Modern Vespa

Just picked this up from a guy whose dad had it in storage for years.

I've had a few Vespa's and a Lambretta. Not sure if I want to dive into this one yet. Parts available? Worth the effort?

Not an Allstate Cruisaire.


This is a Sears 125 "bluebadge."


Nice bike btw. Come over and see us on the Allstate Vespa Club page on facebook land.


Plenty of parts available. Worth it? Do you love it?

Nice bluebadge!! Worth it if You love it! Which is why all of us scooter nerds do what we do. Forget the cost, if you want to do it for profit; just light it on fire right now and save yourself the stress. Its worth it for the Fun, which is more valuable than the cost. Looks like You have a good example to start with.

That MM tail light is half a grand alone. If you dont care about originality, sell it on ebay and you have just financed 1/3 of the rebuild.

Keep it together and original

Thanks everyone!

I'll tear into it this weekend, clean it up and and see if there's a spark - literal and figurative- and go from there.

The guy just pinged me and told me he found the side cover and the title so that's a big plus.

Happy New Year. Here's my 'daily' vintage.

Sweet Bluebadge/Smallstate. Sell me the taillight! Kidding.

I have a bunch of parts if you need 'em, though it looks like your bike is pretty darn complete.

Excellent!

Thx Man! Dug in today, cleaned it up. It has spark, shifts thru gears. So far looks like I only need a petcock.

Where can I get a pdf of the workshop manual?

Pics from today: 1711 miles. Speedo works. Title/registration shows it was the original owner was military guy.. He purchased it in new 66 / registered in 66-67 shows faint remains of a California Air / Naval Base Permit sticker

This site calls it a Cruisaire..based on the model number

788.94370 PIAGGIO SEARS CRUISAIRE SCOOTER

https://www.searsallstateriders.com/model/788.94370.html

Looks like the original tires?

CEAT 3.00-10

yeah, written up by someone in the 2000's that assumed quit a bit there. one of the funny things written up here- "collaborative synergy" has to be one of the buzzwords words of the 2000's, today they would have used the word "thrive" as it's all the rage.

Here's a .pdf of a couple of manuals.

https://www.scooterhelp.com/serial/allstate.788.94370.html - basics and parts list

Combined PDF Vespa Service Station Manual 1955-1965 - deep dive serivce

Mayday
Very nice find. You made a good choice for a first smallframe.
You can have the speedo rebuilt reasonably by Steve at SpeedoKing https://speedoking.com/#
I have him do several for me
Here are before and after photos of the smallframe ones.
I have redone two smallframes and am happy to answer any of your questions.
Gick is a great resource for you.

You guys are awesome! At least as great as the Moto Guzzi guys!! ) A fine bunch there.

So - does the fuel tap unscrew from the bottom of the tank?

Where can I find a replacement? It's the kind that has the long lever that protrudes thru the front of the frame, just below seat there under the choke lever. It was corroded internally and the end broke off when i tried to remove the fuel line.

Also looking for one of these vented covers/cowl for the engine..anyone have one? OEM or aftermarket?

AH-HA!

the tap nut is inside the tank. the scooter parts places sell a tool to get in there on it.

OK... Last question for today. Apologies for being a pest, so soon. I want to check/clean the carb.. I've loosened the screw/bolt that mounts the carb to the manifold and it now spins freely. Should it slide right off? Does the bolt need to come completely out to remove the carb or is there something else holding it on?

Nice find, and welcome to the forum.

Replacement engine doors covers are available.

https://www.scootermercato.com/Scooter-Parts/Engine-Doors/131090

Once the clamp on the carb is loose, you should be able to twist the carb back and forth and pull it off. The bolt doesn't have to come out of the clamp.

Enjoy the scoot, keep asking questions, lots of helpful folks here.

Ha, ha, ha....under the tank, that would assume non-Italian engineering. From inside the tank!

https://www.scootermercato.com/Scooter-Parts/Factory-Tools/T-32973

The guy I bought my bluebadge from sold the mickey mouse tail light the week prior for $600. I was bummed.

Some folks look down on the Sears bikes, but I like 'em. Sears was typically the cost reduced budget version of whatever they sold. They aren't THAT different from the 90ss which is hugely desirable.

Seriously!? Hahahaha!

That's from the factory, nothing wrong with it...

Ha! It would have been quicker and easier to fly tio Italy and dig up the guy who built it, bring him back to life and have him get those little cotter pins thru the too small holes! I love this thing!

GOT IT STARTED TODAY! WHOOP!

)

First start is always a thrill - Good job!

Don't break that plastic drip tray. Very easy to do and hard find.

OK - So I've got tires and new fuel tap on the way. I've cleaned up most of what I can get at easily (carb, under seat area, front wheel, etc) but I want to get at the engine, exhaust, rear wheel, etc.. it looks like you have to remove the whole body to get at the engine and these areas..or should I say, remove the exhaust and drop the engine..

Any insight here.. a day or a week?

if you remove the rear shock bolt you can swing it down to do a fair amount of cleaning. carb would need to be off to swing free of the frame, but it might save you the work on the cables and redoing them.

Do this, and leave the engine in place at the front swing arm bolt. It helps if the scooter can be up on a lift, to get a better view and easier reach. If not, place a 2x4 under the center stand, strap down the front end to keep the nose down/tail up, to get a bit more drop on the engine. Lay on the floor and get to work!

wheel off gets more drop for you too

Update

Fresh oil, brakes, carb and tank cleaned. Waiting on new fuel tap. Sticker application has begun.