Modern Vespa

Hi all. After almost 8 years of wanting a Vespa, I finally got mine. It was my very first trip to Europe that I rented one in Italy and fell in love as I started it (well, as they started it for me).

So I've got a 2009 Midnight Blue Vespa GTS250ie - what a ride! I've been slowly getting my gear and learning about it, been reading all sorts of topics here and I've learned a lot!

I do have a question though... if anyone can help me. I live in Pacifica, which is always foggy and windy, and Monday thru Friday my Vespa stays outside during the day and sleeps inside the garage during the night, weekend she stays inside, but it looks like I might need to leave her outside to sleep the night for the winter season (we made a loft inside the garage and its all carpet) because it wouldn't be good to take her out while is raining at 6am! at least not during the week before work.

I'm thinking of getting a shed but winter is horrible here and we already had a shed fall off in the backyard during one of those fun windy winters over here.

Any tips? I looked at one of those full covers but man, they are pricey. Anyway. I'm too excited as it is. This site is awesome!

Beautiful Vespa! Welcome and I love your avatar (I've been known to hug my bike as well!)

Welcome to MV chiniz! I just love your avatar ...very cute!!! I also love your scoot. I think the midnight blue is gorgeous!

As for leaving it outside uncovered ... I wouldn't do it to my scooters but then again, I am a little more than anal about them. I can't stand to see them dirty. I am in the process of trying to get a shed built but currently use covers. Is there anywhere where you could build some kind of shelter up against your house?

I think DannyH did that recently and it seems to work for him. Hopefully he will be along shortly!

First of all, WELCOME, and congrats on your new purchase! In my opinion, Midnight Blue on the GTS (at GT200, for that matter) is a *gorgeous* color. It's definitely the way I'd go if in the market for one of those 2 bikes...

Second, I've been through Pacifica enough times to know the kind of weather you're talking about. I understand that while everybody's situation is different - be it garage space (or lack thereof), work situation, finances, etc. - do give some more thought to one of those expensive covers you've seen.

Don't be pennywise and pound foolish. The covers are expensive, but so are buggered up electronics once out of warranty, and so is rusty bodywork. That's not to say it's guaranteed to happen, but anytime there is prolonged exposure to "the elements" (for any vehicle, not just a Vespa), the odds go up.

Forgo the bling you'd been thinking about purchasing right off the bat, and keep that baby protected!

Aloha nd welcome to the forum. I would get a rubbermaid shed and secure it. Got one for mine and it's great. Is there a place you can "hide" it out of the wind. Here on the northshore we have fairly predictable winds so my shed is placed accordingly. Good luck and ride safe.

HI Chiniz,
I know your weather - I live in Santa Cruz. I ride my bike thru the winter but not when it rains. It lives outside and I have a good (nelson Rigg Defender 2000 or 3000) cover for it. It waterproof, covers the bike well and won't blow off. They are $65 new on ebay but if you can find a used one, they are about $35 in good condition on ebay and/or CL. A medium size fits well.

You might also consider a motorcycle shelter like one of these ad there are several companies that make them.
http://www.shelter-solution.com/cycle_shelters.htm

Google motorcycle shelters. They look pretty cool but I dont have room for one. I've seen one and it looks pretty cool. I think theya re about $350 on line.

Lastly, consider getting a Vespa Tall windshield and cutting it down. Lots of links on MV under the search function. It REALLY takes the cold out of the wind. I've had a windshield for more than 5 years and would never have another bike without one. The Pacific makes coastal riding just too cold, especially in winter.

Welcome.
Miguel

Hi welcome to MV you will love it

Thanks for all the welcomes! and tips, so much to learn!

Hello chinz and welcome to the forum ... I like you blue Vespa ... it's so good looking !!! Enjoy it

I live across the street from SF State, so not much farther from the ocean than you. I keep my bike outside in all weather (no garage), and so far the only rust I've seen is on the exhaust (which will happen even in the Sahara) and around the scratches on my chrome bits. My scooter gets covered in mist nearly every night. My scooter has had zero electrical problems, and it's not even close to watertight. It was a salvage bike, made up of a patchwork of parts that don't fit quite right.

So don't worry about it. I'd even recommend to forgo the cover, since they become sails in windy weather. Use the rain cover on your seat if you don't want a wet rear in the morning, but other than that these bikes were built for European cities where no one has a garage. Get a pair of Heidenau tires if you want better wet-surface traction. A Pinlock visor will keep your helmet from fogging. Relax and enjoy the ride!

Also, come to a Quitters meeting some time.

Here is a link to the thread that shows a picture of a shelter that might work for you. It is the one built by danny*h.
https://modernvespa.com/forum/topic53010?highlight=scooter+shed

get a cover, put a good coat of wax on her. my car stays outside in pacifica and i hose it off every morning.

Beeeeeeeautiful scoot! Welcome to MV!

Congrats!!!! That Midnight Blue is a gorgeous color.

J

Welcome and congratulations, chiniz! +1 on the waxing, including underneath the frame, +1 on the Heidenau tires (K66 are my favorites for riding the wet). Frequent rinsing will be good too, in order to keep the salt off of it. It'll take a good bit of time to do it all, but it'll be worth it in the long run. Be sure to reapply every few months too, and touch up any chips in the paint ASAP. Also, be sure to clean and wax the chrome frequently too, in order to prevent it from pitting. Rust is going to be your Vespa's mortal enemy living on the coast, so the better you protect it, the longer it'll stay nice and shiny.

As far as storage goes, a good cover is better than nothing. A cheap cover is just a waste of money, it'll be shredded after a couple of weeks of Pacifica winds. A shed would be better, but definitely make sure it's secured well to stand up to the wind. Personally, I think it really should have a comfy place to stay in the garage. Would it be that hard to remove a 6' x 2' section of carpet from the garage, to give your new baby a nice warm home?

Hi, thanks you guys. Its nice to feel so welcome and thanks for the compliments on the bike. It's so much fun. I love checking out all those cool pictures in here too...

Yeah I've gotten a good cover and I will do the waxing too, right now the bike sleeps inside and stays outside during the day with its cover, Sat & Sun it will stay in the garage, problem is we just remodeled the loft and we got a family child care in there so really, there's no place for the bike during the day (I don't stay there, my fam runs the business), and I don't mind getting up early and take her out, but when it starts to rain, it will be a big problem that I didnt think of, the excitement of finally getting one didnt let me think that far ahead.

I'll try to take a picture of where I'm planning on leaving her when it rains, it sucks just thinking about it, hope it doesnt rain any time soon!