Modern Vespa

Howdy, how can you check to see if a modern scooter has been tampered with? Where are the matching numbers for motor & frame? I want to see if a seller has changed a low mileage motor out on a LXV150... thanks to all

The chassis number and engine number are both located under the seat. Take out the pet carrier (helmet compartment) and look under the top, front part of the seat for the engine number. The chassis number is stamped into the metal at the upper rear ... near the battery.

My engine number is on a sticker that looks like this ... but it may look different depending upon what part of the world the scooter was originally sold.

How you could be certain if a scooter engine has been tampered with is another story ... as stickers and ID tags can be reproduced. Unless you have the original bill of sale, the only way I believe you can find out is through either the DMV or the original shop where it was purchased. Since we don't know where you live or where the scooter is located ... it's a little tough to be more specific.

One way to help understand the engine's life history is to ask the owner for his/her receipts and service history. Some people do keep that stuff. I haven't but perhaps I should have. Unfortunately, my mechanic doesn't give receipts and I pay him cash.

So i take those numbers and see if they match what is stamped on the frame and motor? Is the motor number easy to find?.... thanks for the info & pic's it really helps....

I don't think you got my drift.

The engine number AND the chassis number on my scooters are both in the locations I described above but what they look like varies depending upon your location and where the scooter was first sold. Only the chassis number is stamped on my scooter. The engine number is shown on the sticker pictured above.

However, in the US and Canada, I know that the engine number may be either painted on (in the same location described above) or it may be on a metal tag. I can't tell you where to look as I have no clue where you are from or where the scooter is from originally.

If the chassis number and engine number match that which is shown on the original bill of sale, then in all likelihood, it is the original engine. However, be aware that the engine number (tag) can be reproduced to look like an original! Without the original sales receipt indicating the engine and chassis number, there is really no other way to know for certain. In some cases, the DMV where the scooter was previously registered will have that info.

Metal tag is above the glovebox. You can't miss it. Good luck and welcome to the forum

Liane, the number on that sticker is the frame (chassis) number, and the engine number pre-fix, NOT the engine number itself, which is stamped on the engine itself - somewhere - usually on the crankcase just under the left rear lower shock mount. The prefix and the number found there together make up the actual engine number that should be found to match the original documents.

The crankcase may need a bit of a clean to read it...