Modern Vespa

My cousin had his vespa GT 125 broken into last night...someone has undone a screw on the left sided compartment on the inside of the bike and easily disconnected an electrical componant that was in place there...

The thing is we're not sure what part has been stolen but the bike will not start and the led light does not come on...

Amazing how easy it was for someone to screw the panel off with a phillips scewdriver and screw it back on as if nothing happened
His gf wants to complain to vespa about how easy it was...as the bike is only a 2005 model is this a common problem?
Does anybody have an idea of which part was taken so we can replace it asap?
Thank you

it sounds like the would-be thief has tampered with the ignition system, rendering the scooter helpless while they go off and find a set of bolt cutters and/or a van. it happened to one of my ET4s - they nicked the ignition switch from under the horn cover. luckily my mechanic had a replacement and i was able to fit a new switch the next day. i'd advise your cousin to wheel the scooter to a safe location and lock it up tightly.

i doubt a complaint to Piaggio would do any good - there is only so much they can do to make these things un-nickable.

Thanks genie...but why would they render it useless if they wanted to come back n steal it? Then there would be no need to plug out the componant they took...he reckons whoever took may have the same bike and wanted the part...but we have an open mind on this...the bike was covered and chained,nothing was out the ordinary except the bike would not start when he wanted it for work this morning...he left for work without it...it was only when the recovery turned up later and noticed the componant was missing under the left panel and the battery looks like it was tampered with...

Rending the bike undriveable ensures it will be there that night. Then they come back with bolt cutters, and way to move it and then restore the removed part and sell it... or continue to strip it for parts.

that's it exactly. it is a fairly common tactic amongst london scooter thieves.

Time for the watch cap, charcoal on the face and a sock full of 50ps then. And a HUGE friend waiting down the block. Good luck!

Ok I get it now...so it was the ignition switch what was stolen,,how much would one cost?

Good thing my LX doesnt have any scewable parts on it..I was thinkin about upgrading to the GTS but I dunno now...does the GTS have easy unscrew parts on it? you'd think they would make those panels harder to get too anyone with a standard phillips can unscrew the screws lol pathetic

It never ceases to amaze me that a person with the brains to come up and execute a plan like that needs to resort to crime in order to make a living.

i'm not familiar with the wiring on the GT125 so i can't tell you exactly what they've taken, only that i suspect they have disabled the ignition system. my only experience is with the ET4 part, and that cost a tenner to replace.

i wouldn't let this stop you from getting a GTS tho - there are a million ways to steal a scooter, panels or no

what an ass of a thief, because you know they must know a bit about vespas to do that. well look on the bright side at least they did not mess up the bike to get parts off of it and also it must be easy to work on if panels come off easily. but i am sorry to hear of this, some people have no respect.

Sorry folks...but my cousins new name should be rodney trotter as he's been a bit of a plonker!
Nobody has broken into his bike and stolen anything!
He's accidently hit the red cut off switch which has in turn disabled the bike from starting
Nothing was stolen
Apparently the first recovery guy did not realise this and wrongly informed him that someone had opened the left panel and taken a part..but if you open the left panel there is no part there to be taken in the first place
So this is not even a problem with the GT'S as I mentioned in my earlier post 8) Lets all give him a slap on the head

[*forehead slap*] ... and the winner of the muppet award is... well, not sure if it's him or the recovery bloke

glad his scooter is safe and sound tho.

Tell him over 14,000 people now know he's forgot the kill switch was on and panicked.




(Yes, I've done it too )


Harvey

I wouldn't write to Piaggio then...

To be so publicly humiliated at least guarantees he will never make that mistake again!
Whenever you can laugh at someone else's expense - well it is always extra fun for the rest of us.

i'd call this 'gentle ribbing' - hardly public humiliation. by english standards we've all been terribly polite

Ive just informed him to take a look on modernvespa he's being crucified

He probably won't want to join now

He's my cousin but he's still a muppet

I guess he'll learn from his error

By Welsh standards, it's like tea with the Queen

I told him to have a look and he'll get a good laugh for the day

He plans to pick up a beer later and have a good laugh while signing up