Modern Vespa

The only beef I have with the 300 is lack of tripmeter.
Then I realized you can get one for a bicycle for about $25.
Anyone use one of these? (or something like this)

http://www.rei.com/product/751832

Not on a Vespa, but I used to use a Sigma bike computer on my kitted Yamaha 2T Vino 50 because the stock speedo wouldn't go nearly high enough.

Worked fine, but there was a slight lag in the display refresh on the speedo. Wouldn't make any difference in the trip meter mode, though.

EDIT: Oh, and I had to substitute a small rare-earth magnet disc on the rim for the stock magnet that came with the bike computer because I couldn't get the pickup close enough to register the wimpy stock magnet.

I have a GTV and it also does not have a trip meter. It annoys the hell out of me that they did not include this basic feature that should be on every PTW. I record my mileage at every fillup and fill to the lower neck of the gas filler. If I rode this scooter more or on any kind of trips, I would buy a GPS to use as a trip meter. If you buy this gadget, please let us know how it works for you.

I'm looking for a cheap, small, waterproof/shockproof option that would be used everyday. That for me rules out a GPS.
Once I get back to riding (I currently have a broken leg) I'll try it out on my PX first as that too does not have a tripmeter.

I used a Sigma on my GTS until I purchased a GPS. Installation was pretty easy- I could worm the magnetic pick-up down the leg sheild without much work. The only problem I had was I used two part epoxy to mount it, and that failed on a bumpy highway, next time I'd go with JB weld. I think I needed a long-wire mount, and I'm not sure a wireless will work (I.E. make sure you can return it)

Yeah, I'm thinking the wireless would be the way to go. No reason it shouldn't work.

Harvey, how did you calibrate the device for your scoot's wheel size? Bicycles (the intended use for this product) have much bigger wheels.

Yes, because scooter tires are so much thicker/higher profile than bicycle tires it works out (just). The Cateye can be setup for a 14x1.75 inch tire, for instance.

On some scoots, I have heard the CDI gets in the way of the signal on others there is too much metal and plastic between the sensor and the display head-unit.

You need to be sure that the device you buy will allow you to calibrate using your wheel diameter. In my experience, you mark your tire and the ground with chalk and then push the bike/scoot forward one rotation, make a second mark. You measure the distance between the two points (in millimeters many times) and you enter that into the display unit as your rotational distance and the unit calibrates based on that setting.

Check to see if the wireless models will handle the higher pulse rate that comes with the smaller wheels and higher top speeds on scooters compared to bicycles. When I bought my Sigma (four years ago or so), the wireless model wouldn't hack it.

They may have improved them since then.

You know there are GPS-based bike computers, yeah?

(Okay, not cheap. But I'm a gadget whore. And I own the domain name to prove it.)

Love the heart rate monitor. Guess it would serve a different purpose on a scooter as compared to a bicycle!

Yes. But the point of this exercise is to make me want to add an tripmeter to a 300 Super as cheaply as possible. As well as it becoming a permanent fixture on the bike that hopefully someone doesn't rip off.
I want it to become a part of the bike, not something that I have to take with me every time I stop cuz it costs $250!

It really blows to see that an odometer that does far more than what Vespa offers on the 250 let alone NOT offering on the 300 costs $20.
I'd happily pay Vespa an extra $20 for a tripmeter on the instrument panel.

Many dirtboaters use them on their yachts. They are quite durable. My Manta Twinjammer had 15-600x6 tires and ran 50MPH bouncing and banging on the dry lake beating the crap out of the unit and it held up.

Why go small and do what WANG-TA (think it was him)did and put a computer in where the glove box was 8) He had a fully operational touch screen computer right in front of him Hopefully somebody on here has a pic of it. Good luck with your project