Modern Vespa

Well, she's complete (for now). I added chrome rear crash bars, backrest and folding rear rack, reflective stripes and a scooter seat cover (thanks Crystal!!). I am going to eventually add stripes to the sides as well once I figure out how I want them to look.



Mel

Very cool! How did you get the stripes to line up so well, especially around the running light?

I'd like to put some reflective stripes on my scooter but haven't decided how I want them to look yet.

Looking good!

It was a very careful and slow application and I used an x-acto knife to carefully trim it as I was applying (messed up once too). The reflective tape is from Applied Graphics and it comes in a lot of colors. I striped my helmet too!

Thanks, you'll see her at the Modern Vespa maintenance thingy next month!



Mel

great job, good to see the personal touch.

heheeee
here is a wasp well feminine.
Nice.
Is your helmet the same color than the bike?

Mel you scooter looks beautiful. Very elegant and cool looking, just as I am sure it's rider is! Great job as Sarah said on the stripes, they look perfectly aligned even through the turn signal.

Thanks everybody! I wanted something that would look cool but also make me more visible in traffic so I thought the red/blue inspired by The Life Aquatic and Paul Frank would work, I like those colors together a lot! It's funny to me that people have said it looks feminine or elegant (wow!!) because when I look at it I see Team Zissou.

My helmet is silver and I put a single red stripe going across the top, with a little bit of red trim along the edges so my head is pretty reflective at night. I also have a red Scorpion helmet at home and I'm toying with the idea of putting a blue stripe on that, but since I got my Nolan flip-up, I don't like to wear the Scorpion anymore.

I failed to mention that to get the stripe perfectly aligned through the turn signal, I just laid the stripe across it and cut it along the edge of the signal with the x-acto knife (VERY carefully!). Then I used my fingernail to press the stripe onto the bike. I have to say that the reflective stripe stuff is really hard to get off if you make a mistake because it comes off in tiny flakes.

I want to put some stripes along the side to make me more visible, but I'm trying to think of a way to do it so it's not "too much".

The seat cover is almost like crushed velvet, I love it!!



Mel

Looks great! Lots of style.

-Dan

Erm, I didn't mean to reply FOUR times!! MV was being weird when I hit submit.

Thanks dchernikoff!



Mel

The stripes look sharp! And also now it's your own unique scooter

I plan to do some striping on the front and sides too, using reflective tape to get rid of the side reflectors. I'm still thinking over the design...

very sharp, nicely done! me likes!

Hi Italianscoots. Nice touch
Please gimme some advice. I am looking for some white 3M Scotchlite tape to do the same think on my black LX. But now I saw what I was afraid of: that one of the stripes intersects the turn signal And also I want to put white stripes on the sides, something like Jess did on his red GTS. But just like you, I have chromed crash bars. And there's not much space left to do make something which will not be hidden by the crash bars
Please give me an idea for the stripes on the side.
My Vespa is in the shop for some repairs, but in two weeks she'll be street ready. Until then, what I did sketched in Photoshop looks nice, but I'm afraid that it will suck in reality.

Thanks Pixel!

The turn signal area wasn't too bad, I just laid out the stripe like the one next to it, going over the turn signal too. Then I took a small knife and cut (the tape only) in the open space between the bike and the turn signal so it made a perfect cut and I didn't touch my bike with the knife at all. Then I peeled the stripe off of the turn signal. It looks very clean.

I was thinking about something along the sides but then I realized I'd have to go under the Vespa logo on the side, so without taking off the crash bars, I'm not sure what to do there. I am thinking now that maybe I should outline the cowls with smaller sized reflective tape, that way I'd be visible and it would still go with the lines of the bike.

I hope that helps. Also, I ordered the tape from Applied Graphics:
http://www.reflectivedecals.com/stripes.htm

The best part about it is that it's all totally removeable so if I mess up or change my mind, it's okay. Have fun with it!!



Mel

Looks sweet,Mrs Mel...


Where's your backrest pad,then?

that's what i was thinking (for your scoot)

Has anyone mentioned the seat...I love the seat.

I want a new seat for my scoot (gts250) since I am taller (and fatter)
and i want room to stretch.

It looks comfoartable, which it seems to me, is also imporant.

molto bene.

Scott

Errrr . . . it's in my closet. I didn't put it on because when I got it, it was rainy season so I didn't want it to get funky. Now I need to make a little red cover for that because it's black and won't match. We can't have that now, can we? I was thinking of just slapping a Modern Vespa sticker on it and leaving at that since there's red in it . . . I dunno. I'm one of those people who overthink everything.

stjerome, I got the seat from Crystal at scooterseatcovers.com. She makes them for the GTS! http://www.scooterseatcovers.com/ The workmanship is superior, the area around the keyhole and front seat hook are super reinforced for strength and durability (wow I sound like a commercial!). The cover is very comfortable, it is like a plush velvety texture.

ariw22, are you familiar with the Batmobile from the 60's Batman tv series? I was thinking it could look kind of like that but not as much. If I had a black scoot, it would definitely have red pinstriping all around like that, it's so cool.



Mel

Lovely work.

Greetings from austria.

Love it, Mel!!!

hi italianscoots like your the way the stripes look great job. can you tell me the width of those stripes. i would like to try them on my lx. thanks

Thanks!

I am pretty sure they're 3/4" or 1" wide, I can measure them at home to be sure if you want. If I do the trim around the lines of the scoot I'll use a much smaller width, maybe 1/4".



Mel

Mel you scooter looks Great!! The stripe are a great touch, and the fact that they are reflective is a bonus.

I have been looking at Crystals covers now for a while. I really want to get one, just can not make up my mind on style/coler. The one you chose is perfect for your scooter.

Real nice work on all of it, congrats, Beale.

Right on I have nolan flip-up too I don't like others that is not a flip-up one..yuck... what model do you have? Mine is N102 with VPS screen

VERY nicely done!

Beale,you never even CLEAN your scooter,what do you want to put a fancy seat on for?

Why to hide the dirt on the seat of course, Beale.

I saw Astrud today and she looks fine! The seat cover is cool. It is a napped, velvety material. And shocking red. There was a dragon red GTS sitting next to her that looked classy and ladylike in comparison.

Great color combo Mel! I know that get's some looks as she goes whizzing by! Crystal always does a great job with her covers!

Ha!!



Mel

I have the N100 with the VPS. I LOVE the VPS because I never have to put on or take off sunglasses or visors for that matter. It's the best helmet invention ever.



Mel

Sweet ride

That LX looks sharp, love the seat cover. It looks very comfy - what is it made of, if you don't mind me asking?

I think it's called velboa, that's what Crystal says she uses.



Mel

Mel, did you know I make covers for your back rest, too?

Crystal

Can I get commission??

LOL! you're hired.

Crystal

Crystal's covers greatly reduce the amount of ass slippage on one's seat! I counted FOUR of them on the Napa ride last weekend. 8)

Hi Mel!

Your bike looks great! I have the 06 LX in Azzurro Sky too. I came across your myspace site and saw your scoot with the stripes and red seat on there before I saw it here. I really love the red and blue together. That Azzurro Sky sure is a beautiful color!

Anyway, just wanted to say "hey" let ya know I saw your myspace. I wonder how many others from MV are on myspace too?

Take care!
Annie

http://www.myspace.com/safirelotus

Looking good!!

Scoot Happy!!
Lindsay