Modern Vespa

Finally got a GP800 after holding on for a possible Fuoco with a bigger motor. Guess its not coming out.

Power makes the Fuoco feels like a slug, (My TMax is no match for speed, power and handling compared to the GP800.) and handling is so much better with much better ground clearance. Oddly the stand scrapes and grounds despite significant chickenstrip on both tyres.

The speedometer seems to overread by more than 10km/h. Stability on fast 160km/h+ sweepers is very bike like. Acceleration matches the Versys and sub 800 cc twins. The CVT makes mincemeet of most big bikes unless they downshift. Will be taking the GP for trackday soon.

Fitted an MIVV full system exhaust ( USD 700 ) and a Givi screen as well as a topbox bracket. ( pics to come ) The Mivv exhaust shaves about 5kg from the standard pipes.

My Harley XR1200 will still whip it in the twisties but I feel that the GP800 is much more comfortable cruising at 170-180. The Givi screen makes cruising at that speed more effortless than my Harley, or possibly any nakedbike for that matter.

My GP on its maiden mountain road run.


Been desperately looking for forum and comprehensive discussion thread for this scooter but can only find French and Italian ones. I am considering variators and hopefully Ohlins......

Is there any link anyone can post here? Any help will be much appreciated.

More on the GP800 to come as the miles pile in.....

Regards from Malaysia.

The X9 Forum has a section for the GP800, as a few of us have them. Sadly there don't seem to be enough (English-speaking) owners yet for a forum of its own.

The reason there isn't more discussion on the GP800 is that it isn't sold in the US. A few members outside the US, including Jimc ride and love them, and will likely chime in.

Oh, and there's a GP800 blog here, but he hasn't updated for a while. Having too much fun riding it, I guess

Chime!

Firstly the speedo. It is off by about 10% up to 100kph, and the error gets more after that. I put tape strips at our pertinent speed limits (30, 40, 50, 60 and 70mph) which look like this (GPS verified):


You could do the same for your normal kph limits. If you do, please post up a picture for others to copy.

My GP800 had a stalling problem on throttle-off and clutch dis-engage at around the 12,000 mile mark. This was cured by an ECU update - but this needs the new Piaggio Navigator diagnostic tool - and dealers are putting off getting one as long as possible as they are expensive and there's an on-going charge for receiving the updates.

Hose clamps can go! It is worth taking the time to strip the plastics off, removing the air filter, and replacing all hose clamps you can get to with proper ones!

The GP800 doesn't come with a hazard warning lights switch - and if you think it's a good idea to have one then it's easy to install. The flasher unit already has the capability, it's just a wiring job. You can get the pin-out etc from the Fuoco manual, which has a switch connected.

I've never got near to scraping the centre-stand even with zero chicken-strips showing - check yours is going fully up, likewise with the side-stand.

Have fun on the track - it gives some 1-litre bikes a good run for their money.

Could it be the rear suspension needs to be firmed up a little bit?

Don't think so - mine was on minimum when I did my trackday, no scrapes. Mark you, I only weigh 11 stone (154lb or 70kg) - this might be a factor.

Hi Jim, thanks for the advice. The speedo is very Japanese unlike the Fuoco which reads 164 at a GPS 156km/h.

I have set my preload at the last stop, 6 out of 7. I am 75 kgs.

Both the sidestand and the lever scrapes on the left side. Maybe I need to use a different technique and it could be due to me being new on the bike. the scraping occured at 300km on the odometer. i have put in 1300km now. At least the clearance is soooo much better than the Fuoco which scrapes at any hint of spirited cornering.

See pix below; Note the chicken strip on the rear tyre, and the marks on the sidestand and mainstand lever.

Our differences could just be down to different tyre makes. Mine has Pirelli Diablo Scooter 160/70-15 tyres on - yours may just have a slightly different shape even if the same size.

You're probably right. Mine are Michelin Pilots.

Installing the MIVV. Quite straightforward but tedious as many partsneeds to be taken apart.

It came in this


The original exhaust system


Total weight


As compared to


A Total of 12 lbs weight loss.....

See what I meant by having to take the bike apart: now I know why the storage compartment gets so hot.......



The sound, while not disappointing, was not as I imagined, closer to a parallel twin rather than a 90 degree V. But better than original. At USD700, I cannot complain........

More to come.......

Cheers.

Mods so far; Mivv exhaust system, Givi screen, Givi Topbox mounting.
Wish List : Malossi Variator ( subject to more info ) Ohlins Rear shocks ( if available )

BTW, I noticed two (!)sets of brake calipers at the rear, one brembo underneath, another single pot on top. See first picture.
Any idea what the top one is for? Dedicated Parking Brake???

Yes, the rear one is the mechanically operated parking brake. Very useful together with the sidestand if parking on a slope.

Thought as much. Very useful even if parked on level ground. The bike feels more secure.

Givi Topbox mount. Shame I had to install one as it destroyed the lines of the bike, but no choice as the storage space is so small.


Givi screen at Full Up position

How much higher is the Givi screen than the stock? I've heard there's an Ermax screen as well. I have to say I've now got completely used to the stock screen, it works best for me at half-height, but less air directed at my head would be handy on long fast trips.

The OEM top-box is a badged GIVI monokey, and comes complete with a stronger rack than the original passenger bars, and heavy bar ends.

The screen is about 4 inches taller and the I find it improves indblast protection significantly over stock. I'm 5'9 1/2"

(Hi. Welcome.)

Interested to hear you say that the GP handles better than a TMax. I've had a short ride on a GP, and have never ridden a TMax (although I'm interested in them). So if you feel like saying a bit more on your experience of the handling of both bikes, I'd appreciate it.

I have about 30,000miles of TMax over 7 years but less than 1000 miles of GP800 experience.
My Tmax has an Arrow full exhaust system, a Mallosi variator, braided steel hoses. All else is standard. Its a 2002 model, with 5 less HP and without the ABS.

Low Speed

The TMax is more agile at lower speeds, possibly due to its lesser weight and shorter wheelbase. While the TMax is more flickable, the GP is not that far behind in that area. Stability at radical lean angles is slight less than the GP, as the GP seems to hold its line better and is more neutral. Once the GP is in a set degree of lean angle, it will track without almost any need for input. The GP is also superior when the tarmac is less than smooth.

The GP with better stability and superior ground clearance gives confidence to the rider.

In traffic the TMax is superior, again due to its lower weight and shorter wheelbase, but that is not something I miss when riding the GP. U Turns are better on the TMax; Tighter turning radius is the reason.

High Speed.

This is one area where the GP800 outshines the TMax significantly. Sweepers can be taken at speeds the TMax can only dream of, corners where I normally have to roll the throttle off on the TMax can be taken without doing so on the GP. The TMax feels a lot more 'flighty' on sweeping corners above 150km/h while the GP feels rock solid.

The GP's adjustable rear suspension also allows a good range of handling feel when set for the right range of rider weight and riding style. The TMax suspension is fixed. The rear axle of the GP is cocentric, and twisting it around will also change the rear ride height, giving more or less ground clearance as well as front fork rake angle. ( I have not tried this yet as I am just getting to know the GP.

Engine

The VTwin of the GP with 800cc gives much more power than that of the 500cc paralle twin of the TMax. So much so that in most cases where I will just twist the TMax throttle to the max on corner exit, I will only do it gently on the GP, as the rear WILL step out, just like a Superbike.

The feel of power on the GP is very very bike like, the delivery relaxed and effortless, while on the TMax, you will always sense there is a motor between your legs that is working very hard.

Brakes.

The GP is again better than the TMax in this area. The front brakes offers better feel, a more consistent bite and also fells more controllable.

Th GP also has a less tendency to 'stand up' and go wide when the front brakes are applied while leaned over. There is also less front end dive. Not much can be said of the rear brakes of both bikes, as they seems equal in bite and feel.

Storage Space.
Both are pathetic from a scooter perspective, with the TMax winning out the storage wars. Both cannot keep cokes cool as the compartment gets very warm. The GP is especially bad in this area.

Reliability.

I can now live without the TMax, and it will be going to its new owner after 7 sterling years of good service, living its life with the throttle on the upper third of its rev range on every ride. I changed the battery and the drive belt once, tyres numerous times, serviced it as per recommended. Only two things were defective; the speedometer pickup at the front axle and the rectifier failed. I can easily say that the reliability of the TMax is just slightly less than a pet rock.

I ill be very happy if my GP can be as reliable.

Last Words;

In my opinion, the GP800 trumps the TMax significantly in areas that matters to me, ie, power headroom, handling, brakes, top speed, riding position and controllability. I wish the GP has ABS.........

While I'd think twice about Touring with mates on STs, RTs, Goldwings, FJRs and the like on the TMax, the GP I know will be able to easily hold the favorite 150-170km/h constant speed favored by these bikes. The TMax will be strung out at those speeds, while the GP still have some headroom in reserve.

And, probably peculiar to Malaysia, both bikes are priced similarly. When this is taken as a yardstick value, the only reason anyone buys a TMax over the GP here can be due to just seat height/ leg reach to the ground, and possibly suspicion over Italian reliability and after sales support.

Cheers From Malaysia.

My gripe ; why the messy and noisy chain when they could have fitted belt like the BMW F800 or the Harleys.

Maybe they should put the Fuoco front end. Bump up the CC to 1 litre. Add a retractable roof like an Adiva. Intergrate the rear brakes on to the right lever. ABS.
I better stop now..........

Agree about the chain. PITA spraying it every few hundred miles, and an even bigger PITA cleaning all the gunk off after every few thousand miles. IIRC the GP800 prototypes had belts. No idea why they changed their minds (if they did).

As for larger displacement - apparently both 1000cc and 1200cc upgrade kits are available, and Piaggio 'approved'. Allegedly...

Personally I'd rather not have ABS, but this is always a polarising topic, so let's agree to disagree right from the start.

Thanks a lot, Roofscoot. Really good to hear from someone who's ridden both TMax and GP. Cheers

My GP800 with the Mivv system installed.



Dont like the way the mainstand hangs out with the removal of the standard exhaust system.


The exhaust plumbing

Actually I like the way the centre-stand lever has more clearance - it's so close to the stock exhaust it's hard to get a foot securely on it when putting the bike on the stand.

I didn't like the ay it looks; less intergrated considering the clean lines.

BUT, now that you've mention it I agree with you. Maybe I have not owned the GP long enough but I realise its easier to mount and dismount a Goldwing onto the centrestand than the GP800. In fact, I cannot recall another bike that I've owned that is so mainstand unfriendly.

cheers

New Paint. Cost me all of USD300 all in.

LOVELY paint job!!

Ooh, very fancy!

Just curious, but what are the positives and negatives of belt v's chain in PTW's?

You've gone back to the standard exhaust?

maintenance. That simple.

OMFG that's a sweet ride! Thanks for all of the pics roofscoot. I hope that they import this beast into the US someday

Looks fantastic.

Out of interest, could anyone provide a bit of feedback about moving up from a Vespa to such a beast? I confess I sat on Huskyteer's GP once and wondered.

Then I got off to preserve the bank account. This thread has revived interest.

Yes. The MIVV was noisy. And not the nice V-Twin noise, more like two single 400cc running together.

Cruising at 100-110mph was not nice with the drone.

I'd prefer the original sound. Which is why Iput the MIVVs aside for now.

Belt over chain Good points;

The belt offers almost zero maintenance. It is less noisy by a significant margin. Lighter, hence reduced unsprung weight. Clean.

Chain over Belt Good points;

Easier to change sprocket sizes if needed. Cheaper ( better OEM availibility ) More durable ( Zero chance of foreign object damage ) - which is why BMW uses chain for the F800GS but belt for te pure road going models.

Replying late to this - but go via a 500 maxi-scooter first. X9, Nexus, BV, Fuoco, whatever. You really don't want to jump from ~25bhp to ~70bhp in one leap. The middle step of ~40bhp is good - and that's a good time to do IAM or whatever before you get bad riding habits that can hurt with more power.

I have to say I'm a fan of graduated licensing - but not the compulsion to use this route.

Yes, I went GT125 > Nexus > GP800. GT to Nexus was a much bigger jump!

I was terrified of the Nexus all the way from the dealer's to the end of the road, and after that I never looked back. The comfort, stability and speed of the maxi blew me away.

Took my GP800 on my usual Sunday ride, except that it was not Sunday, but friday as it was a public holiday.

World's most expensive scooter next to the World's most expensive, exclusive, awesome bike




Sitting on something that costs 10 times more than my scooter.....


And as if one was not enough, another turned up....


Sounds like nothing else on the road.....