't matter one bit to me if you're an encyclopedia when it comes to these things, if you're an A-hole for no reason, I'm just going to ignore you) and help a brother out?

I didn't charge him to get his WR450F up and running again, and I won't charge him to get this Vespa up and running again. He's a friend, and I'm chalking them up as learning experiences. He IS paying for parts.

If it helps any, I'm a level 2 Ducati Tech, and a certified Technician on Harley-Davidson scoots. I've worked on the easy peasy ...anesie bikes too. Just not actually factory trained for them.

I graduated from the Harley-Davidson program at MMI in Phoenix in 2017. I worked at a dealer for a few months, but quit after dealing with unethical business practices. From outright warranty fraud, to having to help another Tech get all of his gear paid for by the dealership, after he wrecked a customer's bike.

He took it out for a test ride and the front caliper locked up on him, and spit him off at 40 mph.

The general manager tried to weasel out of it, but I threatened to get OSHA involved.

Which I only knew about because I was a First Sergeant in the Air Force.

Oh yeah, 20 years, 4 months and 21 days in the miltary. And for you Army, Navy, and Marine veterans, I do refer to it as "Military Light."

Alrighty, who's got the intel "I" need?

For the aforementioned vets...

Brake cleaner FTW!

VLB1M engine code, I'm guessing.

start here: http://scooterhelp.com/index.html

also, use the search function here on the forum as well as the wiki, tons of information available.

non-mangled engine code and numbers is a good sign.

if you want a paper manual this is the one that will best match the engine.

https://www.amazon.com/Scooters-1958-78-Haynes-Repair-Manuals/dp/0856961264/ref=sr_1_4?crid=1MHKBDHG8LNQA&keywords=vespa+haynes+manual&qid=1698029633&sprefix=vespa+haynes+manual%2Caps%2C124&sr=8-4

Lots of resources on line too, but sometimes It's nice to leave some grease smudges.

Looks rather bodgey to me.

Ohh... if you have a Yamahahaha WR450F , then you need a Puch SRA150 to put the motor into! That's how ya make a fun scooter, and putting the Mistress as pillion will make her squeal!

Like a super hot looking Instagram gold digger.

I'm loving the replies. I haven't heard from him since before I posted. So I stopped working on it. The frame number is scratched out.

Overall, the scooter is pretty suspect in my opinion. I tried looking for another frame, just for poops and giggles, and I'm not having any luck.

I appreciate all the good intentioned help. I might pop back up whenever he does answer. I did already buy an accordion intake tube thingy. But it was less than $10, and it's supposed to be delivered in December sometime. That's normal for some Ducati parts, I'm just curious as to whether it's the same for Vespas. But it's not like it's August.

that kind of lead time is pretty ridiculous. who'd you order from?

diamond Dave and his crew at scooter mercato hook it up with good prices and fast shipping!

https://www.scootermercato.com/Scooter-Parts/Bellow/181476

anyway, that part is fairly inconsequential in the overall scheme of getting things running. but good call on going full stop without any further contact, guidance or money changing hands. could be a losing proposition with this bike.

Korean Jesus is busy with Korean s***

He ain't Got time for your problems