Modern Vespa

Me again did not get a chance to test drive the bike since my ride bailed on me!! It's alright though...as of right now I'm waiting to take my MSF Course in August and right now I'm practicing on my dad's '02 Suzuki Volusia 800. It's a big bike but I think it'll get me ready for something like this. Jim though PM said it's great to start out on something on two wheels to become more aware of dangers which will help on my skills to try and avoid it....

Sorry I kind of side track but I was wondering how much the service for these scooters are. I'm worried that they can be pretty pricy since I do not have a dealership that too close to me. One at least 30-45 mins away while the next closet would be about an hour. Is it a pricy service? A sales person from Big 4 dealership (honda, yamaha, suzuki, kawasaki) said that they would work on it but it can be expensive because they rarely work on it. Also they compaired it to a Ducati or even Porcshe where they have a pretty pricy service. Any help will do!! Thanks

I guess part of the answer is to factor how mechanically inclined you are. The more you can do yourself the better. One thing we all have going for us is the high level of expertise and willingness to help in this forum.

I took mine in for the 600 mile service and it cost just shy of $200.00. That is pretty expensive for an oil change and checks. And I like you have to drive 45 minutes to my service center. I will do my own 3000 mile check as no oil change is required. For 6000 miles i will probably take it in and alternate like that. One nice thing is that the oil changes are needed only every 6000 miles and when you factor in all the money you are saving on gas (assuming you will be replacing a car and using your scoot for daily commuting like i do) I think you still come out ahead. Good luck!

Regular servicing should be really inexpensive, since as has been pointed out, the oil (and the engine oil filter) only needs to be changed at 6,000 m intervals. That includes engine and rear hub.

The air cleaner should be serviced at that time also, more frequently if ridden in a dusty environment. At 12,000 miles the valves also need adjustment - since there is only one cylinder, and these are simple screw and locknut tappets, just about anyone could do that job (no special tools needed).

Coolant and disc brake fluid only needs changing every 3 uears or so.

One unusual service item is in the CV transmission. The belt and the variator rollers are scheduled for service every 6,000 miles also. I believe that in normal road use (not continual stop-start inner city driving) you could get double that mileage.

The rest of the normal maintenance items are also straight-forward. It's when you have problems with the electronics, or the tilt lock, or run into something hard and damage the front end that you will need the expensive services of an expert.

Otherwise the average home mechanic would have no trouble keeping one of these on the road.

Cheers

Trevor G

Phew, that does seem expensive. My first service cost $85.

Prices are all over the place with service costs. ALOT of dealers are really taking advantage of their customers. You need to watch out.

My first service was $59.85 and I wasn't happy about it.

My dealer is approx. 45 minutes away and I was charged $220.17 for my first service. $194 was labor.

Yup, labor was the bulk of mine too. I think i am gonna call dealers in Jacksonville and Daytona and see what they charge. Longer ride but maybe worth it. Anyone know dealers in either of those two cities?

wow the first service seems pretty expensive...i guess this is what I have to talk to with the dealer...

Yeah see if he will quote you up front on service. I would be interested to hear what he says.

Alternatively, you could just buy one and plan on driving up to Michigan and using 501's dealer. Might still be expensive once you factor in food, gas and lodging but at least you will have a fun ride for your money.

haha good one!! sounds like fun though

I don't know about Jacksonville, but the St. Augustine Vespa guys know their stuff. They have at least 4 500's sold out of their store (plus me) and a dozen or so 250s/400s, plus all the other Piaggio/vespa bikes. US 1 Powersports of St. Augustine. Call them.

I've only had mine two weeks and went in for first service. It was $170. I thought that was high, but my first bike ever so didn't know what to expect. I am having so much fun though!

I believe that's more than twice as much as I paid for the 600 mile service! You don't want them to be having a better time than you!

Scott

Yeah, they are the one's that i bought my 250 from. Great bunch of guys both on Joe's Vespa side and US1 Powersports side. Very professional service center. However, $200.00 for the 600 mile service seems quite high and that is the only reason I wanted to look for other service options.

If they do a proper 1st service that may seem cheap compared to some others apparently better bargains...

If they are (and reports suggest they are) good guys, then you are paying for what you get - and the same applies to the cheaper options.

Best deal you can get when buying from a good dealer is 1st service thrown in. Two hours work to keep you going for ages. And them with a happy customer.

Where do you live in SoCal?

There's a lot of dealers, and I was told by PiaggioUSA, that as long as Vespa/Piaggio parts are used by a trained mechanic,
you could use an independent mechanic. I found Mossimo in Costa Mesa, he worked at Vespa for four years, can fix anything, and makes a great Espresso

I hope you got that in writing, signed with a real pen...

I will now that you said that!

Your saying 1st service, or all service during warranty whether 1yr or extended 3yr warranty, must be done by Vespa?

Not for all Piaggio bikes - but for peace of mind all those that can be interrogated by the diagnostic tool should be serviced by someone with one during warranty - and there is a new one out, coming soon, not available to us amateurs (yet that is...). Piaggio can be arsey about warranty claims (and I don't blame them) but a *good* dealer can convince them. Joe six-pack in his shed who's serviced bikes (Harley's) for years may be very savvy - but he won't carry any clout with the Italian lot. Especially when they're looking at the equation of reputation/income. Poor Joe above gets the blame, even if his gut instinct is right. He doesn't have proof? Goes up in smoke...

The desirability of the warranty depends on how long your model has been on the market, and how adept you are as an individual to fix it should all go udders vertical.

I'd not worry about a warranty on an X9 now, I can do the whole thing myself. MP3/Fuoco, different matter...

Well now I feel pretty special bout my first service. It was $165, but I moaned enough about it taking 3 hours and basically being an oil change that they gave it to me for FREE. Now I feel bad because at the time I assumed I was the only one being asked to pay for it. It did straighten me out of my preconceptions of never actually working on my scooter. I quickly got my old tee on, and got oily. I've changed the oil, filter, cleaned the air filter, and brake fluid with absolute ease. That said, quick sidetrack, does anyone know the ease/difficulty/possibilty of changing your own rear tire on the mp3? Need a new one and my scooter is parked until I can get it, and just hate to have to drag it to a place everytime i need a new tire...

OK, I found it in writing in my Warranty Book, better than a real pen. (below).

Looks good so far. Try a really expensive warranty claim near the end of the warranty period...

Not trying to be a wet blanket, but trying to make folk wary and careful about what they do to their scoots and how they approach dealers with claims. Do it the right way, being reasonable, most stuff gets through. But then there's the dealer/Piaggio equation, who thinks what of whom, and that's where some perfectly good claims have gone down the toilet in the UK. Not a bad claim this time, but the dealer has taken the piss once too often before. Can't blame Piaggio there then.

So it's choose wisely how you approach any really serious issue. Hopefully the dealer will sort it all out. This is how over time reputations are won and lost.

I reread what i posted and i was not clear. I already had my 600 mile and I did have them do it and they did a great job. I am just chekcing other dealers nearby for cost and quality.

But your point is taken. You usually get what you pay for.

You're not a wet blanket, a wet dog maybe, that keeps shakin' water all over the place

The point you just made, without admitting I was right is sound thinking.
Pay now or pay later, you are going to need an authorized dealer representing you,
behind you etc etc if you ever have a warranty issue, which is why I have said here recently, Ride Piaggio - Buy Piaggio.

I have the right to get my scoot serviced anywhere, but my lips are puckered and I'm looking for dealer arse

johnwwatson i live in Mission Viejo just south of Irvine. I've heard of Mossimo and are they an authorized Piaggio Dealer? If so that would be awesome because that is not too far from where I live