Modern Vespa

I'm looking to update a Rally 180 I just picked up. I need recommendations on the front suspension. I want to keep the stock front fork. I've seen the use of hi-performance Lambretta shocks, and I've seen picks on Flickr of a guy how did an add on pice so he could keep the stock fork and have a Hydraulic front brake system. I'd like to hear from those of you who've gone before. I want a firm ride, weigh about 175 and plan to ride at freeway speeds often. any ideas?!?

Talk to Kristian at Bar Italia immediately after the holidays. Besides being the expert on all things electrical, he's known as the Rally Guy. That goes double for Rally 180.

He'll be back to work from Norway on Tuesday, Jan. 5.

As far as Rallys going on the freeway, we do it all the time, including to work most days. Kristian on his 180 and I on my 200. His 180 has a little something extra in it, and top speed is somewhere around 90 mph. My purely stock '77 tops at around 75.

hey bar italia

is there any rides this weekend?!

a fresh spring and shock will do wonders for an old clapped out suspension.

as far as mods go, a heavy-duty spring is a viable option and BGM now is offering slick new shocks...

adding the disc is kinda tricky, but there are kits availible thru worb5 and SIP. that being said, you'd be surprised how good the front drum works when everything is dialed in right and the components are of good quality.

best,
-greasy

I looked into this a couple of years ago & gave up. Decided just to keep it stock, as much as the front end suxx0rz.

For minimal impact to the scoot, there is a drop-in much stiffer spring available, but don't have details.

I think the only other option is a PX fork, but I believe you have to modify the fender to fit it.

Good luck, post results if you go for it.

\\osc

stoffis garage sells the spring... it rides stiff which i don't think is necessairly a good thing...

i'm dying to try out the new BGM shock, but i've not got a thing to try it on.

as for fork conversions-- PX fork takes some doing. the PK fork is a little closer to a drop in. be prepared for some fabrication either way-- and then fiddle with the fender to get it fitting properly.

the other option is a bajaj fork, minimal work.. but still drum. at least it's anti dive...

best,
-greasy

Yeah, the BGM shock looks really interesting if you're not worried about the updated appearance. You'd still need an uprated spring to firm it up, although too firm is not so good either since you end up bouncing when you should be absorbing. Dunno if anyone has tried these out yet, as they're brand new:



It certainly looks the part, although keep in mind even a super trick dampener can only do so much. Is there any specific problem with your bike now that you're trying to fix?

the main problem with the Rally fork is dive upon braking. Adding a disk will only make the dive worse on the stock trailing link set up. A stiffer spring will help with the dive but at great expense to ride comfort and bearing longevity. PX and PK forks work great but both require cutting and welding to fit properly.

The late model Bajaj is by far the easiest, cheapest and greatest improvement over anything you can get out of a stock front end as the anti-dive design allows you to get the most out of the drum brake. But I'd say before you do that, try a stiffer spring, I like the Bajaj Ape spring, it's stiffer than stock but not so crazy stiff as the German springs. Add a good shock and you will see a huge improvement.

Also keep in mind that you can improve the performance of the stock-type trailing suspension by improving your braking technique and keeping things perfectly adjusted.

The bajaj ape spring sounds just like what I'm looking for. I can't seem to find a seller on Google. Any recommendations?!?

Won't necessarily be listed as such, but most shops will have something like this. In fact, I got one from Scootershop, not too far from you, a couple years ago. Check them, or other local shops to see if they still have some.

Start with your local shops. Most places will call it a "heavy duty" spring.

like this:
http://www.scooterworks.com/Spring_Front_Heavy_Duty_-_Sp_P1410C560.cfm

the ones I have used are Cadmium plated

Are you using their HD damper(shock) also? or another brand?

I've used them on several bikes but I got all of mine either from First Kick Scooters or San Francisco Scooter Centre. Currently I'm running a Bajaj anti-dive in my Rally 180. It's the best set up ever

Sounds like the way to go. Send me a pic. of the anti dive system on your scoot if you have one via PM. All the pics i can pull up have a plastic cover over the parts, so i can't see what's entailed.