Modern Vespa

well hello! the DSSC b-w-p-thread hasn't been the same without you.

you don't have a tan, do you? i'll have to hate you a little bit if you do *narrows eyes*

actually i quite like this idea .... obnoxious, artistic, and functional - kind of like the DSSC membership at large

DSSC: putting the ox in obnoxious!

How appropriate!

http://www.chinapage.com/newyear.html

The only part of my body that is tanned is my face, the rest of it is as white and pasty as ever so no great threat from your wrath there. Phew.
Yes it was a busy one - I attended the 24 hours of Daytona where even after 24 hours of racing the top 3 cars were covered by less than 5 seconds and yes all on the same lap. How bizzare.
Also went to Sarasota Vespa and found out that the owner was from Brighton. A really nice little shop so I bought a couple of T shirts.
Went to Mayaka State Park and went out on a huge Air Boat with a 450 hp Cadillac engine on the back of it. We saw crocs and cranes.
Later it was a nice trip to the Ringling Museum where we saw some kulchure and paintings and stuff. I'm being ironic.
After that we went to the Tampa Bay Lightnings Ice Hockey Team beat a Canadian side whose name I've already forgotten. That was fun.
Saw 3 Movies Defiance, Underworld ( crappy vampire rubbish ) and Frost Nixon which is easily the best movie I've seen for years. Brilliant.
Micheal Sheens David Frost is just uncanny.
The only downside was being taken to and from the airport and the hockey game by limo. A little surprise that my sister sorted out. Bit cheesey but fun.
Oh yeah the best bit was getting an ear infection on day 3 which pretty much means you lose your hearing and you spend an entire morning at a surgery filling in lots of forms while being seen by 2 nurses and 1 doctor.
So that's where my $96 went ha ! I still can't hear out of it........ eh ?
The rest of the time I was shopping.
Have I left anything out ? Oh yeah I ate lots.
I've missed you all very much.
Billy-no-scoot

Yes, though apparently they say they can't print directly onto reflective vinyl so that it shines through - may be too clever to actually do.

No, if you print white and black. Buth just printing black on the reflective ?

See the website from superchrome, they print directly on reflective stuff.

http://www.superchrome.co.uk/reflective_motorcyle_graphics.htm

I like reflective. Were thinking of the safety factor here people.
I really like the logo Wonder thanks for taking so much time with it.
Out of small acorns etc. Loving the name Playdonk as well.
Who could have thought that a harmless bet could have led to this.
I'm going to have at least 3 please.
Regards
Billy-no-scoot

loving it guys, count me in

just have to find a suitable place to "stick the skok on"


love it love it
how much do I owe you?
2x for the velma-georgey household pleeease

I like the logo a lot too. How are you thinking of collecting payment Wonder? Do you have a paypal account or is that a big no-no? (Obviously you would need some sort of % to cover their fees.)

the stickers are super-cool. well done MW and christos. and bill for providing the original inspiration.

i've just started a new job and my boss rides a harley so i've been boasting about my vespa to her.

she's been doing lots of ride-outs but hasn't been abroad with her harley group yet. i've been nonchalantly talking about belgium this april and i think she's getting jealous. all she needs now is a proper bike (aka vespa) and she can have fun too

If it is okay with everyone, I will tot up who wants what, then take it to the printers for a proof next week.

When Thunderbirds are go I will ask for the right monies from people, currently it is about 2 quid a sticker (though it will go lower the more per piece). I would prefer not to go via Pay Pal if possible, but do have an account, so it is possible.

[cranky - edit]

Reflective - can someone please find a supplier who says this is possible. Mine wants a redesign and really not up for doing that.

put me down for a sticker please 8)

pay / collect on the Belgium weekend????

Three stickers for me.

I'm all for the design , Great and would like 5 please.

Thankyou to all who made this happen.

Kate, ask scootgraphics, if they just can print black at the reflective. Then we deliver a transparant eps file with black.

Me thinks I might go for 4 because I want one on the cage as well.
Cash alright Wonder ? Thank you for provoking me into taking that bet because without that this would have never have happened.
Warm feeling inside.
Love and kisses
Billy-no-scoot

Thanks for the mention Kam

Almost dropping off the first page people.
Has nothing happened at the weekend then?
Blimey
Billy-no-scoot

i've been at a conference all day, reflecting on the ontology of the landscape photograph. actually it was pretty good. i've just had a huge indian meal from our favourite lovely indian takeaway where they greet us like old mates and give us free stuff. ... and boyf is pouting because i'm now claiming 'too tired to go out' ...aaggghhh... i'm old.....

And we, went to the vespa clubchampionship bowling. Guess who was the best .
The first tree at the podium are gts 250 riders...

I started making a bird-table.

For the winter next year ??

Noooo! I'll finish it this week.
I can't do much at a time as my (temporary) workshop is the large garden shed and it's very cold in there - I have to bring bits inside the house so that the glue dries.
It's a hard life!

I love Belgium and I wish I could go on the run that's being planned. I first went to Belgium in 1979 on holiday to De Haan and went back again the next year.
Since then I've been a few times. In 1992 to a scooter rally and again in 1994, I think, to Beersel not from from Brussels. And then again in 2004 when I got the ferry to Denmark and rode down through Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium and back on the channel tunnel.

The two rallies I went to we camped in Oostend on a great site.

Fantastic beer in Belgium.

I'm very happy here and pleased to be able to reside permanently (I hope) in a country where cagers don't treat anyone on two wheels as a target!

Lots of other good points, of course.

today's fun .... cutting down the tall windscreen for the GT200. I learned a few things:

- not all screens are created equal - this one is made of much thicker perspex than the previous one I cut down - though both were 'Piaggio Original' brand.

- a couple of millimeters difference in the screen thickness adds up to big changes in cutting procedure. where my single-speed jigsaw with a blade for cutting laminate worktops had done the job with the thinner screen, test cuts on the thicker screen showed that a different approach would be needed. won't bore you with a full rundown of the test procedures, but I ended up having to borrow my neighbour's variable-speed jigsaw and a blade for cutting metal. turn the speed up too high, and the blade heats the plastic up so that it fuses itself back together after the blade goes through! low speed worked best.

- finish with a hand file, and a dremel to remove remains of dried adhesive from the old screen trim.

- new screen trim is a beeeeeyotch to fit when you've got feeble girly hands like mine. it took me almost an hour, and lots of swearing. but the result looks great - carbon fiber screen trim all the way round I'll post a pic when i fit the newly-adapted screen onto the scootie tomorrow.

okay, time to clean up the kitchen now

Now that's interesting Genie because I saw a tall screen just like yours on Ebay a few days ago and I asked myself could I live with that on the GT200.
I wouldn't have used it all the time, just for the odd tour into Europe or anything long distance.
Was it just the height that you didn't like or was it the look ?
If I'm honest I think they look a bit "old school" but I know how well they work after using one on a CX500 for 86,000 miles.
I do really like the short screens which looks so much better but seem to angle the wind upwards and into your helmet. Oh Missus.
Can't wait for the photo.
Where was the b/f during and the cutting and cursing ?
Regards
Billy-no-scoot

i don't like looking through the tall windscreen, especially at night, and i don't trust them in windy conditions. but i also hate riding for any length of time at over 50mph without a screen - i find it totally exhausting. so the mid-size screen is a good compromise. i'd have bought a mid-sized one but the dealer threw in this tall one for cheap....

where was the boyf? sitting in front of his *%£@ computer watching movie trailers. he's still there. don't talk to me about this.

just ordered my bitubo from pm tuning!

i've wanted one for a long time and my front shock is knocking slightly so it seems like a good time to change. well, that's what i just told my wife.

can anyone recommend a good mechanic in london (west london, preferably) who will fit it for me?

Why don't you fit it yourself?

is it an easy job?

i don't know whether i'd be able to as i have limited tools and even more limited know-how.

plus i've nowhere to work as the scoot lives on a very cramped front path.

it's a bit of a job if you're not mechanically inclined, and it wants some tools you've probably not got.

my mechanic will do it properly with a very quick turnaround time, but he's in the brick lane area.

It's not that difficult, I've done a P range before but I had some space and, at this time of year, somewhere covered to work in. Not that great in your position. Why not wait and DIY in better weather if you can find the space?

If CBS Whitton isn't too far from you, I thoroughly recommend them.
http://www.cbswhitton.com/

Ouch touched a nerve there sorry didn't mean to. Well I didn't know.
Yes I'm with you on the big screen thing. Me thinks I'm going to wait, save my pennies and go for the half size ones that seem to be so popular.
Snowing down your way ?
Billy-no-scoot

If anyone is up for a spin next weekend then I have to break this new scoot in - otherwise I shall just tear up some roads alone and get very lost....

The Super wants to go a lot faster than London will let it.

Stopped here about an hour ago - only about 2cm. Expecting loads more overnight, then a lull during the day (quick dash to shop for fags and scotch), then loads more in the evening. So T&G night at the Ace looks like a no-no tomorrow, but I should still be able to get to the pub, thank deity.

If I'm not photographing Audis on Saturday and the roads are ice free it could well be a goer.
Best laid plans etc.
Billy-no-scoot

i'll be on a plane to austria next saturday hurrah, a week of skiiing... tho by the look of things outside i could've stayed home. just been out taking pictures in the garden, i'll post some tomorrow, time for bed now with the window open so i can carry on listening to the lovely snowflakes crashing to earth ....

check it out....