I'm looking at a vespa.......

rsrider · Post by **rsrider** » Wed Nov 02, 2011 5:10 am

1980 P200 with a 210 Polini, 24/24 carb for only $2000.

this is off craigslist, it's local. do you think the price is fair? it's 30 years old!!!!

BuddyRaton · Post by **BuddyRaton** » Wed Nov 02, 2011 5:26 am

Depending on condition sounds pretty fair to me. A P200 is probably the best "introduction" to classic scooters. They were made to be work horses. They are generally reliable, good power and torque. The polini top end isn't bad and with the 24/24 carb it will run close to a pre 80 P200 if not better.

Just be aware that riding it will be very different from riding a Buddy, Stella, or PX series.

neotrotsky · Post by **neotrotsky** » Wed Nov 02, 2011 7:59 am

rsrider wrote:1980 P200 with a 210 Polini, 24/24 carb for only $2000.

this is off craigslist, it's local. do you think the price is fair? it's 30 years old!!!!

I bought my P200 for a little more with hardly any miles, untouched with a 20/20 carb. I say if it's in good condition with a clear title, you can't go wrong. Of course, when I bought mine there were NO decent P-series bikes out for sale. Of course, now that I've bought mine there's like 4 for sale in AZ for 2000-2500.

But, I really liked the condition of the bike and aside from a few crap cables, I've put 500 miles on it with not an issue.

Age only drives prices up in the "collector" mindset in America. The moment anyone thinks of selling what they have, they instantly think that it's a "classic" or "collector's item" simply because it's old. It doesn't matter if it's actually desireable or any good... I've seen plenty of fools spend 4k on a P150 or the like because someone tags the ad with "Mod" "Quadrophenia" and other such crap. But of course, even the dense hipsters with an iPhone in each back pocket of their skinny jeans have caught on that the Vietnam bodge-jobs are not worth the cash, so they have moved on to the P-series bikes.

I say, if you are interested in having a real Vespa that can take anything you throw at it, go with 2k in pocket and depending on condition, try talking him down. Offer slightly low and feel it out. Any pics of the said possible bike?

Bathurst · Post by **Bathurst** » Wed Nov 02, 2011 9:56 am

if its still in working condition then its a nice offer. i am confident you will get an offer acceptance round about $1800.

illnoise · Post by **illnoise** » Wed Nov 02, 2011 11:14 am

Just like with motorcycles and 1998 Honda Civics, I'm leery of "upgraded" bikes. If it's just a bolt-on kit and the carb jets were swapped properly, it's probably no big deal, but I've seen a lot of friends Dremel the crap out of their ports and mix and match random performance parts with no clue what they were doing, turning a reliable stock bike into a big mess that barely runs, and selling it for less than they paid for it. If you know the guy/bike and know it runs well, then no worries.

Also, you gotta remember that a 30 year old bike can and will have problems eventually, and you'll either need to learn to work on it or find someone who can, especially if you're depending on it for transportation. Vespas are super simple, mechanically, and P-series parts are about as cheap as any vehicle you could work on, so it's a great bike to learn that kind of stuff.

BuddyRaton · Post by **BuddyRaton** » Wed Nov 02, 2011 11:49 am

Good points. I will say that most people that I see going with a polini top end usually do a "plug and play" job. You may be able to find some one local that knows their stuff to go with you to check it out.

neotrotsky · Post by **neotrotsky** » Wed Nov 02, 2011 4:04 pm

The one thingI hage found is that it is worth paying extra for a clean body! I may of paid more for my scoot than other would, but that got me a bike with no bondo, bent frames or bashed up legshields. With as thick as the steel is on a P200, you wil appreciate not having to fight fixing that steel or shelling out cash for new cowls and having to paint match them

desmolicious · Post by **desmolicious** » Wed Nov 02, 2011 6:40 pm

illnoise wrote:Just like with motorcycles and 1998 Honda Civics, I'm leery of "upgraded" bikes. If it's just a bolt-on kit and the carb jets were swapped properly, it's probably no big deal, but I've seen a lot of friends Dremel the crap out of their ports and mix and match random performance parts with no clue what they were doing, turning a reliable stock bike into a big mess that barely runs

Full agreement. Try and get as stock as possible.
The P series vespas are bullet proof. If someone has not modded it.
There's a big reason Vespa did not offer it as a 210, with big carb etc.
It's because they wanted it as trouble free and long lived as possible.

BuddyRaton · Post by **BuddyRaton** » Thu Nov 03, 2011 4:54 am

desmolicious wrote: Full agreement. Try and get as stock as possible.
The P series vespas are bullet proof. If someone has not modded it.
There's a big reason Vespa did not offer it as a 210, with big carb etc.
It's because they wanted it as trouble free and long lived as possible.

Nothing wrong with stock. However pre 80 P200s did come stock with a Dellorto 24/24/carb. They cut down to the 20/20 due to emissions requirements.

If I needed a new top end...for whatever reason.. on an 80 P200 I would probably go the same way. After paying for a rebore, 1st oversize piston and rings it is really less than $100 to go with a new top end.

Anyway...this just gets to the stock vs mod discussion and to me there is no right or wrong answer. If you like stock...stick with stock. If you like to mod...well to quote Tim the Tool Man.."MORE POWER!!!!!!!.....ARRRRGGG!!!...ARRRGGGG!!!!...ARRRGH!!!"

Southerner · Post by **Southerner** » Thu Nov 03, 2011 3:00 pm

Price sounds OK. Look at it and see if it's in good condition generally. Get the seller to run the thing and see if it sounds right.

IF he will let you ride it, and it's understandable if he won't, then by all means ride it. If he won't let you, he can at least ride it up and down the street in front of you or with you on back.

Just the same sort of general advice that would apply to any MC or scooter.

The last bike I bought used came from a reseller. It looked fine considering its age but when I got it back home, I discovered within a few days that it had a couple of issues. Dead battery because of faulty regulator. And a leaking hydraulic clutch.

Wasn't too happy with the seller because there's no way they couldnt have known about those things but I still got a good bike at a good price and just considered the repair costs as part of the whole price. Used is never perfect.

Modern Buddy

I'm looking at a vespa.......

I'm looking at a vespa.......

Re: I'm looking at a vespa.......