Modern Vespa

No, but I will gladly send them a real one. We should be able to prosecute the people who import these deathraps for profit when people get hurt on them. If someone imports one for their own use that's one thing but for the people who buy them just to resell them should be held accountable.

It should be a crime just to be as douchy as they are. They absolutely refused to talk to me and pretended I wasn't there once when I went in to try and buy an oil filter for my Genuine Buddy. They wouldn't even listen long enough for me to tell them its the same filter as the LX-150, just heard a non-Vespa brand and said they refuse to discuss those 'trash' bikes.

1966VespaSuper vintage classic - $3090 (westchester)

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[Even I could spot this one
1966VespaSuper vintage classic - $3090 (westchester)]

If Peter Fonda lived in Vietnam he would ride this (or not).

the red seats look kind of cool on that silver bike though

so unfortunate that the really colorful ones are usually bodges

wow... that is deeply awful.

Is this one?

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/mcy/2107122700.html

white vinyl seats and yellow rubber on the kickstand...

plus the ad reads like it's a lawnmower, not a "restored" vintage scooter

I'd say yes

Also, that ad lists it as a VBC, which aught to be the Super if I believe. If thats a Super there's a LOT of things incorrect with it... Glove box, 10" wheels, Cowl chrome. And its got the keys hanging from the bag hook, which for some reason Bodge sellers seem to like to do.

GOOD MOORNIG VIETNAMMM !!!!

Yes folks, the culprits have been unmasked!

[quote="Rick V"]1966VespaSuper vintage classic - $3090 (westchester)

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That is..a VIETKONG !!!

has anyone ever seen this website? they're obviously selling shitty bodges from vietnam out of arizona. I searched and didn't see it linked anywhere...

http://www.scooteraz.com/default.htm

any way to get them shut down? thought I suppose they'll just go somewhere else...

I found this @ the end of their page - rather interesting, odd syntax: (emphasis mine)

Refreshingly honest in a way, but c'mon, it is not really that hard to say. However, if you are more influenced by your 'tastes' than your 'common sense', one of these may be the scooter for you.

PS I am curious. What is a 1966 Bajaj/Vespa? Do you mean a pure Bajaj as licensed by Piaggio(Vespa) or do you have a 'mongrel? Not that I think there's anything wrong with that...

yeah that's what I said...

it's not "hard to say" that vespas welded together in the center and covered in bondo are NOT better

It's actually pretty easy to say if you don't have a conscience.

EDIT: for clarification, that's not directed at "you" but at the bondo application experts

so is what they are doing 100% legal? I mean if they're selling bodges, technically they'd have to be inspected to be titled in the USA -- who's doing the inspecting?

no one. they are not new vehicles, so not the same requirments.

Looking at their website, it looks like they are actually based out of Vietnam.

Nothing to worry about. Right from their website: See? They are there for you.

3 month warranty? unheard of in the bodge business

http://www.frankmanmotors.com/show.aspx?vid=1647499

it definitely is. if you can't tell, you haven't been paying attention.

photocopied generic haynes manual for a $6000 vespa? weird.

the paint is strange BUT they seem to be selling a lot of nice vintage cars, I doubt they'd be trying to sell a vintage vespa without some sort of paperwork proving it is what it claims to be. maybe they just don't know any better?

I say it is. However, I have a six pack riding on this so I thought I would ask opinion.

It has all the tell tale signs of a bodge. My "friends" say that it can't be but they are judging on the price and because the dealership sells a lot of vintage vehicles. Their thought is why would a they risk their reputation? Maybe they aren't informed and they don't know... However, I smell a bodge.

same here. if it wasn't for sale at such a nice place I'd say bodge... but it's hard to tell... and like we've both said, maybe they're too dumb to notice.

keys under the seat. come on, its a no brainer. crash bars with the piaggio logo on it, two-tone, spare with cover, that stupid cloth center mat, is that a bajaj glove box? on a sprint? is that a sprint? the chromed piece where the headset meets the body...

if we had a few more pics at different angles i could go on i bet. its a bodge. really.

but do they sell vintage VESPAS? other than the one in question. Vintage car shops, and even some vintage motorcycle shops don't know two shits about scooters. Even some new vespa shops have been selling bodges.

if it walks like a vietcong, talks like a vietcong, and smells like a vietcong? then odds are it's two vietcong welded together.

Gooood mooorning VIETNAM!!!

This is aViet made from scrap Vespa with Everything on it wrong!!!

I already collected the 6 pack. They were so convinced for their own reasons that I had to ask. One wonders if that "dealer" hasn't a clue or is 100% aware. Bodges scare the crap out of me. Two people in our scooter club want one because they love the look. Looks like a coffin to me.

The problem is you never know what you'll get. I've seen some bodges that are basically ok bikes. They're never NICE bikes, but not bodged badly enough to come apart. I've also seen bodges that were held together with the bondo they coat them in. The scary part is that you just don't know.

and that is the exact reason why you dont want one. the more people buy these things the more they will be imported. just say no.

Just to be clear on this - I in no way wish to ever purchase, ride or encourage anyone to buy a bodge. Death on wheels if you ask me...

Ohh, don't take that as an endorsement of bodges. I'm absolutely against them for anything you ever want to ride.

thats just my way of agreeing with you 8)

Are there any reputable Dealers in the Retro business ? What about retrovespa ? They got a write up a while back in Scoot that wasn't entirely negative.

While we are on the subject, I'm curious about Greentree in Iowa. They have some beautiful pics on their site. They sell and service new mods too. Anyone here buy from them? I like what I see but I'm a vintage wanna/hope to be so I need help.

one the subject of both.....

Greentree is legit. I don't know that their restorations are as 100% accurate as people like ScootersOriginali, or Bar Italia, but they're legit scooters, taken well care of, from as best as I can tell. Better than the Indian VBB's the scooterworks sells, not as nice as the 12,000 GS that you can get from the west coast.

As for dealerships in the "retro business". Yes and no. Yes there are, but none anywhere NEAR lubbock texas. the good news is, there are two names you need to learn. Vick Fletchall, and Gary Fisher. They both build amazing vintage scooters in Texas. Gary deals a lot in Rally200's, built to order, from what i've seen. And Vick, does more rare stuff like SS90's and stuff.

Look them up, although I doubt either of them have a website. Not quite their style, from what i've gathered. Call ASC in austin, and they can point you in the right direction about getting ahold of them.