Modern Vespa

My 1st mod is probably not considered a mod by most people, removing warning labels. This morning I did my 2nd mod, adding a side stand. I know all of the warnings about side stands, don't use it on hot asphalt, soft ground, don't sit on the scooter with the side stand down etc. I've used them for many years on my motorcycles and never had a problem but I was careful as to how I've used them. The center stand will still see the vast majority of usage. The mod was very easy.

I also plan on adding an alarm, wire the scooter for easy battery charger connection and hard wiring a garage door opener. Just need the time and cooler weather, my garage is very warm this time of year.

Very nice............did you have to drill any holes?

I saw a sidestand in a scooter link. Was it difficult to put on. I was always wondering about needing to get rid of the centerstand. As Fat rat stated, any drilling?

Vespa's come standard with sidestands everywhere but the USA. They bolt right on.

No drilling required. Bolt on installation to the side stand bracket which was installed at the factory. The side stand is standard in Europe but Piaggio does not install the side stand on US models for some strange reason.

No drilling required. Bolt on installation to the side stand bracket which was installed at the factory. The side stand is standard in Europe but Piaggio does not install the side stand on US models for some strange reason.

You need a 17mm socket or wrench, a spring puller and some grease. I believe you could also use an adjustable wrench. I did not have a spring puller so I had to improvise. I used a plastic tie wrap and made a large loop. I attached the tie wrap to the springs and I also connect a pair of vise grip pliers to the loop . This allowed me to use the pliers to pull the springs onto the attachment post. It worked great.

Here is a link to the installation instructions:

http://www.scooterwest.com/item_detail/More-Info/2598/show_info/yes/

I was thinking about doing this too, but was discouraged by many other posts/treads here saying it was almost a disaster waiting to happen.

But I'm of a similar mindset to yours, that if you know how to use them on MC's, then you should be able to use them safely on a scoot too.

One specific question....is the stand Self Retracting? Does it automatically swing out of the way as soon as the weight is taken off? Or so you have to forcibly kick it back like on MC stands?

If it Self Retracts, I can see how that might need quite a bit more caution to use.

tochaman: The stand automatically retracts when you take the weight off the scooter. If you plant it well with the weight of the scooter leaning to the left and the handlebars turned to the left..... and you are on level ground, it's a pretty firm plant. I have owned BMW motorcycles with the same type of retractable sidestands.

Porsche Joe: I also recently bought a red, GTS and have installed the sidestand & a 12volt accessory socket for charging the AGM battery. I have also owned five Porsche's over the last 37 years. Looks like great minds run in the same circles.

unless they forget to mount one , they did at my LX125
But i can get one for free at the dealers

It automatically returns when weight is removed. This is different from any of the motorcycles I have owned, all required you to return it to the resting position. You are correct about a bit more caution, because of the automatic return feature it is important that you hold the stand all of the way forward with your foot until the weight of the scooter is resting on the stand.

I have side stands on both of my scooters and love them. thanks for sharing JOE

I'm not sure about great minds (at least on my end) but we do have similar tastes in vehicles. I was thinking of adding an accessory outlet. Where did you install yours?

You're welcome Judy.

Anyway to adjust the springs or sidestand so that accidents don't happen? The directions on Scooterwest look simple.
I remember my Honda CM400T had a combo kickstand and centerstand. Putting it on the centerstand was a pain in the butt..or at least legs and back.

Is it not possible to convert them to be non-self retracting? I use my manual sidestand on my chinascoot all the time and love it. Using the center stand is annoying and requires more room.

There are no adjustments.

Porsche Joe: I installed the 12v outlet in the left-side, vinyl cover (above the glovebox). I bought an outlet with a cover and 10 amp inline fuse from Radio Shack. I removed the glove box and associated surrounding plastic covers and ran the wires directly to the battery through the center channel in front of the battery cover. It made for a clean installation. I already own several 12v/6amp, chargers that are specifically designed for charging an AGM battery (which my GTS came with) so I wanted to take advantage of keeping the battery at full charge all the time. I use this same type of battery and charger on my riding lawnmower and it's three years old and works like new. I also used them on my motorcycles where I used Odyssey batteries (also AGM type).
Hope you've loving your scoot as much as I'm loving mine.

No easy way that I see to convert it to non-self retracting. I'm sure it could be done with a little personal engineering but why bother? I like the self-retracting feature. I consider it to be a good safety feature. I wouldn't modify it mine even if it was easy to do.

Thanks for the information XLR8. I was thinking about mounting it on one of the covers but I haven't removed them to see how much room is available. I was concerned about moisture at that location if it was parked outside during heavy rain. Any thoughts or experience with moisture?

I am enjoying my scooter too. I have only had it a couple of weeks but I've used it every day, mostly for going to the gym, running errands and just riding for the fun of riding. I don't use it for commuting because I work from home (thankfully).

I purchased my outlet from Radio Shack where they had a model with a rubber cover to keep moisture out. Since the outlet is mounted horizontally and with a rubber sealing cap (with a retaining ring so it won't get lost), it should prevent any moisture from entering.

The left side cover has plenty of room for mounting. The right side houses your coolant resevoir and filler cap so you won't be able to mount it there.

Thanks for the information.

Motorsport scooters sells the power point ready to go
in a panel cover with the plug to go in the wiring harness.

I just installed mine this morning, very sturdy

Have a self-installed sidestand on my '07 GT200 for several years now. Despite all the boo-bird warnings, here I find it extremely useful, and would not want to do without it again..
I have to stop in my gravel driveway to open a fence gate, then walk 30 more feet to open my garage door. I've placed a flat wooden square in front of that gate and the GT rests comfortably there on it's sidestand, motor running, while I open everything up and then just ride right in.. It would be a large pain inna butt to have to put the scoot up on the centerstand every time before I can get into my garage!

I will not, however, leave the GT parked on its sidestand for any length of time in a public place; I'm afraid some curious bike fan or child might take it into their head to touch (or even sit on) the bike, not realizing that the stand might retract if they move the scoot..!

I agree, same here

I like the side stand on my GTS too, though I never leave the motor running when it is on the sidestand. The first couple of times you use one will cause you to raise an eybrow. Since it self-retracts, you must hold it fully extended with your left foot then let the scooter gently "fall" pver onto it while you are holding it out there. The interesting part at first is letting the scooter fell left when you do not have your leg on the ground to catch it. The stand will catch it. Also make sure it is fully extended.

Seems like a market for a non-retracting model exists.

Not sure why Porsche Joe thinks the auto retract is a good thing? My current scoot has a manual one (ok, it does have a motor cutoff) just like most MCs and it works dandy. If I could ride with it down I'm pretty darn sure it would just flip up when it hits the ground like a folding peg.

My understanding is that the legal sidestands have the auto-cutoff to keep the scooter from running off on its own not for any other reason.

I will use my side stand in a similar manner as you. I agree about parking it unattended with the side stand.

I have dragged them before in the retracted position and never had a problem. People have been known to forget to put up the side stand and have had undesired consequences as a result although they will usually just fold back as you described.

My brother-in-law purchased a used motorcycle a number of years ago and had a problem while driving home. He retracted the side stand properly but there was a problem with the side stand which he was not told about. My sister was following him when she noticed the side stand coming down with each bump he hit. She could not get his attention with the horn (loud bike) and could not pass on the two line road due to traffic. In one of the turns the side stand hit the pavement and he lost control. Him and the bike survived but he was pretty banged up. He was an experienced rider but in the right situation a down side stand can upset the bike.

The Piaggio side stand has two springs which is for safety purposes. If one breaks or weakens over time then hopefully the second one will keep the side stand retracted. I don't think I would want an auto-cutoff feature but a audible and/or visible warning would be nice.

Best implementation of a kickstand - ever.

http://www.etrucker.com/content/super03/1.html

Hahhhaaahha!

The Vespa side-stand works just like the side-stand on the old R100GS, and a coupla old dirt bikes. You lift it upright, the stand retracts. It doesn't take much to get used to it.

Porsche_Joe, How did you get the rubber bump on. I just received my sidestand and I can't seem to get my rubber bump on and am worried about breaking it of the base of the bump. Any hints? Thanks in advance

Osteopath, I have installed two of the sidestands on GTS'.
Put a little liquid soap around the rubber that you need to push into the hole. Then use a short, stubby, flat blade screwdriver and work your way around until it is totally inserted. It will only take a few seconds to get it to seat.

Make sure that you coat the two "O-Rings" and the bolt that holds the sidestand with grease. The grease will help hold the "O-Rings" against the housing while you slip the stand into position. Once you have it seated and the bolt tightened, I used a small pair of vice grips (about two inches from the end of the spring) to pull the two springs into position.

Worked for me very easily both times. Both times, it only took less than 10 minutes from start to finish.
Good luck!

Thanks XLR8! I was tempted to put the wheel bearing grease on it and was worried about it damaging the rubber.

Yup. My take is that if you're going to have a sidestand that isn't hooked up to an ignition kill switch, the auto-retract characteristic is a basic safety feature that I wouldn't want to defeat.

Is there some component that can hook into the kill switch device? I was looking under the scoot and there is wiring down there. I got mine on and I have to REALLY lean it over t get the sidestand to stay. I'd probably put it on the centerstand anyway if I plan to be away from my scoot.

On my GTS 250 there are two wires that terminate into a small black nipple near the side stand. The nipple is the outside air temperature sensor. I don't see any pre-wiring for a kill switch but it could be added with a little at home engineering utilizing the kill switch circuitry.

Thanks. Tells ya how much I know about my scooter. Like, not putting the ice cream in the dog carrier

I have a piaggio fly 150, love it. My problem is that I always have to have someone help me get the center stand up. I have tried to go to the dealer where I purchased my scooter and they tell me that I cannot put a side stand on it. I don't buy it. There must be some way to customize the scooter with a side stand. Any advise or referrals would be soooo appreciated. I love my scooter, but can hardly take it out because of my dilemma.