Modern Vespa

I don't like the paint-stripes either. There's another on your side. I don't HATE them. But I'd rather have a less curvy pattern at least, were I to have one.

That said, riding it for a bit would be rather fun before getting into any repainting or the like. I'm into the painting/repairs right now and wish I was riding mine for a bit first (though I didn't have quite as much choice, needing a new speedo cable and so on and so forth).

Heh, well we'll see what it looks like in person. Hell, maybe I'll fall in love with it on site. Crazier things have happened. Will post pictures soon - planning to pickup on Friday!

yes, you can lift it with two people provided they are reasonably strong (boyf and i have lifted my ET4, which weighs around the same) but a piece of sturdy wood will do fine as a ramp. we push three scooters up and down a ramp from their parking place every day, and for the past two years we've been just fine with a 'temporary' ramp knocked together from an old pallet.

Nice, thanks for that info. Actually, think I found another solution. A parking lot here is depressed and has land around it gradually increase in height, forming a wall. I can probably just back it up to the ground that is the right height, and just roll it off the back no problem.

Thinking that will work!

I know this is obvious, but if you do have to unload it by hand, don't grab a hold of the cowls to try to lift it out.

Not so obvious to some Thanks for the advice Len.

Hey guys,

Picked up my P200 today!!!!!!!!! After traversing through some horrific Boston traffic, I made it to Vespa Hartford today - 2 hours late! MUCH THANKS TO DOUG DAY - the owner. I called him about 5:30 PM, while STOPPED in traffic, to let him know that I might not make it due to the traffic. He not only stayed there until I arrived, but he also gave me tour of his store - one of the nicest (and biggest) Vespa stores I've been in. I ended up trying on and buying a Corazzo 5.0 in black/red. He let me borrow some of his special tie downs, and helped me load the scooter into the back of my rental truck - I left Vespa Hartford around 8:15 PM - a full two hours later than the store is typically open! Can't say more about Doug - great guy.

Anyway - got the scooter back to Boston and took it for a couple mile ride. I think there might be something wrong with my shifting. Is there a 0 gear? I first started the engine, let the clutch out and was not gear - is that normal? Later on my ride, the highest gear was 1st - I couldn't find 0 gear anymore. This went back and forth.

Another issue - the clutch engages very high. The clutch levar is almost completely detracted. I'm guessing I can adjust this by readjusting the clutch pulley wire? This, combined with the weird gearing issue, made it a bit hard for me to ride comfortably.

Overall, it was pretty fun. I stalled at the first couple red lights (wonder if my choke is working?), but then figured out I culd pull the clutch, hit the foot brake to slow down at the light, then rev the engine. But shouldn't the choke keep the engine idling a bit higher?

I'm going to try and take it for a spin tomorrow agian, but I wonder if the problems listed above will make it impossible to ride!

Oh - I also got the original P200E manual! How cool is that?!

I'm not as expert as some here but I'll chip in my 2c worth.

The gears: there are 4.

The "pattern" is 1st, neutral, 2nd, 3rd, 4th.

Neutral corresponds to the little "dot" on the headset......well it should.

If mine is normal, it needs some choke to start unless its pretty warm.

My routine: Key on, choke pulled out all the way, two twists of the throttle then hit the start. Usually goes first time. Give it a couple of revs then turn off the choke. You might need to adjust the idle setting if its still stalling when its warm.

I suppose this routine is influenced by ambient temperature, but it never gets that cold down here!

Enjoy the "Beast".

Matt

Haha - it surely is a BEAST. Its alot louder than I thought it would be. Is that normal? Or is there a hole in the muffler or something? Its so loud I didn't want to start it next to my friend's house (I wheeled it to the street!).

It rumbles, but what a joy to ride. Little difficult since I can't use my right leg!

put the bike in neutral to start. There is no need to hold the clutch in. Have fun!

You think it's loud now?

Just wait 'till you get the 'spanny on it and you'll wake up the whole neighbourhood!!

For real? I feel like I'm waking everyone on the block when I start it up. Is there a muffler that baffles it a bit more? Or is that not the point

Why not read the manual? It may address the questions you raised above.

Enjoy!

Al

Doing now!!!

Awesome and congrats Wangta! Mine roars when it starts too. I think that's normal.

To reiterate what others have said, do not start it in gear with the clutch in. If your hand slips off because of the force of your kick or whatever it won't be a pretty sight I would imagine. Make sure the dot between 1 and 2 lines up with the shift mark and you can wheel it back and forth freely without touching the clutch so you know you're in neutral. Besides if you are in gear and holding the clutch in it may still rub ever so slightly so that would, I think, resist the turning over of the engine and make it harder to start.

My clutch currently is out of adjustment as well in the opposite direction where there is too much slack. That'll be my first tune-up in the spring I think. How stiff is your clutch lever when you pull it in? Mine takes some force, not sure if that means the cable needs a lube or not.

So were you riding it around with the choke out? You shouldn't need to do that I don't believe. Mine might use the choke to start when cold, but with a couple good revs of the engine it quickly gets to a point where it would rather idle with the choke back in. I might have misunderstood your stalling thing, but that could be the problem.

Have fun! I'm jealous you're riding yours around

I've replaced my clutch cable with trial and error. The old cable was hanging on by two threads and the top end was starting to frey. If you go to http://www.vespamaintenance.com/body/clcable/index.html there's alot of good info. The one thing I had done wrong was I didn't read where it said to pull the clutch arm forward then move the nipple up to the arm and tighten it. It now will be real easy for me to change it next time.
The nuetral area takes a little getting used to as it is between 1st and 2nd. Does yours have a nuetral light on the speedo? It is either burnt out or check and see if there's wires hooked up off the rear to a switch of the gear box. Sometimes people take these off and as far as I know nobody makes a replacement. If the numbers don't line up on the handle you have to do it by feel. This usually means that your shifting cables are out of adjustment or stretched out. They are a little harder to change. It's good to buy the fourth hand tool for this job. Buy an extra set of cables and keep them in your glovebox.

Pull the arm forward as if one were pulling on the clutch lever on the other end? It doesn't rest where it should be when you are not pulling on the clutch lever normally?

Pictures!

When I put the cable through and pulled all the tension out, put it through the arm, tighten the nipple on all the way up to the arm it was way out of adjustment. Pulled in the clutch handle put it in gear it jumped forward. According to the directions it said you can adjust the slack adjuster but it wasn't working. When I pulled the arm forward with my hand until there was pressure I moved the nipple up and re-tighten it and it was set correct. I had about a 1/3" freeplay in the clutch handle before it would release the clutch and works properly. Does this sound right?

I really don't know, I was asking rather. I will be doing this in the spring before riding because I don't like the adjustment at the moment. Just didn't want to make it worse!

So, how do you like those pinstripes?

Pin stripes are like art work. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If the paint is in good condition I think I would leave it and get used to it. It probably would be even better if you lived in Tijuana . It's kind of like mine. I don't really care for the color cranberry red but it's original. It's growing on me.

That pinstripping looks great if you ask me...

and i recommend riding it around for at least a couple of weeks before you make any changes to your scoot. I bought my p200 just because the price was right. i had planned to turn around and sell it to get more money to buy a different scooter, but i'm glad i didnt. i rode it around for a week and i was hooked. my point is that you never know, it could grow on ya. and like some of the others are saying, pinstripping is art. it's your bike so do what you will of coarse, but at least kick it around for a while before you go off and get rid of something that isn't so easy to get back.

Yeah, it's not bad - I just prefer a bolder color. Not sure I'm too hot on the original color - regardless of the pinstriping, so I'll probably end up changing it this winter.

But for now, its good. Getting used to riding a shifty. There is a ton of stuff to think about, from starting (choke, gas switch, gear, etc) to driving (shifting - down shift, upshift). I'm having a blast, although I'm taken back a little by how loud it is. I guess I'm used to the purring of the GTS. Dang, I think the GTS might be the quietest scooter I've ever ridden.

Dude ... I totally called in about that bike last week. And they said someone just put a downpayment on it. THAT WAS YOU! Haha, how weird.



Congrats!

So I took a ride this morning and had an interesting experience:

1. 2 stroke engines sound great, but I reek of exhaust after a ride!

2. Fingers on left hand are definately not strong enough. Left hand got pretty tired. Will get used to this I'm guessing.

3. For some reason, first gear isn't working. Not sure if this is a clutch problem or shifting problem, but the engine does not catch 1st gear. So First and neutral are the same (This is why i was so confused on my first ride post pickup). I have to get going using 2nd.

4. Engine suddenly died about 2 miles away from home! Didn't know why, then figured I ran out of gas. Thank goodness I was right next (literally - 1 block away) from a gas station. Filled up and it fired right back up. Idiot - I just assumed it came full with gas - duH!

5. Really tested out the brakes. Still not too hot on the front, but the back is good! Stops real quick - just not used to using my foot (and my knee hurts when I do!).

Thanks! Sorry, didn't mean to steal it! That is funny, small world sometimes.

I think the shifting issue sounds like the gearchange cables need adjusting. I've had the same experience with my clutch too (and I'm left handed). It's a workout.

Now, I can only speak for a VNB and my PX 150, but the clutch never tired my left hand, and I've done some reasonable urban driving.

Eric?

Al

I think my cable needs greasing - a project for the spring for me. But I have been surprised by how easy the new PX lever moved at the dealer.

I think I need to invest in one of these:

First, invest time changing your gear box oil.

Also, invest in a cable luber and use it


Al

pin strips ... thats for harleys eh ... get them off .. make it into a British scooter boy machine ...

northern soul .. wigan casino ... yes yes yes

I'd say your gear cables probably need to be re-pulled.. i'd do a set of complete inner and outers. IF they are routed wrong, they can make pulling the clutch in a bitch.

Also other little things like if some of the inner starts unwinding and gets bound up INSIDE the outer down at the engine end.

Lube will help things some ...

A cosa clutch will help things as well.

But, really, proper cable routing and an intact or fresh inner/outer pair makes all the difference, i've found.

+1. And in all of this, you might find the cause of no first gear. So, once you find a knowledgeable helper, pick up new cable sets and follow Eric's advice. Might also get some canned spinach to rub on the exterior of the gear box.

Al

I have had the same experience when I first started riding same with my partner. After a couple of weeks you should get used to it. It will end up looking like this.

Hello Vespa funs.
I didn't know about this forum till now,and when I found it I sayed to myself "that's it!!!"
I have a '79 p200e and clutch cable has always been a problem.I recently bought a 2nd hand Cosa and when I first engaged the clutch I sayed to my self "butter..."
I strip and do the service by my self.
Change the clutch cable,check if the bronze barrel and the steel plate inside the clutch cover are in good condition and I also second to apply a cosa clutch.Check your gearbox oil quantity and quality also.
I don't know about prices in your country but I just found an offer for a Cosa clutch at 58 USD at www.thaivespashop.com.Way lot cheeper than in Greece!
Hope I help.

A wise man once said:

"electric start scooters are for pussies or people with wooden legs."



Really?? Your knee hurts from using the foot brake ??

I admit these things need getting used to. Just hang in there, these things aren't for the weak of heart.

Good luck!

That would be Rover Eric..haha

My knee hurts from having open-knee surgery 6 weeks ago! I have an 8 inch scar starting from my knee-cap down to the mid part of my shin!

Riding has been great since I had the cables adjusted/lubed. Front brake is better than before, but still not great. I just plan ahead and start breaking early and using the gearing to slow me down. If I really need to, I can stomp on the rear brake.

I'm glad you found the humor in that, I wasn't trying to be an ass. I was wondering if you had some sort of injury to your knee. Do plan early if you can for your stops + down shifting. I don't even use my front brake most of the time anyways...it's sort of a lame duck. From the sounds of things you are well on your way to loving 2 stroke smoke!