Modern Vespa

The more I troll the internet reading forums, checking out craigslist, etc, I see the gorgeous vintage bikes and wonder. Would I like it? Would restoring one be a fun hobby for me? Would riding it be as much fun as a modern? I know that a full resto job is expensive when done right, and a lot of work if I do it myself. I'm not going to kid myself about that, but I keep running the idea around in my head and liking it. So I ask you guys, is it worth it? What do you vintage people like about your bikes? What model would be good to start with? Are there some good websites that teach more about vintage bikes? I see a lot of p200s on craigslist, sometimes for cheap. I welcome your comments and suggestions.

I own both old and new vespas and to me it is worth it because I have years of tears behind me learning the pro's and con's of vintage ownership. The only recommendation I would make is, if you have a lot of patience and mechanical skill or a fantastic maintenance support shop in your local area it is worth it but if you have none of the above and you only have one bike to ride and it is a Mx queen then my gut feeling is that you might end up highly disappointed in your decision to own a vintage scoot. Good luck with whatever decision you make.

I have a GT200 and a PX200e. The modern machine is much more stable in turns. Better suspension, better brakes, better lights, and way better for the environment. Not the general "I prefer it," but technically and obviously better.

With arthritis coming on, shifting and clutching the PX200 is sometimes tedious and painful in the cities.

However, life is not complete without a shifter. There's a satisfaction and sometimes a margin of safety to being in control of the rpm that is missing on an automatic machine. I have come to prefer an actual motorcycle as my second two-wheeler.

Both machines are relatively simple to work on, but I've had to go to the pro for an engine rebuild and the kind of deep knowledge and certainty that I want if my life is on the line.

P.s., the small frames are cool.

Almost every serious rider I know has more then one bike. And it doesn't seem to matter the style of bike. Thin wheel pedal bike, scooter, whatever. One the bench, on for the road. The trick is to not to have 'em all on a bench at the same time. Or to have at least one ride worthy.

Now a vintage, with memory conjuring 2stroke emissions, is going to require more love then your average wife. Just let that be known.

The trouble with owning only one bike, even mr reliable brand new automatic, is it only takes one bike to break down to have all the bikes you own on a bench, leaving you with nothing to ride.

The trouble with owning only two bikes, even two mr reliable 3year old automatics, is it only takes two bikes to break down to have all the bikes you own on a bench, leaving you with nothing to ride.

And so the addiction of multi-bike ownership is justified.

The trouble owning only 10 bikes is it only takes not having enough time to get a single one working properly, leaving you with nothing to ride.

its great therapy.... do it!

Ok, now that is a philosophy that I can identify with. ++1

If you are somewhat mechanical, and are not averse to reading up on something to find out the correct way to do things, a classic Vespa scooter is really fun, and as Grscum pointed out, it's therapeutic.

For your first bike, I'd start out with a P series. The P range is the longest running model ever made by Vespa, and parts are abundant. There is lots of help out there for the P series too, in case you get stuck on something.

For your first project, I would avoid buying a bike that is a collection of parts in boxes and a frame. I would suggest buying a bike that actually runs, with a title. Ride it for a while, so you get to know the bike. Do some routine maintenance. If you can ride it for a year before you start a rebuild, you will be much more confident as you do it.

When you start your rebuild, take tons of pictures as you dismantle the bike. Take more pictures than you think you'll need. Also, as you take things apart, keep them grouped in zip lock baggies, and use permanent marker on the baggies to label which parts are in them. Months from now, when you are reassembling, you will be thankful. Take pictures of things like how the cabling comes up through the fork tube, how the wires are connected inside the junction, where all the rubber grommets go, etc. If you think you'll need more information to put something back together than a photo will give you, make a sketch of the part and an explanation of what you are thinking.

I'm getting ready to do my 3rd rebuild, and it's a hoot. My first was a P series, then a smallframe, and this one is a 1970 Vespa Sprint.

Unless you're 6'4" and 210lbs.. I just can't get beyond how strange I must look on a smallframe

If you have a video camera, put it on a tripod and film yourself dismantling ....

That may be why I was divorced and I ride modern...
I did not like the maintenance on either on....

There are a few other threads here about going vintage...worth your time to look at those as well.

The bottom line is you have to ask yourself if you're willing to put in the time it takes to keep it on the road. Do you WANT to work on a bike? If you think you'll enjoy it, and you're a generally patient person, then give it a try. If you need a scoot that will be on the road every day then you might want to get/keep a modern one in addition to the vintage. As far as the actual buying goes, you're going to get what you pay for. A steal on Craigslist is either going to be a complete lemon or it's an otherwise good scoot with lots of issues. Just keep that in mind.

dude. of course its worth it! You'll be a better rider, better mechanic, and the chicks will totally think you're hot for being the guy on the different scooter.
Get a Lambretta

Ok well maybe don't get a Lammy for your first vintage. Get a P200 and you'll be happy for a long time.

Hehe I am female so I'm not worried about the chicks!

...i just deleted my original post about this global warming bullshit that seems to be making people think bad about two-stroke scooters...

...after reading it i felt it was argumentative(more so than this one). there is NOTHING eco-friendly about any car or scooter! they are all made of metals and plastics, they are not biodegradable, the burn fossil fuels(the electric ones get their electricity from fossil fuel burning generators, that lose power in the conversion, so they are actually worse), they are used on paved surfaces(look at what your road is made of) that destroyed nature to be made... if your riding a scooter to be earth-friendly... you might want to rethink it?

...as far as riding a vintage bike: it is the most fun two wheels can produce. it's apple and oranges with a auto-shifter... they are not as reliable, or fast, but if you can do your own maintenance... they are a blast!!!

No and yes.

Don't get a project bike as your first and only ride. Get something you can ride regularly while you work on the vintage. When your project is your only bike, you'll get frustrated because you just want to go out and ride but can't because of some mundane detail.

ok well the chicks will want to be you and the dudes will want to be with you :-p

I didn't say anything about the environment....

I've been lurking as I endlessly mull over my first purchase and I've been tempted by vintage too. (Not a project - but one properly restored already.) The benefit for me, since I'm short, would be that some are small frame. That's the one thing that really keeps me coming back to the vintage option. But can vintage really be a daily use scooter?

Can be, with consistent love and attention. Do inspections. Fix problems BEFORE they occur.