Modern Vespa

Hi folks - now that Roland, my ratty project P200E, is running, I'm thinking of modifications. It seems prudent to upgrade the brakes before the engine, so I'm looking at a disc brake kit as my first step, specifically this one from Grimeca.

Anyone with any experiences of this kit, good or bad? Will I need anything beyond basic tools?

I've used that one and the earlier version.

Thar one is pretty much a standard setup with a spoke effect on the wheels.

Cable operated hydraulics feel very different to a full hydraulic set-up. Ide recommend glong full hydraulic if you can spring for a headset bottom

TLDR. Good looking piece of kit and does the job.

I used a set of LML forks and a PX Disc headset and master cylinder to convert/upgrade my '87 PX200e from drum to disc. I particularly wanted the drum style hub rather than the criss cross Grimeca hub or the 'five star' hub of the PX Disc.

I realise this is much more involved and requires a PX Disc mudguard/fender, but I didn't like the idea of the hybrid Grimeca setup which still uses a cable and I wanted the master cylinder up on the headset.

Thanks!

One more question: if I start with cable-operated, can I upgrade to full hydraulic later?

Yes!
And when you do you will wonder.why you waited so long 😀

I've installed at least four of those gimeca kits on my own personal scooters. I've also had the cable operated (semi-hydraulic) setup for a bit. It still worked excellent, but i didn't like the looks or the design. You can totally start out with installing it as a semi-hydro, but (to me) it's well worth the additional $$$ to just convert the system over to full hydro. It takes some doing to adjust the semi-hydro's cable up correctly in order to get brake lever to feel good. Rather than spending the time doing that, i just make it a point to go full hydro. Expect to spend around $1000 for a full disc brake conversion.

which can cut&paste in the what you wear thread

Basicly the same experience for myself with multiple kits. A disk brake is a great upgrade, personally my favorite upgrade on any Vespa. Go full hydro and you'll be Super happy. Personally I think its actually less work to do full hydro, than to mess around with the semi set up. Its well worth the effort to do it from the start.

Once I installed a semi hydraulic setup on a P200. It was a survivor white paint, super low miles. So we did it semi-hydro, to keep the OG headset. Get it all set up, bleed the lines, which took hours... not joking... then adjust the cable. Then do it all over, because its not quite right. Finally get it all set up, go out for a test ride in the neighborhood. Feels pretty good, a bit spongey... feels tight... feels grabby... ohshiz... GRABS AND LOCKS UP!! Vespa on ground, Geek Lion over bars, damage not terrible... but not great. There was a tiny bit of air in the line that expanded with heat and locked up the front caliper. I ripped of the semi set up immediately and swapped to full hydro. Just do it

Considering that several master cylinders are now available that don't require to do any cutting or welding on the handlebar it is worth to go full hydro. Pricey but absolutely worth.

I have one of those. It works really well.
It didn't until I replaced the cable with the SIP cable made for that kit.

Did someone ask for a little blaspheme?
Disc brakes are great, but are they $500+ greater?
With modern brakes and SIP cables drum brakes can get pretty damn good.

https://www.sip-scootershop.com/en/product/cable-brake-front-sip-performance-for-vespa-pk50-125-s-ss-xl-xl2-automatica-px80-200-pe-lusso-98-my-11-t5-cosa_9418001B

Blasphemy or Heresy? Bit of both lol.

But you do make a good point, if the drum brake is setup spot on and decent shoes, something like Newfren Anti Aqua, with its myriad of small padded areas, are pretty darn good. Not hydraulic good but VERY good nonetheless

Thanks for the heads up.

Was not aware of the SIP PE lined cables. Good functional upgrade!

If it is PX EFL or PK 125 XL front brakes - yes.
But mk.I P front brake is awful, no matter what cable and shoes, no matter sterile clean system and new brake cam. Same story with V-range front brake.

On the other side is when you have a powerful and fast Vespa. When I remade the engine with Egig 170 the PK 125 XL front brake started to seems week. Yes it was absolutely possible to rode it fast and safe enough but... if you want to ride really fast you need good brakes.

After the last ride out cleaned, dressed etc both ends but
I cannot imagine my PE is going to brake good with SIP PE cable but ány improvement will be
The ´positive´ is that it makes me ride much more careful and as such more inherently safe.

Depends from what type of fork/brake you have. Seems that your red PK have proper type fork/brake.

The problem being that the red pk is my fiend´s, mine is the blue PE and thát brake is ....exciting

Not as exciting as the oldies with the suspension that dives faster than a premier league footballer 😀

All is relative indeed.
There wás reason behind the no power of them oldie engines.
Also the infra-structure of the day was dirt roads, at best hard pack. A proper brake, especially at the front, would overpower the grip.
Then the tyres. Pfff, I remember seventie/eighties rubber under my motorbikes; nothing nostalgic about it
But... traffic of course was less dense and mostly equally slow.

Yes the current mismatch realities are exciting

So new brake cable is on the shopping list.
Looked at the other cables and though not bád, they could do with replacing.

Kit with internal sheat at a local Spanish on line seller incl. new center stand rubbers and shipping is 20€ cheaper than SIP cable kit without shipping. That is (almost) lunch for 2 here so

Looking forward (almost) to fitting them. Well, more accurately to an improved result that is.