Vespa update.

I have sprayed my vespa gloss black It is not a brilliant paint job, but it is one colour and shiny. lol. I have removed the front rack as it will not fit on the crash bars without scratching the paint. I will look for a different fitting rack.





I do have a black wheel to replace the rear one, but i cant get the nut off the wheel yet as I only have a 3/8" drive socket set and a 1/2" drive power bar. I did have a 1/2 to 3/8 adapter, but broke it when I tried to remove the nut. I have ordered an impact 1/2" drive 24mm socket for the rear wheel nut. It only cost £3.80. The shop wanted £20 to change the rear wheel.
The rear box will be coming off as I have bought a Cupinni folding rear rack.

 

Looking nice,been on the lookout for one of these myself,but all the ones I have seen need a fair bit of welding underneath as they have rotted

 

This one is not bad. There is some surface rust under neath but not rusting through. It passed the mot and is strong. I have not seen any near me to see if there are any 'bad' ones on the road. lol. Just waiting for a couple of bits to replace on it and then concentrating on making an air compressor out of a fridge freezer motor and a gas bottle. Only just getting around to it after purging the bottle just over a year ago. lol

 

I have bought some vinyl wrap 4D carbon effect to cover the front horn panel. It didnt take to well to the paint. I think it reacted to something or tree sap got on it as I sprayed it near a willow tree. I am unsure whether to do the headlight surround too.

 

Thanks. It looks a bit bare on the front. I think it needs a GB sticker and a union flag somewhere. I like the black and grey union flag. Needs something on the side panels. I did buy a screen for it, but it made it look like it was wearing a Diddy Men hat. lol. Or a leprechaun hat. lol. I took it off. It is a genuine vespa screen too, but i think it is a bit too tall.

 

just a idea... cover the area the rack may scratch with a bit of taped on popped bubble wrap and then remove it once the rack is on.. its what we do in the trade.

 

Thanks. I tried to put the rack on but did scratch the front. I am going to rub it down and respray it or just put stickers on. The rack was touching the front the first time I had it on, but I altered the clamps that go around the crash bars. It made it a bit better, but putting the bolts on with the nuts and washers, I needed 4 hands to line it up and push the bolts through while trying to put the nuts on.My wife came home from shopping and gave me a hand but the rack was just touching too much on the front panel. I will look for a different mounted rack. The type that sits in two rubber cups on the front panel and a bar either side to clamp it on the crash bars. Should be a bit better. Not in any rush though.

 

This is the screen I bought and fitted then removed. My wife said it was like the 70's / 80's CHiPs bikes. I think it is like a leprechaun hat. lol
It is now in a large bubblewrap bag in the shed. I might sell it or just let it collect dust. One day, it might be worth a packet to someone who wants to rebuild a 70's replica.

 

I would love to have that to make nice again. Some people just dont respect their things. lol.

I have to sort mine out. I have just been out on it for a long countryside ride and I have noticed the main beam is not working now. The bulb has not gone, but it is since I had the front off. It might not have got plugged back together.

 

When I was working in a garage in the 70's, the main mechanic told me that a mechanics car may look rough on the outside, but the engine is more important and will be top notch. I used to have a Toyota Hylux Pickup and it looked rough. I dont think there was a panel straight on it. My wife refused to go out in it. I took it off roading, in and through quarries and drove it through a scrapped caravan, trashing the caravan and ripping my front wing off. Wire ans wood screws held it on until I got home. It pulled like a train, especially in 4 wheel drive with diff lock. Somethings on the road may look rough but mechanically are great.

 

that kind sir, is what we in the trade call a reliable P.O.S (piece of shit)
I have a reliable P.0.S Chinese scooter and while both me and gf have what id call nice cars we also have a old ford focus diesel with 249,000 miles on the clock that looks like scrap (wing mirror taped on, rusting steel wheels, laquer has peeled pretty much on every panel and it hasn't been cleaned on the outside since well I cant remember its been that long) but its reliable, mechanically its mint and perfectly safe to drive, just nobody is going to nick it and its cheap as hell to keep! (we have left keys in the ignition more than twice and its always parked on the street!

 

I hd a toyota carina like that. The paint was so dull, there was not even a shine when it was wet. lol. It was the most reliable car in the street. Through winter, people with diesels were having flat batteries in the morning and I was the one jump starting them with my toyota. Didnt look much, but she was a good one.

 

I saw it. lol. Thats what got me into getting one. They are great work horses and take any bashing you give them. I had a girder bolted to the front of mine for a front bumper. lol. I also had a Toyota Hilux Surf that I used to off road and thrash about. I got it stuck in a quarry and it stung of the quarry for about 2 months after as it flooded into the interior.

 

Up to date pics of my Vespa. I took these today.

 

you only got stuck because you clearly weren't flooring it

Now all you need is one of those open face helmets, a scarf and some retro sunglasses