Modern Vespa

Hi
Im Josh and im 16, male and live in norfolk out in a quiet countryside village. Iv been reading through this forum for the last few days and really enjoyed it, particualy the storys about the road trips, work routes and most of it really and read so many topics which i wanted to reply to, so i thought if i register i can do in the future. Iv recently finished school and untill the end of the summer wont be at work untill i get my GCSE results.
So iv been making most out of 'childhood' and a non working life and being 16 now got my first bike. Iv liked lambrettas and vespas over other veichles since i was young, as my dad is really into scooters, his first bike was an old lambretta he re built, and now has a gorgeous lambretta and two older model vespas. So it was only right for me to get a scooter aswell

Iv got a 2003 Black ET2, its got a light brown seat and light brown knee rests. Ive got to say i couldnt be happyer with it. Friends of mine have mostly either plastic chinese mopeds, dirt style bikes like TS50s or derbi sendas, or 'crotch rockets' like RS50s, im the only person i know of my age to have a real scooter. And incase you wonders theres no Mods and Rockers anymore in the youth, everyone with a bike all chat after school.

My CBT instructor scared the hell outta me with his storys of death on the road, and that one 16 year old pedder dies everyday, and how much more at risk we are than car driver, he explained that car drivers have a ton and a half of metal wrapped round them, and all i have is my brain lol.
So anyway, i feel iv much got the hang of being on the road after the few months iv had my vespa. I love going for a drive in the country on a sunny morning, then getting home and making a fry up. I find iv really been enjoying life alot more since getting my vespa. Iv had no problems with it so far, apart from speedo dying but it was easly fixed with a trip to the local garage for a cable.

I think iv learnt a few things from reading through this forum, and i reckon sharing knowledge and tips from being on the road could benifit every driver. And you all seem like nice friendly people from what iv read anyway
i didnt want to just post a reply or somthing without introducing myself.
Thanks for reading

Josh "Beans"

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj112/bfmv580/SL371182-Copy.jpg

Heh. Welcome Josh, nice to hear from someone starting right at the first rungs.

Get to know your machine, and it will reward you with so much fun, and it's great your Dad can help. Don't let him help too much, please insist on getting your own tools and DIY. Only get him to check if not sure.

[GOG mode]
Well done finding the <Shift> key, try finding the ' thingie (under @) to make "Iv" into "I've". It makes a world of difference to Curmudgeon's perceptions of people. Why care about Curmudgeons? They often have answers...
[/GOG]

Don't take the above personally, there are not a few here that should heed!

Welcome Josh! Nice looking ET. They really are great bikes, and they've got surprising pep compared to the 4-strokes

Be safe!

I've got a garage full of tools, no problems there.

And yeah, il try and keep my grammer to a high standard if thats what you want:) let me off as it is getting late.

ET2 is a damn fine bike, enjoy it, treat it well and it will return the favor. Welcome

Welcome Josh!
Great looking bike! Enjoy and ride safe.

Aaah mate, your first vehicle It's special whatever you get, but at 16, a black et2 is double cool 8)

Woohoo! ET2's Rock (and I am 31 years young)

Aha, they sure do

I even like driving mine in the rain

mate that is great you have an ET2 for your first scoot. I had it for my first one! get a good feel of it. I am actually surprised you didn't go for a "typhoon" or something close to it. GREAT CHOICE LAD!!! I wish I had started that young, but back then the mother would have killed me if I turned up at the house with a beautiful looking thing you've got there.

Shes more of the "OMG MY SON HAS JUST BOUGHT A FIRST CLASS TICKET TO DEATH" kinda person. She still is, although she would ask for the odd lift to the station... which is a tiny bit hypocritical but thats MUMS for ya! lol


ENJOY AND WELCOME TO MV!!!!

be sure to check out my thread on all beautiful things ET..

(oh you have!!! wicked) lol

and also check out some of the mods people have done to ET's to make life easy on the ET as possible!

Richie

Yeah i know what ya mean but my mum is getting better about it now, stopped worrying lol. She got me to get some shopping on it earlyer so i think its all good.
I was thinking to myself earlyer that everytime some one mentions an ET you have usualy posted a reply

I saw that amazing ET speaker mod, where the guy put speakers from an ipod dock into the knee rests. Iv already orders some bits for it off a great scooter mod site.
Thanks for reply:)

Welcome JOSH and the ET'S are great scooters. Never heard a bad thing about one of them. Wish i could get my hands on one over here but alas no can find. I still hope that someday i'll find one. Have fun with that scooter of yours.

yea total inspiration! I need to start that project of mine when I grab the chance.

what site did you get it from?? also, the ET is good to get for a first scooter because when you turn 17 you will be able to upgrade to a et4 125 which pretty much is the same scooter aesthetically. Then what ever parts you bought for the ET 50 you can transfer if you decide to upgrade to a 125 model

=)

Well for accessories [url]www.adrenalin-pedstop.com[/url], and for engine and preformance [url]www.beedspeed.com[/url]. Let me know if you know of any others, theese are the two iv used before and i usualy stick with what i know when it comes to internet shopping.

And yeah i saw an advertisment for someone who wanted to swap an ET2 for an ET4, and if i could find something like that when im 17 it would be perfect as my ETs in very good condition. But if not i probely wont upgrade, i was thinking about going down the 70cc kit road, but i think il leave it. I will get another bike when im 17 as i doubt il be able to afford all the hassle with driving lessons. I fingure i have a few options,

1, To sell my ET and use that money along with as much as i can get at the time to buy another bike, id really like to do up an old lambretta, but as my only mode of transport and with starting my job after the summer i dont know if having it as my primary ride would be..well practical.
2, Keep my ET, maybe get the 70cc upgrade, it goes 46mph at the moment so would probely go 55 with the kit, which is plenty enough for getting to work as fast as going by car, and atleast i know how realiable it is so no worrys there, And then buy a cheap old lambretta in crappy condition, and just having it as something to sort out over time, to tinker with in the garage sorta thing:)
3, To keep my ET2 and save up all the money i earn for driving lessons, as much as i prefer bikes to cars, i cant wait to get a car. Mostley for the reason of being able to pick 4 people up and go somewhere with them lol.

Let me know if there is anything iv overlooked, and if anyones had experience with 70cc kit upgrade to an ET2, please let me know how it went.

Congrats on your new ride! We had a et2 as our first scooter in our late 40's. It had already been kitted with a 70 cc upgrade and new rollers and belt. That scoot was a great way to get into the scooter thing. We now have a et4 and bv500. I ride the bv and my wife rides the et4. If we had it all to do over, I think I would rather just trade up than kit the et2. The 4 stroke is just so much easier as well as noticibly more powerful. That et2 was fun to ride though, and would top end at around 65 mph. However, the milage was terrible, and we were recommended to mix the oil and not take advantage of the automatic oil mix on the bike. I think the recommeded ratio was different. We found the et4 used and got it. We found the bv500 on Craig's list and got it. We sold the et2 the same way. I miss that little bike every once in a while. We both are around 5'6", and weight 125, so it was easy to manuver and handle. Be careful on it and keep an eye and ear open. It's simple to maintain and fun to ride!!!

One year and a few weeks and I stil LOVE my Et2!!

One year and a few weeks and I still LOVE my ET2!!

8 Months on and the ET2 is still great, had a new back tire fitted and kept the oil topped up and its been problem free. Riding it has opened up a new world of passion for biking, getting a new bike within the next few months. Totaly recommend the ET2 for a first bike, or just for a good, fun run around. Also it goes off the line faster than any other 50cc scoot i've riden on or with. Thanks for positive comments. Really got the feel for the et2 now, totaly confident with it

All I recommend from now is 'grow slowly' - at least as slowly as your impatience will allow.

For the first few years the ratio of confidence:competence can vary widely, and being inside that cunundrum makes it hard for new riders to work out where they are.

If you can get to a 'Scootersafe' course nearby, that might be an eye-opener. Mostly because you'll always afterwards treat Police bikers as friends.

http://www.scootersafe-london.co.uk/

Excellent suggestion about Scootersafe. I've read about it in TnG - I wish we had something like that here in the states.

And I'm quite happy with my ET2 as well. Excellent first scoot!

You have yourself a great first scooter*
erich

Nice to hear from a youngster with their head screwed on right!

At the risk of sounding like your Mum or Dad- be careful out there! Do consider extra training. Despite riding big bikes for years, I still got a lot out of a course where a police rider followed you round for a few miles (and no, before you think it was cops n robbers, he was meant to!)

Geeza

so i read absolutely nothing in this thread... call me a jackass...

save your money buy a polini evo kit, yasuni c20 pipe, doppler reeds/intake, 24mm carb, polini 9 roller variator, and a polini 2g clutch and evo bell...

that shit will put a smile on your face...

Hi Josh, welcome aboard glad you got an ET mate it's nice to see a young guy starting off on a "proper" scooter rather than a plastic-fantastic lol plus I think the chicks will dig it too lol Jimc is not just a grumpy Curmudgeon lol he is full of local info etc and in his haste he forgot to add this link to his site for you !!! http://www.wotmeworry.org.uk/manuals/ET2/ this should give you an insight as to how your ET2 works etc. Also Richie (Vlconception) is a fountain of ET knowledge too !!! lol Good luck keep her lit and stay safe ,get a hi viz vest too!!! cheers Bill

Not only is it a perfect 1st bike its the perfect 21st bike!! Around town I enjoy riding it more than my Ducati 1100. I only have a 10 min walk to work (probably pretty rare here in US) but I purposely sleep just a little longer so I "have" to take the et2 to work.

You are a jackass. You're welcome.