Modern Vespa

Who's got a set up they like for 8" front ends?

I currently have a pinasco dumper and a spring of unknown (once known now forgotten) orgin.

Anyone have a spring and dampener combo that improved the dreaded dive during breaking?

TIA mobsters!

you will never get it great, you can get it tolerable. This is all due to the engineering of the fork. Uprated spring helps. you have a decent damper. Once you get your head wrapped around with older technology, you will be okay. You will never get it to handle like a KTM/BMW. you have a very old bike; enjoy the ride.

Then there is P and PX bikes.

I think that's where they finally got it right. But the older ones are so righteous looking. At least it's not an Allstate front....

What Gick Said.

Or get ready for a fork replacement and all that entails. The other option is to get a smallframe and put an anti-dive on it.

He would be so fortunate if it was!

Why make something it that never was? Wrap your head around it and appreciate it for what it is.

Have both. Add a p/px to the stable.

Yeah! That's MY job!

Many years ago I was talking to David of Scooter Mercato on a possible plan to build a go-fast scoot at the time. After weighing all the options, he remarked -"Why do you want to turn this into a motorcycle? Just enjoy it for what it is". I took his advice to heart and was better off for it. I mention this not throw shade on some wizards like C-man. I truly enjoy reading about how far the envelope can be pushed - and sometimes broken - but I also enjoy the restorations and the dedication of members on here like Orwell's recent project. I have nothing against Allstates - I owned a "66 Sprint BB, but I can't say I enjoy riding the ones with the pogo front forks. But that's me.

I do appreciate what I have and what it is. I have ridden supers and my friend Kyle's vba and the all had less dive and than my current set up.

My smallies and SS all have a similar fork design - albeit 10s, and they all have way less dive and better brake feel.

Spring/damper/shoes?

A much smarter mechanic than me suggested investigating the shoes:

.

Hat tip Mr Mark.

No shade taken.

I just like to adjust the engineering triangle from the original design goals (cheap/reliable/not fast) and more modern riding requirements (fast/reliable/not cheap) so that they're rideable on modern, faster roads.

There are vehicles and engine configurations that are poor candidates for improving performance. Not so for Vespas. Stock engines seem limited by the need to mass produce them cheaply. Also, to make them reliable even with a fair amount of neglect. Last thing is a docile and predictable power curve. It's a 4 speed standard Ford Escort on 2 wheels.

I'd say a better comparison would be one of the late 80's/early 90's honda civics on two wheels. Massively under-potential motors, which is why you see so many tuners driving them, even if most of them do nothing more than put noisy exhausts on.

Similar story with the VW Golf VR6, but they at least tried to get some value from the engineering, so not nearly as cheap, but you could turn one into a flat-out rally car if you wanted to. I worked with a guy who had one and assuming you could withstand his bumping techno, it was a a blast to ride in.

I REALLY like this upgrade I did a few months ago:

https://www.sip-scootershop.com/en/product/shock-absorber-kit-carbone-hitech-6030001-h2-front-for-vespa-125-v30-33-vm-vn-acma-hoffmann-c-vna-ts-150-vl-vb1-vd-vgla-b-vgl1-gs-vba-super-rally-p150s_30001H20

Night and day vs stock spring and tired FA "dumper."
The stickers come off easily

I liked the early 90's civic 2 door hatchbacks. Waiting for Honda to bring them back. Instead we got the Fit.

What I love about Vespas is the unexpected huge range of available parts. It's a whole spectrum. The whole performance engine building thing is on a much smaller scale for time and money compared to a car. Not that you can't spend a shit ton, but my stock bus engine budget could buy a BFA 306 and take much less time to put together.

After extensive research and marginal reasoning I've come to the conclusion that the dive is essentially baked into the cake. It's a design feature.

That said, the best combo I've come up with is a SIP performance shock + a standard (not Stoffi/stiff) spring.

Thanks Mike, thanks Ray!

I had to do a double take but Pinasco calls it a "dumper"....
go figure.

take a look at this, saigon scooter sell a cnc machined front hub with disc brake and anti dive feature

https://saigonscootercentre.com/product/vespa/wheels-brakes-and-tubes/premium-ssc-billet-6061-cnc-machined-ally-hydraulic-front-disc-brake-conversion-anti-dive-version-2/