Modern Vespa

If your post is real ..............

You are not going to hear anything good here about
restored scooters in Saigon. What I would recommend
is, find out if there are any local Vintage scooter clubs/groups
(people who ride them there), and find out which shop
has the best reputation.

Sadly, some of the workmanship(which might be acceptable there)
is not up to the standards you might find acceptable.
They may look beautiful, but what's under the paint,
and in the engine etc, is what's really important.

Being a foreigner in Saigon(with little or no knowledge of Vintage Vespas),
I'm sure it will be hard for you to sort out what the
best choice is.

You probably don't want to buy one.

Look here for a few good links:
http://www.backroadsscooterclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=19



Rob

Hi Rob, thanks for the reply. yes this is a real post, I'm in HCMC as a pilot on a 6 month contract from Aus, with my wife and children.

I am aware and very wary of the bikes from here. Really I am only considering the bikes from Saigon Scooter Centre and Classic Cars, as they appear to be the best of the bunch (granted it's not a high bar to jump!) Could they be putting out decent bikes?? (the guys are expats, with about 10-15 years in country. Your right though, I don't have much experience in this.

I am certainly refraining from buying, on the advice of everyone, thus far, but would like to hear if anyone has had experience with these 2 operators and can give me some unbiased reviews (not suggesting your not btw, I greatly appreciate you help, and will follow the link you have provided,

Thanks again,

Andy

i would wait then. its still alot of dough. im sure you can find some super nice and much more documented bikes back in Aus.

http://lexington.craigslist.org/mcy/1982727817.html

I wouldn't give $300 for ALL of those bodges LOL

Craigslist flagged for removal - Can't see the ad anymore....
Somebody suggested way back up near the top to post the actual content of the ad (pics too, if there are any), instead of a link, as they sometimes become invalid in minutes.....

It was already deleted when i went to go add pics haha.. i just posted the website first..

A 1965 VBB. Authentic cause its a shed-find, but with a rebuilt engine by the Allstate enthusiast that found it. So I got it as a seriously ugly hulk with a rebulit engine. A bodge of sorts because I sadly found some pitting on the floorboards, the cowls had some minor dents, and a few other abuses - so I decided to not go overboard on restoring it, I don't like Bondo.

So, I just removed all the paint and rust that I could (stripper and wire brushes-wheels, etc, primed it with Rustoleum and spray can painted it. (Please don't bash me for doing that too badly- it actually looks very nice and I was able to mask off the original dealer sticker under the choke pull so It's still intact! ) Lots of new bits from Scooter Works. Oh- I sprayed "black krinke" undercoat paint on the floorboard's top surface before I put the trim on which hides a lot of the pitting - actually looks rather nice.

I still have much to do .... need to install new cables, and check the brake pads (though they work fine) and wheel bearing grease, etc, ectc.

But it runs OK on the road, idles great. But has an odd tendency to die if I coast/decelerate down a hill lto a stop sign/light. If I give it throttle on the way down, it stays running, maybe thats just what I need to do with this scoot. But I'm going to buy a TDC tool and re-time it, I'm not convinced its spot-on. I would put an electronic ignition on it, but this is a no-battery version, magneto only - and I kinda like it that way. I think an electronic conversion would reqiire a battery.

Any advice is very seriously appreciated. I'll try & attach a pic, hope I do it right..... Thats a new % mix decal you see under the saddle.

Miles

Very nice job, not bodgy at all. Enjoy your ride!

Hey Miles,
Nice job! This isn't really the thread to write about this, though. This thread is about identifying and flagging bodges - both as an informational tool, and to put a wrench in their nasty works. Posting about our restos and mechanical questions in this thread will dilute the bodge stuff.

You'll get more responses anyway if you do some searching of the site and post a new thread with your pics and questions!

Ooops, sorry all..... I'm just glad it's not considered too much of a bodge with the spray paint & etc ....... Thanks !!

Found on E-bay.....

http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?icep_ff3=2&toolid=10005&campid=5336201363&customid=newSearch&icep_item=330478760847&ipn=psmain&icep_vectorid=238401&kwid=902099&mtid=824&kw=rss

no P's have been seen from Vietnam with the typical "Bodge" characteristics, like being welded from multiple bikes. i am not sure they were imported? maybe someone can answer this?

"item location: Vietnam"

what else do you need to know?

also, steer very clear of any vespa that is described as any relation to ferrari. It seems to be a growing trend in Pakistan to do a "Ferrari themed" vespa. They've even popped up in the US at actual ferrari dealerships. yikes.

OUCH... no shit..!! Ferrari was selling Bodges huh..!! fuckers....

viola!

WOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW..... fucking idiots.... does that have hand made Italian leader ferrari seat too!? lol

^^oh dear Lord

The Ferrari badge is embarrassing enough when attached to a megabucks sportscar (great machines, but only people like Tom Selleck can manage any sort of coolness in one) but attached to a polo shirt, coffee mug, Fiat, ballpoint pen, or scooter....

...oh the shame

It's for sale? ...........................LOL!

Here's one I found. Missing the wheels though?!
looks kind of Asian?

1966 Vespa Piaggio
Description $3,500 custom, restored Italian scooter. leather seating, metallic green, custom crome, 150cc engine. runs great and in great condition. looks great. Call and leave a message please.
Location Claremont, CA
Phone (909)621-2991

If Vespa built that today, I'd buy it in a heartbeat. But, as for the product as shown, all I can think of is the old Army VD poster, "She may look clean, but..."

Clean? I can't begin to count the ways this piece of nightmare is wrong.

It's ... just so ... incredibly wrong.

You are right; it is wrong and even offensive...to a purist. And if your vocation or avocation is 100% perfect restorations, then it is indeed an abomination. If, however, you wanted to create a "classic" Vespa recreation that would be attractive to a large segment of the scooter marketplace, then you see this in a different light.

How wrong would it be if I said that I would love to know the paint code for this "restore"...if you could call it that? I kind of love the color and on the right scooter, it would be nice.

There is nothing classic nor Vespa about this non-restoration.

The whole idea behind this thread is to point out bodges that are tragically wrong and potentially dangerous. This is a "classic" abomination. If "a large segment of the scooter marketplace" bought this bike and then ran into the inevitable problems these "bikes" have, they would soon discover that no reputable mechanic will work on it and that no replacement parts will fit it correctly.

The reason we won't go through the huge laundry list of things that are completely wrong with this thing is because it's a waste of time and energy. We see it time and again in this forum. You give good, solid advice and people go ahead and do what they were going to do anyway. As you inferred, the majority of people don't care what it's supposed to look like or how it runs, they just see shiny and they want it.

Don't buy this bike. Or do.

A bodge is a bodge, and this here is a hell of a bodge. Well placed in this thread as an exemplar of a bodge to watch out for.

I think his only point was that, as an aside, were something of this general shape and color to come hot off the press in Pontedera Italy, it would beat the fatass, auto GTV they produce now hands down in having a more retro look as well as the fact that would be a shifty.

Thanks, you said it far better than I did, obviously.

We don't know that yet - nobody has responded

http://wichita.craigslist.org/mcy/2002362139.html

LOL I just saw that one last night, also just emailed you about yours on scoot.net I think Kyle

is the americanscootercenter.com bodge? or real?

I see their stuff around too

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Report-Scooter-Vietnam-/170551792464?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item27b5add350

That guy did a good thing posting that, but I don't think he knows half the fun he's in for yet - thinking the crummy paint and a broken lock are big problems... wait till the bondo starts to flake and the engine goes

that guys a cock for buying it in the 1st place .... do ya bloody research before handing over the coin ..... theres many forums with threads like this and enough search engines to find one

1965 Vespa VBB. The color of the bike is "cherry black" this is the most highly sought after model vespa made to date. This Vespa was fully restored about 3 years ago. since then i have recently replaced carb, exhaust, points/cond. It starts right up, runs and drives perfectly, I drive this on a daily basis. shifts well through all 4 gears. goes about 65mph! cosmetically I would rate it an 8 out of ten, there are some minor cosmetic flaws (small scratches etc.) i also have some chromed out mirrors that have not been installed that come with this These are becoming really hard to come by in this condition, take this opportunity to own a little piece of history $3500 OBO serious offers only!!!! CAll OR TEXT xxxxxxx

Location, miami beach, florida

px nammer

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vespa-Piaggio-Scooter-PX-150cc-Fully-stripes-No-Reserve-/260676628499?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item3cb189b013

Thats Butt Ugly.

Looks like one of those "mod" shirts.

Not one of mine, but thats funny.