Modern Vespa

of all the craptastic days in which to get a flat -

i drove to work today, in the pooring rain, and when i made it to work i heard a SHHHHHH sound coming from the rear tire... wouldn't you know it, there was some glass, or plastic stuck in the tire leaking air.

now my question - what in holy crap should i do? the vespa shop is closed, and about 4 miles away. i don't have a truck, or access to one right now-

thanks

Bummer.

Can you get a ride home from someone, assuming you can stash scooter someplace safe/secure? Get your car & tools, take off wheel and go to shop to have tire fixed?

yeah, the scooter is safe, it is in a secure garage, and i can get a ride home. but what tools (specifically) do i need to change the tire?

the one lucky thing is that it is the rear, so it shouldn't be as bad...

thanks

oh and this is my car unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you look at it

What about using some form of fix-A-flat and a floor pump to get it too the shop and have them change it. From what I understand the tubeless tire are not the easiest and then there is the balancing thing.

You've gotta do what ya gotta do""

X

when you get a flat do you have to change the tire, or can you have it plugged?

ET/LX tire removal

This is always a question that my customer have ask me from time to time. My answer is always the same, replace it ! Plugs and fix a flat are always a temporary solution, but not always safe to use. The tools needed are as followed:

10mm deep socket or box wrench
6mm allen key
cutting dikes for the cotter pin and new cotter pin
24mm socket for rear nut

after tire and rim are removed from scooter take 2 tire irons and break the bead around the rim. Then remove tire and replace with a new one and inflate to 41 psi . While your rim is off you can see the rear brakes, inspect them and clean them with compressed air to remove brake dust. When you replace the rear tire use a torque wrench at 90 pounds. Replace cup, cotter pin and exhaust and there you go. This is a quick example of what is needed and done in a rear tire replacement and there is a lot of labor involved to do it. So I would recommend that you bring it to a Vespa Dealer and have the work done there, unless you like wrenching on things yourself. Then I say go for it .


Happy scootering,
Sean

you'll aslo need a 17mm socket or wrench for the shock nut.
but yeah, as sean noted there is a lot of labor involved. it's not a highly technical job mostly it's just sweating it out; but the possibility for things to go wrong if something is not on right is quite high.

here's what i'd do if i were in your situation:
go down to the dealer and talk w/ one of the techs.
offer up a 12pack of something cold and like 40bones cash money to come out to the garage and just do the R&R on the rim/tire combo after hours. pay the shop out on the tire & mount dismount labor.

and i concur-- don't plug a tire. just replace it.

best,
-greasy

If you have the 2 piece exhaust (later GTs) you may need a 13mm wrench to remove the muffler/cat from the head pipe.