Modern Vespa

So it's heading up toward the near vicinity of 100F here
and I'm noticing that the vinyl in my seat is getting noticeably soft in the sun

For those of you in the Sun Belt:
Is this going to hurt my scooter seat?
(Yeah... I've already noticed that it'll toast my rear)

I'm covering it with my mesh jacket (just in case),
but is this necessary?

Why wouldn't you use the built-in rain cover as a sun shade?

Well, it does resemble a gigantic black shower cap ( )
& the sun would trash out it's waterproofing...

But I have to admit that that's a pretty good idea

Last summer I kept a small white towel in the pet carrier and used it to keep the seat cooler, tucking it under the strap. It never occurred to me that the sun was bad for the seat, I thought the hot seat was bad for me! I haven't done it so far this year, but now that it's hot again, I'll probably start doing it again. Another alternative: parking in the shade when available.

*If* the vinyl is up to scratch then no harm should occur. Many though will remember when Piaggio put out a batch of seats in early 2004 that failed rapidly in the sun. They were replaced under warranty in the main part, though some were slow to notice this was unusual and had their claims rejected under 'wear and tear' excuses. As far as we know this was just a one-off duff batch of vinyl.

So all that I can hope for is that if anyone finds their seats getting 'sticky' or shedding material onto their riding gear that they inform their dealer and the wider scootering community as soon as possible. It shouldn't now be a problem, but this is just a heads-up that is has been in the past, even in dismal British summers.

Personally I don't protect my seat from the elements, it should be designed to deal with them.

I bought one of these:

http://genuinecoolass.com/scooter-seat-cover.htm

It's ugly as hell while it's on the scoot, but screw it! It protects the seat from UV and rain... AND most important to me, the seat is much more comfortable after sitting in the baking sun. They claim 50% cooler but I think it's more than that. The temperatures are regularly in the hundreds around here and it has made my commute much nicer. I don't burn my butt when I sit down and I don't have a sweaty ass when I get where I'm going.

Definitely worth the investment. Your seat and your ass will thank you.

And it looks like you could fry an egg on it..

the elastic in my rain cover gave out after the fist year. I have burned myself on my seat so if I'm wearing shorts try to remember to toss a towel over it. I do like that cool "no pets" cover.

That no pets logo is great

Hey Stephen!

Thanks for the kind words about your CoolAss cover -- we're delighted that you're pleased with its performance. Yes -- a 50% cooler seat is a conservative estimate, but we prefer underselling to overselling!

We just returned from AmeriVespa in Los Gatos, CA, and found actual tests out there showed an unprotected seat at about 160 degrees, and a CoolAss covered seat at about 94 degrees -- outside temperature was about 90.

Sorry you don't like the appearance of the cover on your scoot! We tried to design varying colers and materials, but the metalized polyester outperforms everything else. It is simply unsurpassed for heat and rain protection -- and it's guaranteed against fading and so on -- for life.

Thanks again for your business, trust and kind comments. Best to you and ride safely!

Regards,

Brian
Genuine CoolAss

Hmm... Forgive me, my maths may be up the duff, but I make a reduction from 160F to 94F about 10% cooling effect. (344K to 307K)

Still damn effective though.

Giving a temperature reduction in percentage terms is rather problematic, perhaps a more unambiguous way would be better.

HEY, I wouldn't care if it was pink and hairy and said "I'M A BIG PUSSY" on it. I'd still use it.

Mathematical discrepancies aside, I will reiterate and say it's much, much, much cooler after using it than it is without.

The Coolass seat cover is the way to go. We purchased them at Amerivespa last year and have been using them ever since. The south Florida sun can be brutal, but with the Coolass there's no more fried butt.

Janine

From 160 degrees to 94 degrees is 66 degrees cooler or 41.25% cooler. We're close!

Best to all,

Brian

0F is a meaningless base point though. Seriously, some twit might involve advertising standards folk.

66 degrees cooler than 160 degrees may be numerically 41.25% less, but 'coolness' or 'hotness' isn't tied to what 'degree' system you use, it's actually relative to absolute zero. In those terms your temperature change is 10% - still a large amount!

If you'd quoted your temperatures in Celcius, then the change would be from 71C to 34C - a 37C change or a 52% numerical change. So which percentage do you want to choose? They are all open to mis-interpretation.

You are far better off giving real-world examples as you did above, rather than quoting meaningless percentages. Your product deserves no less, otherwise you're laying yourself open to those who might shout 'snake-oil'.

Okay -- now you're scaring me...absolute zero?? I haven't thought about that since chemistry class in high school -- too many years ago to count (and even harder to determine a percentage change from then to now!).

Okay -- I agree -- I hate using meaningless statistics -- in marketing / sales or everyday conversation. I agree -- cooler is cooler!

Thanks Jim, for setting me straight -- bit more importantly, thanks for your kind words and support.

Best,

Brian
CoolAss

A good ploy might be to say "Even in the hottest sun, our cover will keep your seat to no more than 10F above ambient". That'd work for me.

Get a seat cover from Pirate. They work and are waterproof as well. My scooter sits in the sun here day in and day out. The seat cover keeps my butt cool and the seat is protected from the sun as well.

Works for me too, Jim -- thanks.

when I'm out in Thailand if its really hot I will pour a bit of water on the seat or rub some ice cubes on it, the heat evaporates the water so you don't get a wet arse but it does cool it down a bit. People think you are mad the first time you do it but then you catch them the next day trying the same trick

Do be careful of putting water / ice on seats to cool them down. Over time, the seat may fade / crack due to extreme temperature change -- expansion and contraction -- over short periods.

I park in the shade when I can. L the seat will fade at the stiching. Also that cover isnt much of a water repelant.

Agreed -- consider CoolAss. It's heat reflective, water repellant and guaranteed for life - period.

Could I just smooth out my tinfoil hat and use that to cover the seat with?

Love that movie, you could always wrap ones ass with foil, that should help.

Another cool thing about coolass is, your scoot will stand out in a crowd.

Th first day I used my Cool Ass at work, I had several "alien transmission" comments.

Indeed -- we have had several comments ranging from "potato cooker" to "Jiffy Pop" to egg fryer and so on. One attendee at Amerivespa last year in Chattanooga said "beam me up!"

Indeed it does look like foil -- and frankly I wish it was! Would be a lot cheaper to manufacture than the material we have made exclusively for us. Only problem -- you can't sew foil and it doesn't rebound after being scrunched up!

Jiffy Pop!

And -- CoolAss has a two-for-one promotion going on right now for Vespa owners of LX/LXV, GTS/GTV and MP3. Check out the web site.

Change the web-site wording, please!

Will try Jim. Thanks for setting us straight.

Brian,

I love my cool ass cover. I actually got my dealer to throw it in when I bought my scooter. I did learn that I have to leave it on while I put my helmet, gloves, and sunglasses because the seat would heat up 20 to 30 degrees here in Texas in the couple minutes it would take me to put my gear on. I have a BV500 and was thinking about buying a new one because the one my dealer gave me is too small (it has a M sticker in it). I also like the no pet one because I am a youth leader at a church and don't use my cover at church so what size should I get the one for the MP3?

You should become a sponsor on this forum. A two for one web banner ad might attract some attention.

I don't see the promotion on the web site

Janine

I just ordered the Cool Ass 2 for 1 No Pets

Great people to do business with !

So -- you dealt with Thovas Brown at Vespa of Austin! What a great guy and a superb dealership. Nice work getting him to throw in a CoolAss cover. Thovas and I have had the discussion for over a year now about sizing. Personally (and with most of our MP3 customers), the DSXL size is preferred. It is a little "blousy" for the MP3, but it's better to have too much material than not enough. Any extra can be tucked in underneath the seat before latching it down.

The "blousy" fit of the DSXL, and frankly the larger fit for most Vespas / PIaggios is what prompted us to customize covers for LX / GTS and MP3, with the No Pets imprint. With the 2 for 1 offer, I'd go for the MP3 cover and we'll send the DSXL for free. The custom MP3 No Pets will be sent in mid-August. Check out our web site www.genuinecoolass.com for more details.

Many thanks -- ride safe.

Go under scooters and then click on the no pet thingie one and there it is.

I have a BV500 though and don't know size wise how the seat differs from the MP3. Will the MP3 cover fit the BV500 or is it too large?

I'd recommend the DSXL for your BV 500. I can't say whether the MP3 No Pets cover would fit however. We literally sized the MP3 saddles, made custom patterns and had them sewn to very exacting standards when making the prototypes. I couldn't be more pleased with the fit for the MP3, GTS/GTV and LX/LXV.

Give the DSXL a try. If anything is not to your liking, fit or performance or anything, we'll make it right or refund -- period.

Best,

Brian