Modern Vespa

We're still waiting for the dealer to finish up in the windshield and top-case install on my wife's 500 so I'm just taking my time getting to know mine in the meantime.

Was curious if anyone here had any suggestions for a small roadside emergency tool kit that might be stowed under the seat. There's a local sport bike place in town that carries a $40 kit that is pretty compact but seems rather extensive in its contents, but I wasn't sure if there were any "trick" parts on the 500 or other maint. requirements that might necessitate a specific type of tool for use on the road that I should be looking for. Will the small tool kit that came with the bike be enough in the long run for anything I might encounter that would need to be user-serviceable?

Similarly, would a tire repair kit, something like this one, be a reasonable investment to have at least one between the two scooters once we're both out on the roads, or is this a bit overkill?

I've also done some digging on the boards regarding preload settings for the rear shocks, but I'm still not entirely sure I understand what the different settings will do for me. It's been a LONG time since I rode a motorcycle and that was a 1200CC BMW cruiser with a totally different kind of ride--so I'm not entirely sure what kind of feeling I should be looking for from the back shocks on a vehicle this small. I'm about 220 lbs...I realize that a lot of the preload settings are probably personal preference, but can anyone give me a sense of what might be safest/safer to run at on the back tire or what I should expect if I make any adjustments (I admit I'm still a little gun-shy about tinkering with the MP3)?

Thanks for any assistance/perspective you might have to offer!
- WildBlue

Hi there please do not buy a tire kit that uses a plug to repair your tire
if the plug falls or pops out the tire will deflate very fast

The best way is to VALCANIZE the tire you or someone else removes the
rim with the tire take the rime and tire to any place that can chage or reoair a flat tire they will take the tire off the rim and valcanize it to valcannize they find the whole in tire and the heat weld a ruber pattch inside the tire
and your back on the road for over 35 years ive allways had my tires valcanized if the tire is bald or at its end of life just replace it

Cliff1050

I'm not a fan of the tool kit that comes with the scoot. The best thing and only thing of use to me is the shock adj wrench. the screwdriver is real wimpy for and thing but poking holes in paper. get a set of metric allens, I like the individual ones other than the pocket folding type. The tire repair kit what ever your most familair with. the stop-and-go makes a decent one also and yes I would think its a needed item to carry especially if your traveling on weekend rides and such.

Have the dealer adjust your preload at least 1 more notch up for your weight. have them show you how they do it with the stock tool kit wrench. You might find for your weight you could go up to the 3rd postion but try it 1 bump up at a time. set the tire press around 32 psi for now. you can adjust up or down after you get some miles on and feel the scoot and what you like.

Back on to other tools for the road a decent #2 phillips a straight screwdriver, the allen set, some metric wrenches ie a set of 8mm -17mm should get most items for now.

carry the piaggio roadside card in each scoot as that is good for a year of free towing and such. Are you a AMA memeber cause they also have free roadside towing with automatic renewals on the annual membership.

this should get you started good.

I've found that the allens that get the most use are the 3.5, 4 and 6mm. Packing the whole lot of allens is a PITA. Cycle Gear has a nifty inflator on sale that uses CO2 carts. I disagree on the plug tool - get one and use it to get you rolling to a service facility - then they can patch it right. As Doug stated a small set of metric wrenches. Again - 8, 9, 10, 11 & 13 seems to be the most used. Something tells me to throw a 14 in the mix for good luck. Sockets and small 1/4 drive ratchet w/ extention I think an 8, 9 , 10 & 11 will cover you. For general at home repairs like if you'll be digging into the tranny you'll need the Buzetti variator tool and a set of large 1/2 impact sockets 21 & 27 mm I think for the two big nuts. An impact wrench and a 1/2" torque wrench. Some folks like me like the Buzetti oil filter wrench in case the dang thing plays hard to remove on you. A small amount of tools goes a long ways!

Are u handy to work on the scooter? The old style and cheap, twist rope with glue, are the best fast fixes. Inside patch is best, but for $30 charge to patch it, the price is already 1/3 of a new tire. Get youself some spare fuses, never know! They do fatique from vibration too. Flashlight does not hurt. Spare key...just in case. do not put any other keys on the ingnition key, learned this the hard way myself. Get spare key made, a member here does it for very reasonable price. (jimh or jimc ) getting old lol.

In addition to the allen keys (I simply carry a metric "switchblade" with all of them, yes I am carrying sizes I don't need but they're all conveniently in one place) and a couple of metric wrenches, I also carry a good stubby Phillips screwdriver. and a couple of 6mm buttonhead screws and some self-tapping screws.

Mostly tho to address the OP I carry a bottle of Slime (8oz. bottle for tubeless tires) and of course my little compressor and a tire gauge. Whether you like or hate products like Slime is irrelevent, whether you think tire patch kits are appropriate for motorcycle tires is irrelevent; if you have a flat in the breakdown lane of the Interstate in the rain, you'll be happy you had Slime with you. If you're convinced that Slime ruins or misbalances a tire, you can always replace it later, after you're home and dry.

It's Jimh who makes the keys. Put your key on a bright lanyard to help prevent you from misplacing it or locking it inside the scooter in the first place!

If I have any troubles I call the dealership & sometimes get a answer, but you can also asked us anything we are use to our 500 way it handles. Just remember when u hit the lock button to lock the two front wheels make sure the wheels are straight not turned. I have fallen of mine twice, because I have hit the wheel lock button when wheels where turned slightly the last time I fell off of it I sprang my finger when the brake lever came down hard & bent the hand brake lever. Just be careful practice on it a little of a time.

Some great advice; thanks all! I'm starting to pull together an at-home and "away-kit" for the bikes!