Modern Vespa

Hope this helps those who are considering installing a Prima / Faco single crash bar / Cowl Protectors.

Purchased above via Scooterworks ~ $120.00 + ship. Installation instructions are titled "Faco". Per Scooterworks Customer Service installations instructions are same for Prima and Faco.

Below are some pics that may address a couple of issues regarding the install of the Prima Cowl Protectors for GT200.

Bars are O.K. the brackets may require some work...hence the purpose of this post.. Reported front left bracket pushing against transmission inlet and front right bracket pushing against coolant hose. Note: Right and left per sitting on scoot.

Package included two single crash bars, two front brackets, two rear brackets, two sets of flat head recess bolts (front bracket) and two sets of allen head bolts (rear bracket) + washers / splint washers / nuts.

I had the benefit of having an aquaintance assist in bending, grinding, burnishing and assisting in installing these crash bars..extra set of hands and eyes help a lot!

Remove farings and follow the pics below.

Was ask to re-post pics for some reason they were removed from original posting.

Most important to take your time and use bend points to align brackets to clear hoses, etc. Keep in mind that you'll have more than a single bend point since you'll need to cant bracket out and away from cowl faring.

As you can see, I did have some help from a friend who had a mobile repair van and was able to use burnishing wheel as well as a vice / bending block.

The most important thing to remember is to take your time and at least have access to a vise or in a pinch something you can use as a bending block.

Pics are somewhat intuitive.

Excellent post. Thanks for sharing it. I was thinking of getting the Faco rear bars so now I know what to look for. One question though, do you know what diameter the bars are, particularly the front tube that goes up from the front mount? The reason I ask is that my wife hates the passenger pegs on our 250 and I was thinking of getting the rear bars and adding foot pegs on that post so that her feet would be further back and higher up. I looked at the machined extenders that they sell for $225, but I don't think the pegs would be quite back enough nor high enough. I found some clamp on pegs, but they are for 1" diameter bars. If the Faco's are smaller than that, I'll need to look some more. Thanks!

Thanks...but the diameter is not 1".

See the link below, which I believe may be what you have already researched.

I did a quick Search and there I did not find anything that would set the pegs back...just extend current pegs.

You could try and seen if there is a stable means to increase the diameter of the Faco cowl protector to accomodate the 1" min. diameter necessary to install on Faco. Try and contact the clamp on peg supplier and see it they have an adapter that will be able to fit the bars and hope that they will provide clearance between bar and faring.

Maybe using the current with extenders is something that might work and just need time to get adjusted

Vespa GTS passenger footpeg extensions install and review

Good Luck!

Thanks for this very helpful info.

I just received a set of FACO cowl protectors for a GTS250.

It seems perhaps FACO has also read your post in the past years and modified their product as from waht I can tell the front bracket is now pre bent similiar to how you did yours.

Was hoping I could get confirmation that they are in fact now fixed as I am still nervous about this issue before installing them.

This is what the brackets I got look like:

http://i.imgur.com/rqdqkLV.jpg



I should mention that the rear brackets are perm attached to the bars.

I don't believe that Faco may have read my efforts to mount the cowl protectors and the issue of bending the brackets.

Regardless the proper bend / bracket angle addressed on install to insure that the bars are allowing enough space between cowl faring and bar. In addition you need to make sure that any part of the installation does not rub against the coolant hose. You may even end up grinding down the inlet vent for air for the variator housing.

Again, this would be accomplished by bending the bracket at the points indicated on the pics (or where you deem approriate).

This was done by using a table vise and bending bracket. This took several times of bending and checking the results prior to final install.

Take your time and have patience.

Hope this helps...if any more questions please send me PM as I do periodically check my messages....I have a Xena lock for sale.

Good Luck!

Hi, did you see the picture I included? It looked like they have already added the bends you added (near exactly).

Sorry i should have linked the picture directly to the forums instead of making it a url.



[img]http://i.imgur.com/rqdqkLV.jpg [/img]

I believe the bending points were pre-existing on the brackets for my Prima and the referenced Faco...we just had to adjust bend angle at the bend points. It was a bit challenging since we had to really alter the amount of bend to provide the amount of "canting" to keep those bars adequately spaced away from the cowl / farings. Again, be patient and adjust accordingly....it's worth the effort.

By the way, I not sure if you were aware that I have sold my GT200 and I've been holding it for Buyer until next week when he returns from trip to pick up. Obviously he will not have to worry about installing same.

It seems odd to me that this product has been flawed for years and never fixed. is it just that certain models have the issue? My bars say they are made specifically for GTS250/300, seems strange to me that on the specified model they have this issue!

Did you get a new vespa?

Some after market products need to be tweaked, regardless of the efforts to have them marketed as plug and play.

No, I have not picked up another Vespa. Realized I wasn't riding much. In addition, while helping Family member down size (to get home ready for sale). I realized that I should do same. I simply acquired a lot of things in anticipation of activities I would do when I retired. Personally, I realized that this not so, hence I began to let go of a lot of possessions. Bicycles (we didn't use), backpacking (kept bug out pack), camp kitchen set up (pass Scouting), Tennis, Fishing (son gets this), reloading, tools, clothes (you'd be amazed what you don't wear). Some were sold, given to Family members and some were donated.

I did keep my golf clubs! This is something that I enjoy working on and playing on occasion. There is a science to this game and I enjoy working at it!

I got most of my inspiration and ideas on downsizing from a blog of a couple that decided to take on full time RV'ing and downsized and will be resettling into a retirement community soon. RV'ing and going cross country is something I'm considering. My brother has been part time RV'ing for some time.

Here's the link to down sizing.

http://stephaniehenkel.hubpages.com/hub/Full-Time-RVing-Downsize-Your-Home

Got off track...good luck on installation.