Modern Vespa

My child hood memories are on a Vespa that looks and sounds exacly like the Stella. I am planning on buying a Vespa soon. Mostly for nostalgic reasons and the joy to ride. I did see that those who sell Vespa don't sell the Stella...so I have to assume the patents ran out and China or India decided to take advantage. I am torn...any suggestions?

That's not entirely true. There are plenty of dealerships who carry both vespa and genuine products ( including the indian made Stella ). LML is the indian company who have produced ( for a good long time now ) the P-series copy called the "LML Star". In 2003, Phil McCaleb from Scooterworks started a sub-company called "Genuine Scooters" and used that as his marquee to import 3rd world produced bikes and give them a more "americanized" feel. The LML Star became the "Stella" ...later he added the "Buddy" ...which is a PGO ( Taiwanese-made ) scooter. They've added a couple others to their lineup as well.

And india has been using vespa tooling to make knockoff ( or 'pattern copy' if you like the sound of that better ) vespas for years. THey had an agreement with Piaggio. Typically when they were done making a style of bike in italy, they'd turn over the old tooling to the indians, who would continue to turn out the same bikes on old presses. ( with a few minor differences )

If you want to talk stellas, bring it over to the "not-so-modern" side and we'll elaborate at greater length.

LMK bought all the old piaggio manufacturing equipment for the px and is making them. The genuine scooter company slaps some of their logos on em and sells them here as a Stella. I think you can get all the badges to make it a "Vespa"

You could do that ...but i would frown on the practice. At least, if you want to make it outwardly appear to be a legitimate Vespa, that's fine. Don't try to resell it as such or i'll have a problem with what you're doing.

-Eric

youll never make a LML a vespa with a badge swap thats like wrapping home brand baked beans with a heinz lable

They do make 4 stroke Stellas now that look just like the 2 stroke Stellas.

They are a good looking scooter, but I have noticed on a couple that the chrome on the mirrors and gauge trim has a tendency to rust.

they come with a sweet shami cloth.

I seem to remember a somewhat nefarious rumor way back when that i'll try to paraphrase. ( and perhaps it's not appropriate for me to only half-remember this story, but maybe someone can comment as to it's legitimacy )

Something about the italian guy who was basically in charge of Vespa in the late 90's..... he might have even been a Piaggio family member who was in charge ....made some comment after the ET2/ET4 were released that the industrialized nations would never have that old-style of vespa imported again, as long as he were alive. I think he found them loud, dirty, uncouth... and felt them something more appropriate for the poor of the world and not for the 1st world countries, etc. He made some statement that i heard included the statement "over my dead body"... and he might have even been saying that to Phil McCaleb from scooterworks / genuine, who had been pressuring him for years to allow him to reimport these indian produced bikes into America.

And as fate would have it, he died in some tragic car accident in 2002.

And sure enough, in 2003 Genuine introduced the stella.


How true that story is, i don't know.

Stella paint isn't supposed to be great... comes in fun colors but doesn't last as long/keep rust out as well - from the mouths of several otherwise pleased Stella owners I spoke to today.

It's NOT a PX. It is a replica of sorts. Take that for what it means - you can swap a badge on it but it won't make a bike of Piaggio manufacture.

I hear Stellas are very good, and we have a number of satisfied owners here on MV, but it would be misleading to rebadge one as a PX to be sure. Same basic package you'd get with a PX, though, if you're looking for that type of scoot on a budget

It is interesting that here on a Vespa forum that everyone says that the PX is of better quality than a Stella. If you read around, some say the opposite is true.

Two Vespa mechanics I spoke to recently have given the LML's paintwork and build quality the thumbs up. Especially 2009 models. Read LML Star DLX Via Toscana over here.

Some very nice colours available over here, especially the Ivory and Avocado with a tan saddle:

http://www.eddybullet.com/page25.html

The price is bargain basement here too £1750 or $2900 on the road.

I don't know how many people will out and out say DON'T buy a stella. I think they are aptly compared to a new PX150. I think ALL new vespas are suffering from production quality issues, so it wouldn't surprise me to hear some comment that the Stella is nicer than the PX150.

I still maintain you'd have more fun with an early PX200, and i personally think they're built better.


I wish you would have gotten that GL150 you went to look at. That looked nice.

and of course new PXs are no longer available, but there are plenty of used ones out there

Where ?? thought it was just a test project thingy at the mo

Haven't quite made the leap to a 46 year old scooter. One year older than me....

Maybe I should.

I get the feeling that you have some trepidation with vintage bikes. I think you need someone locally to hang out with and demystify them for you.

No, that wasn't a pick up line... i'm nowhere near you.

Just saying, there's gotta be someone you know over there who can let you ride around on a manual-transmission bike to see if you actually enjoy the experience.

oh I'm not saying anyone should misrepresent, but they could!

Genuine Scooters to introduce 4-stroke Stella scooter
by Jeremy Korzeniewski on May 9th 2009 at 1:28PM




Finally, what seems like years worth of rumors can come to an end: The Genuine Scooter Company is indeed launching a new 4-stroke version of the popular Stella scooter. In case you're unaware, the Stella is assembled by an Indian company called LML and is a close descendant of Vespa's own PX150. Up until now, all Genuine Stellas were powered by 2-stroke engines and were therefore unable to pass California emissions testing.

Fortunately for fans of vintage-style metal-bodied scoots and their shift-for-yourself transmissions, Genuine appears to have changed as little as possible to build a modern, clean-running 4-stroke Stella. In fact, the entire front half of the new bike is identical to the current model. Out back, a new tubular frame cradles the engine and swingarm assembly and bolts to the rest of the scoot just behind the floorboards.

According to our friends at 2 Stroke Buzz, the new 4-stroke Stella rides just like its predecessor, only quieter and cleaner. Estimated fuel mileage? About 120 miles per gallon, says Genuine. California emissions testing is reportedly taking place as you read this, and Genuine hopes to have the new scooter on the sales floor in January of 2010.

[Source: 2 Stroke Buzz]

http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/05/09/genuine-scooters-to-introduce-4-stroke-stella-scooter/

i would tend to think the big ass genuine speedo the size of a softball would give it away.

Also, I'm not sure about the new PX's, but on mine, the piaggio logo is machine stamped on everything.

Stella's are cool, and if you want a new scoot, that's the closest you'll get since the P-series isn't being made anymore.

I suggest going to stellaspeed.com and talking to some of the stella owners there. You'll find a wealth of info.

I know quite a few people with Stells and they like them. I really don't know any that want to rebadge it. Some are even proud that the ride a Stella and not a Vespa.

A few good things about them, you can buy them new, with warranty, and save a bunch of money

Thanks all

I meant no offense to the stella. As others have said, recent Piaggio scoots have had quality issues anyway.

Regarding the paint, I was just going on what the three Stella owners I met today were complaining about.

I also get somewhat concerned by replications, because in my experience with metal work when you copy a metal casting, for example, it isn't a perfect carbon copy. Little inaccuracies can make a big difference in engine parts, as can poor quality of the plant (which is soon going to be a bigger LML vs Piaggio debate as Piaggio's Chinese and Vietnamese plants really become heavy in their manufacturing. But the PX line would not have many if any parts made at those sites)

As I say, I hear great things about the stella, including from the guys I met today, despite their paint/rust complaints

I believe they bought Piaggio's castings and a lot of machining stuff came straight from piaggio.

To another comment, heard from a good source that there is a 4T shiftie stella up at CARB. It's gotta get through the red tape in California then cross Ts through the feds and then we'll see it.

I look at that bright Orange Stella and then have to tell myself I have neither the money or the room for one. Problem is I still keep looking.

Would you recommend Mike? There are a few us UK auto people who are thinking of making an addition....

Nothing wrong with a Stella/Star. It is a decent way to get into shifties on the cheap. Granted, I would think you could find a used, quality P for close to the same money over there, but that's just assumption on my part.

A new Stella will also have the benefit of solid rubber, cables, and the other ware parts. An older/used P might need some more attention.

Either way, as long as you are ready to do some tinkering with a wrench, A Stella or a P is hands down the best way to get started with a manual transmission scoots.

I need something that can tolerate abuse (by my ham fists). Sounds like the LML/Stella/Via Toscana is it.

You can get a PX for less money here and that isn't difficult yet. About £1500 for one produced in the last couple of years.

Kate

You might be able to find a recent model PX. PX 150s were produced and sold in the EU until 2007, IIRC. Mine was first licensed in Nov 2006, and I got it in Aug 2007 for 1600 Euro. It had not a single scratch, 6,000 km on it, and 14 months left on the warranty. While not as peppy as a P200/PX200, the ones on the market were nowhere near as nice, and as you know, the 150 is more than sufficient for Paros, Naxos and the like. Also was just fine for our month long ride in Italy last summer. To date, not a single problem with it.

My experience with shifty Vespas (nearly 50 years worth) is that if you ride it they way it was intended to be ridden and maintain it as the book recommends, it will serve you quite well. They are not delicate, nor do they require inordinate amounts of repairs. I have stated numerous times that some 90% of the "maintenance" done on shifties is voluntary tinkering, and a good part of the remaining 10% is a direct result of the aforementioned tinkering!

Since the LML is virtually a PX150, if you can find one of those, it's a close 2nd place.

Good luck in the search.

Filakia

Al

I would always recommend myself and who wouldn't. Obviously it depends on whether you like blokes with beards, who are a little lazy and who tend to wear the same tatty old jumper throughout the winter months. Other than that I'd say we're probably a perfect match

I like Stellas and want one. Since getting a PX200 isnt easy or cheap in Cali, Stellas seem to be the way to go, so far.

What Ive heard about the Stella is:

Stella, 5 ports vs the PX150s 3 ports, so it makes it a little faster than a PX150

Stellas crank shaft go out after 5 K, anyone know if this is true and/or had experience with this issue.

Curious

Manny

ADD: And it has a Read Valve.

the crank issue with the stellas exist, but it's only manifested itself in the 2005s. i haven't heard of anyone personally with an '08 having the crank problems.

pemkt on mv has a 2005 with almost 5k (and the orignal clutch cable) and his is still going strong. i think the crank issue was pretty hit or miss depending on the bike. they seem to have worked it out now.

Much to Rover Eric's invitable dismay, I have just bought a new one. Really sweet deal with two year's warranty and the first service thrown in. Oh and the sacrilege of it, it comes badged as a PX with all the LML ones in the glovebox. Apart from the speedo that is.

personally, i don't know why anyone would ever rebadge it. you can tell from 20 feet away it ain't a px.

congrats on your purchase!

I know. I know. Just coming that way... It seems like a lot of people over here are doing it and all there scoots are coming with the kit. I will probably change it back, as I quite like the green, white and red horse hexagon that is there as the alterantive to the Piaggio hexagon.

Well congrats on the new stella! Let us know how it treats you

Never ridden a shifty before. Several manual cars though including the current one. My ride out of central London will be much fun at the end of next week. I think I will be practising up and down the cobbled street that the dealer is on.

shut up shut up shut up shut up

no space no money but i'm looking too .... dammint.

Al, you need to visit this thread: i am an asshole.

sorry eric

p.s. two copies of 'paros life' turned up in the post today we're famous!!

give me the LML badges and i'll put 'em on my GT

You guys have got me thinking here. A sly way to get a shifty licence. And fun.