Modern Vespa

Damn. I'd love an Ape but I'm about $15k short

Is that really market value? Rare, yes. But worth that much??

If a 1997 Toyota T100 pick'em-up truck with only 18 miles on it can fetch $31500 (plus auction fees), then who's to say what anything is worth nowadays. https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1997-toyota-t100-9/ Oh, and i meant 118k miles, not 18 miles. DNDOTD

So hard to tell what deal is with those things. Every one I see listed is selling for 20-30k. No clue what they are actually selling for!

It's all rich man's game to me and out of my league, so I've never even seriously contacted anyone selling one to talk pricing, but seems less egregious than some of those listings for small frames I see around NY.

Such a niche market for apes that as a casual observer, I have no idea what the real market value is based on what's listed out there. Especially when they seem to only ever be converted to beer carts and used for high end events as a novelty bar, with questionable running condition.

Yeah I really have no clue. You have to have a ton of extra space, because the are big and impractical for ordinary usage here in the USA. So it's not going out a lot and taking the space of 2-3 ordinary scooters.

I think this is the key. They're not getting bought up to be Ape's, they're getting bought up to be business equipment, so their value is tied to their future earning potential, not the fact that they're what happens when a scooter and a small pickup get drunk and make bad decisions.

lol!

That's what's so awesome about them. A drunk pickup hooks up with a scooter and makes that! I wish I had space for one, but like fridaymatinee says.. I'm about 15k short in disposable income, which is already monopolized by their smaller relatives.

Aww.. dude. especially in NYC where space is valuable. To devote a garage to that type of collectible item means you really have some cash to blow. On top of it, I really don't think they are technically legal to drive on the streets in NY. Sure the current owner got it registered, but I dont think the DMV really knew what it was and she convinced them it was a scooter. I know that the 4 wheeled japanese mini trucks are disqualified from being registered for road use here, so how would a 3 wheeled version not be?! Last summer when I got it running for her, I rode it around my neighborhood which is very hilly and narrow streets and it was not the safest thing to drive around, especially with the balance of steering a top heavy 3 wheeler that shifts like a drunk sailor. I seriously almost flipped it once going about 20 mph taking a slight turn uphill!

I think thats why the current owner is coming to peace with the mistake of purchasing it. She couldn't drive it safely. I could barely drive it safely, and I know how to drive shifty vespas!

I better pop the receiver cover back on the Frontier then. Can't be too cautious.


Probably should remove the baby sling too...

This one is in my neck of the woods:
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/696369942132041/

Looks solid, sight glass a little dry looking...

nice looker, easy refresh job by the looks of it

Looks like it was cared for, or at least kept mostly indoors. Those look like fresh Michelins.

it looks like the front wheel is on backwards, with the valve stem pointed the wrong way. Maybe the back one too?

The bike in the rear makes it obvious - look at a properly installed wheel.

You're right! I was thinking "is that a super wide rim"? Never occurred to me that someone would manage to do that!! Probably installed the tube backwards, then put the wheel back on the way they remembered the stem facing.

I'd jump on that like a bird on a June bug! loves me some china blue!

perspective on ape / 3 wheelers:

https://sandiego.craigslist.org/ssd/mcy/d/san-diego-94-bajaj-tuk-tuk-wheeler-like/7587782377.html

$1500 for a Bajaj version. So long as it's reasonably solid, it's an order of magnitude cheaper than the NY one.

^^^

I vote we start a Go Fund Me to buy it for Greasy so we can all enjoy the ongoing adventure that ensues. Will it be doing wheelies soon, what colour is best(china blue???), GPS top speed, will the kitties be willing to go for a sedate ride, does a P200 lump bolt right in, etc. etc... I'd be down for fifty bucks!

Greasy's in "get rid of it all mode", I think he'd probably get me banned if I brought it to him

I could do $50, that puts us to $100.00

If he really didn't want it, I'll road trip it back to Nashville.

It'll be the first time someone in an Ape was asked, "Sir, do you have any idea how fast you were going?"

A Quattrini-powered Bajaj Ape could be epic.

#LifeGoals

I am amenable to these terms. yes, I think we can figure that out for a Bajaj? definitely gotta be that weird yellowy/green color this will remain undisclosed at the direction of counsel
handsome dan sez: Ssss GOOOO! I have hammers and a welder. it'll fit.

I do have the room... hmmm.... *strokes chin*

John I wouldn't kick you outta bed for eating crackers! hell, kajiit reports that you're nearly 1/3 of the 1st quarterly earnings and I know that Johnny Mule LLC is planning another clandestine run...

if you showed up with that I'd just laugh and then we'd geek the F out for like an hour about it!

I like this plan. I think a small frame will fit nicely in the bed.

or... orrrrr.... hear me out.... double motor swap

into the smallie for rides. out and into the Bajaj for the trip back.

make it so! *waves hands*

I was thinking a twin engine Ape could be an interesting little adventure...

After the Smallstate, I was wondering what might be left to inspire you…

Maybe 80 on Ape?

You could name it (goes like a) Raped Ape.

I still have a multi-year long project list, even without an Ape.

But, like I said...#LifeGoals

I'm thinking good price on this Rally at $5500

https://scootnet2.net/index.php?do=showone&id=1187

that's very fair market rate for what I'm seeing as very clean rally with some tasteful upgrades. it's not a smoking deal, but very indicative of what the current market is, not cupcake in the sky 6K SEA junkers or $3500 half ass projects and ameribodges and rust buckets.

yeah if I'd been waiting for one I'd be down there looking at it now. it looks good.

come to think of it a Rally is on my bucket list but.... nah I've got too many things going at the moment. plus I'd rather rescue an ugly one.

Another GA P125. Right in my back- yard. $1500.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1371935246960737/

I can put eyes on this if anyone is interested.

if that's got tags, it's kind of on the money. seat looks good, BBQ rack, newish looking tires. body isn't all roached out. if the tanks clean that would be a nice little knock around.

if that were within a day's drive from me I'd be on it.

Need something different, have you got six athletic friends and do you wanna draw a crowd at your next rally? I got your item right here if you got the cheese.


Anybody up for a SEVEN person trike? Not an Ape or Tuk Tuk, but even at half original price, it's priced right up there with the best of them.


https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1592716214577922/


I would LOVE to see the power train on this beast.

My only problem is that i don't have seven spare P200 engines

The solution here is clearly an LS swap.

I also see an additional expense to get that one tentacle short of a pedalpuss contraption back home. Seven individual plane tickets for a fly-n-ride are going to add up. I'm also short six friends as well.

And if you're trying to get them on that thing, it'll stay that way.

Last edited by chandlerman on Thu, 16 Feb 2023 02:34:37 +0000; edited 1 time