Kissell Motorsports
Arriving at your local motorcycle and scooter dealership, in my case Kissell Motorsports, I can be in one of two distinctly different frames of mind – the bliss of fantasy or the anxiety of the technician’s verdict. The yin and yan of the two-wheeled life for those of us who are not committed wrench turners.
So begins the story…
Confessions of Vespa Abuse
Reflecting on my poor scooter – nameless, subjected to indecent conditions, ridden hard and put away wet – is it any wonder it doesn’t feel well? I don’t care for machines very well. My friend Paul commented over the weekend that my van is the dirtiest vehicle he’s ever been in. (He must lead a sheltered life – my van seems spotless compared to many vehicles I ridden in.)
Regardless, I confess to abusing the Vespa through neglect and indifference using it only for my own selfish, personal pleasure. In return I offer the minimum of care – fuel, lubricants, and the occasional bath. The Vespa has held up remarkably well considering nearly ten years of hard use.
Still, I approached the service department with a sense of dread.
The Verdict
With the help of the kind community of Vesparados on ModernVespa.com I had tracked down why my engine warning light was coming on under power. A quick voltage test at the battery revealed a failed voltage regulator. Echoing deep in my subconscious was a nasty voice telling me, “there’s more son, you need to spend your money on something…”.
As I thought about the cost of repairing my aging scooter I began to wonder if it would be better to buy a new one.
Madness. I know.
“Imagination is the only weapon in the war against reality.”
As the Cheshire Cat said in Alice in Wonderland, I found imagining life with the Triumph Street Twin helped await the verdict on my scooter. The funny thing about imagination — it’s fickle. Before long I was riding a Triumph Scrambler, then a Ducati Scrambler. I even imagined a few miles on a URAL. It was about then I heard the call from the service desk.
One thing is for certain. When I think something needs fixed I’m usually right. And it’s usually far more than I anticipated.
My 2006 Vespa GTS 250ie is sitting quietly at Kissell Motorsports awaiting required Vespa maintenance. I was right about the voltage regulator.
And then some. But that’s a story for another day.
Now there might be a reason why your last battery didn’t last very long. Overcharging?
I suspect that it did kill the battery. Hopefully I’ve intervened before destroying the new battery.
Please do not leave me like this,awaiting the results and the outcome !!
Sorry. I was going for literary tension!
Here’s my verdict, to ease the suspense.
Nothing major wrong that four to five hundred well-spent dollars won’t fix:
1. New voltage regulator;
2. New belt;
3. New rollers and maybe those guides next to the rollers;
4. New spark plug; and
5. New fluids.
That said, maybe spoil your Vespa with a new variator and it will spoil you by purring like a brand new Vespa (minus ABS, traction control, and the new no-wobble front suspension, of course).
If you can ride it to the service location, it’s not time yet!
Hmmmm. Sitting here this Friday morning April 29, 2016 with the outside climate feeling and looking more like late February. My fresh dandelion tea (yes those leaves and flowers have appeared) is steeping and your latest missive appears.
The phrase “if you’re not good to yourself
(or to yor two-wheeled conveyance) who will be?
Until the frame or what passes as a frame on the Vespa disintegrates best repair what you own; it is usually less expensive than new. And you probably should treat yourself before you might retire from your employment, if you wish; with a newer machine. Keep in mind Steve, new safety or otherwise devices may add to the cost of maintenace ie that ABS equipped Vespa.
Pricey. Martha and I put away money every month for eventual vehicle repairs and such. Her car is pricey to fix as well and I lack ambition to do it myself even on the simpler tasks.
Rollers? related to the belt being replaced?
I am curious how many miles you have stacked up in 10 years? My scoot is in the garage rear hanging from the garage rafters & CVT removed. The parts need to make necessary repairs are around $1500. If I get another 5 years and 47,000 miles of service I will be happy. I don’t have the side effects of living in snow & ice to contend with.
When I had my Riva I had to redo the top end. The Burgman being water cooled by the time that needs to be done I will probably be looking for something new.
In ten years I have ridden two scooters — 13K on the LX150 and 32K on the Vespa GTS. I’m sure I can easily double the miles on the GTS. It’s always a dilemma when it comes to expensive — when to repair, when to move on. For me repair still seems reasonable. Hope I’m right!
My addiction to motorcycles began with a Triumph twin.
After 50 plus years and 36 machines of various ilk…Triumph again has tickled that special place in my soul.
Their marketing department and development guys know there are more just like me.
Be careful…or part of your service trip may include a well orchestrated walletectomy.
Dreaming is free…imagination too.
I’ve had more than a few dreams about Triumph motorcycles. So far they have remained dreams…
Well, I won’t tell you that new GTS’ aren’t nice – I certainly love mine – but I had a hell of a time finding a decent used one. And buying this one certainly left me feeling a bit knock-kneed, financially speaking. The difficulty finding a clean used one tells me that people don’t easily let go of ’em unless they wreck ’em (hence the surfeit of salvage-title examples on craigslist et al). Don’t know how many miles you’ve put on yours, but over on MV I’ve read of people putting well in excess of 40,000 miles on theirs, so they seem not too easy to kill.
That being said, it’s just a bit past time for me to bring the bike in for its first scheduled once-over at the dealer. Deciding whether to do this before or after Road Test #2. Will sort this out after the weekend.
Other than the fuel pump most of my issues with the GTS have been wear related. But as you know, or will find out, there are lots of little things that wear faster on a scooter than a motorcycle. Tires, drive belts… But I like the scooter enough to keep going.
Good luck on your road test.
Hi Steve. I really enjoy reading your blog. I have a good friend in State College who is also a photographer. It would be great to get together sometime on one of my visits to see him. / I just picked up my 2012 GTS after it was in the shop for the past 4 months. Long story, but I am working on a post for Modern Vespa. My screen name there is Blackguard and I hope to have it up in the next day or two. And a question about your riding jacket. Make and model? Thanks, Jon
Drop me a note if you are in town. Always good to meet other riders.
I’ll check for your post on Modern Vespa. My jacket is a First Gear Kilimanjaro. It’s been exceptional and I use it when riding from about 75F to -15F. Great jacket. Here’s a link to my first reactions with it.