|
Post by amosian on Mar 24, 2014 20:36:37 GMT
Hi. I've been lusting after a Vespa for around 10 years now and, having turned 37 last weekend, I've decided now is the time. I've not had a scooter before and, knowing only what looks and sounds good, I've come here looking for some advice. I think something like a PX125 would be a sound introduction but should I be buying new and obtaining the benefit of a warranty until I build up some technical nouse, or should I save some cash and buy something older just in case I don't use it as much as I'd hope to? There's a happy compromise with a nearly new one in the scooter shop near where I live (2 years old, only 30 miles on the clock, looks good as new, £700 off new price) but sometimes compromise isn't the best choice.
I'd be grateful for any advice or if anyone knows of a bargain. It may be that a PX125 isn't a great choice anyway, so I'd love to hear your views. I'm based in the north east.
Thanks in advance
|
|
|
Post by glscoot on Mar 24, 2014 20:59:29 GMT
i think for your first scooter its not a bad choice, but i would also look into LML scooters, some folk may put you off them but they are just as good and at £800 cheaper they are worth looking into. i would google both Vespa & LML dealers in your area and go and have a look and talk to them. Don't let the snobbery of the Vespa and Lambretta owners put you off buying a LML, if thats the scooter of your choice. Also check out the usual online sites and see what you can get for your money, remember the value of second hand scooters at this time of year tends to go up due to the arrival of the great british summer. please stay away from asian imports and never buy a scooter that doesn't have a mot or its running out, the warranty tends not to be worth much these days, anything that goes wrong with a scooter tends to be wear & tare. Gary
|
|
|
Post by glscoot on Mar 24, 2014 21:00:37 GMT
Just notice you stay in the north east, motec have scooter shops in Newcastle and Sunderland and there very good.
|
|
|
Post by rab on Mar 24, 2014 21:41:49 GMT
hi and welcome get a px125 why get an LML if you have the cash for a vespa there's nothing wrong with buying and reaping the benefits of the warranty. just remember anything you add to it tho could void your warranty. id stay clear of an old one unless you have some knowledge of repair. value wise new and old vespas hold there value no problem so if you end up not using it you wont lose out on re sale too much. once you've taken it out a few times you wont park it up and forget it ps i wont try and put you off an LML they work and break just like any other bike or scooter can but i will say its not a vespa
|
|
|
Post by amosian on Mar 24, 2014 22:02:35 GMT
Thanks all - really appreciate you taking the time to reply. I've been to Motech and have been well impressed by the quality of service - top blokes, very knowledgeable, friendly, no hard sell. There's a definite benefit in buying local too it's just that, as you point out, the second hand stock at this time of year is pretty limited. That's why I've been wondering whether I'd be better to get something say 7 or 8 years old with some extras for around the £1500 mark. It sounds like I'm being steered towards the 2 year old one as a sensible first buy
|
|
|
Post by glscoot on Mar 24, 2014 22:16:24 GMT
mmmmm its not a Vespa, seeing as Vespa sold LML the tooling and before hand, make and press parts for Vespa and lets not forget Vespa decided to give up on 2 stroke for a while, what a mistake that was. Forgetting the argument for and against Vespa & LML, its your cash you decide. Gary
|
|
|
Post by sbwnik on Mar 25, 2014 1:02:44 GMT
If it's your first ride of any type, a second hand LML will save a lot of tears when you do the inevitable and fall off it. Any from the last ten years or so should prove reliable, and the bodywork is made from a slightly thicker gauge steel than the Vespa equivalent.
|
|
|
Post by glscoot on Mar 25, 2014 23:31:12 GMT
Scooters are weird beasts, but a scooter running for a couple of years with no issues is well worth buying. Check when buying second hand when the clutch corks, seals & cruciform were last changed. I would definatley recommend Motec ( bought my first PX from them) and if they have second hand for reasonable money, I would be confident it will be a good scooter. You may not be able to get the price down, but you could get a free service and 12 months warranty with a bit of haggling. Its also worth asking how much they charge per hour and how long it would take for a engine strip and rebuild, this is just so you know what your getting yourself into if anything goes wrong. But you will get loads of help on here. Its also worth buying the DVD's by the late Sausage, well worth it and the Haynes manual, covers both LML & PX. Its also a good idea to build up a box of spare parts and specialised tools, the basics are not expensive. if you do go ahead and buy a scooter I will put a list of spare parts together for you, if you want. Gary
|
|
|
Post by amosian on Mar 26, 2014 21:36:57 GMT
That's good advice. Very much appreciated. And a very kind offer from you, Gary.
When checking out LML's, I happened to stumble across a fully restored Small Frame 90. It's an absolute stunner so it's thrown me a little. As a newbie, I may be a bit paranoid in riding such a nice scooter and already wondering whether I'd be happy leaving it at work. But on a nice sunny day, I couldn't imagine anything better than heading out for the day on a true classic.
I think I'm in danger of, having wanted a Vespa for so long, I'm going to over-analyse everything. Sometimes you've just got to jump in
|
|
|
Post by rab on Mar 26, 2014 22:57:08 GMT
if your thinking security buy a disk model that has a battery or lml you can then use disk locks immobilisers and alarms. with a non battery model all you have is a steering lock when your out and about unless you buy a bar end to frame lock
|
|
|
Post by sbwnik on Mar 27, 2014 21:52:45 GMT
Vespa 90s are good little bikes (we're a bit short of smallie owners on here) but not the fastest of machines (assuming it's not an SS90...) and are terrible for doing any serious miles on - I did around 120 on a Primevera 125 and got battered stupid by every slight breeze on open countryside. Bloody good fun on the twisties though....
|
|
|
Post by dudleysaddler on Apr 27, 2014 18:56:54 GMT
Can I just put in my two penneth about the Vespa/LML subject. I've only recently bought my first scooter, after looking and missing out on a fair few I couldn't decide between the two. I ended up with the PX, but only because it was to good to refuse. I like both makes and would never be put off an LML.
|
|