My first Italian scooter-a P200E model Vespa !
Written: Aug 09 '00
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: the most plentiful Vespa, great power, easy to refurbish, fun to ride
Cons: generally not considered the most desirable Vespa model, often referred to as a "moped"
|
|
|
| mattgordon's Full Review: 1977 to 1981 Vespa P200E |
My first Italian scooter, like so many other folks', is a Vespa P200E. The P200E is Vespa's most powerful, largest and most available / affordable model you'll encounter today. I purchased mine in 1998, it's a 1978 model, and I consider it the pinnacle of my "scootering" career. I have owned other scooters of Japanese manufacture, but the Vespa personifies the scooter, and in fact is the benchmark of all scooterdom since the very early 1950's. The one to be like…. I've not found anything with the flair, personality, and thrill of the Vespa scooter. That's not to say there aren't great scooters available from other manufacturer's, but only a Vespa, is a Vespa!
I love the power, comfort, and "curb appeal" of this scooter. It's great for 2-up riding, and the P200E pulls readily to nearly 60 miles per hour in stock condition. Not bad for a 22 year-old machine. It's a classic, the two-wheeled equivalent to the Volkswagen Beetle. The ultimate convertible.
Like other Vespas which must be found on the used (sometimes ABUSED) market, mine was in a state of fairly complete unappreciation by it's former owner, but it ran well and I could see the potential of a good "refurbishment".
You will be hard-pressed to find a very nice, or "mint" conditioned scooter that has not been restored by someone, although Piaggio the manufacturer has been threatening to re-introduce newly manufactured Vespas into the US marketplace at any time. But as of this writing (Aug.2000) if you desire a Vespa, you'll buy someone else's cast-off and spend time and money loving it up into a condition that suits you, OR pay big bucks for a fully restored one….one that has been completely disassembled, repainted, replated, rebuilt, reupholstered, and made new or better than new. At a cost that is certainly higher than new too!
Clearly the route most will take, as I did, is to shop the local papers, internet, or local scooter clubs (yes, they DO exist…plenty of them) for a used scooter! The one's which are easiest to find for sale, are the least rare (or desirable) the P200E. Thankfully, this model is also the cheapest, most forgiving, and in my opinion the most fun to ride. (Note, I also have a totally restored 1973 Sprint….a much more beautiful machine, but not nearly as sporty to ride as my "P") Most examples you will encounter will indeed run, but will not typify the Italian dream machine you might desire.
They will usually shows signs of neglect, wear and tear, and age which cannot be ignored. They typically look "beat", but mechanically are not used up. Relax! With some easily performed "refurbishment" it can be transformed into a sleek, Italian road machine that can be ridden nearly every day with great reliability and pride ! Additionally, the refurbishment process can be done over time…..a few bucks here, an hour or so there. And you can ride your P200E in between parts of the process! Refurbishment is an ongoing process….it won't get done in one fell swoop.
So, if you've decided to take the plunge, and purchase that grimy, neglected old P200E…here's what you can expect to do as part of your refurbishment process.
Clean the 1 to 2 inch armor of oily dust that typically encases the engine using lots WD-40 to cut the stuff, a small putty knife, as well as some old toothbrushes. These engines are air-cooled, and with a Vespa engine, cleanliness is the key. I spent 3 days cleaning 20 years worth of oily road-grime of mine! I would do this first….it's the least pleasant, and will give you greater insight/ability to perform other maintenance tasks you'll need to do. Lay down on the floor, don't ignore the bottom, plan on getting grimy. When you think it's clean, spray some more WD-40 on it, and go after it some more. Nooks and crannies too. You'll notice the engines runs differently and sounds differently after you've cleaned it. Clean machinery runs better…it's a scientific fact ! Just ask any fireman.
Install, or have installed, a new sparkplug….the right one ordered from any of the 25 or so scootershops on the internet….not some lawnmower part from Rite-Aid! Check all fuel oil lines for integrity….check all the cables (there's plenty of them) for free action, no wear or fraying….install or have installed ALL new cables is great insurance if you can do or can afford it done. You won't be sorry to do this. Doing it yourself will teach you a ton about your new machine. Again…..buy the right ones from a Vespa shop. Cables control everything relating to it's mechanical operation, including the brakes…don't cheat yourself! Check all light bulbs and their operation….hi-lo beams, brake light, turn signal etc., replace what doesn't work. Check every fastener you can reach to make sure it's tight. Don't ignore the wheel lugs. These Vespas vibrate and stuff always works loose….so fastener checking is a regular ritual for me, as I ride mine 1500 miles a year. Install or have installed a new centerstand spring, and rubber feet….check tires for tread, cracking, and air pressure. If the seat is history, new pre-made factory covers install easily, and run about 40 bucks. Put some new foam in there too while you're at that….a whole new seat will cost about 125.-if you're feelin flush. Otherwise, the seats refurbish quite nicely.
A nice can of mild rubbing compound, some good car wax, some clean towels and a couple of evenings or a Saturday afternoon will typically clean-up and shine up a factory paint job to presentable to very good condition…you'll be surprised. There's usually treasure under the oxidation, old stickers, and petrified insects you'll find on the paint of your "new" P200E. Take it slow with the rubbing compound though…that's 20 year old paint ! Some people maintain there paint after this initial cleaning with Lemon Pledge furniture stuff, and swear by it! I don't, I use good car stuff. You'll love looking at it as much as riding it….I do. So shine it up.
As you ride your machine around, you'll appreciate that reliability, which will increase as you continue to add fun miles to the clock. Eventually you'll rebuild or have rebuilt the caburetor…it'll cost you about 10 bucks to do yourself, or maybe 50 to have done at a shop.
You'll love the new power this will provide. Gas tends to gunk-up in time, these P's have a lot of time under their belt. Low mileage means very little when talking about the fuel system. A carb rebuild makes a big difference.
The brakes will undoubtedly be the subject of your further scrutiny as you venture out for more rides. Much of the time, some careful adjustment to them makes a huge difference. Cables and adjustments are usually required before new brake shoes are….just make sure they work well !
Also, as you add smiles, er…miles to your P200E, you'll want to replace, change, update things. Have at it. You'll have a ton of fun, and an alternative form of transportation which is economical. Some new mirrors, a performance exhaust, perhaps a luggage rack or two….make it yours. Just keep it safe, and ride it responsibly.
Invest in a Haynes manual for this machine, support the scootering shops across the nation. They've got the right parts and supplies, great advice, and passion for Vespas.
If, after some time with your P you're anything like me, you'll come to dislike a couple of things about owning one. You'll get real tired, real fast of some knucklehead calling your little Italian dream machine a "moped". It's not, it's a piece of transportation history. And, you'll dislike the "spell" this little two-wheeled mistress has placed on you. Your newfound inability to concentrate on nice days while you're at work or at school ! Ciao !
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
mattgordon
|
 - Top 1000 |
|
Member: Matt Gordon
Location: California
Reviews written: 85
Trusted by: 23 members
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.