Modern Vespa

you're gonna fit right in with this crowd. we have a fair number of keep it stock and a fair number of go hog wild, you are well within the spectrum. It's only if you start hacking up the rare ones like a GS or something that people get all nuts.

Yes yes. Got your PM. Will follow up there.

That sounds like something I'd say

As I see it, there are fundamentally four schools of thought here, and they're effectively points on a spectrum with a lot of overlap.

Preservation -- This is using only original/NOS parts, cleaning and polishing original paint, possibly fixing dents to the extent possible, but leaving it in whatever state it was found.

Restoration -- People whose goal is to return the scoot to its period-correct "Factory" state. They will paint and replace failed parts with modern reproductions, but their goal is to recreate the bike like when it was new. They don't upgrade the engine or electrical, sticking to points, stock cylinders and pistons, etc.

Modernization (aka "Restmod") -- Keep the fundamental lines and styling, even the original paint & body if it suits your style, but bringing the mechanical and electrical systems up to contemporary standards, adding turn signals, etc. Sometimes this is done while preserving the original look of the bike. More frequently, it's about preserving the shape/style, but clearly signaling that there's more going on than stock to the discerning eye. Things like visible brake fluid reservoirs, big fat tuned pipes, front disc's, tubeless or just modern tread style tires, and LED lighting are the most obvious/frequent bits. As I noted in a thread yesterday, I left the P-style kickstart lever on the motor in my GL as a relatively-subtle way of saying "fuck around and find out" about how stock my build is or isn't.

Customization -- This isn't a big Customs crowd, but there's definitely a non-trivial component (although is seems to really be more of a Lambretta thing?) of people doing cut-downs and stuff I don't even know the terms for. Some amazing workmanship, just not really my style on Vespas. I also see this as much more of a motorcycle thing, culturally, but I'm not really qualified to have an opinion on it.

Oh, yeah, one more...

The Indonesians -- I love these guys. They take Vespa's to a whole 'nother level and if I ever make it back to that part of the world, I definitely want to meet some of them.


Lastly, it's also really two axes, one for paint/body/aesthetics (X) and one for mechanical/electrical (Y). I think you could plot pretty much any build on it with an agreed-upon set of criteria.

So, like an OG-/NOS-only build doing nothing but polishing original paint would be a 1,1, but a Sleeper or Q-Ship would be like a 1,3--maximizing performance, but not at the cost of modifying the "stock" appearance and a Custom would be a 4,[2-4], because the mechanical would require some degree of modification, but might or might not retain the original spec's.

You can't go wrong buying this!!!

nope

No reply yet?
If it was a deal, it would be hours or a day or two and gone. Looks like someone maybe ran into a tree and gave up on scoots there. Happens a lot.

My advice would be to take a short break. Learn more about these scoots and their peculiarities.

With patience and diligence(and a truck full of gas), you'll be better off with your search.

Throwing my vote in for you to consider Bird's P200. Solid scoot, and solid deal. You'll know what you're getting, and it comes from a good dude

PS - very important... don't forget to haggle with the seller. The worst that can happen is they will say no.

I have it on good authority that the seller can be plied with slices of ham, expired Applebees gift cards and topo chico

I second this motion.

last night was like, well shit, birbs P is only $500 more and it's wired tight and ready to rumble. and I guess I just forgot to shoot that shot in there.

even with shipping, you'd still be miles ahead over that one off c'list.

...and industrial size tubes of campho phenique.

...and limes

To go with the salt and Tequila?

the gin.

or more aptly, all the gin.

nope

Look up Denver James. He specializes in shipping scooters and is a friend of the NSM crew.

nope

fly to Houston. rent vehicle, put scooter into vehicle, drive it back.

problem solved.

as mentioned, Denver James

skids I'm headed to Beatty later this month with three motorcycles, I might be able to squeeze the scoot in there as well. I'd be willing to meet in Vegas or Beatty but I won't make it any further north. If you're serious shoot me a PM, but also know that I am considering the same scoot lol.

nope

dent in the floorboard and front mudguard. sounds like a nose splat to me.

For sure, at some point. Sometimes that's a "scoots are not for me" thing.

"If I were him," I'd check it out with $2k in cash*. Russian River area is beautiful visit anyway.
Clean title. He/she got a battery, so I'd rough guess it's running with signals working. Needs to be test ridden for sure.

"Can I ask why you're selling it?"
"Where did you get it?"
"How long have you had it?"

*could always go to an atm in a pinch

Try Uship for a bid:

https://www.uship.com/ship/

I used u-ship to get my GL from San Fran to Chicago. The dude who brought it was a subcontractor and he told me that u-ship takes 20% of the gross, before their fees, so they are charging both you and the hauler. He gave me his number to call him direct if I needed to ship another bike, said he usually only took bikes via u-ship if he needed to fill out a partial load.

Mostly there. $500.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/499316378247537?ref=search&referral_code=marketplace_search&referral_story_type=post&tracking=browse_serp%3A35560574-349d-4817-8bfb-6c815bfd9459

Good one! If I were still living in Michigan I'd hit that.

If I were still in Chicago, I'd be all over that, too.

Anyone local-ish who could hold it for me for a few months if I jumped on it? I'll be up there for vacation, but not until July.

ADED2OS

https://indianapolis.craigslist.org/mpo/d/plainfield-motorcycle-vespa-1963/7453181216.html

that's a deal at 5

1:1 revell kit!

shit yeah. 5 cash allll dayyyy errrryyyy dayyyy

I just texted the Indianapolis guy. Depending on what he says, I might be road tripping to Indiana this weekend.

No road trip to Indy. It's already gone.

Just wait, Indiana is full of $800 Allstate's. . . and in better condition.

I like the sound of this

Being in Tennessee, where you usually can't find a vintage Vespa at any price, may have warped my standards.

I guess 'deal' is a relative term but here are two on FBMP that are at least pretty reasonable :
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/353561679895388/
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/481748679992779/

They don't mention displacement. Are 200's still more sought after? I get the impression that big block vs small block has become less of concern because of the performance offered by the 177 kits.

No replacement for Displacement