Modern Vespa

Unfortunately no testing yet since it's been raining constantly for the past week. Hopefully I'll test them tomorrow...

I refitted the kickstart spring to my 2000 plate Liberty 125.

In case you missed that, I refitted the kickstart spring to my 2000 plate Liberty 125!!! 😊

If you've never done it, boy that was fun 🙄

After attempting for a while, I gave up, watched a few example videos, found one which gave me what I needed and it went well 😊

I'd rather not do it again thanks.

Traded it in... Goodbye Grumpy... Hello Apollo...

(Personal choice, so no criticism please. Very happy with the deal I got.)

Nice weather protection with that fairing covering the hands too.

Not today, but yesterday. I changed oil and filter after last driving before winter. I fill it up with 98 octane fuel and now it may rest in carage and wait for spring.

Oh, life got busy and I didn't ride it for the whole intervening time... except to get a new battery last year and find out she didn't want to start.

So I tried cleaning the carburetor based on helpful people here, but it seemed very clean to me (photos in another thread; less than 4k miles on the scoot). Finally took it to a scooter shop and they cleaned the carburetor (it had "the crusties" apparently) & replaced the fuel pump.

Now it starts.

It even runs!

Yet every day I ride, I discover something else that needs to be replaced. Next spring will be busy!

And as I look at my profile picture, I notice I have aged as much as my LX150 has over the past 18 years! I should change it.

Malossi cylinder + camshaft + forcemaster for GTS 300 HPE (Post 2760438)

Ripped the swingarm out ...

took the bearings out of the swingarm.
Swingarm silent block cracking (Post 2760628)

put galfer sintered pads in the rear frando caliper (will stick in front as well in several days - can't right now)

drained oil (should have done it before removing the engine).

clean the engine and stripped several bits off it; now ready for removing the head + cylinder.

unwrapped wiring harness so I can do a better repair, need to find some different wire in my junk pile.

wrapped some hoses because I'm me.

Was going to make sure what kind of work awaits me over the winter, I hope the red solution will be a good way.

Malossi cylinder + camshaft + forcemaster for GTS 300 HPE (Post 2761250)

I considered malossi but was fearful of the difficulty putting it into the bracket

The original silencer has a diameter of 62 mm, has a plastic body of a circle and is pressed into the holder, the malossi has 60.2 mm. I measured the holder (with difficulty) and it is 60 mm, I will be surprised when installing. I thought that the malossi is a hard special rubber, it is hard plastic, it could easily be turned out of plastic. After installation I will take photos and share my experiences.

Winter here in the UK, so a few upgrades and maintenance tasks.

13" Yourban wheels, 13" tone ring.

Centre stand removed and re painted. Quite a task to refit the springs, but now done.

Remove sidestand, as I just don't trust it.

Underneath the scooter is a usual rust area, mine was surprising good, but just looked a little tired.
Decided to get some etch primer and paint. Painted the affected area, and inside the battery compartment.

Also fitted a battery tender lead to keep the battery healthy.
Ran the lead from the battery to the cargo carrier.

UK winter months are Dec, Jan & Feb according to the meteorological calendar, but you carry on.

Nice ride this am

Rancho Mirage California

Temp was 82 yesterday and maybe 80 today for this holiday .

This is why 300k people show up to the Coachella valley for the season.

Well.....Winter is officially here. We've been having on and off snow for the last 3wks and it seems to be staying. The roads are full of melting salt and its a disgusting mess.
I covered up the Vespa in the garage where she will sleep until Spring ......

Okay, Liberty rather than Vespa 😊
Just put body work back on, having fitted new belt, rollers etc, new belt case breather hose, swinging arm spring, plug, air filter, oil filter, ZZZZzzzzzzzzz 😉
Oil covered engine was hopefully due to a distorted, missing in areas rocker cover gasket. Haven't fully checked electrics at front yet, as this scooter failed its MOT for excessive oil on engine, rear brake, incorrect wiring to lights. I bought it like this, as a failure, to keep my shed skills current.
So… I take this picture today…. Then notice, looking at the photo, that the front panel clips have popped out and I hadn't fitted the two front panel bolts! 🙄 Skills gone out the window.

Added the big boy today. Windscreen for the winter!

Got me one more useless bling for my GTS...
It was on discount at carpimoto.it...

Okay, I'm guessing that it is not a deep filled apple pie side profile pastry cutter…. That's what it looks like… What is it!?

It's the surround for the Speedometer.

Looks like a textured aluminum, Rizoma makes high end stuff 💵

Put the Vespa on life support (battery tender!) until Spring. Oil was changed November 30.

Minus 18 Celsius outside with snow and blowing snow. Spring will be a while yet…

Added a sticker - sadly didn't get the line right

(and a bucket load of other stuff)

Bringing home the donor from Colorado and my wife's Christmas present Vw

Took the Vespa out for a ride to the local cemetery where the deceased's son asked for his friends to follow the hearse on our scooters.

Recently measured the rear disc thickness at 3.750mm.

Looked in the service manual to see the recommended minimum thickness, its quoted at 3.800mm.

Ordered a new Malossi wave rotor to replace.

Took it all apart today, on the original disc there is 3.5mm stamped.

Bit confused, but changed out the rotor anyway.

A few more bling. Zelioni accessories from AliExpress at 1/5 of the price. And they're exactly the same as the overpriced ones...

I have to ask ... can you weigh each vs the original plastic parts please

Will do when I'll get to work on it but I definitely feel them heavy...

How about these from SIP (avail in black and silver)?
https://www.sip-scootershop.com/en/product/checker-floor-plates-sip-cover-footwell-aera-footboards-for-vespa-gts-gts-super-gtv-gt-60-125-300ccm_93444610?usrc=Checker%20Floor%20Plates

(added to cart to check and they say 0.69kg)

Those look like the updated Rizoma side vents. They look much better built than the Rizoma ones I have for my 250, which had an off the shelf metal mesh machine screwed to the frame.

That's a definite no. I don't want anything that can damage the color…

These came today. Finally, a tone wheel for the 2023 and onwards 300s (and the 310s) from Polini (code: 290.0300). Also, the Officina 8 comes with a really nice embossed badge for the horn cover. Of course it's compatible with all models. OEM code is: 1B013126...

Removed fuel tank. A lot easier than I expected.

Radial Brembo caliper for the GTS arrived...

Caliper carrier arrived today along with a steering damper for my PK project. Quality wise, it's superbly made and comes with Japanese needle bearings. It's an exact replica of the JS Manuf or the JS Manuf is this one with their brand slapped / engraved on it...

JS Manuf at SIP

Test rode it ...

Time marches on. You look stoic. Fine looking man.