Modern Vespa

só chuffed:

Went out with Margarita at sunrise; feed the horses at the farm to relieve the ex.
Lovely still warm in bed with the mate I had made for her on the bed side table.

I só enjoy that every single ICE runs better in slightly humid cool morning air. Lovely drive.
Was on the way back before mass so hád to shoot a pretty picture.

Parked my scoot in front, made us a proper coffee and... it started póóring down.
Margarita inside, open the windows and hmmmmmmm..... fragrant petrichor, not just the homely smell of a fresh brew.

The pamflet to hang out in the village and the one up the road.
Also the 3 scooter parkings in the village while I enjoyed my coffee.

Early morning routine again; was particularly pretty with the long shadows in the cool air:

and simply because my eye fell on it

Not chuffed.
The clapping noise at idle is the clutch. Disappears with it disengaged. Fearing Murphy.

Some photos off the tarmac.
They do not do justice of the beauty not the steepness of climbs and descends.

morning run again and an early traveller to the ´ofrenda´ to the ´Virgen de los Dolores´.

ah and anóther classic/NSM Vespa specialist ´just around the corner´; some 30 minutes towards Sevilla.

Vespaclassic.es

that makes no less than thréé

the parade/procession to the church

The classic bike reunion thing morning was nearly all exclusive Spanish made.
Though several in license, the MotoVespa was the first Vespa to sport electronic ignition and the Vespino was even an original design. The particular tuned one is quick enough to give my P200 a run for it´s money.

and some more.
The ´vial´ under the headlamp originally was an obligatory display of the municipal vehicle tax receipt. This one is creatively used for the periodic inspection sticker. I will borrow this idea!

and because it is a nice picture

to paint a bit of perpective;

- me and the co-organiser rode up the park where we had agreed with town hall to meet up.
The local police was just finishing to close it off for an even in the evening.
So I rode up, greeted good morning and informed them that we needed access for our event. ´OK´ and they gave access.

- one of the participants drove up with his unregistered but VERY loud so nut unnoticed MotoHispania. Policeman walked up and observed:
´You have no license plate´.
"Yes I know."
´Then you cannot circulate on the public road.´
"Yes I know.¨
End of.

- Since only about a handful of entries have all the paperwork, tech, inspection, insurance sorted, the ride out is a bit tricky.
So we asked the mayor to tell the local police to escort us on the route we had written out.
As such it happened: ´but no wheelies or other such antics.´
We lost half a dozen vehicles under way and gained three who hooked up.

Nothing wrong with the clutch; normal rattle; just keep the oil level ok.
The level and drain plug were not 100% nor had magnets. So replaced them with new ones with magnets and used new rings.
Drilled so I could use safety wire. Yes, yes, OCD for a road scooter so by all means call it brain damage from two decades of racing; makes me feel just that bit better.

Tried fit the Stadium folding mirror and get rid of the long stem twins.
Off course there is a screw in the trim where it would sit best. Above the screw it fouls the glove box. Under, it overhangs the trim.
So, drill a space in one of the rubbers for the screw head.*
Read about two steps ahead, one back somewhere on the forum

* not that this improves the no-rear view which was a joke on mé because when I looked back my charming company had her summer dress up to her chin and nothing under: ´nonono, no peeking, mirror only´ dropping the dress

My vintage Pavoni Europiccola is causing a short circuit so temporarily going Bialetti.
Coming back to the Stadium mirror later

My Wife swears by her Bialetti's to make good coffee.
This one is her favourite but I never see it being used.....

we have a romantic favorite but the tricolore is more practical

Wife likes to collect cups too. Here's her few favs.....

as that rather adds up you have a reason for maintaining the balance with Vespas

I like the way you think

This is beautiful

The romantic Aladino cafetera btw is a jubilee one in their signature high quality porcelana by d´Ancap for Bialetti. d´Ancap provide the tasa for the international barrista championships.
I was extremely lucky to have scored one in Gérmany of all places
When the brew is made, the vapor exits from the magic spout
Júst finishing breakfast (Mbe´yu with egg) with the large latte cup.

Lovely breakfast and kitchen setting. The colorful cabinets are amazing!

I second the cabinets. You need a smallie painted in the same color! My wife loves orange. I have to show her your pic when she gets back from Sicily.

Over here the opinions about the colour are divided. Not about like/not like but about whether it is orange or salmon.
Í see plainly orange. My formerly charming company sees pinkish. Present charming agrees with her but out of conflictive range also sees ... orange.
Totally important imo. What´s in a name?!
I have the same with the light blue/aquamarine/turqoise Margarita; some see more blueish others greenish. Who cares?? I like the colour whatever it´s called. Would like the paint # though so as to buy a touch up flacon.
It is supposed to be a modern Vespa colour but that has so far not taken me any further

Anyway... meanwhile the Stadium mirror remains useless for any rear view
Modified the rubber, relocated it just under the indicator.
Style wise befits the P200E very well though and sitting higher it is a bit less vulnerable.
At least it suits óne purpose; it passes through the door way easier as it in. Count your blessings it is.

Here is how I mounted my folding Stadium mirror on my P2. I tried many positions, before settling on a lower mounting on top of the outer floor rail. This allows good rear view while riding, as well as folding inward under neath the tool box.

Thank you GeekLion !

Will try; looks vulnerably low though... Still, no rear view is vulnerable (me!!) too.

Done but... still mostly token. Definitely better tough; at least sóme view if I move and crouch a bit so thanks.
Traffic has changed considerably since I started on two wheels. Markedly so the last decade. Cars riddled with drivers aids designed for people who should not be driving does NOT make it safer for the twowheeled.
In a way it is a bit like when there were hardly any motorcycles on the road and nobody looked for them, nobody ´saw´, noticed you. You were safer off without mirrors, without the illusion of rear view, as you needed to have eyes in the back of your head anyway.
Will revert to my puddin´ basin ´helmet´ so I will hear traffic too.

and nów, tracking the persistent oil leak, found a stripped wheel stud on the rear brake drum
Suppose I need a special tool to get it out

This way I am not getting the kilometers done to swap the Polini and then the Megadella


Anyway first my birthday today and then tomorrow off to Lucena for the yearly big scooter event of the club.
Had hoped to have sorted out Margarita but good thing we have La Primavera as back up.

Will make good use of the scooter meet; looking at all the different models en talking to the owners.

Back from the ´Ruta Subbetica´ Vespa weekend.
We left Thursday morning and just dropped back in.
Did 310 kms of twisties, fuel 40 km/l (two up).

The program started with inscriptions Thursday evening. Immediately got drafted for an interview by regional TV/radio.
Next intro drinks/tapas in typical local café 100 meters down the road.
Next morning breakfast, then paella lunch... all incl. in the inscription
The nightly ride out up to the chapel of the Virgen Araceli was borderline scary but all went stunningly smooth.
Etcetera till breakfast Saturday morning and start of the ride out at 10.30.

Mind ALL punctual!
Not a small feat with some 600 participants on 450 scooters.
More so because it is organised chaos. It is absolutely amazing how apparent anarchism self organises without a glitch.
I mean imagine 450 scooterists without any order/rules/indications or what
leave at the same time from a parking lot onto a narrow single car width track. ALL SMOOTHLY
Same on the mostly very tricky roads. Overtaking the slower ones uphill, the more carefull ones through hairy sections, the route marshals racing from the back ahead and all smoothly.
The stops underway to have the rear catching up took he crown of mayhem: Everyone stopped wherever. Blocking wherever the halt was, marshals trying to reroute any cars.
Taking off being a repeat free for all with ALL SMOOTHLY

Despite the apparent mayhem the organisation was top notch. Catering perfect and to give an example FÍVE support vehicles and an ambulance in the tail.
Through the few townships Police was organised. Nothing needed on route.

About the participants. What a delightful family event. Many women riders, some two up, lots of kids pillion behind a parent.
Also striking is the large participation of youngsters of NSM scooters, many sériously tuned.

The route ended with an amazing late lunch at the wonderfully traditional old municipal feria hall.
Again 450 scooters entering through a 3 m. ´wide´ gate onto an improvised parking lot on a roundabout. All ended perfectly lined up!

We stayed the extra day, Sunday, for the guided tour through the city by the club president.

Chapeau Vespa Club Lucena!

About the Vespas.
The´things´ which jumped out:
- surprisingly many faro bajo and manillar tubular ones with all but one original patina
- smallies the bulk of NSM, pre Pk and PK about on par
- several TX which with the T5 looked to me surprisingly large
- very few 75

The VN ones were all notably more powerful than original. One zóómed two up uphill past P200s
In original patina, surprisingly quick, they looked great fun but no, not my thing. The smalliest the more my fancy

There was one GT60 and that quite surprised me. In the classic grey it looks cleverly much like the original faro bajo. Was also surprised to learn what it weighs.

Ah and a 946. Very much underwhelming in black.