Modern Vespa

You're comparing a runner to a project. That 100 Sport is a good deal, not saying that VBB isn't but if it were me I'd be riding that 100 while you're still stuck working out what's missing on that engine not to mention the ground up rebuild of the rest.

I say bite the bullet and go for one and be done with it or Eric will ban you for sure... haha

All my thoughts, exactly. And believe it or not, we really wanted something we needed to do an engine rebuild on, because one of the goals on this is to get me all greased up. My dad and I have never had the opportunity for him to pass down some of his mechanical knowledge to me, and a vintage Vespa seemed like the perfect project. That's one vote!

you can always put a new LML motor in it

True enough. I may still end up doing it, even if the motor in it now is fine when it's reassembled. I'm going to go straight stock for awhile, and see if I'm satisfied. If not, it's kitting time!

If the rest of the bike is in the same shape as what we're looking at there I'd say buy it.


NOW!

I can't get up there during the week. However, I've already got a buddy that lives in Atlanta (we lived up there for a few years) that's agreed to go pick it up for me if I buy. Did I mention this weekend is my birthday? This would be an awesome present. I'd let my wife take full credit of course. 8)

That's not a '59 VBB ... That's a 1961 VNB ( 125cc largeframe ). I'd bet money on it. That's actually the stock paint color for that year.

You'd have to do a LOT of work on it to make the engine usable... like... throw it away and put a newer one in there is probably the best bet. That has only a 3 speed engine in it, so you'd be pulling out most of the guts and putting in a 4 speed gearbox, 4 speed primary, welding up the cases for a 3rd port, putting in something larger ( like hopefully a 3 port pinasco 177 or malossi 166 ) etc.

Or just buy a P200 engine and downgrade it to 8" wheels.

Either way, don't think you're getting away without spending another $1000 in parts to make that VNB something you could ride every day. As it is, with you on it, it's only going about 25mph.

I honestly don't know which i'd take .. the 100 sport or the VNB if given the choice... Since you don't have any wrenching experience, the one that will require the least amount of work to ride is probably the best bet. If both are running ..... they're both going to be slow. Either one is a good platform for upgrading. The 100 sport has the edge because it's 10", so it's going to handle better and has a better suspension. The VNB has more of the vintage looks... but it's going to feel springy and slow going down the road.

The 100 sport is also a 3-speed. You don't have to weld up the cases and cut a third port on the VNB. You could use a 160cc 2-port kit from ASC and a PX150 non-cat exhaust and have good power and a decent top speed or you could get one of these...

http://www.sip-scootershop.com/Products/80510000/Racing+cylinder+177ccm+PINASCO.aspx

W00t, thread resurection.

http://scoot.net/classifieds/forsale.html?id=17458

No idea where he is or where Florence AL is but you should jump on this.

Yeah..certainly a better platform for the ample-sized person, as compared to a smallframe or vnb.

That looks like a great deal. The only thing that's confusing me is why you would put a seat like that on there. That scooter is screaming for a black seat!

Because those seats are about the cushiest seats you can get that are not custom made.

Think so? I personally think the spring seats are more "cushy" ... but that's not always a good thing. The downside of most old vintage seats with springs in them is that the vertical springs in there tend to point upward into your buttcheeks, and nobody likes that. ( my ss180 seat included )

I owned on of those PX millennium seats, that they use on the Stella as well. Remember that it's just a layer of foam over a plastic seat pan. I liked that it didn't have any springs stabbing you in the ass, but it also lacked the springiness of the old seats - it's certainly harder due to the plastic base.

So, i have mixed feelings about both. I'm just going to buy one of those hemmorhoid donuts and duct tape it to my SS180, and then i'll ride in comfort and be prepared in case i ever have any 'roid issues.

Comfort is one thing, that color is another. No offense, but it I think it is just plain horrid.

Not sure what they are using on them now but Stella seats are fucking nasty.Rode my friend's last night, was like riding with a stiff dead hooker under me. Horrible. While I took his for a spin he was hanging out and tossed his ass on my PX. First comment when I pulled up was "Dude I want your damn seat, it's awesome"

i think, in my opinion the nicest vintage seat is the old style P-series springy one ..because of where they placed the vertical springs ...

but it also looks really weak on any scooter other than a P-series.

The rally 200 ones were really comfortable to, if you have an original one. The repops, not as much.

I think it's a good-looking scooter, nasty colour seat or not Come on Dullivan, this is your new ride

It's calling you, in a low whisper;

"Duuuuuuuullivaaaaaaaaaaan!"

Yeah mine's pretty stiff... thinking about buying an old P seat even though this one was free. But mechanical and electrical issues first! Don't need the seat till I can ride it!


Dullivan, seat aside, buy that. It will be worth the extra dough for fewer headaches

Dullivan..1200 bucks..if you don't buy that scoot I will kick you in your 350lb head.

Just make sure to sell that dog turd seat after you buy it.

heh... nobody likes the brown stella seat. *shrug* fair enough.


( i'd take it off of my bike, too, to be fair. He may not give a shit and like the comfort of it, though )

I think mine is ulgy as hell. It does indeed look like a turd and I still say it's a great seat.


that being said I'm having it recovered next winter.

I'm back! Between being completely slammed at work and making birthday plans (thrown together at the last minute since I'm not going to pick up a scooter in Atlanta) I haven't even checked on this place in 48 hours. Inconceivable!

The P....WOW! She's all fixed up and ready to rock. Again, slight problem. Florence, AL is apparently as far away from me as you can be and still be in Alabama. Let me clarify with the map below. It'll also give folks some good points of reference as to where I'm at geographically. Now, that being said, my wife's parents do live in Fayetteville, TN (I put the route through there), so we'd have a place to crash for the night, but that'd be a total of about...umm....18-20 hours total driving towing a trailer. Not saying I won't do it, but my dad definitely won't. I'm still going to check it thoroughly though.

If anybody wants to play lasertag, my buddy and I are headed to Adventure Landing in Jacksonville, FL Saturday. It was supposed to be my birthday bash, but everybody backed out this week except him. Oh well, my birthday is Sunday anyway.

YES! DO IT!!!!! I'm proud of ya lad! But ya got a long road ahead of ya boyO! Good luck!

,, cruises @ 35-40 i`m 200lbs,,and i find it rolls right along, sometimes i even has to slow down as it gets wound out, ( total top end bike), but if i want to haul ass i`ll jump on lil bastard 70cc buddy, 60mph,,and quick,,buy the vespa, get a few winks from chics, loose some weight and enjoy a mid-life mobile on the cheap,, or i`ll buy it!!!
eric,, true not alot of storage on a small frame**

saw this today, might be worth a call, fix one up and sell the rest in parts... and closer than florence alabama


http://atlanta.craigslist.org/mcy/1297592807.html

Wow..3 scoots for 1200 bucks? Would love to see pictures...either way..sounds like a steal

Don't bother looking there at my house right now.

So how many times you got to hear it? You are over 350. Don't get the damned thing! It will disapoint you for a rider. As an investment... whatever.

If I were 6'5" and 350 I would get a Harley, maybe a Fat Boy.

How did you get this picture of me?

Pictures?

I'm curious to see what the 3 mystery scoots looked like, just to see what kind of deal we missed out on!

Matt needs to post pictures soon...

I'm going to tell you how the guy tried to sell the scooters before I could get there to buy them. This is a craigslist ad for a morris minor , my wife was looking at old cars, and said is this guy crazy for asking 2100 for that car. I said yes but I wonder how much he would want for the P-series. I thought it looked like a P200 so I called the guy. He told me he has 3 of them Vesta (not a mispelling that's what he said)mopeds and one of them he's heard run and wouldn't take less than 950 and would not sell separate. I said I would take them and would call him back tomorrow to get dirrections. Then he placed the add on craigslist. I called him back that night and got directions and made him feel bad for trying to sell them out from under me. I got a few friends and went to pick them up. We really had to pick them up and carry them out from the back acres of his junk piled property. 78 P125, 79 P200, 74 Super 150. I'll post some photos later. All will require engine rebuilds.

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/cto/1281825412.html

Yeah, that's way too much for that Morris...

Don't suppose you could part with that P....sell it to Dullivan to finance the resto of the other two.

just an idea.

/feel like a pimp

Here's photos. I went in on the deal with 2 other people so all the bikes are sold.
http://picasaweb.google.com/whitelionscooters/YardBikes?feat=directlink

Nice score mate! Which one is yours?

Grats to mattgyver. Those look like a little much work for me to start on, so I'm glad he got them. Seeing all that rust and things hanging out and stuff obviously missing makes me wince a little.

I think I may have a hookup. Keeping it quiet for the moment. I'll post more Monday. I'm still talking to the guy about the VBB too, but apparently he works a lot.

I'm taking the P125X. Repair and restoration is my business so finding all the missing pieces and doing the work are only as hard as walking to my shop.

Hey Dullivan, if that other deal doesn't work out saw this on craiglist in Atlanta too.

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/mcy/1302412392.html

Good luck, Moedi

Hm, that might be within his price range, but I think that's pretty steep for a P125 in that condition, IMHO