Modern Vespa

After 17k on a GT200 decided to upgrade to something more powerful, so I was all happy running errands this morning in my 1 week-400mi old Black Demon MP3 500 and I swear I heard the front wheels lock before I dismounted, but must have been something else...as I was walking away the thing dropped all its 550 lbs on the left side. Damages are serious -cosmetic only though- and would like to know if you have suggestions for used front and rear left panels -in black of course. There are not that many wrecked 500s out there...

The other option is if you dropped yours on the right side I will send you mine and you send me yours so at least I have an all around messed up-but simmetrical- Black Demon

Thanks

Julio

Ouch! What a bummer, Julio, sorry to hear about your drop.....

I am very specific in my dismount.... lock front end, wiggle it to make sure it's locked. Turn off key, wiggle again.... set parking brake... dismount... wiggle again....
I check and recheck... don't trust it.. I've read too many stories on here.

Glad it's nothing mechanical, though! Congrats on your 3-wheeler!
~R

Drop it on the other side to even things out.

Then ride it with pride.

Its just Tupperware.

the only damage I like is the brake lever. It absorbed most of the impact and it curled forward in the best West Coast Chopper style ever! You are right, I think I am going to drop the right too...

Sorry to hear it, Julio.
Me, too, Robyn - wiggle, wiggle, wiggle.

Hard lesson, never assume, especially when rolling to a stop! Caught mine a few times also! I get off the scoot, and do not let go until I am standing and "convinced".

As a resident Grand Master of the Drop Person may I suggest you could (with luck) bend your brake lever back into shape? I just did that on one of my two-wheel rides and you'd never know it was previously bent. Go slowly, apply pressure in a very steady manner, stop every few seconds to observe if you're making any progress, repeat until you've achieved enough bend. Worst case you'll bust the damn thing off and once you clean the fresh wrist blood off your clothes you'll only need to replace it which is no worse than when you started out. No big deal eh? Your wrist will likely heal up in a few days and your buds will be impressed as all get out. Take a few photos to show the rest of us.

LL75

Julio,
Sorry to read about your mp3. How bad is the plastic damaged? Are we talking scratches or cracks? If you have scratches may be consider painting the plastics.

I'd like to add to Larry's suggest by saying to warm the lever up by using a propane torch. I would suggest taking it off the perch first. Oh and if you do please use welders gloves to handle it as it will be pretty toasty

Just scratches, no cracks, but it is funny how all over front in both sides is off, all the plastics have gaps in between them...and I dont recall that situation before the drop. I read somewhere here that the MP3s are put together with some pretty good "tolerances" so I guess I dont need to worry...also a few screww feel off the sides on impact (even form the opposite side...wtf!)

Thanks for the suggestions again, covered some scraatches just relocating the MP3 sticker and I might get another sticker for the front...

I know how that feels. I did the same thing last spring and posted about it. Luckily it didn't go all the way down it fell onto a short brick wall. But I still cracked the front left shield protector. I got a new one from Athens http://athensscooterco.com/custompage.asp?pg=piaggio-scooter-parts

you clumsy oaf! gawd I've done that soooo many times my dismount routine's become an automated reflex. I'm keeping my fingers crossed it doesn't happen with Red Dog but it wouldn't surprise me if it did. Probably when I get the trailer hitched up to her...

LL75

What was really amazing is that it stayed up for a couple seconds after I got off the seat.