Modern Vespa

I have two bike, a stock P125X (in near mint condition) and a stock P200e in decent to good condition but needs lots of attention all the time to keep her running.

So the problem is I need to sell one of them, but which one....

I love the P125X as she is damn near a perfect scooter, but lacks power for the wife and I to ride 2up. Its slow off the line, and loses RPMs in a hurry up even gradual inclines.

I love the P200E for its shear power off the line and up to top speed, great for going 2up in all city traffic and up hills , but it's top speed is exactly the same as the 125, just gets there a lot faster.

Thinking about selling the P200E and kitting the P125X with the DR 180 kit. Don't need to race, but need more umph. How would a kitted 180(stock pipe) be verses a stock P200E? Anyone have any experience with this setup?

Really? How fast does the 125 go? Perhaps your P2's speedo is way off... most are.

The P200E has taller gearing than the 125, so the potential for top speed is greater in the P2. Even if you kit the 125, it will wind out its gearing lower. So, I think it depends on what type of riding you want to do. A kitted 125 will probably fly around town thanks to it's tight gearing. But the P200 would still be more appropriate for 60mph travel.

P125X runs WOT at 55, P200E WOT runs about 55-60 with a tail wind on flat. P125X just takes longer to get there.

Sorry, meant to add. Type of riding is typical city driving. side roads and boulevards up to around 55mph at times, no highway riding. Looking for more power off the line at a stop light, and to keep from losing RPMS going up hill.

swap motors and sell the 125

Screw that DR kit, get a Pinasco 177 kit, 24/24 T5 carb, and a true expansion chamber. I've hit around 65mph or so with that basic set up. It's got really good low end too so it won't take you long to get there. I've been just over 50mph in 3rd gear. I run circles around stock P's all day long.

+1

I Had DR177, Malossi166 and now I have 208(Ported stock cylider with long crank)

I recommend you keep 200 motor

If you put DR180 on your 125. That's all for Power.

But if you keep 200, You will have more possibility for power Than 125!!

And with a little ported stock 200 cylinder, you can defeat DR 180(177) with
chamber exhaust. if the overdrive kit for mission is not installed.

I think my top speed on the 150X is about 45 mph. Should it be able to go faster?

I won't chnge from 3rd to 4th until I see 60mph on my speedo, needle will then creep to 70/75.

Thats a P200 with expansion pipe, still gets to 60 when 2 up (3rd gear) before I dump into 4th.
These are all readings from the overly ambitious stock speedo, but if yours are too we're sing from same sheet.

If I had a P2 that wouldn't get past 60 I'd want to know why ever not??

winding out each gear until it gurgles and revs don't go any higher here is my shifting pattern in the P2


I shift out of first around 20mph, out of second around 30mph and out of 3rd around 45mph. (stock 24/24 carb, stock pipe)

all yr scooters are busted.

and a DR is nowhere near the limit of power. the Malossi or Falc when set up right will smoke a 200. and if its done right itll be reliable.

But it gets there quicker....anyway the point was that my scooter will do more in 3rd than his will in 4th...there fore his needs looking at.


Your post doesn't help him learn this.....

I'm not sure what is keeping my P200 slower then it should go. It runs very well and is responsive, gears are all in good order carb is clean, just doesn't have the top speed more then 55mph on the flat. What else is there to look at?

Have you GPSed it though? Vintage speedos notoriously suck balz. No way to know without testing, but it's possible your 125 has an optimistic speedo and your P2 has a pessimistic speedo.

My P200 doesn't go much above "55" on the speedo but I discovered that when it reads 55 it's going 61 according to the GPS. And that isn't that bad for a P2 speedo - I forget who but one guy on here has a speedo which is 15mph pessimistic. I've had it around 65 on flat surfaces (but only 57-58ish indicated by the speedometer)

However, I've also heard from local vintage guys that there are different P2s... some of them can go 70, some can't get above 55, and nobody can figure out quite why. *shrugs*

you could put the 200 in the nicer 125 frame, sell the 200 frame with the 125 engine, and use that money to kit the 200. Then you'll really fly.

I wonder if he has the 20/20 carb on his P2?

Nope, just checked, unit says SI 24/24E on the plate on the carb, unless someone forged it

Shawn, It really depends what you want mate. Personally i would keep the P200. I have a few P2's none are stock and they are all very reliable.

If you are only going 55mph then have you checked compression, Decoked the head & exhaust, Bell free of crap, What main jet? ETC......

What kind of mileage? Rebore? I would address these items first mate.

Cheers

ok, im going to say to GPS it for accuracy also. but i think you may not try....

Hoping to get it out this week to GPS it again, been a while since I last did it.

Anyways to answer the last round of questions. Not sure compression level, never checked with guage, but would think it is high since it feels high based on the kick stater. I don't even have to kick all the way down for it to start up.

Yes, decoked top end, and decoked the exhaust. Main just is a 118 now with the heart mod to the air filter. was running a 109.

Went out this morning to GPS the bike. Vespa Speedo top speed was 55mph, GPS read 57.0

I've just fitted a DR kit to my 125, put on a 24/24 carb with a 120 main jet and a SIP road exhaust. It does everything I wanted it to. Hills and headwinds are no longer disastrous. I don't know why DR kits get such a bad press, I had one twenty years ago and ran it for thousands of miles, never a problem and this one feels the same. Keeps up with a P2 no probs. The lower gearing on the 125 might be better for two-up as well..

Quote,Frog

However, I've also heard from local vintage guys that there are different P2s... some of them can go 70, some can't get above 55, and nobody can figure out quite why. *shrugs*

Has anyone heard of this?

http://www.sip-scootershop.com/en/products/cylinder+kit+piaggio+200cc+_41470800

Plus there is a lower-compression head (the one with 'USA' cast into it) that probably lowers the power.

Yes, completely stock, some fly, some are slugs.

Good to know! Tks for info

My 78 p125x goes 62 WOT and cruises at 55 two up. All stock (minus electrics) but with a prima pipe.

I would say the same as everyone else, see what's wrong with the p2.

When was the last time wear parts were changed...

Although, I do find beauty in totally decking out a 125, I don't know if in the end you'll really be satisfied with it. What I mean by that is yes, I want a go fast bike that pulls and screams, but I also want a reliable bike that will cruise easily with my wife on the back. They are two different bikes. Is there crossover, sure, but when I'm cruising at 6000rpms+, WOT, and my wife is on the back, I've always got my finger on the clutch because it's only a 125.

If I had a choice for a two up bike, it would be a p2.

Yeah, there are all kinds of kits to where you can make a 125 scream it's way up to 70mph. But the OP is talking about riding 2-up and up hills. For that kind of work, only a 200 runs like a 200.

My p200 will go 65, and a little more, no problem (GPS verified), the speedo rarely reads above 60 though. It is stock except for the SIP Road pipe and upped jet.

I would take the money you are going to spend on the 125 kit and sort out the P200. You have two scoots, two awesome scoots. Why ride 2 up? Dates and club rides with the GF on two scooters is a hoot. If the wife doesn't want to drive, you will have the P200 sorted out.

Post pics of the bikes!

Well I'm down to only one bike right now. I swapped motors and sold the P200 frame with the 125cc motor, and put the 200cc motor in my nice frame.

I think you made the right choice keeping the 200 motor. Ive had several kitted 150's but nothing compares to my 200. Right now I have a 200 with a sito+, a vortex carb, and an alpha kit from Hot Rod Scooters. I can pop wheelies in second gear and hauls my fat ass around with ease and power to spare. If your 200 is stock I would recommend getting at lease an SIP Road pipe. Sending your top end to Hot Rod Scooters for a little work is also a great choice. I love my alpha kit!