Modern Vespa

The One True Thread.

I couldn't agree more.

Very concise. BodgeTASTIC!

Bravissimo!

Me first... DONT BUY THIS!

Sweeeeeet.

Thank you Jess!

I'll add one just for the hell of it. This is the typical "Nammer"..trying to make a Faro Basso out of a pile of dog shit.

This thread should be for:

1. Posting pics of bodges
2. Linking websites of companies that sell them (for avoidance)
3. Explaining why they are bad
4. Referring new members to, who have either purchased one, are trying to sell one, or just dont know.

Any other mindless posts and its usefulness will be watered down.

Now where is that cut and paste bodge response that Aviator put together? That needs to be here too.

My $.02

Rovers S.C. How to spot an Asian restoration

The NYCS Viet-bodge 101

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb/mcy/1893297943.html The back stories are always amusing..

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/mcy/1892362933.html

This one has the yellow shoes..

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/mcy/1891525502.html

This one bugs me cuz it claims to be a full restoration, but they then use a Stella Indian motor..

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb/mcy/1890485175.html

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/mcy/1890409150.html

Denver Craig's list....don't buy this shit.

http://denver.craigslist.org/mcy/1873001897.html

http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/mcy/1891997150.html
this thing is horrid
and this one is shit too

http://southbend.craigslist.org/mcy/1893947132.html

If there is a pic on craigslist, grab it and post it here along with the description so the post stays relevant forever, rather than for 30 days.

It would be helpful if posters could point out the signs that identify a bodge. Then newbies like me would learn what to look for.

Posting an image and saying "this is shit" is not very helpful to newbies. Why is it shit? A comment like "this model never had a glovebox" or "Piaggio never put badges in that position" is more useful.

The only mindless post is the first one by Jess. Astromags and Azzurri and I responded in kind to Jess. If he had let us know what he was doing I'm sure you would have been happier with the first posts.

Jess, feel free to tidy up my original comment.

Please please please post the text of the CL ad here, that way in the future one can search based on names and phone numbers or other contact info that the bodge seller provides.

My thinking; time in the future:

"Is this a bodge?"

"Use search on his phone number."

<search> xxx-xxx-xxxx
'TOPIC RESULTS'
"Bodgespotting"

'Um, yes, it s a bodge.'

-Luigi

http://www.thevespawizard.com.au/the_black_vbb.htm

Here's a stripdown of a vietbodge. Ended up being a $10,000 investment to have a roadworthy vehicle. You could buy a gorgeous SS90 for that kind of money.

http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/mcy/1891997150.html

The ad:
"I am selling my 1950's (not sure of exact year) Restored Vintage Fender light Vespa in a Metallic sky blue and Brown leather seats.

- 3 year old 150cc 4 speed manual engine that has been optimized to 165cc
- Just had all cables replaced ( break and throttle cables) and tuned up
- bike is in great condition and starts on one kick
- paint is great other than 3 chipped areas


i've had this bike for 5 years and used it sparingly as a leisure rider and have cared for it like a baby, will need the same love and attention from new owner

Showing bike this weekend in nyc/ brooklyn

asking $2500 or best offer - vespa will be sold 'AS IS' - it is a vintage item and will need care and maintenance if used."

This might be a fairly benign sounding ad to the unwary - the seller surely does know what they are selling, but even a cautious newb, without knowing what to look for, might think "ok, this guy has owned the scoot a while and seems open in their ad - it's probably not a vietbodge"

But it is.

*P-series handgrips.
*Handgrip rubber, center mat, floor rail rubber are black, while cowl rubber is grey.
*Those ugly ass brown seats and spare tire cover
*Tons of chrome (cowl guards, fender guard, those chrome wings on the front which are almost exclusively from asia - inspired by a VERY rare German accessory, I believe, so no, almost no original bikes should have this)
*What's with the red eye of death horn?
*YELLOW BOOTS

Wordings in the ads...
*sometimes sellers will say it's from asia but that it has been given the green light by a reputable mechanic. This is probably a lie... reputable mechanics will rarely even TOUCH a vietnam scooter, and will charge an arm and a leg to do so.
*Sometimes sellers will avoid stating the origin of the scooter by simply saying "I've had it here in CT for __ years".
*Sometimes, like this seller, they will include a special note that "the scooter will need love and care and might break down because it is old". They aren't wrong about old bikes, they do need love and care and might break down. But maybe the chromed out vehicle you are looking at could be a breakdown hazard for another reason and they want to cover their ass.
*One time, I saw a seller demanding a waiver be signed by the buyer protecting the seller from suit if any harm happened to the buyer on the scooter. Their reason, they claimed, was "it's an old vehicle and a motorcycle and they go fast and can be dangerous". Hopefully you can smell something more nefarious in that kind of ad.

Sometimes "chipped paint" on the scooter can be an indicator of the paint flaking off the bondo. I imagine that's the case with this scooter here. Don't confuse this with the chipped paint on a legitimate bike... paint HAS been known to get scratched and chipped Just know to look if you go check out a scooter you're already feeling leery about.

Look for signs of bondo, run a magnet around the body. If it doesn't stick or hardly does, then there's probably some thick bondo over a handmade bit or weld.

also its not a widebody not from the 50's and its got 10 inch wheels.

What is a "bodge?"

A well built bike. This is the uniform for the shop I get all my work done...



For all the newbies - Im kidding - steer clear. Use this thread as a good resource to learn from.

quick and dirty job, something done very hastily. Make it look good for the next day or two and if it falls down after that, it's alright.
1> You bodged together that doghouse, didn't you?
2> How can you tell?
1> The walls look like they can cave in at any time.

(Urbandictionary.com)

Being a "Duh" I asked the same question..."Whats a bodge"? You should look it up on line. Several answers and they will surprise you. Like I found out that most of these define a "bodge" correctly..."a piece of crap".
But I am glad you are explaining what is wrong with each scoot, 'cause to my untrained eye, they look GOOD!

that is the worst part about a bodge. they are insidious and thats why the people in the know f-ing hate them. hate them. they turn peeps totally ready for a "vintage commitment" into scooter/vespa haters because of this kinda trash.

Junky chrome and mis-matched misc parts that don't belong etc etc ...aside I really like the paint jobs and designs that many of the Bodges have. If it were only done on a proper bike. I mean look at the yellow bike at the top of this thread. Tear all the crap off and the paint looks awesome. I know its been ultra-smoothed with body filler but it looks good.

I have even thought of using some of the design ideas on my vintage shifty but I'm afraid everyone will scream bodge even though it isn't.

Does anyone else agree with me on that?

I say if you like the two tone paint job go for it, just know because of the stigma associated with such it will be much harder to sell if you ever decide to do so... Some of them can be cool if you decide to ditch the purism. Who cares what anyone thinks as long as YOU like it though?

On a similar note and to open due discourse. I happen to love VBB's. I own one. To me they were the vehicle of the masses and were geared more for the everyday man, which I find cool in a kinda socialist way. They are as classic as coke. Did I just follow up socialism with coke??? Unfortunately now they get a bad rap... Trust me, I have gotten flack even on this site cause I own one, even though mine is not a bodge. As an owner it can be a bit frustrating at times, unfortunately its understandable with so many bad VBB's out there. My personal reservations aside and because of simple ratios, just be careful if you are buying ANY bike that feels if-y. Take a close look at this thread, do the research, and most importantly listen to the members of this board are saying. No bike is worth putting your life on the line.

That being said, if you are patient and wait long enough there are plenty of legit stateside bikes popping up at good prices all the time... fuck ebay for that.

LOL - and of course as soon as posted that this piece of crap crossed my path:

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/mcy/1871129809.html

This is a 1963 Vespa VBB. It is ALL original and in mint condition. It has a brand new 150cc engine with less than 100 miles on it. It has been converted from a 6v to a 10v electric system with all new wiring. The tires have been upgraded from 8in to (a much safer) 10in diameter. It has all new brakes, both front and rear. A glove compartment box has been added to the front leg shield and the rear spare tire moved to the back of the bike. Crash guard's have been added all around. All original Vespa decals, placards and Italian emblems are in place. A performance muffler has been added, so the bike will go much faster (70 to 80mph). The bike has been completed striped down to it's frame and there are no cracks or weld marks of any kind. The scooter is black and the paint is in excellent condition. I have also added turn signals and additional rearview mirrors for safety, as well as, led lights instead of bulbs for much brighter braking visiability.
All of the work on the bike has been done by an Italian mechanic (actually from Italy) or by me personally. I have all the original paper work and Italian/English owners and mechanical manuals, showing the above and a clean CA title. This scooter is in perfect riding condition both mechanically and safety wise. It also comes with a cover and two brand new tires.

Note: This scooter is not from Vietnam or India. It was made in Italy and upgraded here in California.

This scooter is a one of a kind, priced at a very reasonable 4,950.

SCARY...

All original? Somehow the bike has stripped down to the bare metal, repainted, had turn signals installed, converted to 10 inch wheels, had a glove box installed, and finally bedazzled in bad cong chrome - yet it is still all original. HUH? All original bodge city for sure... And that is just the tip of the iceberg. Those are just the glaringly obvious details. This guy should be arrested for attempted murder & petty larceny/price fixing.

Wow, and it's even got the exceptionally rare 10V electrical system! Where do I send my money????

Someone ought to design an official bodge emblem, perhaps a winged Piaggio logo with little yellow feet sticking out below.

it should be a regular wasp, but with chrome wings and yellow boots. and maybe the thorax of an ant, or something. So it's obviously two bodies put together.

http://kansascity.craigslist.org/mcy/1895395906.html




Not sure where to start with this, so I will let others pick it apart, but it clearly is not a P200 front fender, or head or horn case and no glove box.

Interestingly, that almost surely doesn't have an asian origin. I think that's just a custom scoot. I don't care for it, and it's certainly not an "original" machine as you note. But it may be a perfectly safe ride.

For the purpose of pointing out what is wrong with it, though, for people unfamiliar with the model: to add to what you said it also has an incorrect seat, a chrome center stand, and a lack of turn signals (which is not legal for US vehicles of that age - post '74)

I think I may have met the seller of this one in a parking lot last week.

Guy approaches me and starts asking questions about the Stella. He then mentions that he has a few scoots, and is putting one up for sale on CL. Oh, really? A silver '68 Sprint 150. Oh, really? From Thailand. Oh... really...

If this is the one, it sat in a dealer's window as decor somewhere for a while until purchased for use in a commercial. If it's not the one, the difference is negligible.

I have to defend this bike. I've seen it up close and its really impressive. This guy took a P200 and modified all that metal using his hands and an english wheel. Its an amazing amount of work and a really unique bike. When he rolled into the rally last year, jaws dropped and everybody had to check it out and tell him how cool it was.

It might not be your cup of tea, but its not a bodge. This falls into the category of custom.

Agreed - this is a good opportunity early in the thread to clarify what a "bodge" is. To me, it's something which is unsafe and/or poorly put together. The bodges typically popping up on craigslist ebay (by the dozens) are of southeast asian origin - most commonly vietnam (but not always).

There are also scoots sometimes referred to as "farmers bodges" which are good old fashioned American examples of slap-stuff-together-to-keep-it-running. Those should also probably be avoided since you won't know what you're getting, although it's unlikely to look all chromed up and "lovely". That's usually a characteristic of the made-for-sale southeast asian bodges.

Custom scooters, in my opinion, are simply machines where deliberate effort was put in to make them unique. They are typically not as valuable as a minty original bike, despite what the seller may think, but some mods can hold or add value, and as with anything in life, it's worth what someone is willing to pay. A custom paint job, for example, in all honesty may well be devaluing to most of the population, but if you find a buyer who has the same aesthetic preferences that you do, you may still be able to sell it for a price which accounts for the money spent on the customization, because to them it IS a valuable paint job... something they may have paid to have done down the road on the scooter themselves.

Chances are the owner spent some serious money to get the P looking that way.

Glad I posted that then. I didn't think it was asian, but wondered about all the miss-match parts. Glad someone could vouch for the bike!