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-   -   My Vespa LX 125 "Yellow Wasp" - Italian Art In Motion (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/motorbikes/122003-my-vespa-lx-125-yellow-wasp-italian-art-motion-13.html)

Thanks for your appreciation.
Im afraid the next launches of Piaggio donot have MP3, in line are LX 150cc and Piaggio Fly towards this year end.

My Vespa with the white wall inserts. My sincere thanks to Hillram sir for guiding me on the purchase and fitment of the same. Thank you Sir.

simply aweosme. You Vespa looks wonderful in those white wall inserts.

Love the white
@Hillram - could you please let me know where I could buy one for mine too?

BTW, any recommendations on where to buy accessories for the Vespa in Bangalore? Looking at footmat, seat cover, matte black crash bars.

Went to JC road but the row of shops opposite the multi-level parking seemed to be permanently closed. Thirumala said no to a mere Vespa. Others looked shady & hence looking for recommendations.

I live in HSR. Thanks in advance.

You can procure white wall inserts from the below link :
http://classifieds.team-bhp.com/buy-...-Inserts.html/

I suggest not to look for after market accessories for Vespa LX125. Make some nice Italian themed decals like a Flag or Wasp. You will find lot of ideas of the net.

Thanks hillman.
The reasons I am looking at after market for the crash bar particularly are
1. No matte black. Vespa only has chrome
2. Company design kills the standard foot rest
3. Cost

You can always get the chrome wrapped in any color from 3M or other shops.

I own a Vespa and one this that really gets to me is the rear view mirror. It keeps getting loose. Even the service centre guy said it's one of the most common problem with the 2013 Vespas. He asked me to remove them which I won't. Anyone else facinf the same issue? Is there any alternative?

This is really strange as I never had any problem with rear view mirrors.I have been riding LX125 for 4 years now, not even once did they get loose.

@Vespa owners.

I had got a Vespa VX April 2015 after a lot of research. Picked it up after contemplating between Wego, Activa 125 and Vespa.

Being a proud owner of another Italian beauty the Fiat Punto I gave in to the Italian charm of Vespa.

I had absolutely no regrets buying it as I did so after a lot of consideration. I have been driving/riding for more than 25 years now starting right from a bicycle and slowly graduating up to scooter, bikes, cars, SUVs etc.

Irrespective of what I drive or ride I do not push a vehicle to it limits until I know what it is capable of. Most Moto scooters have puny 10 inch tires except for Wego/Jupiter. Activa 125 and new Vespas have the slightly bigger front tires. The new Vespas have fatter tires as well.

The only thing I had in my mind while getting the Vespa was that I found Wego slightly better balanced during braking due to larger tires. My first ride on the Vespa and front wheel locked up during barking and it slipped. I balanced it somehow and since then there has been not been a single instance of slipping as I was able to learn and modulate Vespas braking.

But it’s been more than a year and both my wife and father (primary users) keep complaining of slipping every now and then. My wife has been involved in few small incidents where vehicles have hit her due to sudden braking, wheels locking up/slipping.

With 11 K on the odo and tires getting older I am getting worried more and more now. Initially I had thought she would get used to the braking and handling characteristics of the scooter. So either that has not happened or it’s actually a problem which I have somehow been able to overcome.

She is not a sedate driver and neither is a newbie. She has been driving for more than 20 years and drives our Punto pretty well. She has driven bigger vehicles as well.

Is it a known problem with Vespas? What's the solution - Any better gripping tires?
Changing the tires set up as per new Vespas (cost around 15 K).

If not I have even contemplated changing to better tires to see if the problems go away.
If not I am contemplating getting a second car (like Nano or Tiago) and selling off the Vespa.

No point waiting for disaster to happen. Father is getting older and don't want him to get injured at this age.

Do not want to let go off the Vespa as well as I have never faced any issue at all and like it a lot for the convenience it provides along with being more fun than any other 100/125 cc bikes.

Nibedk bro. Even I own a Vespa and a Punto. My Vespa S has just crossed 10k. I haven't faced these issues per se. But, what I know is that scooters are always at risk of skidding under hard braking, specially in monsoons, thanks to their small tyres. It took me some days to understand it's braking and on dry roads I have never felt any skidding but yes one needs to be careful during wet conditions. The disc brake is quite powerful, but I guess one needs to learn to apply them gradually and both the brakes (front and rear) need to be applied simultaneously.

There aren't many tyre options in the scooter but I read Michelin entered the scooter market recently, so you can check.

I'm about to order these white walls for our Matte black Vespa S 125 and White VX125

I just want to know how it performs in the real world. The vehicle will be used for 1000Kms per month.
I understand that we have to keep the tyre pressure on the higher side, but I also want to know how well it sticks on to the surface of the tyre.

I want it to look as though it is a part of the tyre and not an attachment.
I read in another forum that it is only good for display and flaps around while running, giving it a wobbly feel.

Hopefully you people who have it for some time would be able to throw more light on it.

I dont recommend if you are going to cover 1000kms per month.
These are white wall inserts, which means:
- They are inserted into the rim and are a mere wrap around the tyre.
- They do not stick to the tyre, you will notice space between Tyre surface and White wall insert.
- Since they donot stick to the tyre surface, they go out of shape gradually and will develop tearing from outer side of the White wall Insert.
- They will gradually blacken in colour and become dirty.

I did not notice any wobbling while riding with these inserts.

@hillram: I've been reading your posts on the Vespas that you own and I wanted to say just how in-awe I am with the vehicles that you have. You really do have an eye for classic vehicles and more so for restoration. Keep it going! I absolutely fell in love with them recently when I accompanied a colleague to the Piaggio showroom to have a look at the new Aprillia. I honestly didn't even bother looking at that once I saw the retro scooters.

I wanted to get your advice/suggestions on a 1983 (I think) LML Vespa that my uncle in Hyderabad owns. He's the first owner and was using it everyday till about 2006. But after that, it's sort of fallen into disrepair.

He's keen on restoring it to its original (as much as possible) shape and ride again on the weekends. Would you be able to recommend a good place to do this or how to go about it?

I can inbox some pics for reference if you'd like. Thanks

Hi Hillram,

Taking it for granted after seeing your collection that you are the expert on Vespa's on the forum.

I am having a couple of issues with my 2012 Vespa LX125 (also yellow) in Goa.
If I leave the scooter unused for a couple of weeks, I always disconnect the battery. However, when I get back and try to start it, it takes ages even with alternating between kick starter and self start. The battery (Amaron) is relatively new.
Once it starts and I take it for a short spin (1 to 2 Kms) there is no more starting problem. What could be the issue here?

The digital clock also refuses to come on but after a few days it springs back into life. However, it is very dim and almost impossible to read at night.

Even though I had just replaced the front brake pads, after leaving the scooter for a month they were completely seized up. Had to get a mechanic to the house to sort this out. Side stand and centre stand were also seized up. A real pain.

My neighbour has a 10 year old TVS Scooty and when he comes back after a month or more it starts perfectly and has no problems at all.

Your inputs would be appreciated.

Regards,
SS