Modern Vespa

By request, here is my '75 Rally 200 project. Project scoot was purchased disassembled as shown in the before pics. The VIN number indicates manufacture date as '74 but it's titled as a '75. The cylinder/piston that came with the project needed work, so I put on a Polini 210 kit w/o any case work. Case was already assembled, so didn't do any work there except replace the clutch (grabbed when starting out from a start-in retrospect just a new pressure plate would have sufficed). Wiring was missing, so I used a [redacted] 12V regulator and no battery, combining two white wires from stator to regulator, grounding one of two remaining wires, and leaving the last wire floating. Have wires in place for turn signals, just need to find something that will look decent. All work except frame welding done by myself. Looking for a rear rack to add on. (looks like the pictures were attached from finished to purchase condition)

Nice looking scoot..like the gun metal grey color and the black rally trim.

The seat looks a bit "over stuffed" for me, but other than that it's a sick ass scoot! Ride it like you stole it!

The seat makes it look "more vintage" I like it!

NICE PIX and thanks for sharing the info. i will save this one ..

I know it came with a bigger seat to go over the larger fuel tank (2.1 gallons). It just looks a little bit "poofy" toward the back of the seat..that's all.

if i had to make a criticism, it would be that i prefer the original looking seat cover...but that's all preference.

Yours reminds me of the 70's jap bike seats on small displacement motorcycles.

Actually I just used the seat the way it came on my VBB. The project didn't have a seat with it. I agree that it's a bit poofy, but also comfortable, especially for my wife. I have the correct cover, but am not sure what padding goes between the cover and seat springs, and it looks like the padding that is on the seat now is glued to the cover.

The padding was never GLUED to the seat...but the degradation of the seat cover often results in some serious nastiness and meltiness down there.

You typically had the cover itself... and then that cream colored foam padding, and then a black hard chipboard piece that sat in between the springs and the foam. They might have used a little glue to hold all that together, but ...years of asses sitting on it and heat in the sun have likely turned it into a gross seat pancake.

So, just try to pry the shit apart. You want to save that black chipboard piece, if possible ( though you can make another one easy using it as a pattern ) .... remove the old foam, then just go get some foam from your local craft store, cut it to size / shape, and reassemble.

Nice work, I like it the way it is with no turn signals.

good work mate..

I saw a picture of your scooter at Amereivespa this year. I really like the ignition under the seat of the 74's.

I'm new to this forum and I was impressed with your scooter and restoration.

I have a 1975 Rally 200 that I'm in the process of getting back on the road. If you are interested SIP Scooters have the correct handlebar end indicators. I like the look of them - perhaps because they are so 70s.

I actually think the angular guards are not as nice as the earlier models. I much prefer the rounded VNB than my Rally. But I know it is collectable and will not let it go.

Make sure to keep it out of the rain. The middle floor mat, while practical, is a major source of rust in the floor pan. My scooter had terrible rust here which I bodged up (learning to weld...poorly) and want to do it properly. Does anyone know the best way to separate the body into it sections? I have a spot weld remover (Drill bit). When rejoining, do I drill a hole and plug weld with a MIG welder. Can I buy a body somewhere (even a VBB)? OR do I buy a case of port and try and bribe the local welding teacher.

Also any tips on spraying the vespa myself??

Thanks for sharing your work.

GF

Can you provide more (illustrated) details about your omission of the battery? I am keen to replace the original square battery in my Rally but can't find a copy anywhere - they are all retangular.

Did the Rally have a wheel cover for the spare??

GF

The 6 volt battery is available from the online scooter shops, and local shops should be able to get one for you also. That said, I opted to eliminate the battery. Mine is a 1974 stator, which has the two lighting coils joined with a common white out wire, and each with a yellow from the other end. I basically used the white output to the regulator, grounded one yellow, and left the other yellow "floating" in the junction box-that is, not connected to anything.

Yes, the Rally had a cover for the spare, also available from the shops.

Thanks for the pic. Will add it to the Rally file of things to do.

Am still interested in any info you can provide on taking the body apart and undoing the spot welds if possible.

Typical of me, I have been distracted with something I found at the side of the road - a rotary tiller /hoe. It has a cute Villiers Midget engine which I am trying to get restarted. No spark! So I am trying to work out how to remove the flywheel cover and get at the points. Might attach it to an old bike.

This is despite the fact that I returned recently from a month in Bali and have a box full of spares for my two vespas.

Regards

GF