Modern Vespa

From time to time, I've noticed an odd noise from my mp3 250ie.

It sounds rather like a scraping or low-pitched rubbing noise, and from the driver & passenger's position it sounds as if it's coming from the rear of the bike, however this could be an accoustic illusion on account of the bike's full fairing.

When I first heard it I thought something might be rubbing against the centre-stand, but the stand is secure and does not appear to have any signs of abrasion.

The noise only seems to occur when starting out from absolute stationary. It can usually be heard if the following conditions are true:
* Starting off
* Speed is less than 4mph
* Front + Rear breaks are partially engaged.
* Turning slightly

The noise always stops once any of the conditions above are no longer true.

Also the noise seems to occur more often if I am carrying a passenger, but I'm not 100% sure of that.

I checked all the obvious stuff, for example to ensure that there is good clearance around the rear wheel. There are no components dangling in the path of any moving component. There are no signs of damage. The vehicle is clean.

Any suggestions what might be causing the noise?

Sounds like it could be the 'strangled sealion' noise that can come from the clutch, especially if there's an accumulation of dust in there or the pads/bell have become glazed.

Why might this have happened?

The clutch is a sealed unit and I'm a gentle rider: No excessive speed or acceleration. Is this just a design fault in the MP3's clutch?

No problem, the clutch should be cleaned out every 3000 miles.

Wayne B

I haven't experienced this myself, but from reading this forum I can offer this perspective. The fact that you are a "gentle" rider might be the cause. Doing a gentle takeoff allows the clutch pads and bell to rub each other before full engagement. This glazes them and thus makes it harder to engage and creating the vibration noise you are experiencing. Another way to illustrate this: wet finger rubbing gently around the rim of a glass creates that sound like speaker feedback.

Anyway, might get the clutch cleaned out. Then realize that this can happen due to riding in a lot of stop and go traffic, and instead of being gentle get on it a bit more.

This advice is worth exactly what you paid for it. YMMV.

Actually it's gentle acceleration and slow riding that can exacerbate the problem feature. It can be most evident in slow moving traffic when the clutch gets hot.

If this is what your noise is, then it is perfectly normal, if slightly disconcerting.

...not to mention annoying, and embarrassing. People look at me for all the *wrong* reasons when they hear that horrid grinding grating noise emanating from my scooter.

For me, the Strangled Sealion really 'devalues' the coolness of my MP3. I can hear the thoughts going through their heads "Wow, cool bike. But it sounds like it is missing a gear. Dodgy..."

I intend to get it fixed as soon as I can with aftermarket parts.

Welcome to the club! There are several posts on the forum regarding this issue. I am one of those that has the problem As a matter of fact my 250 is going in tomorrow to have this fixed, again. It is generally a "glazing" or dusting of the clutch. It happens in stop and go traffic or if you are starting up hills. It appears that the 250 really needs to go. Being that I live in Chicago, where I have a stop sign every 50 feet there is no way around it for me. I may look into a different after market clutch.
Tell your mechanic at the dealership that you have glazing on the clutch and he should be able to take care of it. It will most likely come back if your forced to ride in stop and go. I have found that if you really floor it off the start that this will help. It also will happen once the bike is warmed up. It's a true pain but try the tips, FLOOR IT off the start. If it won't stop, then you can stop for a little bit till the bike cools and then go again.

Good Luck,

I've just resigned myself to the fact that it happens, and that I will get it fixed sometime soon.

Tried to fix it myself and the problem went away for three days. I took the clutch bell out and sanded the glazing off. I won't bother doing it again now I know it only lasts three days.

I'm sure you did this, but I just want to double check. So you took the clutch bell out and sanded it, but did you also lightly sand the pads on the clutch? It wasn't mention in the post so I just wanted to double check.

NERD ALERT: The following text is music/physics/history geek material and may not be suitable for all readers.

Hey, Glow Guy, I know speaker feedback from my rock and roll band days and I also know the hauntingly beautiful sound of a wet finger on a glass. They are definitely not the same!

According to the last authority on all things (Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass_harmonica ) and my own memory and experience, there is a serious musical instrument that uses this method of creating musical tones. The glass harmonica (or armonica) was developed in the eighteenth century, a mechanical version of which was invented by non other than Benjamin Franklin. Composers who wrote pieces for this instrument included Mozart, Hayden, and Beethoven.

A really good video clip is here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8D9BBMDWoNM

Back on topic in my next post.

Back on topic.

Beginning rant:

I love my MP3, but...

I haven't experienced this particular embarrassing noise while riding, but I am really getting annoyed by the clunking sound the front of my bike makes when going over sharp bumps. As far as I can tell it's all the plastic faring either bouncing around or just amplifying the sound of the bump. My scooter is such an elegant beast otherwise, that I find this cheapens the impression (and experience) of riding. YUCK!

End rant.

Yep, sure did. And gave the CVT area a dust-out as well. Don't have a compressor, so had to wipe out the dust.