Modern Vespa

Had my 500 for about three weeks before the failure begun. Rode the 500 under normal conditions for the break in period. Reached the 600mi mark in my second week, it spent the first whole week in my garage due to the weather from the hurricanes. Upon the second week my 500 gave the 5 beeps for the fluid pressure leak which all my neighbors liked at 4:30 in the morning. I contacted the dealership and they told me to bring it in and drop it off, had to finish out the week on it which was easy enough since i just use the lock system long enough to put it up on the center stand and then unlock it so i don't have to hear the beeps when i key it back on. So Friday evening i leave work and on the way home the seat sensor light comes on and wont go back off, the throttle luckly enough didn't lock out on me like it is designed to do when no one is seated. I get home and flick the switch to lock the suspension and my whole console blacks out with the 500 still running. I kill the bike and turn the key off and then back on at this point everything comes back except the lights that deal with the suspension system (the seat sensor, lock light).

I take it to the dealership on sat. and on wed. i call this is where it gets good. The dealership keeps making excuses about this is the very first one for us and its going to take us some time. That's fine since it is the very first one they have seen and sold ( yes i have the one and only MP3 500 in the Shreveport, Bossier City area). They are new to this since they just got there dealer license. Now four weeks later i have learned their shop guys didn't have the training class yet, they didn't have all the tools and equipment to work on the bikes yet and every time i called they where waiting on this to come in or we are sending the computer unit on the bike off to get reprogrammed. On the third week of this nightmare I finely after threatening to seek a refund they loaned me the 400 MP3 they had in the showroom. So now I'm riding the 400 and have put over 800mi on it and still waiting on my bike to be repaired (waiting on parts). Oh and i finely found out that the computer was redone and one of the slave cylinders was allowing blow by, part of some engine mounting bracket was broke due to over torque on some bolts, and last but not least over tightening on something else cause two parts to rub and overheat. yeah its been fun

Sorry to hear about your troubles, Vonnukem. Lots of us could easily be in the same pickle (my dealership is pretty new too), and others have expressed frustration about long waits for parts. Thanks for sharing the story, and please keep us apprised.

Your service problem is not uncommon. I had a similar problem with my 400. Was the computer. Took 30 days to get and install.
I had to mention the Ohio lemon law on the 29th day - maybe that influenced the repair. You might do the same as most states have the 30 day provision. If over 30 days, make Piaggio buy it back.

Yeah, thanks for the story. I, and others, know how difficult it can be to not only go through something like this, but then also to have to sit down and put it into words for everyone to see. Thanks, again, though as it really does help others.

As for your problem, I would weigh the cost of waiting and service vs. the cost of paying a lawyer to take a short ride down to the dealer with you. I tell everyone, especially those who might otherwise be too timid or embarrassed to confront a dealer to ask themselves, "Would I put up with this if I had purchased a new car?". Most the time the answer is no, but the mp3 is definitely in the same price range, so I say treat it as such.

Dang. Over tightened bolts? Who put that bike together anyway?

Tough times right now. I went through similar on my 250 mp3 about a yr. ago. Smooth sailing since. Hang in there. If you want some other dealers, right next door over here in Texas I know of 3 awsome ones.

1) University Scooters of Dallas ( They saved me big time)
2) Austin Vespa
3) Af1 racing ( New Bruenfels Texas) Super Shop --- they are just south about 30 mins. from Austin

Any of these will getter done

First with the lemon laws you don't have to hire a lawyer. Google "lemon laws" and you will get a list of the states that have them and their specs for filing a claim. Almost all have provisions for the lawyer to be paid by the manufacturer. And at the Google sites you can pick a lawyer that specializes in lemon laws.
The only drawback is that it usually takes 3 months to get the settlement.
In this case the manufacturer is Piaggio USA (New York).

sorry to hear about your problems, but I think it is also the lack of technicians that are trained and a new dealer that knows nothing or has not even tried. Does not sound like a parts issue at all just lack of knowledge on the product on the dealer end. I hope they are now getting what you need to get you straightend out and offering you a loaner is realy good customer service. Good luck Iam sure your dealer is trying to catch up.


Jon

Larry,

You have to hire a lawyer for a lemon law case. I had to when my Ford Focus was not repair in time due to a transmission failure at 10000 miles. I would agree with Luthor work this out with your dealer. They are letting you borrow a 400 until the repair is done. I do not know many motorcycle dealers that go hat far.

Jon

At least the dealer is trying and that 800 miles you did on the 400 isn't going on your bike.

With over 2000 miles on my 500 I am well beyond the point where any malfunction is going to separate me from it. I have had a battery charging problem due to the "hidden" fuse and the whole 5 beep low hydraulics adventure. I needed my dealer for the former and used this forum to figure out and fix the latter.
Good luck with getting yours fixed, and good luck finding anything as satisfying should you bail on it. Persist and you will prevail.