Modern Vespa

I love the looks of the GTS250, except for that sloping headlight. I tried the Jettin visor, but was not happy with it and sold it on. So I thought I would try some DIY options.

First, the scoot without any visor





Next my first go, a black visor make from brass sheet, designed to follow the outline of the headlamp.





And finally, an all-out attempt to reshape the headlamp.





This last one is plastic, made from a flower pot!

So what are your opinions? At the moment I feel I should just get used to the sloping headlight, and grow to love it! But the experiments were fun.

The visors were attached by drilling and tapping three tiny 9BA holes into the headlight plastic.

Mike

Hi Mike, I like the black one- it looks like eyelashes! Wouldn't be so hot with a flyscreen tho, I quite like how the angled headlight flows into the flyscreen.

Ha! That red flowerpot one is actually very clever! I wouldn't go for it myself, but I bet there's plenty of folks out there who would like the look. Nifty!!

Somewhere between the two I think would look good. The black is just to small and the red one is to full on, unless you could fit a glass lens to fit flush with the front.



Top marks for the DIY job.

Between those two ... would be the jettin visor... so you have to go bigger or smaller... Like Mike Holland did.
I think the black one is too small and the red one is too big. Maybe a scaloped leading edge on it would help, possibly some pinstipes.. I might worry about drilling into the head light plastic for long term exposure. But with all that said, he did a bang up job of it! The quality is good. Great work there Mike!!

Yes, I agree. The flowerpot version needs something - maybe a black or chrome rim. Guess I'll play with it some more.

Mike

out of curiousity, what made you unhappy about the jettin visor? I've been thinking about getting one, but if they suck...

Hi Zombie. It was purely a stylistic thing. The Jettin visor flares out a bit from the headlamp, and I wanted one that followed the contours of the top of the lamp, so that it looked like it belonged there.

I plan to try my black one in red, to see whether it fits in with the scooter better. I also plan to try a thin strip of chrome tape around the edge of the large one. I love fiddling, and being retired, have time to waste!

Mike

There you go.

+1

Stock rules! (in most cases, anyway)

"stock rules" - Hah! You are preaching to the wrong person here.

My GTS has a GT saddle and rack, Dr.Pulley sliders, Malossi clutch springs, Audicator turn signal beeper, aftermarket mirrors and handgrips, burglar alarm, and I have just fitted leather brake lever covers with tassles attached! I am an inveterate fiddler.

Mike

what side mirrors are those

Those black mirors are French made FAR mirrors, ordered from Gus Sutton of Vespaspares in the UK. The original Vespa mirrors kept flopping. I had them replaced under warrantee, but the new ones were just as bad.

Oh, in that case, you might want to consider something like this:

Hey Mike,
I am thinking snaz up the red, and go with that for a little while.. I am liking the lines on it more, seems to be more part of the head stock. Or maybe a better extention of it. I am currious now as to how well the plastic will hold up to the heat of the head light.

And always please feel free to fiddle, some of the coolest stuff comes from those who fiddle with things..

With the black one, you might try something like extending it's ends so they attach further down the headlight. maybe somewhere about the same place as the larger one. Just keep the distance from the top of the headlight the same. See what that looks like..

My latest attempt. I have painted the small visor to match the scooter. I like this one very much.





Better?

Mike

i think you've found a winner! looks very clean and like a factory part. have you thought about painting your side mirrors red and keeping the stems black? that sounds good in my head for some reason.