Selling a Scooter...

[Alan Whicker]

What gets me about the whole Vespa/Piaggio scooter fetish, is are people really just buying into the whole exotic 'La Dolce Vita'/Eddie Izzard 'Ciao....' sketch thing? Absolutely nothing wrong with that, it's just that from what I hear, Italians themselves tend to snap up Honda SH300s !

Italians love anything new. There's a niche over there for 'classics' but pre-PX scooters are seen as transport for old folk, which is why so many found their way to British dealers. Your new girlfriend is unlikely to be impressed if you try to take her out for a gelato on Uncle Luigi's battered old Primavera. Uncle Luigi's scoot will have been sold on and found its way to the big classic vehicle sales that they used to hold on regional racing circuits. British dealers would turn up with a van and a wallet full of cash and snap up what the Italians no longer wanted, with the help of a local agent who could get around Italy's bizarre vehicle export/ownerships laws. There was also a big glut of scoots when Italy made helmets compulsory, and a lot of older riders jacked it in as a protest. The supply of classic scooters has all but dried up on Italy (there are now more Lambrettas in the UK than italy) , and has nearly dried up in Spain. In fact, Niall who runs one of London's better dealers (Retrospective Scooters) is now importing classic Italian road bicycles as an alternative!

 

[bauldbairn]

Same as that, except the most I managed in one year was 10,000 miles.

Remember, I live in Central Scotland it was over a 1000 mile round trip to Margate and just under 1000 round trip to Great Yarmouth. I also had a 40 mile round trip to work(so there's an annual 10,000 right there).
Any weekend there wasn't a rally we would scoot off up to Fort William - great roads/scenery/accomodation(+150miles easy)- sometimes with the MAG lads(not MACC lads ).

I wasn't even close to covering the most miles - there were a at least six +20,000ers in our club(who attended all 9 NSRA Rallies + others) - the guy who ran the club did +25,000 one year.
He bought a brand new scooter(P200) every year - ran it in for a couple of weeks - then toured Europe for 2 weeks on it, every year!!!!

We went to the MAG(motorcycle action group) meeting in Bathgate fortnightly to give our backing to the campaign against the introduction of leg protectors(remember them?). They were amazed at the miles we covered on our scoots compared to them on their Ducati's and Moto-Guzzi's.
They would pootle about on some basic bike(or car) during the week whilst only riding their best bike at weekends - whilst preping it for it's one big journey a year to Donnington( I think?).

 

[MarkF]

I am really pleased such an iconic machine is being made again, not some sh1tty pastiche like the mini. I think adding an auto option would have given it real mass appeal though. However, I have owned a 2001 PX125 and imo they are borderline dangerous out-of-town, just like mopeds, the lack of power causes problems. They were originally junked due to emission laws, so will this new one be heavier/slower/less powerful? I hope not. My GL is just as slow but can be forgiven due to it being totally gorgeous, if I was to own a PX again it's be be a 200cc or 150cc, minimum.


Ok a couple more pics of detail stuff before you pop your corks. I don't like mirrors, trinkets or much chrome (I hate the bloody Jam, parka's and 2-tone too but keep it quiet) and I especially don't like "themes". I had the bag holder, petrol lever and side panel releasr catches all powder coated black, nice. I had the original metal badges, "Vespa GL" for the front and "Gran Lusso" for the back, but decided not to install them at the last minute, instead I had the same size and font laser cut from black vinyl and they really suit the bike. Pics may follow when I take some.

 

[bauldbairn]

I am really pleased such an iconic machine is being made again, not some sh1tty pastiche like the mini. I think adding an auto option would have given it real mass appeal though. However, I have owned a 2001 PX125 and imo they are borderline dangerous out-of-town, just like mopeds, the lack of power causes problems. They were originally junked due to emission laws, so will this new one be heavier/slower/less powerful? I hope not. My GL is just as slow but can be forgiven due to it being totally gorgeous, if I was to own a PX again it's be be a 200cc or 150cc, minimum.

+1,

I haven't owned one of the "catalyst" scooters so can't really comment on their performance.

The PX125 was always a bit sluggish even in "pre-catalyst" days and probably not designed to be taken far out of the city.
Rumour had it that Piaggio originally intended it to be a 150/200 range only and the 125 was an after thought for learner teenagers accross Europe - the 150 piston/barrel fitted straight into the 125.
Also the P150X drove as though it was more comfortable with the gearbox that was fitted whereas the 125 struggled with it!!!

I like the pics of your immaculate scoot I'd be terrified to drive it anywhere!

 

[brockers]

Italians love anything new. There's a niche over there for 'classics' but pre-PX scooters are seen as transport for old folk, which is why so many found their way to British dealers. Your new girlfriend is unlikely to be impressed if you try to take her out for a gelato on Uncle Luigi's battered old Primavera. Uncle Luigi's scoot will have been sold on and found its way to the big classic vehicle sales that they used to hold on regional racing circuits. British dealers would turn up with a van and a wallet full of cash and snap up what the Italians no longer wanted, with the help of a local agent who could get around Italy's bizarre vehicle export/ownerships laws. There was also a big glut of scoots when Italy made helmets compulsory, and a lot of older riders jacked it in as a protest. The supply of classic scooters has all but dried up on Italy (there are now more Lambrettas in the UK than italy) , and has nearly dried up in Spain. In fact, Niall who runs one of London's better dealers (Retrospective Scooters) is now importing classic Italian road bicycles as an alternative!

Very informative. Oh well, another pipe-dream crushed then. I was half thinking 'What would happen if I rocked up in Italy with a fistful of Euros and an account with a shipping company...' Looks like I missed the boat ! Similar thing was happening in the eighties and nineties with bigger bikes; traders were buying up all sorts of old Kawasakis and Hondas in the States and filling containers with them.

I hope Niall from Retrospective can compete with the likes of Brick Lane Bikes in East London, who seem to have cornered the market in overpriced 'classic' Italian bicycles.

 

[MarkF]

Very informative. Oh well, another pipe-dream crushed then. I was half thinking 'What would happen if I rocked up in Italy with a fistful of Euros and an account with a shipping company...' Looks like I missed the boat ! Similar thing was happening in the eighties and nineties with bigger bikes; traders were buying up all sorts of old Kawasakis and Hondas in the States and filling containers with them.

I hope Niall from Retrospective can compete with the likes of Brick Lane Bikes in East London, who seem to have cornered the market in overpriced 'classic' Italian bicycles.

Alan Whicker missed the scrappage scheme whereby Italy offered owners of 2 stroke scooters a large discount of new scooters, even cheapo Chinese stuff, sacrilige! They scrapped their soul. Worse, was that the reasons given (emissions) did not stand up to scrutiny, they were utter nonsense.

I disagree with him about Spain though, I have brought over 2 in the past and I'll bring another, unlike Italy (where he was right) there is no shortage of pre- PX and PX Vespa's, it's just that they are being used, as they should be of course, 600-800 gets you a usable scooter. Loads to choose from, book a cheap flight and ride it back! Compra Venta is a good place to look, I'd have this at 900eu, it'll be worth much more in a few years, it really is free-of-charge transport.

Bauldbairn, interesting info on the 150, thanks.

 

[Alan Whicker]

I disagree with him about Spain though, I have brought over 2 in the past and I'll bring another, unlike Italy (where he was right) there is no shortage of pre- PX and PX Vespa's, it's just that they are being used, as they should be of course, 600-800 gets you a usable scooter. Loads to choose from, book a cheap flight and ride it back! Compra Venta is a good place to look, I'd have this at 900eu, it'll be worth much more in a few years, it really is free-of-charge transport.

The Spanish Post Office is currently phasing out their geared Vespas and replacing them with boring autos (Derbis, I think). Presumably they're selling them off, and I'd love to know where!

Here are my two. The paint isn't original on the Sprint, but she must have been repainted when fairly new, presumably when the minor bump that led to one of the sidepanels being beaten back into shape happened. The original colour was a sort of British racing green. She's in very good nick for an unrestored scoot of her age. Suprisingly nippy, once you've had a run up. I used to commute on her, which wasn't a problem when we lived in zone 1 - but now we're further out the 6 volt lighting and lack of indicators can be a bit hair-raising. Nobody expects a bloke on a scooter to give hand signals.

The P125X is entirely original, except for a replacement piston. I commuted from Leytonstone for about four years on him. Never once let me down - in fact, neither of them have, barring punctures (easily sorted 'cos a spare wheel is standard!).


Might have to sell the PX this year :-(

 

[MarkF]

Nice sunset PX pic. The Sprint is lovely, tbh that is what I wanted my GL to be like, I never wanted a nut & bolt rebuild but one thing led to another...................I still have the 6v system too, I wanted it to be as original as possible.

The next one will be a Spanish well used PX, I am lucky in having a pal with an industrial unit in Barcelona where I can store stuff.

 

[3narf]

That there PX is the same colour mine was, except it was an EFL (square horncast) model. I even had those panel protectors etc. They came in a kit by Ariete which included legshield trim, mudguard crest and bendy plastic brake & clutch levers!

My ETS is ready now; I'm taking it for MoT hopefully on Monday or Tuesday. I still need to upjet it for the new exhaust and strobe check the timing, but it starts, runs and ticks over very nicely and everything works!

 

[3narf]

Yeah, did you sell it?

Mine has a different engine now:
Parmakit Touring 130 kit with matched transfer ports
Worb5 crank
Malossi reedvalve
25mm carb
27/69 upgear kit with straight-cut primaries
DRT short 4th gear
Lightened flywheel
4-plate clutch

And the latest edition - Franz D & R exhaust.

I currently have an ignition fault that acts as a rev limiter, but it's so torquey it's still fun to ride. Power delivery feels like an enduro bike.

Looking forward to the spring, if I can find a job...