Modern Vespa

Need some tips and solid advice from experienced scooter travelers please.

960 mile trip planning on three days. Maine to Eastern Tenn.
No interstate, but will be hitting 50 mph often and for extended time (two or more tankfulls at a shot)
Scooter is a 2006 Piaggio Fly 150 w/3,000 miles on it
Will be able to R&R machine in Tenn, but not enroute.

Big question.. I know this it way, way outside of the mission of this scooter and I don't want to kill it. Can it be done mechanically? What should I R&R when I get to Tenn to make it back to Maine? What should I replace/refurb before the trip?

TIA..feel free to PM if you want.
If you have to ask "why?" You won't understand...

edited because i didn't read your post right...

Says who?
It's a Fly 150, not a Buttercup 150.

Many riders have done a hulluva lot more than that with no problems.
Make sure you're up on your maintenance and you prepare properly for the trip and should be just fine.

No problem, check your fluids, pack it up and have a nice trip. Your belt life is whithin your range. Your rear tire will only last 5 to 6,000 km so you will have to change it on route, if you haven;t already. You could carry one and have it done at any motorcycle shop along the way. I did 3,000 km over a ten day period once on my ET4, I replaced the belt on that one every 18000km, rear tire every 6,000km( roughly ). Bring along a small container (200cc) with engine oil in it you will possibly need to top up if you are travelling at 50 to 55 mph all day. A tire repair kit would be a good idea. This trip is not outside it's mission, travelling 50 55 all day you could go for years. Don't forget to pack drinking water. Enjoy!

I did a similar trip, 921 miles from Johannesburg to Cape Town, in 1961 on a Vespa GS150. Took me one and a half days - 23 hours in the saddle. I repeated this trip a year later. I am sure that your modern scooter is at least as reliable as one of 50 years ago.

I was wearing an open-face helmet and goggles, and arrived with the top half of my face white, the bottom half brown, and my nose red! Use plenty of sunscreen, and wear loose clothing (including underpants).

Mike

Try 15,500km on a 125!
http://www.allersretours.com/index.php?page=nor00

I think this was a feat on a hard seat

Try 20,000 miles on a 50!

In 2004, a Brit named Rupert Wilson-Young rode a Yamaha Vino 50 from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego.

http://scoot.net/faq/Touring

Any documentation other than accounts on internet scooter forums?

I suppose given enough time, I could even walk from Maine to South America carrying a 50cc two-stroke

Take a look here for inspiration, 50cc ride in Canada:

http://scootercanada.weebly.com

Scooter Trip Stats:

Time: 11 days
Money spent on Gas = $153.76
Liters of Gas bought = 115.68
Kilometers traveled = 4486kms

Average gas consumption = 109 MPG! or 2.58litres/100kms!

I think I've posted this couple's site before, but since you asked.

cheers

Yikes!! I have <clearly> underestimated the abilities of my little Piaggio...Thanks to all for helping to educate me to the fact that the limiting factor of my trip will most likely NOT be the scooter.....there goes THAT excuse!!

Not a problem. Put a new tire on at the start, change the oil, and check both along the way. I'd start with a fresh belt if you're close, as the belt is the most likely thing to break. Other than that, I don't think you'll have any issues.

They do like a good thrashing so you might find it actually runs better after the ride.

this i find true. mine seems to run better after a long run on the hwy.
as for the op scoot. I average 400km every weekend just pleasure cruising on roads and speeds from 50kph to 100kph

same engine in my derbi that your fly has. (Leader 150) I have put almost 20,000km in 16months riding (only weekends)

oil change/filter etc change every 8000km and belt rollers every 10000

+1. The bike will be fine (as long as it's in good shape before you set out).

There you go! 8)

I've got to say this: Taking my scooter on long trips just plain rocks! I never believed that BS about "getting there is half the fun" until I tried getting there on my scooter. (I have the same engine as you do.)

Even the planning: Sorting our the packing, planning out the routes for a good riding experience, the mechanical prep, working out lodging/camping, is a fun challenge. I love it.

You can get a lot of good advice here...don't be afraid to ask.
We all learn from the answers.

Yep.

Here's a link to Rupert's Photobucket pages containing hundreds of picture of the trip (without captions, unfortunately) in about 20 albums:
http://s175.photobucket.com/albums/w155/RupertWY/

I had a Vino 50 2T, and I can attest to the fact that they are practically indestructible, but very easy to fix when they break. Nobody said he did the ride quickly!

Thank you, but was hoping for some actual documentation rather than scenic pics, a few even with a scooter in the foreground

I can't seem to find any documentation whatsoever (not even a map of the route) on the internet except for posts in internet scooter forums and links to those posts. And of course the pics... Perhaps the lad didn't bother to document the trip? That would be a shame, I would like to know the route, how he dealt with visa/passport issues, how it was financed, mechanical issues and things as simple as registration and insurance problems. Would also like to know where he had to portage the scooter. I'm thinking the Darien Gap was somewhat difficult

I guess he isn't much of a writer. Here, though, is a link to a forum where he was posting two years ago in which he gives his email address and describes some of his adventures:
http://www.beginnerbikers.org/forum/showthread.php?t=10213
He apparently went through 5 pistons on the trip!

He also has a Facebook page which I haven't viewed because I'm not a registered Facebook user and have no intention of becoming one.

your fly is gonna run so much smoother and maybe a bit faster after your trip!!! is an extended 'italian tune-up' !!!