Modern Vespa

Hi Everyone! Long time lurker here, finally decided to say hello.

Hello!

Ok with that over and done with... I thought I would also give everyone a new bit of info that I managed to scrounge up. It seems that there may indeed be a fuel injected version of the LX on the horizon for those of us on this side of the pond. Vespa Italy is selling them now. I had the chance to talk with the Aprilia/Piaggio Rep at my local Vespa Store and he has no knowledge of them for the near future, but was kind enough to tell me that even if he did it wouldn't be likely to be common knowledge as it would only serve to hamper the sales of the current models with a carburetor.
At any rate, its likely they will eventually bring it over to the US, once it is approved with the EPA. For those of you who are interested and speak italian...
http://www.it.vespa.com/it_IT/vespa/lx/default.aspx

Tom

Sweet! I was just wondering the other day, if they were going to put fuel injection on the LX. I wonder what the difference is, in terms of power and fuel consumption.

As I said I have no idea when (or if) it will make its way to US buyers. However, according to the .pdf with information about the fuel injected 150 it has the same power characteristics as the current model (8.9Kw). Most likely this is an alteration to the engine to meet more stringent E.U. emissions guidelines, and also to attract more people to the smaller scooters by making them more user friendly to get started.

Tom

Welcome aboard!

Welcome to MV! Thanks for the link...

You say that as if it's a bad thing.

EFI bikes run cleaner, more efficiently and are generally more reliable. Looks like win/win/win to me.

P.

at last, now scooters will start after sitting for a year when no one rides them

To me, it sounds like a lot of extra electronics and expense for a 150. I'll stick to a carb any day.

100 more euros isn't bad out of the total price.
I like to tinker, myself, so I like my stinky old 2-strokes, but I think the injections a pretty good idea for usability of the scoot

being pro-active on tougher future emmission standards perhaps?

Welcome to MV Tom, nice to have your input cheers Bill

welcome man!

The yellow 125i.e looks cool!

After 40 years of dealing with clogged jets, sticky needles, overflowing float bowls, rotted diaphragms and general stinky mayhem, I would take an EFI system over a carb any day of the week.

Electronic ignition and EFI in cars and now bikes has changed my life. It's the 21st century dammit!!!

P.

"Carburetor" is a French word that means "leave it alone".

What does "inezione" mean?

It's an amalgam of Italian words that loosely means, "when malfunctions, you're effed."

Well put!

Remember when cars went to fuel injection and most thought the "black boxes" would leave then stranded? Now it's almost unheard of for a car to not start and run perfectly.

This is a damn good thing, and worth the extra $$$.

The only thing I didn't like about my former LX was the carb-related "iffy" starting.

So, what all is required on a fuel injected bike? Fuel pump, injectors, etc. Don't get me wrong, my ET4 can be a little finicky, but at least I understand it. It just seems a little excessive for a small engine.

Shane

I would totally rock a fuel injected 150 cc engine for my LX. The engine isn't as nice as the GT 200's carburated engine. I would prefer fuel injection over the carburator for this scooter.

IMO, the great thing about the ET4/LX150 is that they are very simple machines. The only bad thing about them is the stupid keyed security system. Totally overkill.

An efi engine as the LEADER is more stable with it. The carburator is many simple to repair and readjust for who know it, but the efficiency is more low comparated to efi system. Vespa LX , have some small issue with carburator.
- Start with a small throttle 1/8 - 1/16 when cold
- The minium flow is lean in the winter and rich in summer (readjust when the season change else the performance go low)
- Readjust idle when is fuel change from 95 or 100 (Ottane)

The acceleration is quicker with a carburetor and the sound is much more beautiful, you can hear the sound of the vacuum valve acceleration. But the advantages are many dell'EFI and regulations for the next Euro 4 and 5 for the carburetor will be tough.