View ScootNET Classifides at your own risk!!!

BuddyRaton · Post by **BuddyRaton** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 5:03 am

I was browsing Scoot net sales ads last week....now this is sitting in the bed of my pickup!

1964 Vespa 150 (VBB) More Pictures can be seen here: http://tinyurl.com/349hog Location: Dunedin, FL Everything has been rebuilt from A to Z by motor earth. Engine: LML 5 port with either electric start. 20/20 si carburetor Chromed Sito type Exhaust Body: Original bodies with headset with 10” rims. New cowls, front fender, headset tubes, rims, headlight, taillight. slotted brakes Paint:Proper prep using an epoxy powder coat as base, then baked. Color is DuPont, 3 coats with clear. Tires: Continental Navigator - 3.5x10 Suspension: Brand New 10” forks. Trim: New aluminum trim with new floorboard rubber Glove box: the battery is located in the side cowl, so the glove box gives some extra storage. Electrical: All new wiring harness, 12 V halogen headlight, Battery, new relay, Cdi, rect/regulator nicely packaged in side cowl. Color Off white. . (I am still in break in period, but I am riding it twice a week to work until sold) Title on hand

hcstrider · Post by **hcstrider** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 3:38 pm

That is a beautifully restored 1964 Vespa. I enjoyed your Vespa slide show especially the black and white pictures which gave the Vespa an old fashioned look.

When purchasing an antique Vespa is there a way to verify that it is actually a restored 1964 Vespa and not just a newer scooter made to look like the original? The reason why I am asking is that I have been toying with the idea of purchasing a scooter that was manufactured in the same year that I was born, 1959 and I am curious how to verify that the scooter is authentic.

ScooterDave · Post by **ScooterDave** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 4:05 pm

Congrats on the purchase. You have a scooter from Viet Nam!

I am not trying to burst your bubble but, if I were you, I would try & unload it while it is still running and buy one that lived it's life here in the United States or Europe. I am being completely serious as I do not want you to have a bad first expierence with classic Vespa's.

I can make a list of things that are incorrect with the scooter just by looking at it.

Also check out Eric's post on scoots from SE Asia:

http://www.rovers-usa.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1938

Seriously though, good luck with it.

Dave

BuddyRaton · Post by **BuddyRaton** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 4:54 pm

Dave...what did I miss? I thought I had done my homework on this one. It was not sold as a restoration to original. I plan to use this more as a rider. I actually printed out the inforfrom that link and took it with me when I took a look.

1) Yellow rubber centerstand boots. - these are black

2-tone paintjob / matching 2-tone seats. -one tone paint, solid black seats

4) PX plastic centermat. - no center mat

5) Chrome stinger on an otherwise stock-looking exhaust. - exhaust body is not stock

6) Generic chrome crashbars / front fender guard. - no bars, no fender guard

7) The black gasket AROUND the lip of the gas tank. - Gasket is not visible

8 Normally the speedo is a dead giveaway - Speedo is proper replacement

9) Chrome rear-seat grab bar ( normally black rubber ), - Grab bar is black rubber, no piaggio tag

I also have the appraisal from Scooterworks (called and checked authenticity of appraisal).

I was aware of asian rebuilts and thought I had done my homework. The work was done by Aaron Scott at blue cat motors. http://www.bluecatmotors.com/ As I said I was aware that it was a rebuild and thats ok with me as long as the work has been properly done. I am planning to take it to the local shop to have them go over it.

BuddyRaton · Post by **BuddyRaton** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 5:06 pm

hcstrider wrote: When purchasing an antique Vespa is there a way to verify that it is actually a restored 1964 Vespa and not just a newer scooter made to look like the original?

I cheked the serial number against the list on....oh heck I dont remember but its out there somewhere!

BuddyRaton · Post by **BuddyRaton** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 5:17 pm

BuddyRaton wrote:Daveit.

DELETED - I accidently quoted me

x-mojito50mod · Post by **x-mojito50mod** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 5:18 pm

That's funny...my parents live in Dunedin, and a neighbor of theirs has two Vespas I checked out last time I visited...one of them looks like this one. If it is the one, it's not a Nam bike. I think the neighbor's name is Steve?

ScooterDave · Post by **ScooterDave** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 6:36 pm

I have a VIN list on my website http://www.scooterdave.com/?page_id=178

You can check frame #'s to know what you are buying.

In regards to the scooter, things that are BIG red flags and are incorrect:

1. Bajaj glove box.
2. Chrome Gas Cap.
3. P series enginge -> Not VBB engine.
4. Rear plate holder
5. Exhaust
6. Seats
7. Rear light

Dave

BuddyRaton · Post by **BuddyRaton** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 6:48 pm

ScooterDave wrote:I have a VIN list on my website http://www.scooterdave.com/?page_id=178

You can check frame #'s to know what you are buying.

In regards to the scooter, things that are BIG red flags and are incorrect:

1. Bajaj glove box.
2. Chrome Gas Cap.
3. P series enginge -> Not VBB engine.
4. Rear plate holder
5. Exhaust
6. Seats
7. Rear light

Dave

Thanks Dave! These thing really do not worry me, as I said I need a rider, not a restoration. I know the glove box is not an original item however I do need one for running to work and back. Would you agree that this is not a Nam job? (motor is actually a new LML)

ScooterDave · Post by **ScooterDave** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 6:59 pm

An appraisal from ScooterWorks means nothing. All it does is give a value for insurance reasons. It does not tell you anything about the bike.

Whoever put that glovebox on it needs to be slapped.

Did you ask where the scooter came from? The history?

If you do take it to a shop, take it to someone who has experience working on classic scooters. I mean 10+ years.

Good luck.

Dave

ScooterDave · Post by **ScooterDave** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 7:07 pm

BuddyRaton wrote:
ScooterDave wrote:1. Bajaj glove box.
2. Chrome Gas Cap.
3. P series enginge -> Not VBB engine.
4. Rear plate holder
5. Exhaust
6. Seats
7. Rear light

Dave

Thanks Dave! These thing really do not worry me, as I said I need a rider, not a restoration. I know the glove box is not an original item however I do need one for running to work and back. Would you agree that this is not a Nam job? (motor is actually a new LML)

I would not agree by looking at it. Again from my list just by looking at it indicate that the bike did NOT come from the United States. Those 7 items are not correct for the bike.

Dave

Kevin K · Post by **Kevin K** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 7:49 pm

What timing--I was just at Blue Cat on Saturday.
Blue Cat gets all of their scooters from India (one of the owners lives there). Yes, they have the 10" wheel conversions, and the LML 150 motor. The glove box was added to allow you to carry things like oil (the motor uses premix) or gloves, etc.
And the spare tire has to be mounted on the back.

Yes, they're not actual restorations but they're built to be ridden.
Scooterworks is doing the same thing with VBB's. The big difference is that Blue Cat's 10" conversion looks a lot better.
Yes, many Asian "restorations" are junk--but not ALL are.
-K

ScooterDave · Post by **ScooterDave** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 8:54 pm

Kevin K wrote:Blue Cat gets all of there scooters from India (one of the owners lives there). Yes, they have the 10" wheel conversions, and the LML 150 motor. The glove box was added to allow you to carry things like oil (the motor uses premix) or gloves, etc.
And the spare tire has to be mounted on the back.

I would buy a bike from India. There is a HUGE quality difference in quality between India and Viet Nam. I have a 1980 Bajaj Chetak and it is one hellova scooter. I do love that glovebox as it will hold a 2 liter of Mt. Dew.

Kevin K wrote:Yes, many Asian "restorations" are junk--but not ALL are.
-K

In my opinion they are junk. I have seen too many coming from SE Asia and not ONE is worh what the buyer paid. I have refused to work on them anymore as have most scooter shops that have worked on classic Vespa's for any length of time.

pocphil · Post by **pocphil** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 9:28 pm

Yes, the scooter is from India.

They're actually not bad - I recently spent a lot of $$$ building a Allstate/VBB/Labradoodle for myself that's probably on par with what I'm seeing in your pictures.

Things to watch out for...

It's not actually a '64, It's a round tail Bajaj frame which means it may have come from any time between the late 70's to present day. Those frames are still being sold as aftermarket parts by BajajAuto in India.

What the bike is:

It's a pretty well built daily rider, the more you try to say it's a Vespa the more actual Vespa collectors will think you're foolish. I think you'd be further ahead saying "It's a restored Indian Vespa" and let them fill in the blanks. There's the greatest likelihood that your bike was never "on the road" in India. These appear to be completely assembled from new aftermarket parts.

I've had a few of these in the shop and despite claims of it being a 5 port LML motor, we've only seen 3 port motors thus far. The batteries they are shipping with are HORRIBLE, get it out of there and install a good quality (preferably Gel Cell) battery. The battery that ships with it is a YUASA copy and will boil out and leak stripping the paint and corroding the hell out of your tool box.

The Chromed exhaust is not a Sito+ style pipe, it's a Indian pattern stock Vespa pipe. It's questionable at best, run it till it rots out then put a real Sito+ on it.

Your front spring is probably borderline dangerous, when you apply the front brakes it dives all the way to the stop. We can get you a longer/stronger spring that will be much safer on the road.

Really, these bikes aren't all that bad and our local customers have put a few thousand miles on them with no real problems so far (Indian bulbs and switches can be kinda flaky).

BuddyRaton · Post by **BuddyRaton** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 9:51 pm

From what I reasearched Aaron Scott does very high quality work and knows his way around scoots. http://www.zencast.com/channels/showcha ... &cid=10938 EPISODE25 - Blue Cat Motors 9/21/2007 We talk with Aaron Scott, one of the founders of Blue Cat Motors, about SYM, Daelim, vintage and alternate fuel scooters.

I personaly spoke with him today and I am very satisified. I will post a repot after I have it checked out at my local shop. A Vulcan works there so I know they are on top of it!

Everybody else have fun with this. The wife and I are going out for a ride now with the Buddy and whatever you deciede to call this. My bubble is fully inflated!

Ok Im done

Johnny · Post by **Johnny** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 1:50 am

BuddyRaton wrote:From what I reasearched Aaron Scott does very high quality work and knows his way around scoots. http://www.zencast.com/channels/showcha ... &cid=10938 EPISODE25 - Blue Cat Motors 9/21/2007 We talk with Aaron Scott, one of the founders of Blue Cat Motors, about SYM, Daelim, vintage and alternate fuel scooters.

I personaly spoke with him today and I am very satisified. I will post a repot after I have it checked out at my local shop. A Vulcan works there so I know they are on top of it!

That's good info.
I just recently heard of this place. They were recently selling a few India-imported BSA's and Triumphs on eBay. I plan to visit them when I'm in Minneapolis next week. Maybe I'll even take one of those BSA's off their hands...

vitaminC · Post by **vitaminC** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 2:17 am

ScooterDave wrote:
Kevin K wrote:Yes, many Asian "restorations" are junk--but not ALL are.
-K
In my opinion they are junk. I have seen too many coming from SE Asia and not ONE is worh what the buyer paid. I have refused to work on them anymore as have most scooter shops that have worked on classic Vespa's for any length of time.

FYI: India is located in Asia.

To the OP: nice scoot! And so long as it makes you happy, who cares what the "purists" think? That back-seat tire-rack combo thing is cool!

Kevin K · Post by **Kevin K** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 4:49 am

pocphil wrote:
Your front spring is probably borderline dangerous, when you apply the front brakes it dives all the way to the stop. We can get you a longer/stronger spring that will be much safer on the road.

Blue Cat uses a much better spring. That was one of the issues that they wanted to correct to make the scoot an actual rider vs. just another botch job. They seem to know the strengths and weaknesses and know just what they can and can't improve upon. I wouldn't hesitate to jump on one of these and ride it as hard as I ride my Vespa. The only thing I'm not crazy about is the premix motor. One gets spoiled having a separate oil tank, doncha know.
-K

Kevin K · Post by **Kevin K** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 4:52 am

Johnny wrote: I plan to visit them when I'm in Minneapolis next week.

Give me a yell if you're coming here.
-K

Kevin K · Post by **Kevin K** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 4:56 am

vitaminC wrote:FYI: India is located in Asia.

My point exactly.
OK, enough posts from me for one night.
-K

BuddyRaton · Post by **BuddyRaton** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 1:15 pm

hcstrider wrote: I enjoyed your Vespa slide show especially the black and white pictures which gave the Vespa an old fashioned look.

Just to be clear those are not my photos. They were taken by the previous owner

ScooterDave · Post by **ScooterDave** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 4:18 pm

Kevin K wrote:The only thing I'm not crazy about is the premix motor. One gets spoiled having a separate oil tank, doncha know.
-K

The first time you seize, you will appreciate premix. I premix all my autolube scoots.

Dave

ScooterDave · Post by **ScooterDave** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 4:26 pm

vitaminC wrote:FYI: India is located in Asia.

Be that as it may. In the scooter world there is a difference between bikes coming out of India & what is referred to as SE Asia. As I mentioned SE Asia and not Asia.

I would ride a bike from India but, not SE Asia (Viet Nam). I own an Indian made scoot.

It is a good looking bike. There were just some BIG red flags that came up when I saw it and was concerned. I am not hating, just trying to protect someone that may not know exactly what to look for.

I am not a purist either nor could I be considered one when I ride a pink Buddy.

Dave