Scooters in my blood - project X

[Vespa]

Hello all,

I've been into scooters nearly all my life. My current (and sadly only) ride is a 1980 Vespa P200e that I've had for 18 years now.

My next scooter will sprout from a Vespa VBB frame that I want to put a rotax 125cc (type 122, 30 horse) motor in. I've seen the Germans and Italians do it but thought I'd start here since it seems that kart people love the Rotax line.

So I'm looking for that motor. Does anybody know where I can get one that is complete, hopefully running? It doesn't have to be perfect but I'd like to keep the work on it to a minimum so I can have a running bike next year.

Also, can anybody give me any ideas on how to mount it and set up the driveline? I have a welder friend locally.

Thanks!

 

[Vespa]

This is the general idea:

http://www.lambrettainnovation.co.uk/view_page.php?pid=23

Okay, the Brits have done it too (several years ago w/ that one). I'm going to have more space to work with under the rear cowl area. I see he's using only one gear. That doesn't seem optimal. I think I've seen high performance karts that only use two. I'd be thrilled with four and I think the Rotax motors come with 6 which would be even better as long as the ratios worked.

I think this is the youtube of the finished bike on the road:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEgXSXvKFt8

My goal is to have a scooter that will accelerate like a small sport bike but have a med. range cruising speed of 75 mph (max legal limit here..ya I would NEVER go over the speed limit).

 

[Vespa]

Sorry, should have posted this in the last one:

http://www.lambrettainnovation.co.uk/view_page.php?pid=197

That one uses gears but has the luxury of room under the seat to do thing with a Lambretta.

 

[Bluethunder3320]

cool, welcome to diy.

you will need to create your own motor mounts for an engine that isnt made for the frame. another thing you will want to calculate is the gear ratios. you dont want it to go 20mph then again 200mph.

http://www.grimmjeeper.com/gears.html

the drive sprocket will need to fit the same chain as the sprocket on your rear tire. also, you will need to wire it up, such as throttle cable, kill switch, blinkers, head light, etc.....

 

[Walter Keller]

Super Scooter

I guess I should have know they would hop-up a scooter - seems kinda scary at those speeds

 

[Vespa]

@Walter Keller: Actually 70 mph isn't that bad once you're used to it. I've been up to 80 and that's where it starts to get weird. Modern Vespas have at least 12" wheels so they are more stable at high speeds versus 10" like the P-series Vespas.

Believe it or not, you can get racing tires for old Vespas. Visit the (German w/ English) S.I.P. scooter shop site and you'll see how crazy people get when it comes to racing out old Vespas.

100 mph Vespas have been around a long time. I could go the route of beefing up a stock Vespa motor (jet ski water cooled barrel , full circle crank, reed valve, custom water cooled head, re-inforcing back of case, yadda yadda) but I think I'd wind up spending at least as much if not more than the Rotax and the 'Type 122' 125cc motor was made to be insane the day it left the factory.

 

[sideways]

I knew a guy who modified vespa scooters. He'd modify the CVT so that'd sit on power band and the CVT would do the rest. He would mod the crap out of the motors too, he said you could have them with a 90mile top speed and they would still be pretty street-able but over that they weren't really any good for the road. I can't remember what he did to the motors but he made all his own parts and stuff. He said he was doing all this in the 1980s so yeah. I was pretty impressed.

It's an awesome project you've got there, I'l certainly be keeping an eye on this one!

Thanks

Hayden

 

[Bluethunder3320]

think about being that low to the ground at 100 mph. wow. you gotta really be careful. also you gotta watch them bearings.