Modern Vespa

so Jess is your red GTS all fixed and better now? i remember reading about the crash but i don't recall news of repair...

Not yet. I've got all the parts, but what with being sick, Vegas, and various other responsibilities, I haven't put everything back in place yet.

The cutoff for the automatics is 195cc so the GT200 is in the same class as the GTS. Even though I argued that the GT200 should be in the smaller class I actually think it should do quite well against the GTS. The nice thing about mountain passes is that they have curves that make rider skill more important than power.

In fact I plan on running a GT200 in 2008

I thought you were riding in the truck carrying a clipboard?

flat black bbq paint
red powder coated rims
silver front fork with detailed hardware
bitubo front shock
sports/hugger motorcycle type front fender

pull the panels off-- fairings, foorboard, rear fender-- but leave the glovebox. let everybody see what's underneath.

leave the seat grabrail and rear rack-- gotta have something to carry the kilo of columbian bam-bam and the brews, yo.

highway pegs.

pipe, tuning module, variator, zippy 1s or pilot sports.

done.

best,
-greasy

It's for a P series, but I betcha it can be attached somehow...
http://www.scomo.net/product_info.php/cPath/50_248_257/products_id/4974

I knew I could count on you for some great ideas!

The truck is going to be powered by a GT200 engine.

Nifty!

I am not into racing- if i'm going to travel I want to see things...not rush pasrt them.
But as theory the Cannonball Run presents an interesting challenge.
You can modify and spend huge sums of money on the machine. You can paint and primp it and make a visual statement but what slows you down is the rider.
You need fuel to limit stops but if your body is crying out for rest you will reduce your ability to concentrate which leads to navigational errors and riding errors. Once the fuel issue is taken car eof the seat needs to be as comfortable as possible. A custom made seat to suit the rider's needs. Remvoing the legshields for a cool look increases windage on the rider which increases fatigue. A larger windshield slows the bike a little but reduces rider stress during the ten days of intense riding. Hydration is also critical. Wind sun and stress require liquids. Wearing a camel back stresses the rider, a buiolt in water tank would be a good replacement for the glove box.
Then primp the bike

For the aux gas tank, check out the dirt bike suppliers:

http://www.acerbis.com/p150_tank/p150.html

or this:
http://store.summitracing.com/egnsearch.asp?N=700+115+%2D128260&D=%2D128260

And a "Gear Up Kit"

I alwys thought that losing some acceleration would be worth even 5-10 more mph on the cannonball. I would think the GTS would be capable of pulling an upgear.

Something tells me we need a drag race WOT to top speed.

Let's think practical,

The footpegs sound like a good idea

Perhaps a potable water tank so you can keep hydrated on the long hot spots (I suppose a corresponding relief tube would be in order then).

A special arrangement for a tool kit so it doesn't take up valuable space.

A place to hold the fries while you're eating the cheeseburger...

http://www.oxaero.com/Relief.asp

Course if you got too comfortable with the catheter you could be in for a shock the next time you went for a ride without it

The company I work for sells those sorts of supplies. The adhesive external male catheters come in a selection of sizes and there is a coaster-like gauge thing with semi-circle cutouts for sizing. The cutouts are colour coded so no one has to actually order an extra small.

Still, everybody gets the size wrong the first time.

(if anyone really wants to try this as a solution for an endurance event, contact me!)

I read an article in SI once, written by someone testing out one of those things at a Knick game. He said he was doing pretty well but always had to let fly whenever there was a basket by ...

Latrell Spreeeeeeee-well.

(true story)

oopsclunkthud,

Just looked at your webpage and I love the add'l detail it provided on your bike "unstealth."

Cipote

Well who's going to walk in and order a small!

Pampers. Good enough for NASA...

Get flame throwers, like on the batmobile.

jacqui

Or cars in South Africa

Article on the flame thrower cars WITH VIDEO!!!!

Jess.
Call me when your ready to set it up. I build bikes for Honda Kawasaki and yamaha. Super moto Road race and supercross as well as Off road and custom stuff. And have for the past 20 yrs now. That said theres nothing we cant do. I can turn that thing into a Tanker truck OR ?
I already have some good ideas on a long distance bike but I will share them to you in private.
Call Me

Thanks much, I think I'll do that. The GTS itself is still several weeks from delivery, and I want to do an assessment of the bike to make sure it's even going to be roadworthy before I get too carried away. That said, I think it's going to be cool.

I think rhino coat would be awesome, if not then the flat black might be cool too, Im cheap though.
As for tracking down the original owner Perhaps if you know someone at a Bootik they may be able to at least get you in touch with the original sale store, assuming they are still around, at least then you may get some insight on the previous maintainence.

I think you should put the cupcake on the fender and a pudding paint job!

You should send the photo to the local Vespa shop in that area to see if they know the owner. It must have come in for maintenance or possibly bought from them?

Whatever you are doing woth the bike, surely you won't need to rear rack or gas tank cover. Sell them to me! I can pick them up, as I am in San Ho.

Good luck!

-Jason

The bike came with an unexpected clue: the key had a fob on it that says "Vespa Binghamton" and a phone number. Binghamton is in New York, as it turns out, so at least I have a place to start.

I seem to recall reading about a site where you could do a VIN search and find out about lemon returns, previous owners and such. No idea what the URL would be, but I suspect a bit of Googling...