Modern Vespa

The original owner of my 2020 GTS300 managed to drop it on it's left side in her garage, and it's bore the scars of that unfortunate event since I bought it in August of 2022.

I had always meant to replace the scratched up long plastic skirt that mounts along the bottom of the body shell, and today I decided to get off my proverbial butt and see what I could do about it.

I got on the phone and called the Vespa parts department at Scooterwest, and talked to a very nice person who listened sympathetically to my sob story with patience and understanding. He took my info and said that he would look into the availability of the desired part and would return an email to me with what he could come up with.

Unfortunately, my part wasn't to be found anywhere in the US, so it would need to come from Italy, and it would take from six to nine months to get it.

It's not a tragedy, and I'll just keep running the damaged skirt for this year, and one day, out of the blue, my pretty blue body skirt will arrive, probably when I least expect it...or after I have forgotten all about it.

It's ok.

I do, however, shudder to think how long a Vespa could be off the road if it was involved with a serious fall-over with many damaged parts.

Also, it's not lost on me that almost anything ordered for a Royal Enfield 650, either from a domestic dealer, or from eBay sellers based in India, that the item will almost certainly be left at your door in no more than perhaps two weeks.

But I suppose that shouldn't surprise anyone, after all, Royal Enfield bikes have been around since 1901, and Vespa is a relative beginner at this game, having only been around since what, 1947? So some teething problems in supply and inventory shouldn't be unexpected until Vespa can get things properly up and running.

Having owned a Moto-Guzzy V7 fairly recently, I wasn't entirely unfamiliar with the way that these things worked, it being Italian and all that (place roll-eyes emoji here).

As I said though, it's ok, and not having a perfect plastic body skirt won't slow down or interfere with this season's riding at all.

It's all part of the 'Vespa experience'.

There is a local mobile scratch repair guy who specializes in these types of repairs. He came over once and gave me a quote for some scratches on my GTS. Considering the convenience factor, prices were quite reasonable. He could match paint and quality/depth of finish right on the spot. A lot of the local dealerships use him when new cars get damaged being moved around the lot.

You should see if such a person exists in your area and get a quote. Worst case, you keep the one you have on order and have a spare.

All for the price of about 50 switchblade combs from Walls Drug.

You do know that the internet is a beauty thing, right? There are dealers all over the world and your part likely exists somewhere. When I first go my Super Cub, I wanted a pillion and foot pegs (not sold in US - a bit of weight shaming of Americans by Honda). Ultimately found them in Thailand - google translate helped, credit card took care of the exchange rate, and two weeks later I got my parts.

Moral of the story, expand your search. Folks all over ride and fix these scooters.

Chris from CLE

If it helps:

Side Panel Trim PIAGGIO left
for Vespa GTS HPE 125/​300 ('19-)
plastic
Color: blue Energia DK 289/A
SKU: 1B005786000DK

No stock at SIP:
https://www.sip-scootershop.com/en/product/side-panel-trim-piaggio-left_PI005786DK

With SKU you should be able to find a dealer.

I would think that with the paint code a decent body shop could fix that up. Of course, being such a small job, they may not want to do it.

Is there a vocational tech school in your area that teaches body work? May be a project for them?

Thanks.

I may call around a bit to see if I might locate the part somewhere in the US, it's not like I won't have some time.

I see that the part is only $150, plus some shipping, so at least it's not ridiculously priced.

After owning a couple of Indian Chief and BMW motorcycles, I've become very wary of parts and accessory prices, but this is is quite acceptable to me ($200 OEM Indian rubber handgrip replacements, $90 Indian Taiwan inner tubes, $2000 BMW R18 OEM replacement headlight, stuff like that).

It's not a critical part by any means, purely a cosmetic thing, so if after a little research I don't find it, I'll just go ahead and get my order for it in through Scooterwest and and wait it out.

Yes, I'm aware of the Internet.

Also, I happen to be one of those folks who ride and fix these scooters. It's a necessity when the nearest servicing dealer is 400 miles away.

Thank you.

I don't see why dealers would stock that part. It's not a wearable. Heck, most won't even stock too many rotors, which are wearable, but not wearable enough to hold inventory on unpopular models...

Ebay delivers in a couple weeks though, but at a price that maybe makes it worth just waiting the 6-9 months for the italian baby to arrive.

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/285394576971?itmmeta=01HQ8SX5D38Z0FVFD60DDC8HZ4&hash=item4272d7a64b:g:JtUAAOSwXflkuuDM&itmprp=enc%3AAQAIAAAA4LjkTlgXIwcYxcQdEiske5Aa%2FJg25e6Gj%2FfAFR7Y4QjPferCzRDzvSo7ZTg3Cgc%2FOVa4zPkLO%2Bw8mulRmSY77ccolOGn0Dyr1e1%2FZfIJ5tkby2P%2B1Je0bCw%2Bmz0Ay51enwXXH7DzP0sn7c50CPmj08bHsZnNM6A4h4yWrOb8SCstgU%2FE%2BoB%2FJcxVKumoXceCtJu1qHYaGGdZNWqmi8bNvgFpx4SQF56rWuA%2F6OJlql8YG4o%2FpfwQyf35U%2B%2BIm23Wf60UMy0zHG8UcQkO%2FJzr2VASLuWamFNfPXYdM%2BXgpyXf%7Ctkp%3ABFBM1tb0mbpj

That's a few bucks under $300 USD for the eBay part, so yeah, I can wait a while for it for maybe $100 less than that.

I find the whole situation more funny than aggravating, but that's probably because the part I want isn't critical to the Vespa's operation, and it will run around just fine, as it has been for about four years, with it's little blemish.

It's funny to me because it plays into the stereotypical perception of things in Italy just being 'different' than in many other places of the world, and perhaps need to take their time to happen.

I don't mean for that 'observation' to be offensive to anyone, especially the Italians. I love the bike, and I love that it IS Italian...and whatever that entails.

In fact, if my GTS300 wasn't Italian, I don't think that I'd own it.

I haven't been able to convince Trixie that we need to go to Italy and tour some of it on a couple of Vespa GTS's, but it's definitely a bucket list notion.

Most auto body repair work involves painting new or repaired parts to match. Most competent shops do a decent job at the needed paint matching. Surely that is the simplest option here as well - especially given the evident difficulty in sourcing a pre-painted part (which may well not be a better match anyway).

Correct. Due to the many colors available, it would be a financial risk for dealers to stock painted parts.
In Europe, all Vespa dealers and the usual online stores (SIP, ScooterCenter, etc.) can order all parts available from Piaggio from a wholesaler overnight. Unfortunately, the wholesaler does not deliver directly to private customers. The eBay item you linked to from a German online store will also come from the same wholesaler.
Because I know this, I question the delivery times given, because it is not known whether the online store keeps accurate stocks of the wholesaler.
My tip: ask for the actual delivery time by email before ordering and paying (SIP explicitly states "On order").


I think the long delivery times for "exotic parts" in the USA are due to are due to transportation by ship. If you order from a European online store, you can avoid this by air freight.

I think that the most satisfying solution to my part/wait issue is obvious...buy another Vespa that is made from 100% totally new parts.

Red, of course.

Agreed.

Sand it. Prime it. Rattle can it. If the color doesn't match you'll have a nice 2 tone trim piece.

If you like it, do the other side.

Or, just wait for a new one.

Not only transport by ship, but Piaggio wait until they can completely fill a container before any bits get shipped.

Greasy had many model-specific parts on hand, and sold them to me while his cat yelled at him about it. I'd check with Greasy and his feline inventory clerk.

Ok, I found the part I need for my GTS, and it's right here in the U.S. Almost no waiting for it if I would decide to go this route instead of ordering just the part from Italy.

It's not the same color finish as the part I was going to get, but that's a minor consideration because it perfectly matches the unit that it's sent on.

It's quite a bit more expensive than just the part itself, but considering that the needed part comes complete with an entire additional 'scooter parts assembly', I think that it's not too bad of a deal.

Do it. DO IT!

some elbow grease and 3m perfect it polishing compound would get that damage to look at least 50% better, I'm guessing, maybe more.

There's also a tiny bit of scratch on the metal body section just above where the plastic skirt was damaged. It's really pretty insignificant but there just the same. I may do what you suggest to that little issue.

Here's a photo I took of my GTS on the day I test rode it and bought it in August 2022, highlighting the body scratches above the plastic skirt part...

JBacklund: Do you need the panel for left and/or right side?

If you need both sides, and they are not broken I would prefer to paint both sides instead of buy new ones…

If needed I can provide SKU for right side and/or paint (Spraycan or for professional use)

Of course these scratches are not an issue for enjoying riding the Vespa, and when riding the Vespa you are in the best possible position to not notice them at all.

But if you want to speed up things, maybe there is the option to look for the correct part, but not coloured, unsprayed.

I am in Europe and at the site where I have bought already a few things for my BV, for body parts you typically have the choice between coloured or unsprayed parts.

There is the ocean in between Italy and the US that makes things a bit more difficult but maybe the part you are looking for unsprayed is readily available, and I expect probably cheaper.

With the damaged part at hand it should be no problem for any decent car paint shop to prepare you a bit of paint that is a perfect match.
You can spray, or have the part sprayed, and with the remaining bit of paint you can repair the small scratches on the body part above.

There are several youtube videos that explain how you can do that with a small brush and some polishing.

Only one, right side, nothing broken.

yes, that part on the metal body is an excellent candidate for it!

Availability for Greece shows 1 to 10 days, goes for 76€…

My fault… I assumed you are looking for panel on left side. So first SKU was panel on left side, sorry.


Side Panel Trim PIAGGIO RIGHT
for Vespa GTS HPE 125/​300 ('19-)
plastic
Color: blue Energia DK 289/A
SKU: 1B005787000DK

https://www.sip-scootershop.com/en/product/side-panel-trim-piaggio-right_PI005787DK

Spray paint (125 or 375ml):
https://motorradlack.de/en/product/piaggio-289-a-dk-blau-energia-basislack-spritzlack-375ml/
https://motorradlack.de/produkt/piaggio-289-a-dk-blau-energia-basislack-spritzlack-125ml/

Note: you will need additional 2C Clearcoat (125 or 375ml)

https://motorradlack.de/en/product/2k-klarlack-21-0007-glaenzend-spritzlack-375ml-inkl-haerter/
https://motorradlack.de/en/product/2k-klarlack-21-0007-9-glaenzend-spritzlack-125ml-inkl-haerter/

IDK...A Wall Drugs bumper sticker right there may be the perfect solution.

Put a jackalope as pinion, and no one will notice the ding.

1B005787000DK for the right side is pretty easy to find in stock and it's about €145.13, since we don't pay IVA. You should be able to get it in less than two weeks.
For some reason, the left side is a bit harder to track down.

There can be a lot of paperwork to ship paint into the US. It's either going to fly right through because the overall dollar amount is low enough that nobody checked the invoice, or UPS/FedEX/DHL might spot it as a line item and bury you in US Government paperwork, and you'll never see it. I tried to import touch up paint into the US once, and it's either been destroyed, or there's a couple cases of it still sitting in a warehouse in Tennessee.

Good point...

There really is luck of the draw involved in importing into the US. Fedex is absolutely the worst when it comes to clearing customs. I've been asked to fill out Endangered Species Act paperwork when I brought in some Malossi Wild Lion exhausts, because someone at Fedex thought they might be made of actual lion. And it doesn't help when you start laughing at the person telling you this. They really are serious. Fedex also requires importers to fill out Geneva Convention paperwork every time you bring in bearings. I have no idea why.

Order it from SIP. You will have it in a few weeks.

Perhaps it would be wise to also install a set of those nice chrome crash rail sets down there as well.

I really don't need much of an excuse to bolt on a bit of tasteful(?), and practical bling to my GTS.

Aliexpress has chrome skirts on their site. Far cheaper than OEM. They're quite attractive when paired with the crash rails.

Just a thought.

For quite a while, there were a lot of chrome replacement plastics like headsets, spark plug door, and side panels for the ET2-ET4. They looked good until they turned green or got pitted or sometimes both. The brushed stainless steel ones were nice, but afaik, nobody makes them anymore.

it's a hold over from the Trade Act of 1974

basically bearings were taxed heavily to protect American manufacturing (and union jobs). given the time, there were also jingoistic undertones to the move.

for a long time, when you ordered from overseas (sip/beedspee/etx) the lading bill would list bearings as "track" to get around the added expense.

Left side is harder to find prolly because they sell more when bikes fall off their side stand.

It's the right color

Theres almost enough spares there to build a complete bike.