Modern Vespa

I've got the Faco front rack, and it works just fine. I don't use it a whole lot, but I know from previous experience that it's worth having one.

I currently have it off because I'm pissed at it.
Even though I put small pieces of plastic (OK, so they were circular cut-outs from a freezer Ziplock baggie) behind the rubber support cups, those damn things still marred the paint on my legshield. It isn't bad enough to bother using touch-up, and wouldn't look right if I did, but it's enough to see in daylight, and it really bothers me. I keep my scooter pretty clean, so the ivory will definately show if there's damage to it. The damage is pretty much the take-it-to-a-shop variety if I wanted it to be perfect again, but I really don't want to do that until there's issues all over the bike (which, I'm hoping, won't be for a decade or so).

I would kind of like a smaller front rack anyway, as I don't like to carry large loads on the front. The rack I had on a previous scooter was jerry-rigged from an old Vespa smallframe's rear rack, so I'm used to the smaller size on the front. I know this may be kind of a tough question without visually "testing" every kind of rack... but do most of the front racks have their rubber support cups in the same place? If I get a smaller rack, it will likely be the type that needs to actually be bolted on under the Piaggio badge, so I probably won't take it off except a few times a year to clean under the cups. But it'd be nice if the cups would cover, or at least line up with, the damage that's already been done.

Yeah, I'm stupidly picky about my paintjob. My cheap-ass Chinese bicycle has been through a lot more hell, and its paint has held up better than my expensive Italian scooter.

I can't help you with your question but perhaps I can help in regards to the damage ... provided it isn't down to the metal.

I had a pretty bad scuff mark on my red scooter in Toronto. I used Novus #2 on it and with about 10 minutes of work, it was undetectable. I have been using this product on boats and cars for years and can highly recommend it.

http://www.bestplasticcleaner.com/

No, it's not down to the metal, but it definately screwed up the finish pretty bad. Thanks, I may want to get some of that stuff just to keep around, anyway.

Honestly ... if the damage is that bad, then you may want to use #3 followed by number #2. The stuff is really quite amazing and I think you will be surprised how much of the damage will disappear ... if not all of it! Give it a shot, I think you will be really pleased with this product. (No, I am not affiliated with Novus in any way!)

Can I see a picture of the damage?

Best,
SDG

You need something that sticks to the scooter so it won't move around, this is what scratches the paint. 3M makes a product that is used to make clear stone guards on the front of a car. Forget the name of the product. But I bet most window tinting places sell it.
Found a link to give you an idea what I am talking about.
www.clearmask.com

Wayne B

Witch,

I think Traffic Jammer is suggesting you use the Novus to "polish" the paint. I have the #1, #2, and #3 and while they are labeled for plastic, they will polihs just about anything. The #3 is the least abrasive and #1 to most. I would guess #1 would sand off the paint while 2 and 3 will polish. . They make pint polishes too but they are basically both just small abrasive bits in a liquid with the bits being smaleist in #3.

Try just the 3# and see if you can't get it to buff out the scratches. Read the direction on the bottle as to how to rub

You can get this a better car parts store, Tap plastic and other plastic supply stores. Automotive paint stores would have this too. It usually $8-10 bottle but you can sometimes find a kit with all three online or at stores.

Working on that... but my crappy camera can't see it well enough (it's oooollllddddd). I'll see if I can borrow my boyfriend's seriously nice camera this evening.

The paint used on our scooters is plastic based ... and this product is perfect for it. #3 is the most abrasive and #1 is the finest and can be used on your windscreen to polish it too. In fact, you can polish your whole scooter (including the chrome) with #1.

I use #2 most often and buy it by the gallon for working on boats. It is safest to use #2 and just do more applications than to use the #3 ... but if the damage is bad, then #3 can save your arm a lot of work! Just be careful with it.

Great. What I am thinking would be a nominal amount of nail polish remover on a very soft rag. You may just be amazed, been there done that.

Best,
SDG

Sorry if I got the numbers backwards... The bottles are at home and I am stuck in the office.

Regardless of the numbers, the stuff works great.

I have this clear stuff. My husband cut it into small circles (big enough for the suction cups) It saves the paint. However, I do leave my front rack on it is too much of a hassle to put on and take off for me. Best of luck.

+1 on the Novus products. I bought the kit after the wind blew my scooter back in March. I'd give it a try.

FACO front rack,
Take the cups off and take a hacksaw and
cut 3/4" off each side and now the rack won't
be too high to carry stuff. 8)

Ya that will help her current damage go away.

Amazing.

SDG

I don't understand... how will that help keep the cups from damaging my paint, whether I'm actually using the rack to carry something or not?

Will this work on clear helmet faceshields?

Yes, use the #2 product if the faceshield is in bad shape ... scuffed, turning yellow, etc. then polish it up with #1 on a regular basis to keep it in tip top shape. If it's in good shape but just needs a buffing up, just use #1.

Both of these will also work wonders on old, yellow, scratched soft clear plastic windscreens used on ragtops.

Just don't use it on glass or eyeglasses ... plastic or glass.

i just bought the Novus kit to sort out some scratches on my windshield - good to hear all the positive feedback on it

Be careful with the #3 product Genie. If you have deep scratches, then by all means use it ... but if they are relatively light scratches, use #2 and be aware that it may take several applications before you get the desired results. You just put a "dab" of the product on a microfiber type towel, wipe it on the scratch, let it dry for about 30 seconds and start rubbing. Repeat until the scratch is gone ... then polish the whole windscreen with #1.

I use #1 on my windscreens about once a month. It helps make rain pill up and roll off the screen faster too!

cheers for the info - yes they are deep scratches, acquired during a wee mishap when i was trying some motocross activities on my scooter. interesting, but not a great success in terms of keeping the rubber side down

I'm envious of those who manage to keep their scoot paint in top condition, and I sympathize when some event especially an accessory damages the finish! But, I gave up and actually find the scratches to now be a relief. Newest dings didn't make me nuts. I just make sure I touchup paint any dings in the steel. Sucks but I find I'm happier just letting go......
I have taken to frequent cleaning mostly in the interest of making sure I find and repair any deep scratches....

That being said, having the disease will probably not stop me from custom paint next year, along with a whole new trail of tears.

I'm trying to! But I haven't read anyone else on here getting this kind of damage from a front rack. So I'm wondering if either:
A) Nobody ever takes their front rack off, so they have no clue if there's damage or not
B) It's limited to the Faco rack, and not enough owners have, or know they have damage
C) Everyone else has damaging front racks and just don't care
D) I've kept the tightening screws too tight, pushing it into the legshield more than it should be

But I kind of figured that's an accessory that should be tightened down pretty hard, because if you have anything bouncing around the scooter at all, you certainly don't want it happening on the front end. My arms are quite whimpy from multiple surgeries, so I don't usually expect I'm able to tighten things down too much.

I think your theories are right about other rack users. I have had to take them off for bodywork and such, and there is almost always some kind of mark, however small. I even had a scoot (a super rare serie America px) that was shipped and tied down by the front rack, and the metal cut through the rubber boots and eventually marred the legshield itself pretty badly. Whereas rear racks are mechanically pretty well designed, because of the fastening points, front racks aren't really the same. Aftermarket racks are sometimes worse. I can't stand when a rack hooks into the radiator intake fins on the side. I'd rather drill my horncast for access to real fasteners (a la LX) than have some poorly designed piece of crap hanging on with hooks.

it worked beautifully. there are a few traces of the scratches left, which i'm sure i could have removed if i'd been willing to persist with a buffing wheel and #3, but i'm happy with the results.

i just wish this stuff was available over here - i've had to order it from the states and it came in teeny little bottles which i doubt will last long

I have an original Vespa OEM front rack (the one that comes with the chrome kit) on my LX, and when I use it I'm often carrying something fairly heavy, like a 12-pack of longnecks. After just shy of a year of use, I had it off about a month ago when I was doing some work inside the headset and horncast. Even though the rubber suction cups had cracked pretty badly from ozone pollution exposure, there was no damage to the paint underneath whatsoever (I think the kit I bought had sat in storage for years before I bought it, as the rubber already seemed a little brittle when I installed it, and it started showing cracks soon thereafter). I tightened mine down pretty snug, figuring that it is movement and resulting chafing that damages the paint, not simple pressure. The LX rack is secured on the bottom with a long bolt that goes straight through the bottom rail of the rack, through the grille of the horncast, and threads into a bracket bolted to the frame inside. It seems to keep the rack from moving altogether, although the installation is tricky in initially getting everything lined up.

BTW, the only source of replacement rubber cups I could find is the much-maligned ScootsRS. I ordered two sets from them which were very reasonably priced, of apparent high quality, and work and look fine.

A) I have a faco rack and I take it off.
B) No not just the Faco. My OEM scuffed the paint too!
C) Yes and no I hope this thread comes up with a good solution!
D) Good question, but in my case I don't think that created the problem

I suspect it's about the same as the floormat. Dust and dirt get under the rubber and friction does the rest....I like mine anyway.....

I might just find the right two decals to sacrifice....

Okay, so I missed the point the first time around,
The problem with the cups are that the rubber is
too HARD fot the surface. My paint isn't getting
scratched so much as the black is rubbing off on
the leg shield. I keep my FACO rack on bec I
use it daily to haul stuff around. You may
want to put cling wrap on your legshield
temporarly and put silicon on the surface
of the cups and then place the rack in place
and let dry, afterwards you remove the cling
wrap and now you have a surface that souldn't
scratch the paint. 8)

would you please borrow the boy friends camera
and take the picture already and show us the problem.

Glad to hear it Genie! Which did you use ... #2 or #3? Also, you can get the bigger containers. See http://www.bestplasticcleaner.com/64ozkits.php I go through a LOT of this stuff! It comes in handy on boats, cars and even around the house on various things. I'm often amazed it isn't a common household product. Poor marketing I guess.

If you write to them, you could ask if they have any UK suppliers.

i used #3 to get the worst of the scratches out, followed by #2 and then #1. ideally i won't have to buff out deep scratches too often, so i may just get a big bottle of the #1 - i've found a place in the states that will send it without charging the earth for shipping. i'm sure there's an equivalent product over here but i've not managed to find out what it is.

A clay bar from an auto parts store might help. I have seen fairly deep scratches removed with little effort.

Don't think you want to use a clay bar on a wind screen

Wayne B

No, not on a windscreen. The OP was complaining about marks on the legshield.

Front racks have been causing this kind of damage to vespas for more than 50 years. It's a tradition. But really, where else are you going to mount all the mirrors and lights? I have a front rack as part of my mod kit that only goes on my lambretta for the mods vs rockers rally.

Looked like you were replying to genie.

Wayne B