2008 2T reliability

[tomjasz]

I'm on the edge and considering a 2008 2T. Over the years I've paid little if any attention but am gobbling up everything I can read here on the 2T Stella. Were there better years for the 2T? Are there years to avoid? Problems specific to the year?

Thanks.

Tom

[az_slynch]

Just my two cents, but I think that the later 2T Stella were a better machine. For reference, the '07-on models are the late model, so your potential bike-to-be falls into this group. The crank and bearing reliability is better than earlier models, the later headlamp takes more common bulbs, the stator is similar to the Vespa PX and seems to be more reliable.

The only possible pitfall that comes to mind was that the '09 models were known to have an issue with the check valve for the Autolube system. Since you're looking at an '08, it shouldn't be an issue, but it really depends on if it was an early or late '08 to determine if this could be an issue.

I have a friend with an '07 and I like it more than the '05 that another friend has. It just seems better built overall, all the '05-specific issues aside.

So, Chad's gettin' to you?

[jimmbomb]

I had an 08 for 2 years and put close to 7k miles on it..
trouble free except for a clutch cable..
My friend had an 09 and was bitten by the check valve bug...
good luck..

[tomjasz]

So, Chad's gettin' to you?

YES! It's a good price and the minor nuisances have been addressed. I have decided to go 2T from a GTS. The decision is do I save $$ and be happy with the Stella or hold out for a 2005 PX150.

[Stitch]

Is there a difference?

[tomjasz]

Is there a difference?

From what I've learned this week, yes, perhaps substantial.

[az_slynch]

The big difference is the inlet. It's rotary-valve on a Vespa PX and reed-valve on a Stella. It's easier to make power with a reed setup (e.g. GGR Hot Reed), but the rotary valve delivers power a bit more smoothly and can be tuned to haul butt if you're not afraid to do a bit of port shaping.