Series Italia: To customize or not to customize?

DouglasLive · Post by **DouglasLive** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 2:59 pm

I really love my new SI, but am having an internal debate about customization. To gaze at the Italia, it looks like a custom bike; custom two-tone paint, custom wheels, custom badging, unique seat/handle grip color, etc. What does one do to such a "work of art" to make it his/her own? I'm torn between keeping it original and personalizing it so it stands apart from the 500 (150?) other SIs in the US. I mean, the chances of seeing another one in the little AZ village where I live is remote, but I yearn to give it a unique identity. Aside from the windscreen I already have, what should I do? The other Buddy colors are wonderful "blank canvases" just waiting for a personal touch. Not the Italia. I've seen the SI Phil at POC personalized with brown accessories, but while nice, it doesn't do it for me.

So I ask this esteemed community: What would you do (cosmetically) to the SI to improve its already great looks? Even if your answer is "Leave it alone!", I want to hear.

I'm looking to brainstorm on this one, so post away!

San Francisco · Post by **San Francisco** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 3:20 pm

Well I'll chime in since I just got mine yesterday.

I live in a city where "customization, mods, and being unique" are tops on
the list of one's priorities.

IMHO the Italia as it sits cannot really be customized to look much better.
It really looks pretty cool the way it sits. While you might be able to
switch some things around, the overall appearance cannot be modified
to where it would look better. You can make it look slightly different,
but better, I don't think so.

Do what I did, get the perf. pipe which is a cool mod, plus it dresses up
the bike big time. That large, shiny pipe stands out and the sound
is cool, to me anyway.

Also get the front and rear chrome racks. I think a Prima bag [we got
one black one and one tan] dresses up the bike too. It really looks nice
and definitely adds to the Italia's overall "exotic" appearance.

Other than that, I don't think there is anything you can do to cause people
to say "look at that cool scooter." They are going to say that as the Italia
looks now.

SteMer · Post by **SteMer** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 12:00 am

Leave it alone!

mcwbyu82 · Post by **mcwbyu82** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 12:06 am

i agree with leaving it alone besides any racks/bags you may need. You already paid $100 for mods that non SI owners are doing themselves

rajron · Post by **rajron** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 12:39 am

My vote is leave it alone as well – cept bags and stuff like that.

Keys · Post by **Keys** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 12:51 am

I say paint it red.

--Keys

rajron · Post by **rajron** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 1:00 am

Red is good!

But not for the Italia - she looks so nice in green.

Corsair · Post by **Corsair** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 3:56 am

Yes it is a limited but yes it is yours too. Follow your own mind and do what you feel. If you want to add a more personal touch go for it. If you want to keep it stock and make it a collectible.. hey that's up to you. It's your dime and you're the one who'll be riding it.

golfingirl · Post by **golfingirl** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 1:00 pm

I think the Italia is a fab looking retro scoot. The only thing I may add is some chrome trim. I added it to my Orange Buddy 125 and it looks spanky!

DouglasLive · Post by **DouglasLive** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 2:21 pm

golfingirl wrote:The only thing I may add is some chrome trim. I added it to my Orange Buddy 125 and it looks spanky!

Pics please! Or maybe a *really* specific description.

sunshinen · Post by **sunshinen** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 2:30 pm

I agree with some more chrome, 'cause I like shiny things. ("Ooh! A sparkly! ... Can I have it? Can I?" If anyone knows where that quote is from, I'll be very impressed.)

And maybe an Italian flag sticker on the windshield.

You could get the Italian license plate screws.

brat · Post by **brat** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 2:34 pm

I just did the same thing to my buddy. I will see if I can get pics. I got door edge chrome from the local auto parts store. I edged the front fender and the windshield. Not too hard, just have to take your time. I am still looking to see where else I can get it to fit. It is cheap and looks grand!!!

Susan

DouglasLive · Post by **DouglasLive** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 3:19 pm

sunshinen wrote: And maybe an Italian flag sticker on the windshield.

You could get the Italian license plate screws.

That's the direction I'm headed -- celebrating the faux Italian heritage of the SI. To that end, my wife named ours "da Vinci" just last night and I've been combing ebay for all things "Italia" ever since. Right now I'm looking for an appropriate "Vitruvian Man" badge/medallion to use on both sides of the legshield. This belt buckle might do the trick:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0104843262

Should prove a classy way of setting my SI apart from others without compromising the overall looks. It'll be my very own "special da Vinci edition" of the SI special edition.

polianarchy · Post by **polianarchy** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 7:10 pm

sunshinen wrote:I agree with some more chrome, 'cause I like shiny things. ("Ooh! A sparkly! ... Can I have it? Can I?" If anyone knows where that quote is from, I'll be very impressed.)

Either the movie The Secret of NIMH, or the book Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH

And I, like Jeremy the magpie, love shiny pretty sparkly things, too.

Keys · Post by **Keys** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 7:23 pm

Y'know, I've told my wife that for years (since she loves jewelry)..."girls are just like little birds...they both love shiney things".

--Keys

Bella Buddy · Post by **Bella Buddy** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 8:23 pm

Hi Golfingirl, can you send me the pics of your Chrome additions? My boyfriend just bought me a PINK Buddy and I'm looking to improve with Chrome... I'd love to see what you did

ALSO: Anyone out there know how to change the color of the plastic paneling ? I'd like to change it to Gray or light tan... so I can't really switch it out with an existing color at the factory... Thanks ALL !

BTW; this is my first POSTING ever! My boyfriend says I'm a geek now

Keys · Post by **Keys** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 8:29 pm

I painted my entire scooter on the day before Christmas and it's still holding up well. You can see it in my avatar...it used to be black. Anyway, I used Krylon Fusion rattle-can paint which is formulated specifically for plastic. I bought mine at WalMart.

--Keys

San Francisco · Post by **San Francisco** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 9:31 pm

I'm putting some of these on our scooters, one most likely on the back of each Prima bag.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... ink:top:us

Buster Buddy · Post by **Buster Buddy** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 11:44 pm

hehehe

Keys, the color looks great. What is the racing stripe? It looked like piano keys, but I couldn't be sure. I'm guessing from your handle that would be correct. If so, it's awesome! Were they hand painted as well?

Peer
(Christina's boyfriend)

Keys · Post by **Keys** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 11:53 pm

Yeah, they are piano keys. There are bigger pictures at my blog; www.skutergruven.blogspot.com that show it better. And no, they aren't painted...I WISH!! One of my club mates (www.phxscarabsc.com) had the sticker made for me by a shop she deals with down in Phoenix. I also had one made that says; "If it isn't Scottish, it's crap". The whole story is on my blog...along with numerous other scooter stories.

--Keys

moniraq · Post by **moniraq** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 4:10 am

I've been pondering that myself. I have the windscreen and I think I'm going to get the pipe and the front and rear chrome racks. I thought about some tan saddle bags and a rear one also but I would be afraid to leave them sitting on my bike when I went into a store or something.

I like your idea about the Vesuvian man. I was looking for something with Mona Lisa or a close up of the fingers on "The Creation of Adam"...I don't know! I love my SI but I bought it because it really reminded me of my trip to Italy and I'd like to do a little something extra to make it stand out.

Keep me updated on yours and I'll let you know what I decide for mine. BTW, I was thinking of naming her "Bellisima".

Post by **ericalm** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 4:43 am

As a limited edition, the SI may retain more of its value over time than the other Buddys. So you may not want to make any mods which are too invasive. I love the looks of a chrome front rack on a scoot, but hate that on the Bud, you have to punch holes in the legshield to mount one.

A windscreen will add to the vintage look. I also love the SIs with brown grips, seats and interiors. The grips and panels shouldn't run more than $80; don't know about the seat, though.

Several ModernVespa members have adapted RAF roundel (mod target) belt buckles as badges on their scoots.
Check it out here: http://www.modernvespa.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6723

sunshinen · Post by **sunshinen** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 2:49 pm

polianarchy wrote:
sunshinen wrote:I agree with some more chrome, 'cause I like shiny things. ("Ooh! A sparkly! ... Can I have it? Can I?" If anyone knows where that quote is from, I'll be very impressed.)
Either the movie The Secret of NIMH, or the book Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH

Hurray! I'm going to have to go to ebay and collect that movie now that I've remembered it.

weaseltamer · Post by **weaseltamer** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 4:31 pm

i loved the book too! <3

Modern Buddy

Series Italia: To customize or not to customize?

Series Italia: To customize or not to customize?

Chrome pictures - requested "me too!"

they sell Buddies at Walmart?