Modern Vespa

Starting a return to running thread for my Rally. Main goal is to get it back to everyday riding condition. Nothing special, just a rider.

Pulled it out of the garage yesterday to take some pics and refresh my memory. It's been ridden and is not original thx to myself and those before me. When I bought the bike (consignment @ Go Fast?) it was white with some rattle can green and burgundy on fender/cowls, beat up green P tank, big ass DASMI k/q seat, crash bars, and that m/m taillight. Ran good, carb would flood occasionally for a kickfest, electrical sucked.

This anyone's old ride?

In the world of could've/would've/should've it would have been left alone and just redone fender/cowls. Ended up disassembled and stripped to bare metal. Then sat in pieces for a bit. Finally painted and reassembled. Hated the signals at the time so they were deleted. Didn't like the look of the seat either so I threw on some random saddle seat I had laying around. Had a less beat up P tank laying around too. Looks like a P shift box cover on there now, some wires pulled but not hooked up to bypass something , and creative wire nutting to accomplish who knows what. Used for several years and was a daily for a little bit.

Plan of attack:

1. Check for spark
2. Pressure test
3. Depends on above but if everything is good, rebuild carb.
4. if everything doesn't check out address those issues first
5. Inspect clutch
6. Clean up electrical
7. New tires/cables
8. Ride

Thoughts/comments/suggestions/criticism?

sounds like a decent plan

still femsatronic? looks like it.

looking forward to watching!

Nice! Did Rallys come with the Mickey Mouse tail light in the US or someone slapped it on?? And, am I seeing a FAR vintage exhaust?? I think they were called Torpedos...

I hate blinkers! You didn't mention if you were just looking to get it going or make a couple improvements.

Bare minimum besides what you listed, do the carb minimum. Obviously clean the tank and replace fuel hose. Inspect, clean and possibly put some good brake shoes on.

Stage 2 for me would be: Vape ignition, bench seat, ignition harness, clutch, new exhaust and a mudguard crest.

Either way will get you scootin!

AFAIK, Someone just slapped on the taillight. 74 tractor style for US?

Yeah that exhaust. Came off the silver P I have. Probably bought at Scooterville back in the mid 80s.

Cool bike. Following.

That exhaust is rad!

I'm liking the color.

I see lots of potential. Turn signals are certainly a personal preference I have become extremely fond of them especially on the freeway it provides other drivers my intentions and I can use my mirrors in most cases keeping my eyes on the road and keep my head from swiveling. Many good memories of Scooter Ville at 2 locations and many lost hours spent at Gofast. Spotted a D.A.S.M.I. calendar today at Scooter Speed. The rally bench is allegedly the most comfortable Vespa seat.

You could put the tail light up for sale, buy an original one for the year, and have a nice bag of coin left over to buy more stuff for the scoot.

Time. Not enough of it.
In the middle of helping sell off the first chunk of a motorcycle collection out of state. Stuff I wanted, but since I didn't have my own stuff in order, I wasn't very vocal about it.
Anyway, got to spend a little time with the Rally today. Decided to do a rough startup just to see if it would. Tidied up the tank some and let the inline fuel filter take care of the rest. Pulled the plug, added a little oil through the carb and gave her a few kicks to lube things up a bit.
Added some premixed fuel to the tank, flipped the lever, pulled the choke, turned the key and began to kick.
Tried to fire off on 3, but was running by 6 or 7.
Nothing like a cold Vespa with extra oil in the cylinder for your neighborhood D-Day reenactment.
Let it stay on choke for a bit, then let it idle.
Might as well see if clutch is gummed up. Went through the gears and didn't go flying into the garage door, sooooo hmmmmmm.
Tires don't look bad, old, but not bad. Lets put some air in.
Runs, shifts, tires hold air, safety 4th.
Let's ride!
Oooops #1. Goofy grip let go riding to gate. Allen wrench time. Done.
Try again.
Couple of 1st-2nd slow runs to the close corner. Seems OK. Probably should open it up a bit. Right?
That beautiful sound and pull when it clears up and gets on the pipe!
Up and down the street a few times to share the Motul with the neighbors. Wife said I was grinning like an idiot.
Still lots to do before going out on the road, but at least my baseline is now a running bike vs the unknown.

I'll admit, the bar end indicators look cool and seem popular. I just never use mine, even when a cop is riding my ass. I ride like nobody sees me and always expect the unexpected. I do use hand signals. 😉

Agree. I put some on Brownie. Look nice but rarely use em.

making it wider at the handlebars takes away from your lane splitting advantage.... I actually got short mirrors for my GTS because the stock ones went beyond the grips.

mine came stock there friend. . . . as in, from the factory.

cool biz, but adding width that was never there on a bike without them isn't for me. they do look good and offer a decent solution though for those that don't have them but want them.

Not needed to get you home

Sorry. Repost. Little trial and error. Knew there had to be a way to embed vs just a link.

Been resigned to tinkering since some of the tools that would make things easier are in another state right now.

So today's pondering after a little episode of walking next to the Rally, what's in the carb? Current setup ran fine for years, but that doesn't mean it's right so I figured I'd list the current jetting to see if anyone sees any obvious problems.
24/24e
120/BE4/120
50. I believe that's 50/100 with the carb body orifice?
1.25 turns out
Plug reads rich, 'feel' is fine.
Stock cylinder
1980s FAR noisemaker exhaust

Apparently if you knock a P200 engine off a shelf it will not only bounce off the concrete, it will also magically find the least damaged part of any nearby scooter and damage that.

Rethinking garage setup.

i'd ask for pics but I'm afraid, that should just not happen. ugh.

I'm scared at the idea of the engine bouncing, and subsequent collateral damage

Oh bother.

That's truly horrible to hear. :-/

Literally. Imagining the sound of it hitting the floor