Modern Vespa

Thanks to everyone over the past few years for all the great discussion and advice on this site - Really appreciate the scooter crosstalk!

This has all accumulated in me going to ride the 2025 Scooter Cannonball as Rider 187 SBCFloridaMan with a great group of scooter peeps

A lot of prep work went into this for sure and decided to start a Youtube Channel #FloridaManScoots to document this crazy adventure and make a go about making content about my slice of Scooter life here in Florida

My 2nd Episode really highlights all the upgrades I'm made which is a combination of learned from riding and a ton of research from this forum

Good luck to you! It'll be one heck of an adventure for sure!

Just helped a buddy tune up his SportCity for Cannonball. It's not his first rodeo, but this will be his first run on a big wheeler.

Take all the photos you can, because this is likely the nicest your scooter will ever look.

That big jug of gas hanging off the side of your bike might be problematic when it comes to the technical inspection, and if you drop the scooter. Have you filled it up and ridden the scooter yet? I would be surprised if it didn't cause a lot of headshake. I know that when I put eight gallons of gas in a fuel cell on the rear rack, it scared the hell out of me.

Yeah rode up to Daytona and back on a 200 mile trip highway / no highway and barely even felt it - it's 1.6 (10 lbs) gallons and I had the top box filled with ice and drinks

8 gallons is 48 lbs so that's a hell of a lot on the rear rack

Rider with us, Bobo, bringing a mobile pressure washer to keep bikes clean so maybe will use that idk

- Thanks!

Nice work on the fog lights and rear reflector/blinker upgrade. You will definitely need to monitor the electrical draw during the event, but 90% of the riding should be during daylight hours so you won't need that lighting all the time. Might consider bringing a jump pack just in case the battery gets drawn down.

I would recommend getting a windscreen. You're going to encounter a lot of bugs, debris, and weather on this trip. It will also help reduce rider fatigue and protect your GPS and phone. Even a small flyscreen can make a big difference.

The fuel can seems well secured and the container is intended to carry fuel. Other folks carry this style of can on the side. Not ideal, but it should be ok. I like that you've reinforced your rear rack. Resist the urge to put too much in that big top case during the event. I'll take a closer look during tech inspection.

Hope to see you in Seaside!

Awesome! Yeah I have a midsize Vespa Shield new in the box I was going to bust out and 90% of my gear is in our teams support truck so just clothes, camera gear and some tools in the topcase - but I ride with it all the time, far, fast, slow and never have an issue

Tell me about it.

This was my brand-new GTS250, just a couple days in to SCB2008. And the wet spot in the gravel is in fact gasoline.

There is a rumour circulating on the dark web that the person doing tech inspections this year is going to crack down on gas cans hanging off the side of the scooter.

Oh wow !! I think it's mostly paved roads this year since the 23 Challenge had a lot of issues on the dirt roads right?

The scooter community has a dark web? What else in there about gossip for the cannonball?

Mostly paved and all paved are not quite synonyms.

The SC300 is my holygrail. It is SUCH a good bike, miss my SC250 a lot (totalled due to being cut-off.)

Try some roses or diamonds

Pls post a link for the driving lights.
Thanks
Tony in Tn

⚡ Electrical Upgrades
6-Gang Switch Panel: https://amzn.to/3Z8cxpx
20W LED POD Lights: https://amzn.to/3Z7uZ1C
LED Light Dimmer: https://amzn.to/3Z8ZVyu
Eagle Eye Running Lights: https://amzn.to/43ClmJM

No problem, here you go

Hey, what brand is that gas can? A friend wants to know.

https://a.co/d/hUmNdU7

Great Question: Tucool Racing from Amazon

Thanks!

Super cool! Thank you very much.

Is that different than the one on your bike, though? I can't quite make out the logo.

It says Tucool Racing on it, but to be honest they are all just knock-offs of RotoPax $$$

"Tucool Racing" ... why do I think it would actually be cooler NOT saying that?

Thanks for the info, man. And nice work on the bike. Inspirational.

They should have gone with TooFuel Racing, more accurate for purpose.

Awesome article by USAToday about the cannonball - highlighted some good riders! Special thanks to George Petras for dropping the link to my YouTube Channel @FloridaManScoots in the bottom of the article!

https://www.usatoday.com/story/graphics/2025/06/12/2025-scooter-cannonball-rally-honda-vespa-yamaha/83651012007/?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwK35b1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHnlSCmSmiioCEdEF01N_Xi_0V1lpfRUm_q7luJVNRL0iNTyrXuQNp_QXCSCm_aem_kYx7TiAn3J8d3G967xgM8Q#w9gziiwv4scdyhm2h140ucqu5elhoy3up