Comments on: Spring Vespa Tune-Up

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Fri, 08 May 2020 03:30:55 +0000

I’ve never had the valves checked on my scooter. Twice I requested that service be done and both times the technicians said not to do it unless I was having some problem. I’ve heard the same from a small handful of BMW mechanics concerning valve adjustments for the K75.

Just put a new battery in the scooter a couple months ago. Have had a Tender now for a long time. Essential for through the winter riding.

I’ve been lucky that almost all my service needs on the scooter have been wear related. As I pile up the miles though I have begun to wonder when the major engine problems will surface. I’ve already started to squirrel away cash for my next machine.

Safe. I don’t even know what that means in regard to the pandemic. Everyone seems anxious to get things open and moving again but it seems to me we are in worse shape today than we were 8 weeks ago. At least in terms of how many people may be out there with the virus. Some seem to think it will magically go away. Sadly for me, I don’t believe in magic.

So like you say, regardless of what the government decides, it behooves each of us to use our heads.

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Fri, 08 May 2020 03:24:27 +0000

In reply to David Eakin. The brake fluid was last changed two or three years ago. I'll have to call the dealer to get the exact date from their records. Some coolant arrived today from ScooterWest so I'll be changing that right away.

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Fri, 08 May 2020 03:22:37 +0000

In reply to Laurent.. A package arrived today containing more French oil and some French coolant for the Vespa as well! Un colis est arrivé aujourd'hui contenant plus d'huile française et du liquide de refroidissement français pour la Vespa également!

By: amateriat

amateriat — Sat, 02 May 2020 02:29:47 +0000

Somehow, just before the Great Global Unpleasantness, I managed to book an appointment for Melody at my local dealer (different, and considerably nicer, than the now-defunct dealer I bought the bike from in late 2015). Since this was the 12k service, I had them drop the engine to check the valves (probably the only real Achilles’ heel of the Vespa’s overall design), which led to a rather hefty tab by the time they were through. But, they also installed a new battery (necessary) anda handy battery charging/tender harness, and fixed a sticking brake-light switch, along with all the usual service stuff, including flushing and replacing all vital fluids. Te timing of this (late-February) worked out well, since I’d already started riding straight into NYC for my tech gigs, initially to cut my travel time in half compared to doing the park-n-ride routine, but later on account of COVID-19 paranoia in terms of taking public transit; my last trip into Gotham was March 18th, when the city was already close to lockdown status (and the streets around Lincoln Center, where my last client visit was, looked like a ghost town in mid-afternoon…which literally never happens there.

SInce then, all my rides have been relatively short: I’ve had lots of calls from NYC clients about when I’ll be back in town: I always say “call the Mayor and give him my number, he can tell me when it’s safe.” I’m as frustrated as they are, but also need to use my head right now, as do we all.

By: David Eakin

David Eakin — Fri, 01 May 2020 19:36:36 +0000

When was the break fluid changed? It absorbs water out of the atmosphere and can corrode internal workings of both the master cylinder and calipers.

By: Laurent.

Laurent. — Fri, 01 May 2020 11:57:06 +0000

He ! It’s a French Oil !!!

Hé ! C’est de l’huile Française !!!

Laurent.