SBF Classic Vespa's Cafe 2009 / 2010

[claryce]

hello all.. i have just sold my phantom and gotten myself a 1982 px150. man.. the kickstart and main stand is killing me.. i've bruises from my shin to my knee.

 

but the thing i can't get used to the most is the speed. the last owner told me that it's not advisable to go above 70kmh.. and even if i wanted to.. the vibrations are crazy.. and really really noisy.

 

i'm going to ah joo's on the 22nd to get my fork and tyres changed (i'm a real short fart) and paint job..

 

since i'm gonna be there.. is there any way i can make my top speed go up a bit more.. i'll be happy with 80 even.. haha.. just asking.

[Sharpey]

Why do you need to change the fork?? More info please...

 

If it isn't going over 70 without crazy vibes and noise then there's something wrong with it....

 

How much do you want to spend...

 

I can reccomend very good motor mounts (that connect engine to body) and a rear shock to frame mount that will make your ride very firm and stable at speed.... it's been discussed a few pages back...

 

Other than that, you can just replace the stock motor mounts with new ones (chances are yours haven't ever been changed)... they do wear out...

 

I would also look into getting your exhaust de-carbonised (cleaned)...

 

If you want it to go faster, I'd look into an engine rebuild (budget at least 300 bucks) to begin with... After this your engine will be considered "as new"...

 

Ask Ah Joo for his advice... and let us know what he says

[vigano]

sharpy ... i want to order leh ... how ?? can call me at 90933574

[vigano]

claryce >> wait till 25feb lah ... we can all meet and discuss what can be done to ur vespa ...im sure we can figure that out

[claryce]

ah joo says that the bike is too high for me to be really stable.. so i need to change to smaller tyres.. and the fork.. it cuts off quite alot of height.. that.. plus a short seat and paint job will come up to abt 800.. i think?

 

not very sure if i can come up with ALOT of spare cash at the moment...

 

 

oooh... another thing.. if the bike dies on me.. how do i kick start it again without having to put it back up on main stand to start it.. cos i can foresee alot of taht happening. haha.. with my phantom.. it was just the elec start.. so no worries there.

[Sharpey]

What???? Don't go and do that! Please don't do that.... it'll make your scooter much less safe.

 

You can get your seat lowered (made thinner)...

 

When you stall, just put left leg down to support scoot, then tilt left and kick with right foot....

 

I really encourage you to read up on vespas before you start laying down cash.... I would never go from 10" tyres to 8"... 10" are tiny already by modern standards!!!

[Sharpey]

Umm... just trust me on this... Sometimes you don't always get given the best advice... Like Vigano said... wait till the 25th and we'll tell you everything you need to know... and some stuff you don't

[fluffpuff]

claryce - i have the same problem with you. am another short fart and at 1.54m, i doubt you are shorter than me. anyway, what ah joo did for my scoot was to change its 10 inch wheels to 8 inch ones and lowered its suspension to the max. i still feel it's a little too high for me and have to tiptoe somewhat when i come to a stop and consulted ah joo about this. apparently the only thing i can do to modify the height of my bike further is to change the seat to a slimmer version. i agree with sharpey that 8 inch wheels aren't as safe as 10 inch ones but it's a tradeoff i guess. you get stability when your scoot is at a comfortable height for you so do weigh the pros and cons and go for whatever you deem is appropriate for you. and of cos, if you do opt for 8 inch wheels in the end, never do corners at high speed. always keep your speed low round corners, especially tight ones. of cos, that applies to 10 inch wheels as well, but with 8 inch wheels, you should stick to the golden rules even more rigidly.

 

as for kickstarting your bike without putting it up again on the mainstand - do what sharpey mentioned but as a fellow little person, i'll have to warn you this is by no means easy for people with short legs. haha everything comes with practice, practice and more practice. when i first practiced kickstarting my bike while seated, i ended up with bruises all over my calf and very nearly gave up. even till today, i don't always manage to get my bike kickstarted while seated on my bike. the best tip i can give you is to work on your clutch control so that your engine doesn't die off on the road and leave you all panicky and hoping your technique of kickstarting your bike while seated works. another tip is to switch your gears to neutral when coming to a temporary stop. that way, you don't tire your hand out gripping onto your clutch and are much less likely to cut off your engine due to inadequate pressure on your clutch.

[Sharpey]

Putting 8" wheels on a PX will also make it look really silly... 8" may work on sprints... not on the PX... Mind you... if your scoot already looks like a sprint (i.e. has been modified)... then you may get away with it...

 

Really... you can't be seriously thinking about modifying and lowering suspension etc... this is dangerous!

[claryce]

trust me la.... i'm 1.5m. haha.. my god.. that's one of the reasons why i got my phantom.. cos it's low.. but it's so #$%^&* heavy. it's so damn embarassing when it falls and i've to enlist the help of others.

 

 

i know smaller wheels mean less safe.. that's why i'm rather hesitant on changing the wheels. especially when i'm able to ride now.. i just tiptoe like a stupid ballerina everytime it comes to a stop..

 

 

what's on on the 25th? where's everyone meeting up? i'd love to come.. then i can get ideas on what to paint my grumbly too..

[maz]

clarye> u might want to try to change to a thinner seat first. see how it feels. iamcarlos has a seat that is up of sale but not sure if u like a racing seat. as for the kickstart thing, if u can save on the changing of fork and tyres u might want to consider installing an electric start to ur bike. no more kicking for u. Vespa need time to to learn the ropes.

 

Sharpey> i'm not sure wat u mean by short or long thread plug. when we meet up maybe u can show us what u meant by long thread or short thread.

 

Fluffpuff > oh my god!! u declared ur height hahaha. Anyways gerls can always use platform while riding which short short boys cant.

[Sharpey]

One thing I can advise... is that you start reading...

 

http://www.scooterhelp.com

http://www.vespamaintenance.com

 

search this forum http://www.scooterbbs.com/search/

 

You won't find people who have done this to a Scooter... I personally think its a very "ghetto" thing to do and would be concerned that it'd actually make your ride more stable!

 

Handling modifications can be done to make the scooter wobble less and have improved suspension... these include parts from http://www.claussstudios.com and decent suspension from sebac (or if you can afford, Bitubo)...

[Sharpey]

Maz... the 150 plug is shorter... less threads... the 200 plug is longer... more threads...

 

Get it?

[Sharpey]

So can we all confirm for the 25th?

[claryce]

one of the other reasons why i don't wanna change the wheels.. is cos they're so expensive.. 3-400.. crazy.. i can get another paint job with that kind of cash..

 

maz: ooooooh.. i can add elec start?! my god.. i'm super happy at hearing that..

 

sharpey: thanks so much for the advice.. i seriously need it..

[maz]

yup i get u. when i was running stock my plug was longer than what i have now. so thats why i was confused for awhile there. thanks.

[vigano]

agree with maz ... if ur having a PX engine .. u might want to consider adding electric start ... dun get brand new... its expensive ... a 2nd hand will do ... u need to get a switch, starter , flywheel and the outer engine casing and a batt also .... and like what sharpey says ... kinda funny a px with 8 inch ... always safer and more stable with 10 inch tyre ....

[claryce]

hmmm.. can i get the electric start done at ah joo too? how much would that cost?

[maz]

claryce> but warn u first it might not be cheap. ask if ah joo is willing to do the conversion. so far neva heard anyone installing the e start in sg. unless the scoot already comes with it like wat sharpey has. all the newer production.

[vigano]

maz ... using a wrong plug may cost u ur piston ...

[fluffpuff]

haha maz very embarrassing meh my height why cannot declare

 

hmm looks like everyone is against 8 inch wheels. i for one would never manage to control and balance on my scoot if it was on 10 inch wheels. that would be far too high for me unless i change my seat of cos, which i am reluctant to do haha my leopard print fur!

[vigano]

yup

[claryce]

hmm.. i think i will be able to ride comfortably if i get the seat lowered.. how much would the conversion cost man...

 

i saw 2 vespas at ah joo a few weeks ago.. one was beige and one was red and white.. he said they belonged to petite girls too and made me try them.. i must say that it was really easier to bring them down from mainstand and i felt more in control.. bah. hate the confusion..

[maz]

vigano> im running a right plug. no worries. juz clarifying things. long short stock alloy asian hispanic black. lol

 

claryce> u might have a hard time gettin the bike down from main stand cos ur stand itself is long. juz a guess. have the stand cut slightly shorter. lesser prob for u to get it on and off main stand.

 

fluffpuff> hehe nothing embarassing. gerls juz like to keep their stats a secret. 8" ten inch. i want a 12 inch one.

hahahaha

[fluffpuff]

yep ah joo cut my mainstand as well when i first got my bike. makes it much easier tipping my bike down from the mainstand.