70th Anniversary Woes...

[polmac]

Hi there.


In August 2016 I moved from Scotland to Spain. I decided to buy my first scooter as the weather was so much better. In November I bought a beautiful new Vespa px125 70th anniversary edition from Vespa Málaga.

In May 2017, having done around 700km, it developed a fault and the oil pump was replaced under warranty. I appreciate that these things sometimes happen.

Last week, at around 850km, I went for a ride with some friends. After about 30 minutes of moderate riding (I was taking it easy prior to reaching 1000km as the manual suggests), the rubber pipe leading from the exhaust back to the engine started melting.

Further into or trip, the pipe completely severed. When I removed the side panel, I saw that the plastic and rubber parts of the whole exhaust system had melted, and the electrical wiring had almost burned through.

A roadside repair was made and I managed to return to a friend's house.
As I do not speak Spanish very well, my friend took my Vespa to the local dealer, the following morning.

He was told by the technician that this model, due to the set-up of the exhaust system and the need to comply with CO2 emissions, overheats at higher speeds, particularly on longer journeys. My friend believes that I was lucky that the Vespa did not catch fire.

The technician offered two options for me:

1. That the bike is repaired (under warranty I believe) to the original specification, however it is likely to suffer the same problem in the future if ridden at higher speeds on a longer journey.

2. A new, after-market exhaust is fitted, at my expense, which would bypass the system currently on the bike. However, when the ITV (vehicle inspection) is due in 4 years, and every subsequent year, I would have to re-fit the original exhaust system.

The garage informed me tonight that they are awaiting parts to repair it. I have asked them at what speed and for how long I can safely ride the bike before the exhaust melts and possibly catches fire. They haven't yet responded.

I've done an internet search but cannot find any other information of it happening to other owners. So I thought I'd join this forum in the hope that I obtain some advice or info on what I should do about it. I'm considering contacting Piaggio directly, as I really don't feel that the local dealers are, erm, dealing with it correctly.

[RWS74]

Hi Polmac, I’ve not heard of similar occurrences before.
There are other causes of overheating which some of the guys will have better experience of including incorrect spark plug/carb set up/timing etc.

Hope you get it resolved.

[ironsloth]

I'm guessing they have got extra parts on them to meet their own MOT type of thing. Piaggio are way too big to listen to one guys problems, you will be passed from pillar to post until you go away. Get it fixed under warranty, back to standard, then either carry on until you can change it without affecting warranty or sell it. Having an aftermarket exhaust on is fine, but it will give the garage a huge one against any other problems you may have in the future. See if you can get them to make Piaggio approved modifications, there will be some.

[henri]

not heard of this in this country ,but being from glasgow you'll appreciate it aint so hot over here .an most owners over here swap the piaggio exhaust for a better one .an keep original one to stick back on for services to avoid voiding there warranty .
i'd suggest you do the same , a sip road 2 exhaust an increase in main jet is a simple upgrade an makes the scooter more pleasant to ride .an as others suggest have the garage check the carb an timing .as part of the pre-delivery inspection my local dealer does this as standard ,most dont ,an regrettably he often has to correct faults .
for the pipe to melt there must of been a fair bit of heat ,my understanding of the semi-catalytic exhausts is the pipe allows a small amount of fuel/air mix into exhaust to complete the burn of hydrocarbons in exhaust gas .least thats what haynes says on the auto's with similar exhausts .theres a one way valve at carb end so exhaust gases arent drawn into the engine ,i'm guessing but if this was faulty it would draw exhaust up the pipe an make engine run lean/hot .an get pipe hot enough to melt ,just a guess tho . H

[polmac]

Thanks for your comments. The latest is that the local dealer has contacted the main dealer in Málaga where I bought it from, and are awaiting the parts from them to fix it. I have asked them if the same thing is likely to happen, and at what speed I can safely ride and for how long, before it melts again and possibly catches fire. I've had no response yet.
I reckon I'll upgrade as suggested, and switch back when the MOT (ITV in Spain) is due. Hopefully this is something I can do myself! I'll also get them to check the carb thing.
I wouldn't be so bothered if they acknowledged that the bike's faulty, and simply fix it. But what they seem to be saying is "that's just the way it's designed and how the exhaust works, so if you ride for, say over 30minutes, and faster than, say 60kmph, (because we're not exactly sure what the safe limits are), the exhaust and electrical wiring will probably melt and possibly catch fire".
I'll still contact Piaggio I think, but I'm not too hopeful of a positive outcome.

[henri]

not fit for use , thats the consumer protection in uk , spains EU so should be the same .contact main dealer an piaggio an say same ,threaten law an total recall of all similar equiped vehicles an i bet suddenly the problems fixed . H

[kipper]

Very very sad that you've had this experience with your first scooter. We all know that they are not the most reliable mode of transport at times but this is still just not acceptable. I would definitely contact Piaggio, what harm can it do? You do need to get some guarantees that this will not continue to happen.
What happens once the warranty has run out?
Good luck with it though.

[ianmartin40]

As soon as the warranty runs out it would surely be an aftermarket exhaust with a bit more oomph, keeping the original one for MOT test if required.
Ian

[polmac]

Ok, so I've had a response from the local dealer who are doing the repairs, which I've copied exactly as below:

"Buenos días.
Spanish: Después de instalar las nuevas piezas, probablemente le vuelva a suceder lo mismo si realiza viajes de larga distancia o exige sobrecalentamiento a la moto, ya que quizás no esté preparada para ese tipo de uso.
English: After installation of new parts, its probably that you'll have the same problem because this type of motorbike its not ready for travels or big distances with the new system of euro4. I can ask to Piaggio Málaga if we can get any solution to this problem.
Regards."

That seems to confirm what I believed, that it's a case of tough luck, there's no fault with the bike, that's how it's designed. The term "not fit for purpose" springs to mind.

I did send Vespa an email on Monday, but no response yet.

[ironsloth]

Keep on Piaggios case, don't let it get swept under the carpet. Is there a form of trading standards over there? Having said that, the EU trade descriptions act "should" be the same there, as it is over here (for the moment until Brexit actually happens.... 😁)....

[phattanglo]

No fault with the bike, that's how it's designed!
What? designed in unfitness for purpose
It beggars belief that manufacturers are able to get away with this crap.
Personally I would be keeping all the Euro4 bits to refit for the MOT and running a decent exhaust the rest of the time.
If everything else is standard PX, an exhaust and maybe a couple of carb jets should have you up and running in no time.
The lads on here will know what you need.

[polmac]

Yes, buying a decent exhaust and re-fitting the original at MOT time seems the better option at the moment (as suggested by previous posters), Seems a bit daunting though, will probably have to pay someone to do it!
I'm just amazed at the shop's attitude though.
I fired back an email to them asking, specifically, how long can I safely ride before the plastic and rubber parts melt, bearing in mind it started after around 18kms/30 minutes of moderate riding (with a half-hour break after 15 minutes!).
I'll see how the whole business pans out, but I may have to contact the "Instituto Nacional de Consumo", who seem to be the equivalent of Trading Standards.

[polmac]

Yes, buying a decent exhaust and re-fitting the original at MOT time seems the better option at the moment (as suggested by previous posters), Seems a bit daunting though, will probably have to pay someone to do it!
I'm just amazed at the shop's attitude though.
I fired back an email to them asking, specifically, how long can I safely ride before the plastic and rubber parts melt, bearing in mind it started after around 18kms/30 minutes of moderate riding (with a half-hour break after 15 minutes!).
I'll see how the whole business pans out, but I may have to contact the "Instituto Nacional de Consumo", who seem to be the equivalent of Trading Standards.

[phattanglo]

Polmac, it can seem daunting to take on a bit of diy spannering but the PX is very simple to work on and changing the exhaust is a good place to start.
You don't need many tools and if all the parts unscrew freely you could have it done in less than an hour.
Fixing stuff on your own scoot I think is very rewarding and adds to the whole scoot experience.
I don't mean to teach anyone how to suck eggs but I'd be happy to run through my way of doing it if it helps.
Kev.

[polmac]

Thank you Kev, I may get back to you about that, I'll need to see how this scenario pans out first. But yes, being able to fix things myself would give me great satisfaction.

[george1966]

Hi guys a little confused i was told the px t-stroke couldn't be brought up to euro 4? and the garages comment

" After installation of new parts, its probably that you'll have the same problem because this type of motorbike its not ready for travels or big distances with the new system of euro4."

Is a complete joke !!!!!!!!!!!everything sold in the eu has to be fit for purpose,no way vespa just dumped the bike on the market a fire hazard something is wrong with either the components used or its first shakedown,my first new red vespa had a bubble in the casting leaked oil after 10 miles !! but the shop were great offered me a repair new engine or a new bike , they only had white so white she is 6000km later not missed a beat and smooth bog standard euro 3