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Wasp
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Posts: 20
Registered: 22/4/2010
Location: Ballarat
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![[*]](./images/oxygen/default_icon.gif) posted on 24/4/2010 at 18:00 |
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The New Guy
Hi there everyone,
My name is Michael King, I'm from Ballarat, and I was inspired to join after seeing you lot parked outside the Daylesford Hotel. Went off to grab my
camera and off you went in a cloud of (very cool) blue smoke.
I bought my first Vespa in 1986, a 150 Super from a guy in Toorak for $120. Never had a licence at the time and I thought, stupidly, I'll pull it down
and paint it. How long could it take after all?
You probably know where the story goes - yes, several boxes in the shed and a lot of rust that I didn't put in there to begin with! I'd like to think
I'm somewhat wiser in maturity, but of course that's open to argument.
I got interested in the whole mod thing through the music, mostly The Who and The Jam, a lot of early 60's R and B, later The Small Faces, and of
course hardly stopped listening to ska since 1979. Only now beginning to look into Northern Soul.
Is anyone going to the Rocksteady: Roots of Reggae thing at the Corner Hotel on the 1st of May? Should be great.
The Super is really a basket case so today I had a look at a VBB advertised near me. He said he'd ridden it for a year (or so) in Indonesia and
brought it back with him. It hasn't been registered since coming here, so I'd appreciate any advice. From what I read on the Vicroads site, it seems
I'd only need a roadworthy, receipt and the import licence thingy.
He's advertised it as a "150 Super Sprint 1965", not sure if that actually adds up. The engine's a VBB2M, the body very hard to make out - VB?2
something.
Any thoughts about this scooter gratefully received.
Hoping to be able to make it to the occasional meeting but definitely interested in the rally, and hoping to have something to ride there!
And Sam, how do I pay my membership fee again?
Cheers,
Michael
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puckstoothbrush
Posting Freak
Posts: 727
Registered: 20/4/2007
Location: South Yarra
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Mood: "unyeildingly negative and contributing nothing of any value while telling everyone else what to do"
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| posted on 24/4/2010 at 20:19 |
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Hi Michael and welcome,
My 2c worth on Indo imports
Some Indonesia Vespa's are OK, but not many of them.
It all depends on the life they have led and the degree of care and maintenance performed. Generally they are a step up from the nightmarish
Vietnamese imports, but I have seen some horrible unsafe and unridable scooters from Indonesia arrive over the years.
You really would be better of putting the money into restoring the Super. It may cost 3 or 4 thousand dollars to do that is if you can do some of the
work yourself, we have some members who have spent double that on getting Viet/Indo ones to a roadworthy reliable state.
To check out the serial number have a look at:
http://www.scooterhelp.com/serial/ves.serial.numbers.html
Cheers
Richard
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barra_63
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| posted on 24/4/2010 at 20:22 |
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The advice from the members is, come along to our meetings and speak to experienced buyers FIRST. You will get valuable advice befoe you buy
-Billy
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vbc66
Senior Member
Posts: 170
Registered: 5/1/2008
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| posted on 25/4/2010 at 09:20 |
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Gday Wasp welcome aboard , yes that 2 stroke smoke is very addictive ? I for one would tread very carefully when buying anything from Asia or in fact
the World .Try getting all the details together first eg engine , chassis numbers and look at these to see what exactly your buying .With this along
with all the papers and i mean all the papers ( Vic Roads dont take prisoners ) you need to be 100% you can register it, after all why didnt the
original owner do it ? Like Billy says come along to a meeting if you can & ask for advice it could save you $$$$$$$ This comes from experience i
imported a VBC from Vietnam & a Rally 200 from Scotland regards Yorkie
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scoot_ute
Senior Member
Posts: 218
Registered: 12/10/2006
Location: Collingwood
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| posted on 25/4/2010 at 10:07 |
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to summarise, DONT buy it.
Unless you have a cafe or hairdresser shop that needs a Vespa to look cool.
It is nice to be able to tell someone this before they have bought.
I deal with a couple of these situation EVERY WEEK in my trade (scooter mechanic) and it never has a happy ending. EVER.
cheers,
Derek
Scooterlabs 0411 728 364
Derek Myers
Scooterlabs
7 easey St Collingwood
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gpnick2004
Senior Member
Posts: 82
Registered: 6/10/2009
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 posted on 25/4/2010 at 11:22 |
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| Quote: | Originally posted by scoot_ute
to summarise, DONT buy it.
Unless you have a cafe or hairdresser shop that needs a Vespa to look cool.
It is nice to be able to tell someone this before they have bought.
I deal with a couple of these situation EVERY WEEK in my trade (scooter mechanic) and it never has a happy ending. EVER.
cheers,
Derek
Scooterlabs 0411 728 364 |
What he said !!!!
In the never ending saga of rip offs that have flooded the Classic market,I think it truly amazing that no one has been severely injured or even
killed on some of the so called "restored Classic scooters" on the market.
Cheers Nick.
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madsoulscooters
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| posted on 25/4/2010 at 11:57 |
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ditto what they said you would be better off with something you know spend the money and bring it back to its former glory.or buy an asian one and
spend a small fortune on it to get it safe.also mark is the treasurer.he will be at the corner hotel a very smart man with a flatop and about half 11
a look of anger.he will gladly take youre 20 bucks from you
cheers
sam
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Wasp
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Posts: 20
Registered: 22/4/2010
Location: Ballarat
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| posted on 25/4/2010 at 12:19 |
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Thanks everyone for the feedback.
Richard, I had another look at the Super on the strength of your comment - and I'm not sure how viable it is. Checked the numbers and it comes up as
74/75 motor/body (does that mean it needs blinkers?). Reckon it would take some fairly real money to see it on the road. Took some pics so you can see
what I mean. (I hope I did, can't see them in preview)
Well I'll just have to come along to a meeting and have a chat as you all advise. Or possibly you all get a free drink from Father Flannigan himself
for bringing in a customer.
Should be no problem finding Mark thanks Sam, as long as he looks like he does in the avatar!
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Wasp
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Posts: 20
Registered: 22/4/2010
Location: Ballarat
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| posted on 25/4/2010 at 12:59 |
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Worked it out.
Too much daylight through the legshield in my opinion.
All the bits I have. Some of the parts went walkabout, specifically the mudguards (all three).
It's certainly a daunting veiw.
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mickjrichardson
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| posted on 25/4/2010 at 15:22 |
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Hi Michael
welcome to the crusaders,can only support all thats been said so far with nothing new to add re the import Vespa option...other than that if you want
to take a look at a Vespa for sale, have a look at Robertos web site under vespawizard who has just finished refurbishing a Vespa import and all that
he has done to bring it upto scratch...just for interest only.
cheers Mike
[Edited on 25/4/2010 by mickjrichardson]
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puckstoothbrush
Posting Freak
Posts: 727
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Location: South Yarra
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Mood: "unyeildingly negative and contributing nothing of any value while telling everyone else what to do"
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| posted on 25/4/2010 at 17:44 |
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Judging by the colour (what's left of it), it could have been an ex-PMG Vespa. 1974/75 would making it about the right era and yes it would need
indicators.
The frame looks a bit far gone, the engine and forks could be sorted with time and money if you could get a donor frame.
Cheers
Richard
| Quote: | Originally posted by Wasp
Thanks everyone for the feedback.
Richard, I had another look at the Super on the strength of your comment - and I'm not sure how viable it is. Checked the numbers and it comes up as
74/75 motor/body (does that mean it needs blinkers?). Reckon it would take some fairly real money to see it on the road. Took some pics so you can see
what I mean. (I hope I did, can't see them in preview)
Well I'll just have to come along to a meeting and have a chat as you all advise. Or possibly you all get a free drink from Father Flannigan himself
for bringing in a customer.
Should be no problem finding Mark thanks Sam, as long as he looks like he does in the avatar!
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Wasp
Member
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Registered: 22/4/2010
Location: Ballarat
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| posted on 25/4/2010 at 18:03 |
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Ex-PMG - I think that's right. Saw a switch on ebay that said it was a "rare" (aren't they all?) postal-only ignition switch, and it's got one of
those.
As far as finding another frame, that certainly would be an option if something came up.
There was some reference to an Indian guy Rohan who exports. Found some stuff about him and he says he also sells unrestored scooters, kits etc. I
think there was a post somewhere mentioning dealings with him, wonder if anyone would like to comment...
However I'll talk to you guys before doing anything rash.
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tonyscerri
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Location: Third rock from the sun.
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Mood: Calculating....
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| posted on 25/4/2010 at 18:18 |
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Welcome to our circus, Michael!
Cheers
Tony
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arsenal404
Senior Member
Posts: 95
Registered: 29/12/2009
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| posted on 25/4/2010 at 20:25 |
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Are you kidding me?
I just loked at those photos, have just been to a barbie and drank copious amounts of red wine and cider (seperate glasses) and even in my goggled
state those pics you're having a laugh
How big is your rubbish bin and how often do they come?
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Wasp
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Posts: 20
Registered: 22/4/2010
Location: Ballarat
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| posted on 25/4/2010 at 20:45 |
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No I'm not having a laugh. If you owned that box of junk you probably wouldn't either.
I think I was just pointing out to Richard why I described it as a basket case.
It's because I didn't want to hurt it's feelings.
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arsenal404
Senior Member
Posts: 95
Registered: 29/12/2009
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| posted on 25/4/2010 at 21:20 |
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Phew, good to hear!
You'd get through a bit of emery paper rubbing those side panels down.....
And I love the black coke on the brake pad
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hootsmon0204
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| posted on 26/4/2010 at 16:12 |
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Hi,
Welcome to the club. I've got a PX frame that the engine would go into I think? Richard will correct me if I'm wrong. In fact the whole bike is here
front end etc and complete, minus cables, regulator and fuse box. Bit rough but solid and would spray up nice. I've done it before my self (see before
and after photos) Good fun if you are that way inclined. Oh and I second everything that's been said about overseas bikes. Only buy it if it's
registered here and you know the history of someone having worked on it e.g. Derek or Roberto. Or me but I just sold my VBB 
Let me know if you are interested.
Cheers
Gordon
[Edited on 26-4-2010 by hootsmon0204]
hootsmon0204 has attached this image:
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hootsmon0204
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| posted on 26/4/2010 at 16:13 |
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hootsmon0204 has attached this image:
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puckstoothbrush
Posting Freak
Posts: 727
Registered: 20/4/2007
Location: South Yarra
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Mood: "unyeildingly negative and contributing nothing of any value while telling everyone else what to do"
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| posted on 26/4/2010 at 16:56 |
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The Super engine should fit without any major issues, the wiring would need a bit of tweaking but it is doable.
Derek also has a running reasonable PX125 from the mid eighties I think for sale. The PX125's can be kitted up very nicely indeed.
Cheers
Richard
| Quote: | Originally posted by hootsmon0204
Hi,
Welcome to the club. I've got a PX frame that the engine would go into I think? Richard will correct me if I'm wrong. In fact the whole bike is here
front end etc and complete, minus cables, regulator and fuse box. Bit rough but solid and would spray up nice. I've done it before my self (see before
and after photos) Good fun if you are that way inclined. Oh and I second everything that's been said about overseas bikes. Only buy it if it's
registered here and you know the history of someone having worked on it e.g. Derek or Roberto. Or me but I just sold my VBB
Let me know if you are interested.
Cheers
Gordon
[Edited on 26-4-2010 by hootsmon0204] |
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Wasp
Member
Posts: 20
Registered: 22/4/2010
Location: Ballarat
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| posted on 26/4/2010 at 17:53 |
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Thanks Gordon.
The PX's certainly can scrub up very nicely indeed. But I guess I have a soft spot (yes, quite possibly between the ears) for the earlier mid-sxties
models. The Lure of the Curves. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about.
My first car was a 1958 Morris Minor, had a 52 Morry lowlite, I've had 2 Mk 1 Zephyrs, 4 Triumph Heralds, Mk 1 Cortina, 3 Minis, XP and XK Falcons and
a Frogeye Sprite, as well as various jap. things through the years. And apart from the Corolla I drive at the moment, they all had something in
common: I spent more time on my back on the ground underneath them for seemingly more time than I drove them. Of course, they were all projects, and I
rarely had enough money to spend as they really required.
Which makes me wonder if I could realistically pull off another project... only really given that some thought since yesterday.
So I'll keep looking for the time being (seeing one in Sandringham on Thursday).
I don't want to sound like a "gunner" who never gets there (oops too late), so thanks for that Gordon and I'll keep it in mind.
And thanks everyone for the welcomes.
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nightowlaus
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| posted on 27/4/2010 at 14:40 |
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Welcome aboard Michael,
Snowy here, been off the forum for over a week as just returned from Shanghai. Has anyone told you that you can win a brand new scooter at the
Daylesford National in October? Stay tuned for more info.
We here at the Crusaders have contacts in India that we know sell decent renovated scooters with brand new engines, so don't start off again with
something dodgey that will see you needing to immediately run off to a scooter mechanic and get the bad news you have bought something that will need
more spending on it, than you paid for it.
Lot's of good info in here gained from hard earned experience regarding who to buy from and who to avoid.
Welcome aboard and happy scootering in the near future.
Regards
Steve "Snowy" Bardsley
Keep on keepin on......
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barra_63
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| posted on 27/4/2010 at 15:36 |
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Gordon, are those back wheels standard?
[Edited on 27-4-2010 by barra_63]
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hootsmon0204
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| posted on 27/4/2010 at 15:40 |
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| Quote: | Originally posted by barra_63
Gordon, are those back wheels standard?
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Optional extra Billy. Acceleration is awesome but top speed is shit
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barra_63
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| posted on 27/4/2010 at 16:04 |
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Do they come in a whitewall?
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tonyscerri
Posting Freak
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Location: Third rock from the sun.
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| posted on 27/4/2010 at 18:51 |
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Maybe not a whitewall.....but they DO look tubeless!
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