Modern Vespa

Ok, so at my apartment complex we are asigned on covered parking space, and then there are a bunch of uncovered spaces that are first come first served.
I chose to use the covered space for my MP3, mainly as there's a lower risk of someone coming in late at night, and trying to whip into an "empty" space and my bike is there, and CRUNCH!

Well my spot gets morning sprinkler hose down, first day I found a slightly wet seat... went and toweled it off...

Since then I've been using the rain cover that came with it to cover the seat... yesturday no water on the cover, and a dry seat.

Today there was a little bit of water on the cover, and when I took if off, it was wetter on the inside, and water on the seat...

Is there a right side up? or is it only water resistent, and just didn't hold u?

Am I doing something wrong?

Yes, but I have no idea what.

Those covers are NOT waterproof - not even light shower-proof. Just let the seat get wet, and dry off with an old T-shirt. I always keep one under the seat.

The rain cover tucked into the seat is borderline useless. In a pinch its better than nothing in the sun >may< help keep the seat from cooking off, but for rain you need a better cover. Full on cycle cover best, seat cover second best. I use the cool ass cover in the sun and its been fine in some light rain too, but once I have used it for a while and it gets a little worn I don't think it will repel water so well. You could even use a plastic trash bag if you've nothing else, but they can condense water underneath as well.

Oh there's no right side up that I can find on the supplied seat cover.

Cool, thanks guys... I had thought it was supposed to be water proof, now I know it's "resistent" I'll have to get a towel to keep under the seat for just this purpose... I don't care so much, other than a wet butt sucks

As for the water in the pet carrier. I have traced it back and have discovered it is the way the pieces of the bike come together, there is a seam that allows water to slowly drip in. Some users have drilled a hole to let the water drain out, others just keep a rag in it. It's never a lot of water, just enough to be noticed.

get a CoolAss.com seat cover...protects from water and sun....well worth it.
cheers....jacq

After reading several posts about the "stock" seat cover (we are under the impression that it is used for ...HELLO....rain?)...okay, it's not soooo good for that (one wonders....what is it good for then? WE have sunny days too....hmmm, do we use it 4 that? Nah...well maybe some, I guess).
I found my solution to the rainy days and then some (for a buck two ninety eight!)

The stock seat cover is a cheap add-on that is fundamentally useless. I don't know why they bother! The extra 50c would be far better spent on a stronger C-spanner for adjusting the rear suspension instead of one made of cheese.

Oh- and some extra grease in the steering bearings and swing-arm bearings...

+1.....need more grease (NOT the movie!)

I found that spraying it with Scotch-Guard will make it rain proof, at least for a while.

Why bother? The seat is waterproof anyway. Just wipe it dry. C'mon chaps, it isn't a sugar-lump...

LOL, my seat is melting... it's melting... LOL

Yeah the only reason I started using it, was to not have to wipe it off in the morning... alas, I guess we throw a towel under the seat, I have biodegradable wipes for my helmet, now to just get a towel for the seat, no worries, not that big of a deal, just wanted to save a minute or 2, but that coolA** seat cover sounds like something to add to the birthday list (why buy when you can get for free)

Get one of those mini microfibre squares to put under your seat, they actually dry the seat rather than just push the water around like most other cloths do.

After rain, wet seat, no probs. Sham Wow to the rescue! Order now and you'll get...

.................why a second set FREE! All for only $19.95 + S/H! Use one for the car, the boat, your MP3! Share the cost with a friend and have your own set. Call the 800 number today!
Sushi, I bet the damn things work great, hmmmmm

If the seat is exposed to the sun a lot - like right now in the valley where we're pushing 100 already today - consider using something to help UV protect. There was mention in a couple threads here of a product from 303 that could be had cheaply, as in 'free sample' and I ordered up and used it. I dunno if the UV protection really works, I can only trust that it does what it says, but it does seem to do the vinyl good. Seat looks better with than without so I'll apply it every month or two in the summer, less often in winter.

Here's one of the threads, where smrf brought it up again, if interested:

https://modernvespa.com/forum/topic31419

There's a lot in that thread on cleaning too, excellent stuff!

I have the CoolAss seat cover. I have used it very very rarely. If I were to change my daily routines to where I was parking in direct sun all day long I might make the minimal effort necessary to unfold it and wrap it around the seat etc. But for now it is more effort than I have when just getting to work.

I also have a ShamWow, and find that it is a perfect addition to carry around. It wipes up quickly and dries quickly. And you can cut it into smaller sizes. It is not good for visors though, so I have a microfiber cloth for cleaning bugs and fingerprints off that.

Oh, and I do use the free CoolAss coozie (sp?) that you get when you order the seat cover, everyday on a KleanKanteen. The steel of the bottle heats up quickly when you fill it up with coffee in the morning.

http://genuinecoolass.com/

Guaranteed for life--waterproof, heat reflective...if it stops working to your satisfaction return it...they'll replace it or give you your money back.

...cause we can't do this all day! but i think they really do do it all day

It's 303 Aerospace Protectant - good stuff. All their products seem to work. That $5 sample thing they offer is really worth it.

"Aerospace Protestant"... I can't stand it... I LOVE typos! errr... that IS a typo, right??

+1 on 303 stuff, I mentioned it earlier this thread.

I give them a +1 too. I use their PROTECTANT on my seat and the water proofing on my safety gear.

In response to "does it work" and "is the promotion still on" and "is the stock under the seat black cover waterproof / UV protected" I offer the following:

- yes -- the No Pets 2-for-one offer is on through August

- yes - it works -- latest testimonial follows:

"It's monsoon season here in the desert southwest - hot and muggy with temperatures in the triple digits every afternoon. I rode my MP3 to a dental appointment and was left with nowhere to park but in direct sunlight. I pulled out my CoolAss and decided to put it to the test. After my appointment the temperature was 121 degrees, but my seat was only warm to the touch. AMAZING. No more easing myself onto the seat as if getting into a Jacuzzi! Thanks for making such an ingenius product - one that just plain works."
- BH, Tucson, AZ

- lastly -- according to our Vespa dealers nationwide, the integrated black cover is not water proof and not UV protected. In that it is black, it is also not very heat resistant.

Best to all,

Brian

I'd like to add a comment on the cool ass cover as well... It was 103 in Portland yesterday with blazing sun, and 105 expected today - more tomorrow. I use and have come to rely on the cool ass seat cover and I am extremely impressed with how well it works in the sun. I'd have to stand on the footboards all the way home if I didn't have it... next test will be when the rainy season hits!

I would recommend cool ass for anyone parking their bike in the sun.

+1.....I believe they do!

God I am glad I don't have TV anymore.

Wayne B

A huge thanks to all who took advantage of our 2-for-one No Pets cover promotion. Our apologies for being a tad late on shipping. We expected to ship on 8/20, but all orders ended up being packaged and sent Wednesday morning, 8/26. Most should arrive in your mailboxes by today, Saturday or Monday at the latest. Thanks for your patience.

The 2-for-one promotion ends August 31, 2009, so there's still time to take advantage of the offer. Beginning September 1st, No Pets will still be available (while supplies last), but at the regular price - $29.95 per cover. More information is available at www.GenuineCoolAss.com.

Best to all,

Brian

I always carry around a good clean Protestant under my seat, for those times when a little precip has landed on my vinyl. They really are very absorbant.

I tried using them for protection from the heat, but have you ever tried to get a Protestant to lay out in the sun all day, thrown over the saddle? After an hour or two at 95+ degrees, they tend to slump to the running boards...

Which helps explain why the landfills are brimming with damp, slumped and used up Protestants, I 'spect.

Still waiting for mine to show... starting to worry it may have gotten lost in the mail... too bad too, could have used it this week, the sprinklers had been avoiding my seat pretty well, not this week, was nice and wet this morning... ICK! Got hot when I stopped at a store during lunch too... hot buns...

I rec'd mine in the mail last Fri, in CA.

Hmmm. now I'm really wondering if it didn't get lost in the mail....

what up

Ah. It did get lost. But not in the mail but in cyber land. Computer took my info but never forwarded it on to them so they could ship it.

Big thanks to Brian for looking into it and figguring it out. Mines shipping today. Computers are great. Until they decide to so goofey things.

Haven't posted in a while, but was recently looking through the forums for some seat cover advice as my full cover shredded in the Florida sun. Anyway, I would advise against using a plastic bag to cover the seat as any part that overlaps with the body of the scooter can transfer its color. If I had known, I never would have put a bag on there in the first place and dealt with the wet seat!

Is there anyway you can ahem(cough) adjust that single sprinkler nozzle. Or perhaps put a coffee can or small bucket over it when your bike is parked there? Seems the easiest solution.

I recently posted a thread about use of a half-cover (see Half-Cover for the MP3). Inexpensive, waterproof, easy to put on, and stores in a small bag. If that isn't quite enough, put a Coolass cover on the seat as well.

i have had pretty good luck with the stock cover. it is important to make sure that it stays outside the rim of "weather stripping", however, else water will just track inside the trunk as the OP found out.

Thanks for the advice... I think I might just try the CoolAss for the time being. I really like how small that half-cover folds up, but on the other hand, I think cats might see it as a good place to sleep under! (I once found a cat in the engine compartment of my car... It looked a bit frightened, but was physically okay.)