Modern Vespa

Well I have to say my seasonal break hasnt panned out too well. Covid, flu, terribly rubbish weather, didnt get my xbox series x, if anything could go wrong it did, car packed up, new years eve disturbed by some drunken arse trying to break into my back garden, police, statements.....argggh, stress.

However, a glimmer of hope came to me. Observing my PX in the conservatory slowly collecting more of my children's bags on its handlebars, boxes on its seat, their collection of dirty trainers on the floor board, spiders moved in with giant cobwebs I got that rush of excitement to shake me out of the winter blues. Its getting 14 minutes lighter every week, spring is on the horizon. Gazing out of my window i can see the scooter cover blowing around in the wind, dripping with rain and general shit, but underneath is my PK smallie. Laid that up in november having finally worked out why it was running shite, a rusty fuel tank which i replaced. So two scoots to play with and it wont be too long i hope for getting back on the road with the vespas, scooting about at 58 years of age grinning like a teenager riding out with similar like minded vespa and lambretta old boys too. Im thinking this year to do a couple of rallies too.

So what have you guys got planned for your scootering in 2024?
Is it a long journey somewhere, some mad rode trip?
Buying another scooter, or several? Finally finishing off that old easy resto project you bought off ebay, that actually wasnt easy at all with parts made of unobtainium? Be interested to hear guys and gals. Happy new year to all of you and may you drive safe and long.

Happy New Year to you too.

I'm one of those people who enjoy the holidays, but am always glad to get back into the groove.

I'm finishing up respraying my P200 and will spend the winter putting it all back together.

I have a VBB that I may start stripping and prepping if time permits.

Hoping to assemble a Malossi VR-1 based 200 touring engine (as budget permits).

Also hoping to start prepping/painting my 73 VW bus once it's warm enough to work outside. The metal work and welding are pretty much done.

This past summer, my sons and I did a 2000 mile road trip in the bus through the Canadian maritimes. We are hoping to return to Nova Scotia this summer. I am planning to put a motorcycle rack on the bus to carry a scooter. Plan is for me to do some stretches of riding along the coast, while the kids drive the bus, meeting up at a camping spot end of day.

Never going to get this all done, but that's ok.

The plan is to survive.
If success then I rebuild my P150X engine, rebuild my PK50S engine with 125cc, finish PX200E GS for one mate and start rebuilding 50 Special for another mate.

And you will! Keep us posted! We on this forum need you and of course your brave countrymen and women need you too! And so will the Vespa Club of Ukraine survive as well.

I will be watching what you do with this nice smallie frame project. I have a complete 1964 v90 (with a good Primavera 125 4 spd motor to go in it...) and some of the needed parts, so hopefully I can get some inspiration for this future project from the NSM folks such as yourself.

Thank you for such kind words! I am moved.

This year, I am going to get out more with the vintage folks locally and I'm really hoping to do Rides of March. I'm also going to turn my pile of VBB into a running scooter.

Yessss! ROM FTW! I already started working on my logistics with CM2 and SoCal, so your decision timing is perfect.

In addition to ROM, I'll finish the Smallstate this spring, and then it's maybe going to be time to Go Big with my P200 motor.

Most of my resolutions are of the "don't" variety: don't unintentionally blow up myself or others; don't set myself on fire; don't put myself in the ER.

Y'know...just usual, normal people New Year aspirations...

Fixed that for ya CM.

No resolutions here other than trying to live more authentically and win all my ham bets.

I'm glad I didn't allow ham bets on the VBB, I'd be dishing out the ham left and right. There'd be ham salad, ham soup, ham sandwiches, ham and eggs. It would be a huge debacle.

* ham debacle

hamtastic 🐷

Beautiful paint job. Is that a stock color?

My plan is to ride. Finally. Was close with the jetting of Bear when it got cold. Hoping I won't have to tinker much this summer, just ride.

Extra plan is to have both the Allstates running right. And buy property in the Catskittles for cooler summer living and hockey games on the pond in winter. We've been looking for a bit, I'm hoping this year we find the right place.

Thanks. Color is as close as the paint shop could get it.