Modern Vespa

I just picked up my 08 BV 250ie and love it. I have two questions for anyone out there. 1) the owners manual shows a antitheft helmet lock under the rear rack. Anyone with an 08 have one? My scoot came with an extra barrel lock tumbler loose in the under-seat but no helmet lock under the rack. 2) Has anyone put a top box on their ride? I am considering and would like some feed back. I use the scoot to commute to work and need to store a fullface, jacket and boots when parked and a laptop bag when riding.
Thanks for the thoughts,
CastleRockChris

I own a 2007 BV 250. There is a helmet lock under the rack. It's under the left side as you're facing the front of the scooter from the rear. There should be a lock that uses the ignition key at the base of the rack where it meets the scooter. The hanging bar doesn't spring out you have to pull it out and slide the D rings over it then push the bar back into the hole near the rear of the rack. You may have to turn the key to get it to lock back.

I'm sorry I don't have any pictures to post but there should be pictures showing it in the manual.

If I find some pictures before someone else posts them I'll see if I can get them put up here.

I have the Piaggio top case mounted and I keep my rain gear in it when I'm not wearing it. I also put my helmet and gloves in there when I'm not riding. I have a back pack for my laptop because it won't fit in the top case I have. The topcase doesn't have the room for my jacket. Givi makes different size topcases for scooters and motorcycles. You can go to their website to see what suits your purpose. I don't have the link handy.

You'll enjoy your scooter. I've had mine for 13 months now, have just over 4,000 miles on it and even enjoy my commute now. I've had it up to 85 indicated on interstates and had 1/4 to 1/3 of the throttle left to turn.

Ride Safe.

Thanks doorbuster. There are pictures in the owners manual and I am hearing form the dealer (not sure how reliable the information Piaggio shares with dealrs is) that they discontinued it for 2008 (then why it would be in the manual I don't know). Not sure why they would, it stikes me a handy feature to have.

It is handy though it doesn't keep the helmet out of the weather as putting it in your topcase does.

Let me check with my dealer here and see what they have to say. I know they don't have any BV 250s on the showroom floor(they're in a small building and don't have much of a showroom ).

I'll get back with you when I find something out.

The funny part is the bike came with a helmet cover for keeping your lid out of the weather when you use the lock (or so it says on the tag). You would have thought if they were going to discontinue the lock, as I am being told by the dealer, they would have changed the tag on the bag or deleted it all together. I guess we Americans are way to detail oriented and picky. Some worker in Italy at the Piaggio plant is probably laughing right now.

Ours came just like you are describing. Got the lock guts, and the cover, but no locking rod.

Not sure what the deal is. The lock barrel I have been told, is for a top box should you add one. I think the entire assembly for the helmet lock needs to be added (locking mech, hasp, etc.). I am going to see if I can buy one from Piaggio directly. Although I am considering adding a Givi topbox either the e370 or e470. I am concerned the the extra 3-4 inches on the width of the 470 may be out of purportion for the scoot. The 370 may not provide enough space....decisions, decisions.

I spent two weeks on and off the phone with Piaggio about this very issue --because they didn't even know what I was talking about when I told them that my '08 BV 250 didn't have the helmet anti-theft bar installed. I explained where it was in the literature, and in pictures, etc. I even told them what page it was on the manual.

Anyway... the woman I was working with at Piaggio USA eventually got a hold of people at the parent company, who said that the Anti-Helmet bar was removed from the U.S. '08 models. No reason given. Kinda bummed me out, since the under-seat storage space is useless as far as full-size helmets go.

The manual is a generic that applies to US & non-US models, hence our confusion. They still have pictures and info from the '07 model on their website, if you noticed.

The more you ride it though, the more you'll forget about the little conveniences like helmet storage. I've only had mine about a month and I've put more than 900 miles on it already. I've been getting 80mpg as a solo rider, and 75mpg with my fiancee on the back. Awesome!!!


- KeV

I've got the Givi E450. Works great and looks good.

First if you go to the Givi USA web site there is a link to locate a local dealer. If there is one in your area you should be able to see one in person if they have them in stock. If not you can get a general idea of the size by the pictures on the site. (really general in my opinion)

Second while at my local Vespa/Piaggio dealer yesterday I asked about the helmet lock. They didn't have one on the floor to look so they called their supplier who didn't know and didn't have one to see either. They stated that they would call the New York office of Piaggio and call me with what they find.

As soon as I find something out I'll post it here.

I forgot to mention:

Although the helmet bar is not available on the '08 BV 250, you can always ask your dealer to order the 2007 BV 250's rear rack (which does come with the helmet bar). This was Piaggio USA's suggestion.

- KeV

Did anyone ever figure out for certain if the 2008 GV250 is fuel-injected or carburetored?

Fuel-injected: The 2008 BV 250 is Fuel Injected

Thanks everyone for sharing their thougts. My BV is a new 08 is fuel injected as well, but I had heard earlier 08's were not. I know mine is because I live at an elevation of 6800 ft and asked them if the carb had been jetted to improve the performance at elevation. The dealer laughed at me and showed me the specs on the scoot and low and behold it was fuel injected
nine days in and still loving the ride!