Modern Vespa

My GTS 125 developed a completely new "rattling" sound of the engine over the last couple of weeks... and it is a lot louder.

I've recorded a 20sec video of it idling so that you can hear it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSi4KP7d9gk&feature=channel_page
(I pointed at the area where I think the noise is coming from)

I can't see any changes in performance, it still accelerates well, but is very very loud when doing so.

I'm sure I woke up half of the west London as I was heading to the City to make some early morning photographs today

Do you guys know what is causing the noise?
I saw in some other threats that it could be the variator ... but the Vespa only has 3,000 KMs, is it possible?
Thank you.

Sounds like your exhaust gasket has gone bad. This is a fiber sleeve that fits where the muffler part of your exhaust and the head pipe are clamped together.

That's what my GTS250 sounded like when mine went.

If your bike is still under warranty, it will be fixed for free at your dealer.

P.

thats the sound my 2008 gts 125 was making and no one could help me out. i asked everyone i knew and people i didn't, in the end i took it to my local dealer and he is starting on it monday morning. i'll let you know what the out come is!!!!!

Mine is still under warranty, so i'll call my dealer on Monday to look at it... or to hear it.

That's what mine sounded like both times one of the exhaust studs broke. I would peek under the scooter and take a quick look at those, just to make sure they're intact. Otherwise, I'd say Paul G.'s right, and you have a bad "exhaust gasket".

Yes, it was the exhaust gasket, guys at Scooterworld fixed it

Unfortunately, exhaust gasket is not covered by warranty as it wears down by using the bike and can't be categorized as a manufacturing fault. Fair enough, but still I am surprised it happened on such new scooter.

Well... my ride is now nice, quiet and very enjoyable again, thank you for help

Huh?
Is this BS cop-out done by many dealers in the UK?
Because in the US the exhaust gasket problem is considered a manufacturing defect
(at least on the GT200/250 models), and is covered by warranty!
(If your scoot is still under warranty?)
???
Have you checked with other UK dealers or riders?
We don't get the GT125 here in the States, so maybe that's different,
but I don't see why it should be? -Especially on a NEW scoot??
-Hmmmmm...?

I seem to remember you had problems with your dealer before. This is a warranty job, unless you have had a rear puncture and your exhaust has been off! Tell them you want your money back. Who is your dealer?

Well, I'm avoiding my dealer since my last problems. I took the scooter to Scooterworld in Chiswick, which was recommended to me by a few Addicts and Moderators here on the forum... so I trusted what guys at Scooterworld said to me about warranty.

Sweet... so even they ripped me off. Is there ANY dealer in the whole of London who I can trust?

Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to ask anyone after I was unexpectedly handed the bill and asked to pay. I told them I expected this to be a warranty repair and was explained the above ... no warranty on exhaust gaskets.

Yes. CBS Whitton or Scootech. Forget the others. Although I believe WM is happy with the service. Kate is definitely no soft touch though and would have got her own way. Maybe you weren't assertive enough! No offence (to either of you).

Well yes, I'm new to Vespas and two wheel rides altogether, so I don't feel like arguing with a dealer who knows them throughout and certainly didn't fix their first exhaust gasket. It is my lack of knowledge, probably close to stupidy, that made me pay for that.

CBS Whitton is nearby... but hopefully I can make it to my 6,000 km service without having to visit them before that with yet another fault on my scooter

The exhaust collar has never been a warranty item. It suffers naturally from wear, just like brake pads do. They are cheap enough, and are very easy to change yourself, or it'll take just 10 minutes for a dealer to do once the exhaust itself has cooled down. Always worth carrying a spare and the few tools needed to replace it yourself.

3000km is a lowish figure for one to wear out, especially from new, but if the exhaust has been off in that time then all bets are off, as it's impossible to do zero damage to it on re-assembly (though it should be minimised).

Good dealers always carry lots of spares, as it's 50:50 at every rear tyre change whether a new one is judged wise.

I bow to your experience Jim. But surely on a 2009 scooter with a never-removed-exhaust, this is taking the proverbial?

An over-tightened clamp could have been the cause, who knows. Whatever, apart from the recall on the GTS original downpipes, they have never been a warranty item. The new ones are a slightly different design and will hopefully last longer. I'd normally expect between 8000 and 12000 miles on mine, but I've had one blow just 2000 miles after fitting. Long hard riding, and any vibration from out-of-balance wheels or uneven roads can make them go sooner.

I bet the new one will last just fine.

the gasket went on my gts 250 (less than 3000m),spoke to the dealer and he did it under warrenty.i think it depends on your dealer wether they do it under warrenty or not but as jim c says they dont have to do it .

They are a great dealer and do a good job! I have had free work from them many a time and plenty of discounts off work, scooters and kit. They are straight and do their best. Kam has been happy with them. Their cups of tea are very nice too.

CBS Whitton are also a good dealer, try them if you are not happy. Long term, build a relationship with your dealer and you get a lot back. If you keep moving, it doesn't work as well.

Log onto the GTS owners club website and ask a guy called Cheeky Thomas about warranty issues, he s a top bloke/mechanic and he ll put you right on anything GTS related

Oh thanks, I didn't know such site exists... registering now

Must be different in the UK from the US then?
I thot I read here about US dealers replacing GT/GTS200-250 defective exhaust gaskets on new scoots, under warranty?

That was all about brake lines getting fried when the collars eventually blew. The recall was a new downpipe with a deflector added - and a new collar thrown in for good measure. Nothing to do with the truism that the collars will definitely fail over time.

Jim, normally I would agree with you. This time I don't

I still think that a 2009 scooter shouldn't need an exhaust gasket. Sounds distinctly not fit for purpose under the sale of goods act.

I have just taken my Honda, which is one and a half years old into Motoden for a no-quibble WARRANTY replacement of the gasket. (It may help that I have since discovered that the owner of the whole four shop enterprise is an old school friend who I lost touch with many years ago....)

Watch this space.

A dealer with 'good' relations with Piaggio UK (is there still such a person?) might get away with a 3000km collar replacement. My bet is that the dealer has swallowed the cost themselves - it happens at the good dealers more than most folk realise. The cost (in the UK mind) of a new collar for modern models is minimal. It's only 13 quid for a 500 master one.