Congratulations on the purchase of your restored Vespa motor scooter.
For those of you not familiar with Vintage Vespas it is very important to read and understand this completely.
1.Fill the tank with fuel using a mixture of 3 - 4% oil (OPTI – 2 is recommended, find it at http://www.opti2-4.com/) during the break-in period.
2. Make sure the scooter is on the stand in NEUTRAL
3.Turn on the ignition with the KEY to the red dot (on position)
4.Turn the fuel tap lever to the on position...straight up....while you are sitting on the scooter the fuel tap is in the off position when it is in the 9 O'clock position facing to the left(clutch side). It is in the Reserve position when facing your right side at 3 O' Clock ( hand brake side)
5. Pull out the choke if the engine is cold. Kick to start and when started push in the choke and apply some throttle with you right hand.
6. To stop the engine push the KILL button and return the fuel tap lever to the OFF position which will be toward your left ( Clutch Side).It is important to always shut off the gas while not operating the scooter.
You MUST remember you are riding a 40 year old machine with a 2 stroke engine at all times and it is important to break the rebuilt engine in slowly. We recommend no more than half throttle through all the gears including fourth( for you speedsters) for the first 1000 KM . If the engine does over heat it will stop but will start again when cooled down for a minute or two. If you are riding the scooter and this happens just pull in on the clutch and coast to a stop. Let the engine cool for a few minutes and start again. Keep your speed down during the BREAK-IN Period.
THE PRE- RIDE INSPECTION
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Pre-ride inspections help ensure a trouble free ride and provide confidence that your scooter will respond properly. A pre-ride inspection of the scooter should be routine and automatic before heading out for a ride.It is quick and easy to check the crucial components.A pre-ride inspection should not take more than a few minutes. If done every ride,it can help you identify changes before they become a problem.
We recommend you do a safety check before riding your scooter. Check the brakes and make sure both are functioning. You can adjust them with a cable puller and an 8 mm open ended wrench.Because of vibration caused by the engine it is important to check the nuts that secure the rim to the hub. You will find acorn style lug nuts on the wheel. Tighten them with a 14mm socket. You will want to make sure they are all tight. You also must learn to remove the hub caps and inspect the large nut that secures the wheel in place. Some older models have cotter pins to secure the wheel in the event that bolt loosens but some models do not use cotter pins and therfore it is IMPORTANT to inspect and secure the bolt. You can tighten the large nut using a 22mm socket and tighten as tight as you can make it. This should be inspected often to guarantee your safety.
Check the front fork of you scooter and make sure it is tight. You can do this by holding the wheel in one position and turning the handle bars as far as you can to the left and to the right. Put pressure on the handle bars in both directions and make sure the handle bar stops at the appropriate position. You do not want the handle bar to be able to swing past where it would normally stop.
Check the tires for pressure and wear while looking for cracks in the rubber.
Check to make sure the controls function properly. Press in on brake and clutch levers and the foot brake. Make sure the kill switch is functioning and that the horn and lights are working.
Check fluid levels and check for any leaks.
Check the chassis of the scooter visually for cracks.
For those of you who have ridden old motorcycles this is routine but for NEW OWNERS this should be learned and practiced regularly.
Be careful while riding in traffic and remember you might have the right of way but cars and trucks are much larger and you should yield to them. Remember your scooter has no turn signals. It is important to familiarize yourself with local laws and USE HAND SIGNALS while riding.When at all possible make eye contact with the drivers around you when you come to a stop at a stop sign or light. You will also want to be careful while riding on dirt, sand or gravel as it is easy to slide your front wheel.If you do run out of gas while riding don't forget to put the fuel tap in the reserve position and get some gas for your ride home.
Routine maintenance goes beyond a pre-ride inspection. Wear and tear is a normal part of driving any motor vehicle and routine maintenance will help prevent costly repairs and help ensure your safety. REMEMBER , a mechanical failure caused by neglect in an automobile may be only an inconvenience. The same failure on a scooter may result in injury.
In most states a motorcycle endorsement on your license is required for scooters over 50 CCs. Your scooter is 150CC and you will need to meet state requirements. WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND EVERY RIDER TAKE THE MOTORCYCLE RIDER TRAINING COURSE. |
