Modern Vespa

Coming into contact with a bodge vbb, things don't look great.

Looks perfect from the outside. But on first inspection:

- front brake is gone, non existent, something tells me there's something wrong with the hub and fork, there's no reason why the brake pads are way past it.
- oil leak coming from god knows where. Looks like main gasket or clutch cover.
- gear selector is worn to the point I'm getting false neutrals between 2nd and 3rd and 3rd and 4th
- which leads me to assume the gearbox needs addressing.
- doesn't idle properly, the 95 main jet has a wire going through it.

Honestly looks like a rebuild, but don't know if the owner wants to do that. It's going to be a huge can of worms.

With the body of literature documenting the proliferation of these monstrosities readily available online, how are these bikes still being sold???

What's the story w/ the owner?

If you do end up rebuilding it, do us all a favor and document the process, it'd be an interesting postmortem.

Same old story of not know what you're dealing with, trusting external photos, trusting the seller when they say it runs good and not asking the right questions.

Even with that people really need to see the bike in person.

Do the kickstart clutch in test, rolling through the gears without the engine running, checking the clutch bite…

Just saw this...questions, comments, concerns?
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/mcy/d/san-francisco-vespa-vnb-cc-vintage-vna/7688708497.html

The headset and the front wheel seem to be at odds...

It's probably a bodge, but it's missing some key photos to really say for sure.

The only things it's got going for it is that it looks to still be on 8"s and it's actually a roundtail, which would be correct for a '62.

Those seats, the crappy plastic "chrome," the crummy "I didn't disassemble to repaint" re-re-spray, the bent fork, and lack of detail pictures all scream "just keep walking...don't make eye contact...don't slow down..."

wayyyyy too much money even for a genuine, real deal bike.

that looks indo to me. the seats, speedo and that it's still on 8's

+1 seriously

Wtf is with the wonky trim on the cowls and mud guard? Heinous.

Rockin Bodge? This listing is from my old stomping grounds too! I miss the Central Coast! Good Times!

Hec

https://slo.craigslist.org/mpo/d/los-osos-1962-vespa-vbb-with-10-wheel/7675223879.html

no, definitely not a bodge.

Just a local restoration with a personal taste?

bingo.

he also name drops Troy's Toyshop, which IYKYK, especially here in SoCal.

If I was to guess this bike was done by scooter shop in orange in the late 90's

also, I'm not 100% but I seem to remember seeing this out in the wild at a rally or two years and years ago.

Yeah looks aside, can't imagine the engine being able to go that far if it wasn't ridable…

Not sure how they did it, but it actually looks good on 10's…not like it's on stilts.

Feels bodgey, but isn't a bodge.

It's quite an achievement, not sure which is worse…

I imagine the glove box was added for the stereo.

the 1990's were a wild time my friend.

It's what I was starting to plan for my VBB when it was my my only scooter. The guys at Scooter Mercato politely suggested that I make my life easier by finding a P series bike and keeping the VBB on 8's.

Can somebody explain this?
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/mpo/d/los-gatos-vespa-1959-original-paint/7694509199.html

That's legit with some really nice era accessories…

not a bodge, VBA with (likely ulma) accessory glove box. Also note the crash bars mount to the frame, not the cowls (that's how all the originals worked). Rear rack is also likely ulma, I had and NOS one like that on my VBB.

When bodges dream, this is what they look like.

a very nice survivor bike with period correct bits.

Given the location, this is probably someone I know, or maybe only 1 degree of separation.

great line.

I'd have to guess that this is somebody who appreciates nice things and knows that this Vespa is worth every penny he's asking. But now I REALLY wanna know what's hiding under that car cover

Why is this in the bodge thread? From the photos, it's fairly obvious that it is a totally legitimate machine. Look at all the cool paperwork.

It's all part of the intent of this thread in my book. It's a training data set for what is and is not a bodge.

It's not always obvious to everyone.

case in point

I thought it was a good comparison example

Now if someone would just use the data to train a new BodgeAI, we would have more time to relax and watch old Gilligan's Island episodes.

Pulu si bagumba!

Poogy Loo Cabumba!

That bike is beautiful just like Mary Ann.

I can't see a scooter, only what's in the garage.

Somebody came home a winner and it wasn't the buyer
https://www.classic.com/a/bring-a-trailer-auctions-JknXEWB/lots/1960-vespa-vbb-150-wsidecar-p0OBKPW

Holy shit!

That suuuuuucks! Who would do such a thing?!

Someone with a lot of money and no sense.

And I am wondering if it this particular sale (or many of the sales) are a real. I suppose it's because just can't wrap my head around the fact someone could be that incredible stupid. I can only imagine it's some fool that hit the state lottery.

As with most bodge buyers, it's probably more of a question of knowledge than sense. The general public doesn't know anything about bodges or why they're bad. The typical bodge buyer just says "Oooh shiny!" and that seals the deal.

We could definitely fault them for not doing any research on the subject, but even then, they'd have to know where to look or what kind of search terms might bring them to this thread or the few other places on the interwebs that discuss bodges.

Why not this?

People pay stupid money for fake Cobra repros, VW chassi'ed "Ferraris", and restomod Camaros and Shelby "GTs". Maybe they know it's a bodge, maybe they don't, or maybe they don't care.

Personally, I'd spend half on a shiny new HPE and bank the rest, but that's me.

It'll probably sit in his/her living room and never get dirty, anyway.

This is stunning on many levels.

Looking back at the auction, several people commented during the bidding that the scoot had all the earmarks of a SEA bodge.

Maybe the buyer bought it solely as a conversation piece. Let's hope they have an airtight display room, because otherwise the conversations are all going to start "How come the chrome on that thing is so rusty?"

The seller seems to have a lucrative operation going on. Check out the next one tee'd up in the background.