Backrests ...

[Devo McDuff]

I'm about to commence with project 'Make me Vespa look mint' and as part of that I want to get a back rack. I really like the style of the one in the link below (not sure how to embed it in the post, I nicked the image link from another thread), have seen them on other scoots but am struggling to find them.



Have got a couple of questions (as always!). Is it called a flip over? The only place I've seen anything similar is beedspeed.com/vespa-backrest-flip-over-chrome-px-pe-t5-classic-p-4758.html. Anyone any idea where best to get one and what is a decent price?

Also, are they pretty easy to fit?

Cheers in advance. Dan.

[Spence]

Yes mate they are called a flipover backrest, they were very popular in the 80s. Not that many places sell them now, and when they do crop up they usually go for around the £100 mark.

As for fitting them, I've never got close to one when the saddle was up, but I've fitted three different racks to three different scooters and they've all gone on in much the same way. Remove the seat post, position the rack over the hole, refit the seat post, attach the support struts to the bolts that hold the top of your number plate on.

With some racks, you have to get an extended seat post so that it still fits into the locking mechanism of the saddle, and you might have to adjust the two bolts holding the saddle hinge down. This is because fitting a rack under the seat post slightly alters the angle at which your saddle hits it, and it either doesn't lock in position, or it locks and then jams, which is a right bitch I can tell you.

I should see Bully on Saturday at Ginger's Egg Run (that's his scooter in the picture), so I'll ask him if I can have a good look at his seat. Er I mean examine his rack. Oh dear.

[Devo McDuff]

The only other place I've seen them online is Allstyles scooters and they are 100 notes on there. Reckon Beedspeed might be my best option, 88 quid.

Will order it and have a go at following your instructions (ta btw), gulp.

Hopefully my rack oggling experience will stand me in good stead Roll on pay day!

[Devo McDuff]

I bought the bugger and it's just arrived at work, very exciting. Though I've already taken to calling it the flippin' hell rack

It didn't come completely in the right state so after lots of flipping and huffing and puffing I think I have it right, apart from the fact that it looks like the back rest plate behind the S & M style cushion type thing looks like it is facing the wrong way to me. You can tell this by the studs facing the wrong way, I can switch that around easily enough by just putting the cushion bit on the the other way round but the plate is still facing away from the bike rather than towards the pillion's back ... so the pillion would be resting on lumpy bars rather than a soft plate, which doesn't seem right to me ... Not sure if I can swap it round, looks like it is secured with rivets (right term?) rather than normal screws. Sorry if none of this makes any sense!

These pictures might explain it better.

s178.photobucket.com/albums/w250/Devo-McDuff/Vespa%20Rack/

Before I get on to Beedspeed about it am I just being daft and have done somet wrong?

[Spence]

I'd say someone's got to lean on it with the lumpy bars mate. Surely when you flip it into the forward position the plate reverses, giving you the flat side to lean on?

[Devo McDuff]

If I flip it forward the plate then faces the way I'd expect (towards the pillion) but the bars are not right then i.e. the front bar with the 2 curved starting points runs through the top slots of the plate and the back bar through the bottom slots of the plate ... which is the opposite of what it should be I think. You can see this on your mate's scoot just about and a lot clearer here

Could do with seeing a pic of another one without the leather cushion on .... would know for sure straight away then.

Maybe it is supposed to be the lumpy bar side facing towards the pillion's back then, seems a very odd design though if it is. If it is that, then there is nowt up with it and I'm away .... like to be sure on these things though, am a perfectionist when I can be arsed!

Taking my bike into Mike Phoenix's later this aft to get those repairs done. Will ask his advice then. If he reckons the plate is on wrong I'll get on to the Beepspeed lot.

My Haynes manual turned up before. I'm enjoying all this lark :-)

[Spence]

My brain hurts.

[Devo McDuff]

Ha. Mine too.

Mike Phoenix reckoned it was on the wrong way too so I e-mailed Beedspeed and they have explained it to me to my satisfaction. Didn't realise it's also intended to be used facing the other way, just thought it's always supposed to be setup like the scoot in the pic. Just got to fit the bugger now when I get my bike back.

"It is the correct way.
As it is a flip over back rest it means it can be a backrest for the passenger or you can flip it for the driver.
When it's used for the driver it will be the plate against your back.
The plate is actually there to keep the bars in the right place, not for comfort.
That is what the cushion is for.
If you take the pad off and put it on the other way it will have more padding against the bars"

Which makes me now worry that my scooter is in the hands of a blagger for repairs ... only joking, he seemed very sound ... is nice to deal with someone who clearly cares about the scoots and is willing to help someone new to it all ... unlike places like Carole Nash and Philip Youles where it seems to be more about fleecing you.

[Devo McDuff]

Just had a go at fitting it now, good instructions Spence, cheers.

I think it is going to need an extended seat pillar, the seat won't close at the moment. There are 2 on Beedspeed, one being an extra long one, not sure which I will need so I'll drop them an e-mail and see what they reckon.

I've a couple of questions relating to these 2 pics and .... the first one shows that there are no holes for me to screw the backrest into underneath where the number plate sits, is this ok or do I need to get some drilled? It seemed sturdy and secure enough to me with just the seat pillar and the other 2 nuts screwed in underneath the seat. The other one shows where I have attached the rack, I'm wondering what the black thing is underneath the oil and petrol access points, had a quick flick through my Haynes but can't see it ... the thing with the encased wires running to another little point, presume it is something electrical? The reason I ask is that if I could attach the rack underneath the ecased wiring it would give another quarter inch or so which might mean the lock will reach the seat pillar properly.

Last question. what are these little buggers called? The things that attach the numberplate and L-plate (soon to be replaced with a 2 tone mudflap hopefully!) with screws Wouldn't mind swapping them for black ones, guess I can probably pick them up at any hardware store.

It's gonna look mint though when it's sorted

Rant over!

[Spence]

I see what you mean about the holes on the brackets not lining up with your number plate screw holes. It's up to you I suppose, but as it'll be covered up by the plate once it goes back on, for peace of mind I'd like the bracket securely attached even if it meant drilling two new holes. If you can hang fire on that one though, I'll ask Bully this week if he had to drill for his.

The 'electrical' thing you're asking about is the sender for your fuel guage.

And those little buggers, I don't know if they have a name. Usually when you buy a black on yellow reg plate you get a few of each because they don't know where your screws are going to have to go through, and having the wrong colour in the wrong place can make your plate illegal if it makes your letters/numbers look like something they aren't.

By that I mean like when you see some fairy in a BMW 3 Series with two 1s next to each other and a black screw cover in the middle of them to make them look like an H, that's illegal.

[Devo McDuff]

Yes, if you could ask your mate if he had to drill 'em ... that'd be grand. Ta.

Fuel gauge, that makes sense. Will look into seeing how easy (or unwise!) it is to disconnect.

[Devo McDuff]

Got the extended seat pillar and it now reaches fine but as you said it might do, it jams.

You're not wrong about it being a right bitch! In my experiments of trying to get it to work I done it about 4 times. Takes a fair bit of force to unjam, enough to knock the old girl off her stand, luckily I caught it in time ... phew. After the first time I went and filled her up with petrol in case it jammed beyond my unjamming talents

The link below is a pic of the original (which I've refitted for now) and the extended one. The cones are quite different in shape, not sure if this could be an issue.

i178.photobucket.com/albums/w250/Devo-McDuff/Vespa%20Rack/DSC01200.jpg

Just re-read your instructions, didn't notice the seat hinge bolts first time round ... will have a closer look tomorrow.

Not expecting help (unless anyone has any advice) ... just thought I'd post an update in case anyone else is fitting one in the future.

PS How do I embed pics to save Lucia having to tidy up after me?

[Lan]

[Lan]

there u go and this is how you do it, but without the * in the first img in brackets

[Devo McDuff]

Cheers, thought I'd tried that ages ago, must have made a typo.

Another note on the rack that I forgot to mention ...... one thing to take into account if you''re getting one of these is the change that is necessary in your mounting technique! ..... with the rack off I get on and off like a dangerous maverick cowboy (Texas Walker Ranger for instance) climbing on to his great trusty steed. With the rack on I get on and off like a little girl awkwardly clambering on to a rocking horse ... image in tatters

[Spence]

Surely the unique "step-through" characteristic of a scooter negates having to swing your leg over like a greasy biker?

[Devo McDuff]

Ha, not mastered that one yet. Will have to watch the pro scooter lot keenly when I finally make it to my first rally.

Had a quick look at the seat hinge before going to work this morn, not got a clue how I go about changing the seat position ... am sure it will be an experience finding out!

The response from Beedspeed was:

"In that cause you need to move your seat to be in the right place for the pillar.
They are the same width, which is what matters.
Thanks"

[Devo McDuff]

Apologies for dragging this saga out ... quick question though for you Spence ...

You mention adjusting the bolts that hold the seat hinge down ... have stared at them with a gormless look on my swede and I'm not to sure how I can adjust them to make the seat hit the post at a different angle and stop it jamming. Do I need to put something else underneath them to raise them? If I did this wouldn't it interfere with the levers for the side panels?

Sorry if I'm being a bit thick here ... not got much aptitude for these things (was always bobbins at Krypton Factor) but I'm not shy in the effort part and appreciate the advice. Ta.

[Spence]

You're not looking to raise the height of the seat by adjusting the hinge bolts, but to loosen them so you can move the seat forward or backward very slightly until the lock is catching the seat post in exactly the right place.

[Devo McDuff]

You're a legend and I'm a happy Dan ;D All sorted now.

Seems sturdy enough without the screws through the number plates so I will see how I get on.

Cheers for all the assistance.

[mickey movistar]

just an answer to your question about the holes not lining up with the ones behind your plate

ive noticed you have said it seems sturdy enough
it will do untill some dick sits on it and leans back lol
chanses are it will snap at back bracket under your seat
i would deffo drill two new holes in frame behaind your plate and bolt it


bully

[mickey movistar]

bloody hell you can tell its 2.15 am and liverpool are through to the finals lol

look at me spelling

bully

[Devo McDuff]

I'm only on a CBT at the moment so I'll be alright for a bit, but I'll defo get the holes sorted and it secured before I have a pillion on then.

A trip to Homebase to me I think to figure out what drill bit I need, hope my cheapo drill is up to it!

PS Well done on getting through to the finals, Kuyt's goal should have stood anyway I reckon. If the swamp dwellers get through I hope you do the business, me being a blue 'n all

[Spence]

FOOTBALL ALERT! Scooters only please!! Bully, go to bed. funk knows you need your beauty sleep.

[mickey movistar]

ahahahah yer cheeky get lol

[guppstah]

Rest looks great mate, well worth the hassle, IMO drill and bolt it behind the plate now.


Gaz

[Devo McDuff]

Drilled and bolted yesterday. Did sh*t it a bit at first! ... but was ok once I got going. Now I can carry a fat pillion without worry ;D

Cheers chaps.