Modern Vespa

Does anyone know if this is possible? I would like to think that the increase in tire diameter would help the handling and also the greater availability of tire choices. If anyone has any experience with this please feel free to email me at jkbenn02@yahoo.com or just post it here for everyone. Thanks in advance!

I know you can't put a GTS rear rim on the LX rear. While working with Mark Parns of the Parns Static Wheel Balancer, to develop a set of centering cones that would work with both scoots. I made measurments of all the rims and the hub holes.. The LX rear wheel has a slotted sleve that the drive shaft fits into (about .736 inch diameter and the GTS does not. The rims on the GTS250 are identical to each other and can be interchanged with each other, and with the front wheels of the MP3. They have a large smooth holes, similar to the LX's front wheel. But the diameters and depths are different. I do not have the dimentions for the 250 rims here, but in email I had the dimentions of the LX150.. The small hole is 1.377 and the large hole is 1.815, with a face to face distance of .967. I know the diameters and face to face distance is different because the centering cones touched each other before they engaged the wheel on the LX but they engaged the wheel just fine on the GTS. I think they use the rear or larger hole to center the rim on the axle, so if the GTS hole is bigger, then it is not going to be safe to bolt it on the LX. Plus since your rear tire will still be the 10" , changing out the front from an 11" to a 12 really will not help you any.

hi centre hole the same on gt200 rim and lx ,i have been runing this set up for 12 months i use a low profile tyre 110 70 12 ,handles verry well ,i have added a bitubo shock handles and looks great

The discbrake is 2 cm larger than the LX-es. 220 mm instead of 200 mm.

forgot to mention that i also used the gt200 calliper and disk

photo.jpg (186.3 KB), ATT00001 (0.0 KB), photo 2.jpg (168.7 KB), ATT00002 (0.0 KB), photo 3.jpg (178.0 KB), ATT00003 (0.0 KB), photo 4.jpg (154.4 KB), ATT00004 (0.0 KB)

I am posting these for Tony P here on the forum. He did quite a bit of front end upgrades from the Vespa parts bin. He used the front wheel, brake rotor, hub, and caliper from a Vespa GT200 and swapped them onto his LX150. He also has an upgraded Brembo Caliper (not sure where he got it, looks like one that Jettin sells, and a Bitubo on the front)

He certainly has a very desirable combo as far as braking, steering, and suspension goes.

I am gathering the parts for my own version of his swap.

justin: thanks for posting the photoes for me ,the gt brake conversion is simple but remember you need to use the gt front wheel . i went for a low profile tyre wich brings the total diamiter of the wheel and tyre allmoste the same as the lx wheel this keeps the speedo corect and no tyre rub no matter how hard you hit the brakes, also if you are going to do the gt calliper i recomend the paioli ,mellosi shock as it has plenty of clearance .the bitubo is to tight a fit ,and needs to be undone from the hub, each time you need to change the brake pads this wont happen with the stock shock,or the piolli ,mellossi .if you use the brembo you can use the bitubo plenty of room.i did get the brembo from jettin.if you want to stop in a quarter of the time and distance go the brembo.i think they are the ants pants,ps 10000 kms since the conversion and the pads are still like new. i also replaced the clutch from the gt200 it has a bigger pad serface wich grabs better launches hard enough to want to lift the front wheel ,i replaced the springs in the clutch with mellosi yellow springs , and i added a mellossi 190 cylinder kit , last but not least i allso used the gt200 ,dash, instrument cluster because i liked the sillver look ,i added a oil temp sender to the oil sump and wired it to the gages on the dash so what was the water temp on the gt is now oil temp on my lx ,i have a 130 rear tyre on the back that gives better top end ,and all of you know that when you put a 130 on the rear it still just touches the ground when you put the scoot on the rear stand i sorted this by using yes a gt200 stand most parts can be sourced from a dissmantler quite cheep ,hope this gives all you guys that have run out of mods something new to chew on .lots of fun tony.perin@ hotmail.com

tony.p aka ;astro forgot to mention i used the gt braided brake line for the conversion as it is a touch longer and give you heaps to play arround with, i used the hole clutch assembly, my next mod im working on is making a spacer for the gt carburretor,will send photoes and let every one know how this mod goes once its done. i was asked why not just buy a 200 ,my reply to that is i had the lx ,like how nimble it is like seeing the look on club members faces when they see all the mods, it out handles moste lxs and 250s and i picked up the parts for the conversion from a wreck that i picked up for next to nothing and it gave my brain something to think abbout sorry about the spellig,

Good show! Now that I've done the 190 kit and upgear kit on my LX, maybe this will be next year's package of mods.

As I have the upgear, I wouldn't put on a larger rear tire, though.

Front brake workes fine on a LX.

What we need is a rear disc brake!

I agree, but those of us who have kitted our LXs could use a little stronger front brake as well. The front brake does most of the work.

I just bought a used MP3 wheel and I will be installing it in the next few days. I will post pics then.

astro did you also get the front fender, seat and tail light off a wrecked vespa s?

MP3 wheel on Vespa LX150

Hard to tell in the photos, but are you running a Michelin Pilot sport? 120/70-12?

FYI, I've done a quick search for smaller tires that would fit a GTS/MP3 wheel, and it looks like the 110/70-12 is available in a few brands. That would seem to be a great size for that setup. The almighty Heidenau K61, as well as the Duro HF912A and the Kenda K413. There are likely more, but these are the three I have access to at my shop.

Yes, it is the stock Michelin Pilot. I need a new rear tire and now that I have more options (using the larger front wheel, they hardly make any tires in the 11 inch) I will be looking into it. Thanks for the tire tips!

hi i went the zippy 110 70 12 verry sticky tyre i purchased the seat on ebay from the states,front guard new .mirrors new, the brake conversion and front shok is the best conversion you can do,ps i like your scoot the mp3 wheel looks great,i used the gt200 wheel and parts cause i got them from a wrecked scooter that i got ,i used the gt200 side casing ,that eliminates the kickstarter gives it a cleaner look,

What's that rear light off? It's mahussive! Got the dreaded cracked lense and am lookin to replace. If anyone can - metaphorically - throw any light on the crossover of rear lights beween models it would be gratefully received and would help me expand the search. Still can't believe that u can't get just a lense! :cry:

I know this is a kinda old thread but...
If you use a larger tire wouldn't that make the speedometer closer to correct?

hi i used a low profile tyre on my 12 front rim wich makes the rolling diamiter the same as the 11 tyre ,as the speedo is on the front wheel changing the size on the rear wont change the speedo operation but it will afect the gearing ,ie make the scooter slower of the mark and better top end ,hope that helps,

I know that this is an old thread but I had a question for anyone who might be able to answer a couple questions. Does the new caliper require a custom bracket to install? Where can you get braided steel lines for the new brakes?

Great thread. Thank you for the inspiration.

An adapter is required and is made by Jettin. It is available in a few different finishes.

I haven't seen a ss brakeline kit for the swap.

(For the new poster...)

You should be able to get braided steel brake lines from any competent auto/motorcycle place in your area that does custom made ones... I had one done for about $55 for my front.

Good luck - and welcome!

Desi B.

hi i just used the gt200 brake line the gts250 line is the same they are braided but have a clear plastic coteing on it i suppose to stop fraying ,they would be cheaper than a custom made line,the angle of the end pieces that mount to the calliper and to the brake master are perfect, just look at my photoes of my break conversion and you will see the break line is braided,that is assuming you are using it for a modern vespa conversion ,if not most hydrolic or hi pressure hose manufacturers should be able to make one up. its now been quite a while that i have done my conversion ,and its been great, i didnt realise how good it was till i jumped on my brother in laws lx vespa ,and had to stop suddenly,i nearly p----d my pants when it took too times as long to pull up hope this has been some help , i am using the cdi ignition and carb off the gt200

No bracket other than GT/S knuckle needed if you use GT/S caliper.

IMO Brembo caliper is cosmetic upgrade on LX/S -- WAY more brake power than needed.

And as stated above, factory GT/S line is braided steel -- ~$10 used on ebay.

Thanks for the tips. Was considering this for my project.

Want to use the Malossi derestricted CDI listed for the GT. From research pretty sure it would work, glad to see you can confirm.

What all is needed for the carb swap? Manifold? Tuning? Simple bolt on?

Yeah, I'm curious about this too. I've done everything I can on the exhaust side to improve the breathing of my kitted LX. Would like to try a larger carb, but not sure if the 2V head would make the effort futile.

i did the gt 200 carb swap i found the power and torque to be smoother,works well but you need too keep the original air filter set up ,i tried a sports filter with the carb and it just boged down when i gave it throtle,then i tried the the original filter and it worked ,one thing inoticed was the exhaust sound was different,dont know why.the only problem with the carb conversion is that you cant use the under seat storage pod, as the carb sits higher . i am now in the process of making a new one out of fiberglass. i originally had cut out where the carb touched the plastic pod and made a cover for the enlarged hole out of alluminium,but that would heat up so much.

Has anyone tried a gt200 front wheel on a lx 150 or s150?

Uhh, did you read the thread?

Got one on both ends of mine: project S -- a hotrod modern smallframe