Modern Vespa

Would just like to say hello to everybody here and give a (hopefully) brief introduction, I've been lurking unregistered for the forum for and it seems a nice friendly place.

I live near Leicester, in England, and I did my CBT approaching 2 years ago, but was only able to afford my first bike about a year ago when I picked up a little Honda CBR125R.

At the time I'd been desperately wanting a Vespa as well as a motorbike but in the end the fact that the bike would get me a full manual license and Honda's 0% finance deal meant the bike won out.

I've still been pining for a Vespa every since so since the end of last year I've been putting money asside until 2 weeks ago when I was able to purchase a shiny silver LX125 from 2005 with about 10,000KMs on the clock!

The last two weeks, despite the rain, I've got out a few times on my new toy and have been blown away by how much fun it is to ride. It's the first time I've really 'clicked' with any vehicle and causing involuntary singing in my helmet whenever i went out for a ride.

The eagle eyed among you (who are aware of the british motorbike licensing system!) may have spotted the fact that my CBT time is nearly up, so I've been putting a more concerted effort in this week to get out and practice on the geared bike and finally think about getting myself fully licensed.

After all this practice last night I decided I decided to treat myself to a run on the Vespa but to my dismay I can't seem to get the bike started.

This could be down to the fact that I've had it way to easy with the fuel injected Honda and I'm just making some silly beginners mistakes or not getting the technique right!

When started with the electric start I can hear the starter motor work and sound of the engine trying to start but it gives up as soon as I release the starter button.

My partner has a Zip 50 and this behaves quite similary when it's been sitting for a while, but I've always managed to get it started.

What seemed a bit worrying was, after some continued attempts to get the scoot started, the starter motor began to sound like it was spinning freely. Taking my finger off the starter button, waiting a few seconds and starting again removed the problem but I'm not sure if the starter motor is meant to behave like that?

I tried the kick start a few times and had no luch with that either, but I have never used one before so probably don't have that down yet either!

The bike has only been sitting about 4 days and it was MOT'd and serviced the day i got it.

I'd be grateful if anyone has any hints, tips or advice on how I can get scootering again??!

Cheers,

Justin

Hi Justin, welcome to MV.

It may just be that the battery needs properly charging. It normally needs a good five-ten miles each time the bike is started to put back what was used in starting it - and that's assuming it started first go! I'd try that first.

Cheers for the reply and thanks for the welcome...I was beginning to think including a problem with your first post was a major taboo on the forum and I'd been shunned!

I spoke to the garage I purchased the bike from this morning and they seemed to think it was probably the battery too (before I saw your post) so I've just popped out and got myself a charger and have the battery charging now.

Fingers crossed the problems as simple as that and I can be scooting around again tomorrow!

Welcome aboard Justin. Nice to have new blood.

Paul

Thanks for the welcome Paul.

I've managed to get the scooter going again so got out for a ride over the weekend which was good.

After reconnecting the freshly charge battery I still had no joy starting it. Spoke to a neighbour who I had seen bump starting his motorbike earlier in the day (and therefore I assumed he had some mechanicaly knowledge). He reccomended I take the next obvious step of checking that the spark plug was firing.

I'd assumed the plug was under the hatch on the front of the seat but it wasn't so I had a poke around under the seat and caught sight of the end of the plug, minus cable. Somehow the cable had come detached from the plug, and the plastic clip on cover had also become detached.

As I'd mentioned previously the bike was serviced just before I got it so I'm wondering if the garage didn't clip the plastic cover back on and the cable has come off when I've taken the bike on or off it's centre stand, or is this maybe a common fault with the design of the bike?

Hi Justin
A long distance Welcome to you
Great people here...enjoy!

Thanks Boulty!

Welcome aboard Justin,glad you got it goin Bill