Modern Vespa

need a new engine for my vbb/vba who knows what it is i kinda got screwed over with this scoot. i was told it was a 64 vba then find out they didnt make the vba in 64 so it must be a vbb but it has a rounded rear end....?

what is the difference between a bajaj engine and a lml engine

these are the two i found http://www.scooterwest.com/items/?_pageCCS=t#page=/item_details/Vintage-Vespa-Complete-Engine-150cc-8-inch/1049

http://www.scooterwest.com/items/?_pageCCS=t#page=/item_details/Vintage-Vespa-Complete-Stella-Engine-150cc-10-inch/2194

is one better then the other or are they both caca poo idk know much about vespas but im learning as i go and it seems im getting screwed over alot

post a picture of the scooter.



Rob

The main thing you need to ascertain is which model your scooter is (easiest way is to post the first half of your VIN no. and someone will tell you) also what size wheels you're running on - 8 or 10 inch, as obviously you'll have to either put in the corresponding engine or convert the wheel size accordingly.

Basically the main difference in bajaj and LML engines is quality. LML's are better quality and slightly more robust. Similarly their 5-port reed block engine are pretty highly rated and would be a sound investment for your scoot - but it may mean converting the electrics from 6v (points) to 12v.

In short though you need to find out as much about your scooter as you can (model, engine etc.) and report back and I'm sure someone on here can point you in the right direction

i'm gonna go out on a limb here and guess that you got burned buying a scoot online or traded a decent bike for something that you thought was legit.

at any rate, if you've got a round tail and it's not 62 or earlier my guess is that you've got a bajaj. not that it's the end of the world or anything, but it's be a smart move to have it all checked out by somebody that's in the know.

as far as motor, you pays your money, you takes your chances.
granted, buying from an established shop or individual allows for certain assurances.

anyway, if you need a hand hit me up. i'm somewhat local, got a ton of parts and more than happy to help!

greasy

whats a bajaj? ill post the vin

Mr. Google is your friend.

pic

pic 2

this is the vin v40211t11946 it has 8inch wheels and says its a 1964 vba can anybody tell me exactly what i have?

I think I remember seeing you buy that from another MV member... can you not get back in touch with them about it?

i tried so many times i traded him my 08 stella for this thing thinking that it was legit. He wont trade back or agree to pay me for taking my stella and leaving me with this thing that needs a new engine. he says we traded as is! and wont reply to me anymore. real solid guy. raja all i wanted to do was trade back i even said i would come to his house and make it easy its only been a week and he wont even trade back. i actually paid him 150$ to come to my house to do the trade. so its like i paid 150 to totally screw myself. My stella was sweet ran perfect and had a few mods done to it scoot was worth at least 2500 and this thing is maybe worth 1200 if im lucky..Why do people do shit like this man. I just got into vespas like a month or two ago and i already got robbed for over 1000.

so i guess i need all the help i can get to make this scoot safe and ridable so i can enjoy it like raja is enjoying my perfect stella!!!

he told me it was a legit vespa. but scooter shop and fabio in orange CA tell me they dont know what it is....maybe south east asia scoot or maybe a bajaj. all they can tell me is that i need a new engine and its not worth rebuilding it.

I'm really sorry to hear that. I guess it's buyer beware out there... I'd be suspicious about someone wanting to trade "such a great scoot" for a not rare and currently in production model (stella)... makes you wonder "what's my stella have that his scooter doesn't have..."

It looks to me like a Bajaj. Perhaps a partial bodge if the scooter shop can't identify it and they say the engine is complete toast. In the future it can't hurt to run pics and info past the folks here in NSM before buying or trading.

Good luck!

yea i know he said he wanted to trade because he had a broken leg and needed a scooter with a electric start because he could not even kick the scooter. he came to my house limping so i thought it was a legit reason. i was asking 2500 for my stella and he was asking 2700obo so i didnt think much of it. i thought scooter peeps were nice people. i could understand if i was dealing with harley's and hard core burnt out biker dudes but scooters....lol well thanks for the insight. i would still really love to know what i actually have. bajaj south east asia, india?

so i posted the vin if anybody can help me out sweet!!

thanks

It looks like one of the Indian Vespa clones like ScooterWorks was bringing in. It's hard to tell from the pics but does it have a round speedo? They made the round tail frames late into the 60s there. Unless the engine is a total basket case, most can be repaired. I put an LML 150 in my Allstate restoration and haven't had any problems with it.

pic of speedo

I just purchased this scooter. I too could not match the sn and model so I googled the VIN and came up with this post. It runs good now. What did you do to get it running? If it's not a true Vespa, Id like to know.

Hello,
I checked on the Indian Scooter Owners Club website for you. You have a 1964 oval speedo type Bajaj 150. Made in India from about 1963 but most come with a round or vlocano headset. I prefer the look of your speedo. The motor, though Indian built is a stock VBA 3 speed with 5.5bhp. You can replace it with any subsequent large frame motor but will have to change the front end to 10" if the rear wheel is 10" of course. You can't just stick a 10" wheel in place of the 8", you'd have to ask for more advice on this forum. The motor is a 2 port so if you rebuild it it's difficult to get significantly more performance. All the Bajaj models up to and including the Priya,made from 1975 onwards have the rounded rear end. I think it's cute, myself. Don't worry that it's Indian built.Many Indian imports have never seen much rain so the metal can be like new. I'm told it's not the best steel, but is a bit thicker.

Andrew.

Forgot to mention. It would have origionally beenbadged as a Vespa so you're not been conned there.

Thanks for the help. I will research further.

Sorry Dsdayln, I meant the origional posters scooter in my posts. If you have an Indian built machine then either post the VIN here or PM me and I will find out what I can.I joined the Indian Scooter Owners Club thinking it was alive but it appears to be dead.I can still access the members only pages, though. So I can find out all sorts of information on Bajaj built scooters.

Andrew.

It is actually quite easy to get more performance out of a 2-port engine. Like everything it costs money though.

The fastest time at the Moto Corsa was on a 2 port.

yes, but there was a little magic in the motor and a great rider at the controls.

best,
-greasy

Andrew, do you still have a 3-speed 2-port Bajaj motor in your Priya?

Zeno,
the Priya is a 3port but still with 3 gears. Bajaj seem to have had the tooling for the 3 port in '71 when the agreement with Piaggio broke down. So the porting could be like a Sprint Veloce, which was the Piaggio 3 port offering from (off the topof my head) 1968. I haven't had the cylinder off yet so I haven't looked at it, but I dot hink it definitely gives more than 5.5bhp. People say that a VBA is good for 50mph max. Mine can cruise at an indicated 50, though I don't suppose it's a real 50.

Andrew.

I'm now better educated. I bought this scooter from the second owner since the original post on this forum. It runs well and is in relatively good shape from what I can tell. It is an Indian built Vespa 150 based on the VBA models built by Piaggio model years 1958 to 1960. I believe it to be a 1964 model, sn V40211T11946. I don't know what was done to it since the original post, although it appears someone has changed the speedo as it is not an oval as most information indicates it should. If you look close at the speedo, the lettering is hand painted. So I guess I own an Indian Bajaj and now I know.

I believe your VIN should start with V462, not V402

It's possible someone switched out your headset. If I can't find a volcano speedo, I will consider swapping out the headset since Vbb speedos are easy to find.

Andrew are you sure the Priya is 3 port? I have the case split and there are only 2 ports. One on the clutch side and the other on the flywheel side.



[/img]

Zeno

From information I found at the Indian Scooters Club website, vins for the Bajaj 150 started with V252, V402, or V462. The V402 is on the frame and listed on the California title.

Dsdaylen

Zeno,
your scooter is a Bajaj built Vespa 150 with a 2 port motor like a VBA. My VIN starts with C04, This means that mine is not a Vespa 150 but would have origionally had a Priya badge on the legshield which has been replaced with a Vespa badge when it was restored. The Priya was built from 1975 0nwards by Maharashtra Scooters who still make castings for Bajaj bikes like the Avenger. Bajaj own a share of this company. As I've said previously I've been too busy enjoying riding to take the top end off, so I haven't looked at the barrel. My info. comes from the ISOC members only section which says it is a 3 port. It certainly cruises at an indicated 50mph on the level, so I feel sure it is more than 5.5bhp.
So if we are being picky then your description of yours as a Priya is not totally accurate. Hardly a hanging offence, though!
I'm sure that if you got a Priya badge from somewhere it would fit straight on to your legshield without having to redrill it. I expect your top badge will be an oblong, where mine is hexagonal. That too has been replaced with a Piaggio on mine rather than the origional Bajaj.
I'll look up the VIN of the other guy's scooter now to confirm the year.

Dsdaylen,
I can confirm that your scooter would have been built in 1964 and origionally badged as a Vespa with Piaggio badge at the top. It would have origionally had an oval speedo but it seems to have been Italianised!
Looks good from the pictures, how does it ride?
Can you get 50mph?
Is the motor the origional 3 speed 8" wheel?

No kidding Andrew. So I don't have a Bajaj Priya, technically.

When I finish up the scoot and attempt to register it, I want to do the right name.

So would mine be considered Bajaj Vespa 150? Bajaj 150?

EDIT:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bajaj_Priya

It should really be "Bajaj 150" if this wikipedia pages is reliable.

Duxuk

Yes, perhaps my Indian bike has been Italianised! But it is what it is and that is the way it will stay. Not certain at the top speed, not important to me as a pothole at any speed on 8" wheels I wish to avoid, especially at 50 MPH. I'll drive it as a novelty and so far I am enjoying.

From my recent research, it appears Vespas were manufactured in several countries other than Italy under licence from Piaggio. Douglas in the UK? Is that correct?

I will be putting my rebuild efforts into a 1963 Allstate model that I also purchased that appears to be original components, never rebuilt, but still runs. These Allstate models were sold by Sears, imported from Italy (I assume).

Thanks for your comments.

dsdaylen

Zeno,
I've seen the wikipaedia page and don't think it is very good!
I believe that your scooter would have origionally been badged as a Piaggio above the horncast and Vespa on the legshield. There is also a small plate (missing on mine) which tells you where it was manufactured. You can buy them for Italian built Vespas on the web.
I don't have the confidence in my information to amend the Wiki page myself. I have also found a couple of faults with the ISOC members only pages so the absolute truth is still slightly vague.
I don't care how a scooter is badged myself and have never tried to deny the Indian origins of mine. I bought it badged as a Piaggio Vespa and am happy to leave it that way. To me it's how good it looks and rides that counts and am very pleased with mine for a total spend of just over £1000 including registration fee etc. I have no idea how this price would compare to prices in other countries but I do know that I got it very cheaply since it did not reach it's Ebay reserve price.

the speedo proves its a vespa 150 manufactured by bajaj or its an early bajaj 150

That speedo only proves that repro speedo was installed -- the original didn't have the logo. That speedo is readily avail. in India.