Modern Vespa

The breather with extension. Not sure how this will behave under suspension but there is plenty of free movement in the manguita.

Sorry, I was going to mention that. 3mm hole into a sealed container.
Just use a squeeze bottle at the filler hole, inject it, and have the plug ready.
Or lean it to the left/lift the rear, idk. Not much dribbles out level after a 400ml squeeze-in. "I'd" rather see it zip-tied/zero-stress to the base of the shock. Guessing that won't be the last you'll find on a bike with history.

Would have if not on the box with the wheel out. I am not AOK with the current routing either. As the wheel studs will not be in for some days yet will try loop it up/down in front on the shock and tie wrap.

When rolling on the floor again may have a go with the dremel and cut the lower extension off of the rear mud guard plastic. Same expectation here. Were not the first either.

Ray8 tried routing the ´manguita´ severalwhichways but it only sits free the way I routed it to the back. The only alternative I see now is to route it up at the front of / parallel with the spring and stick it to a loop at the top. Will need to put a filtering plug in then and not ride in rain.
Maybe that will change when the weight is on the suspension but the way I ´see´ it now, the chassis coming further down twards the engine will only reduce the space.

The plastic mud guard looks to be two piece design with the lower half fitted using a metal strap locating it over plastic pins of the upper half.
That upper half is held in place at the sides by the cofanos. Under the number plate unfortunately also with two screws which are inevitably and generously lathered in the velvet impersonating black muck.
Best brave the latter and have a go at taking off the assembly for disassembly. Maybe possibly even leave it off altogether depending on how that looks.

The screws turned out to be a work around to compensate for the worn original split square locating pegs.
Sadly the cofanos stick out lower than the rear frame so leaving it all off is a NoNo. Cannot enjoy áll of that weight saving
The metal strip too was a repair and the few remaining plastic pins melted to keep all in place.
Dremeled the lower rubber off of the upper plastic, strip and all. Then used a bit of the ground off upper plastic to repair the square pegs.
All in all the OEM pins/pegs mounting of the upper half is rather clever but the thing could/should have been a single piece.
The upper bit was gréy plastic painted black btw. Maybe a later LML part?
Anyway, now looking better imo.

Well, that was disappointing
The SIP wheel studs deserve the word crap. Either inferior, galling material or very inconsitent thread: Not useable; proper scrap

The lugnuts were ok with a bolt pass.

Decided to use 35 mm thread M8 Allen head screws. Have enough of those.
Cleaned with alcohol and fitted with green thread lock fluid.
Used new special washers and next the lug nuts fingertight.
Let the green liquid set and tighten lug nuts tomorrow.

Forgot to get a new split pin for the hub nut when collecting the package at the hardware store. It´s only 70 metres up the road.

Phew fínally on it´s wheels again.
Tightened the lug nuts; screws stayed put as intended.
Decided on a hair spring type locking pin for the axle nut.

Fingers crossed the rain forcasted for tomorrow is a bit later rather than earlier so I can go for a spin and top off of petrol.

8th of March a classic event at the other, southern, side of the climate devide. First ´official´ attendence of our new classic club yeah

Charming company will be on modern Red (Primavera), me on NSM Blue.
As she is a former cýcling champion but not a motorist, I have confidence in her learning asap but she does need some experience. Already tried Sundy morning laps on an industrial estate. Today first proper ride out and back.

Blue is running really nice now and the extra oil in the clutch works a silent treat. Only one up, she is delightfully quick and flexible. Lóve it. Cruising 80 km/h and just about no vibrations is
Although old Vespas are far from a rare sight, in the cities even common, the aquamarine drew a lot of attention. Even asked if they could take a photo

Tanked up and back home charming helped me refill the lube tube. I have two in the glove box so no way I will run out with a tank full and the second aboard but feels better to have two
Was oddly satisfying to refill together. Makes me think charming is réally into it. Níce that.

Right, now some attention to the daily car. Maybe tomorrow afternoon another joint Vespa trip. Good weather forecasted and carpe any sunny diem.

And another ride out with charming.´

Not too long but rather technical, some bits tricky even but as she has done those tricky bits on the bicycle several times it was THE thing for gaining confidence on the scoot.

Just at the other side of Las Pedrizas pass is Villanueva del Gauche. Not only very pittoresque, it is also still a feudal village with the rents being paid to the land owner; the Duke of Alba, in chickens etc.

The first classic event in the region. Was postponed because of a-typical persistent rain.
Was fun. Only one NSM Vespa: Blue.

btw only yesterday ´discovered´ that the idle mixture screw can be adjusted without taking the cófano off With a longish screwdriver you can get to it from the rear wheel. Still easier to take the cófano off though.

Photo of arriving at the event Saturday.

The picture illustrates nicely why my top speed in Blue is not a yard stick

Vespas and 2CVs. As per The Sound of Music, "these are a few of my favourite things!"

Also have one of two 2CVs trying to keep up with the Nimbus sidecar

Went to the ´Tuning´ event in Zafarraya, Granada.
A bit of a challenging route over mountain twisties so charming company preferred to ride pillion.
Now Í love that route and thus could ride my own tempo.
With half a bar added to the rear tyre pressue ofcourse.

Properly enjoyed the rides out and back:
The 40 year old bike of even older design works surprisingly ok. It is just the brakes that are not up to snuff, especially two up.
I admit that it is largely me riding a bit too spritely for the design and secondly anticipation goes a long way but
Not swapping as I really enjoy the scoot but am inclined to think that I should have bought the later disc brake model. The downside of that is that I would r¡de it faster.

Anyway, the current state of tune is quite to my liking. 4th remains large with this exhaust but in the other gears the extended rev range is simply great fun.
Fuel economy is not too bad either with about 20 km/l.
Does not make for an ample practical range though. More so because fuel pressure goes down with the level and when reaching/in reserve it becomes noticeable. Not an íssue but I don´t like it so would ideally want to top up before.

Getting to know this scoot; I looked at the fuel level and guestimated it would just about do for today. Just and including the guesswork decided to take 1l. premixed as back up.
Had to switch to reserve with some 14 kms to go and rode the last bit a lót more relaxed with that 1l. in the glove box

Anyway, enjoyed the ride, all ok; only needs slight clutch adjustment.

No glam shot of the scoot?! You know posts are always better with a photo. I dig seeing your countryside in the background too.

Not on the road alas

There we go, awesome!

ah and something which surprsed me somewhat:
The tyres have LÓTS of grip inspiring confidence so although totally responsible for the passenger I let the scoot flow through the curves. We went quite fast. After all no brakes see
Ok now the surprising bit. I often feel the tyre temperature after a ride. An anachronistic custom, aka minimal brain damage, from the days of x-ply, narrow operating temp window of otherwise hard rubber.
Chilly 15 C. outside, no sun warming up the tarmac, no proper brakes, correct tyre pressures, only a near stock NSM scoot so WOW because front warmish to the touch, rear notably warmer still. Say 30-35 and 40-45 C. Nice surprise that; these wórk!

Two stroke is never going to smell of roses but .... strawberries yes

Sniffed it from a fellow club member and ordered 1 l.

I'd rather my bike smelt of Castrol R, but I don't want to have to scrub it out of the engine!

I used to love that smell when I went to speedway races

I have raced with itmyself till it was surpassed by Mobil1. Same goes for 2 stroke mix oils. Fully synthetic is the best. It even smells less. Ipone has the good stuff smelling a bit bétter.

Semana Santa,Holy Week, processions all over the place here. Needs ´some´ local knowledge about what/where/when/which itenerary and how to get there /park.

We shun Málaga and don not thínk of Sevilla, Granada et al.

The local villages are só much more authentic and with real devotion. Also incomparably more accessible.
For me Antequera is the high water mark of beautifull processions whereas apart from parking it is as accessible as small villages.

So Viernes Santo, Holy Friday, yesterday, we went to Antequera. On the scoot
We drove all the way up to the blocked streets, parked no issue not even 15 minutes before the hermandades walked in defile to the churches.

Here an example of how accessible it is. This is the Virgen de los Dolores!!

And this is from Jueves Santo, Holy Thursday, under 100 meters from us (so no scoot involved) in our mountain village:

Not happy with the clutch breather. Have put the EGIG one is my shopping basket.

Ah and have the Ipone strawberry scented oil in.

The mountain ridge behind/above the village ´tells´ many stories. The last larger tragedy was a light aircraft with 6 people abord which only júst failed to clear a peak. Cause was/is ???

Today climbing the ridge came across parts.
The first photo is of the site where it is.

And today we went on the Vespa albeit not NSM
Wanted to go to a local salt winning; the water springing form the hill side is só rich in minerals that being on a south facing slope under the southern sun makes for a white salt´fall´. Looks like a waterfall but is pure salt.
It is a bit early in spring, a bit early after rains so it ís already white just not a quite thick enough crust to harvest for kitchen/table use.
Anyway, we went to check and combined with a picnic next to the stream:

Pretty much heaven on earth.

Gorgeous that.

Yesterday 12.33 the Spanish electricity network experienced 5 seconds of power surges and loss of about 60% or power generated. This effected a series of cut outs and finally a total collaps of the entire country, Portugal and parts of s. France.

The first restorations were from about 21.30.
By midnight about half the country was partly back up.
At this hour (06.00) about 80% is back up but not all services working.

Rather a wake up call.
The least was having cash in the house and the car/Vespa never low on fuel.

Our flat is all electric so some quick thinking and off to an old fashioned Venta (cooking on gas bottles) up the road for a menu of the day.
Later went to the farm and heated up (gas bottles) some water for coffee and mate.

For the rest basically nothing went wrong. No accidents, no riots, nóthing.
The whole of the country reacted calmly and disciplined.
All emergency services kept functioning as did all hospitals. The army immediately sprung into action to keep up supply fuel to all back up generator systems,
Also many bars/restaurants are at least partly capable to use bottled gas and cash.
All in all impressive.

Today classic vehicle event in our mountain village.
As usual wonderfully low key and loosely organised improvisation.
As usual a delightful selection of 50-30 y.o. working class cars. Almost exclusively continental european.
Únusal only 2 Vespas. Us with the P200E and Juan the ceramics artist/teacher with his PK125 Elestart. He uses it as his daily local runabout. It used to be his mum´s and she took him to school with it.

Parked next to eachother it is clear that large frame and small frame does nor really apply anymore. Ok, the cófanos of the PK are narrower but the seat is higher.

The ride out was very nice. Wonderful countryside with a plethora of stunning sights and the weather could not have been better suited.

Our PE was much heavier loaded, say some 100 kgs more and me also catching more wind. Nevertheless it stréaked away. Especially uphill it was impressive. Very welcome reference that.

Cófanos?

Gotta be the cowls. Or actually the simulated cowls w/ little doors.

Yes cowl, cófanos is the italian word used here (Spain) too.

Apart from a highly enjoyable day and good feed back on my PE´s performance, some work to do:
- The vent on the clutch cover is not to my liking so having another go.
- Rear brake locks up. An improvement in slowing down but not much it at all safer.
- And when looking at the rear brake will look at the only marginally more than token front one too.
- Will find something more.

Rear brake was a
The new shoes were fitted without chamfering the leading edge. I should have spotted and rectified this so mea culpa

I fitted a way shorter tube to the vent and gave it a little roof. It is like the VMC solution now.

Sofar all good and no weird surprises. Maybe I feel lucky enough to take the front wheel/drum off...

Dunnit. Found nothing really weird and all went well, both disassembly and assembly.
Feeling unsettled; that cannot be right can it?!

That was relaxed culture. At under 100 meters up the arroyo so not worth wheeling the Vespa out with mandatory helmet/gloves hassle.
Quite enjoyable:
Modern dance/acting with relaxed live music.
Cosey terrace right next to the flowing river.
All drinks (can of soda/beer/tinto) 2€, all food (guacamole, chili, tacos, cochinillo pibil etc.) 3€ wide choice of sauces 0€.

Still having this want; an 8" or a literally smallie.
Did a broad search on óne, the most popular, used stuff sales site for Vespa within 50 kms of the mountain village and... 189
Mind this excludes any major city like Málaga or Granada.

The one I coörganise;

A typical, beautiful day her; fínally, after an unusual spring.

So rolled the Vespa out, called the charming company out and we went for a spin.
Took some pictures underway.
Stopped at a local bar to enjoy a glass of lovely wine and some tapas.
Got on the scoor again, took a photo of the nural inaugurated today, put up some posters and went to top up the fuel so it is ready for Friday.
Yes, an NSM scoot really is thé vehicle for southern european life.
Unlike Peck & Hepburn with crash helmets but that cannot be avoided nowadays.

...and off to the classic meet in Vva.del Trabuco. Linen slacks, club t-shirt, gardening gloves, desert booties and a puddin´basin; réngdengedengdeng...

Quite a turn out for a local event: Over 150 participants!

Was fun with a bonus: The escorting police aske me to go ahead and block X-ings. ´Yes??!!! Cán I? ´ and overtaking the lot in between