Modern Vespa

...well, if you can call it a mod. Someone on the board gave me this idea this past weekend after my scooter took a tumble when the center stand sunk into hot asphalt. Thanks for the idea. I got some other ideas for products you can purchase but they were all too small to fit the entire stand.

I've had no trouble picking it up, but that's a good idea to add the string! Be a shame to drop the scooter picking up the plate that one was using to prevent a tip over.

Reminds me of the first time I went to a camping rally. When our group pulled into the campground, the experienced riders went directly to a large bag filled with 2x6s.

Us newbies didn't understand.... center-stands sink into the soft ground of a pine forest. Side stands were much worse.

FYI, you can get sidestand pucks at most well stock m/c shops.

PS...those things are not free. I paid thousands of dollars in taxes before it was relegated to duty as a plate for my center stand. Probably my most expensive mod!

I just ordered a side stand today as my LXV didn't come with one. I also ordered a new right brake lever and a new right mirror...results of the fall.

Mine was free. I searched my garage. We used to have a stack of those (not free) tags but must have purged them last year. My cycle shop gave me mine for free. Why they have a stack of them is beyond me...maybe for the same purpose.

LOL...I guess it's another way to go green and get my money's worth.

I guess a "spare" tag/l-plate is not something you see in CA. The plate is issued to the vehicle one time and you place new stickers on them every year....


speaking of said.. I need to go the DMV today and buy my $100 sticker.

When I lived in CA, I didn't appreciate the one-time tag. Now I live in Nebraska and they issue new tags every 4 years, sometimes 2. It is so wasteful. I shouldn't complain, since we have 4 vehicles and 2 scooters, I'll have a never ending supply of stand plates.

Have fun at the DMV. I went today to upgrade my MC license and (literally), the "number serving" did not change for a full hour. Ugh! What a way to spend a day off.

I just use an electrical junction box cover,
Fits in my glovebox easily.

I use a round one, While my girlfriend uses a square one,
That way we know who's cover it is when it gets left behind.

Sometimes I'll leave mine behind and she'll pick it up for me,
Or I'll pick it up for her when she leaves hers behind.

In any case they are cheap and work very well.

Being a collector of license plates, that picture made me cringe!

Just flatten a couple of empty, clean soda cans and put one under each foot of the stand... works like a charm!

Man, this is why I so enjoy this site. Aside from all the wonderful personalities I find here. All these wonderful ideas got me thinking (a rare, but valuable experience).

I thought, "I have an electrical junction box cover; I can do that". I didn't, but I did have a short piece of angle iron that will serve the same purpose. If I need the string to pick it up, I shall add that mod later.

For the GTS250ie, I only need the plate on the starboard side - the port side has this big chunk of tubing.