Small framed 50's

[carl98]

I'm looking to get a vespa this year at Christmas, due to the Laws in England and my age, I'm only legally allowed a 50cc.

I've found a few bikes that I like (DT50,TS50,C50,FS1E) But I like the look of the Vespa. rode a few lambrettas and I'm keen on them, but they seem a little hard to come by.


So my problem about the small frame vespa is the size of it, I'm around 6'3/4, and not exactly skinny, would I look like a massive knob on a vespa?  

Also, what kind of engine conversions can you do to the 50's? not looking for anything massive, just have a little bit more grunt


Carl 

[henri]

wow,i'm 6 2" an look like a giraffe on a pushbike on my smallies , but then i'm skinny , ya mention fizzys above (fs1e) there gettin seriously pricey nowadays ,an c50's aint cheap no more , same with dt50/ts50's , passed my test on a ts100 back in 84 ,was known to friends as the t#t sucker as it was gutless ,
all the above mentioned bikes apart from becoming rare n pricey are restricted/slow an not easy to come by , where as a vespa 50 are cheap ,plentiful an well catered for spares an tuning options , the 50 engine is a short throw crank an cant really be kitted out past 102cc reliably ,but that will double/triple the power depending on whats/how its done .
engine swaps are endless , just about any smallframe engine will drop straight in , so up to 125 n 5bhp as standard ,135cc n 10hp kitted ,or a falc or quattrini engine giving 25-30 bhp but costing 3500-7000quid ,
to be sensible a dr kit will take it to 90cc n 5 bhp for 80quid with a basic performance pipe 70-100 an a slightly larger carb for 20-30 second hand .
but as the sign above the mechanic in mad max 1 says "speeds just a matter of money,how fast do you want to go", check out the vespasmallframe forum , it will give ya a better idea whats out there an costs , an also show ya not all smallies riders are midget-skiny guys . an on scoots that cute who's lookin at the rider , less he's goin past on 1 wheel with 1 finger up ,lookin cool no matter what height/size he is . H

[henri]

naughty gaz ,dont make sbwnic send the "mod-squad" round an bend ya over a blinged up sx200 an spank ya with a tartan wheel cover , you might find ya like it ,
an shud of mentioned above at 6 3-4" an large? ,you aint going to look "natural" on any 50cc , whatever costume gaz talks you into wearing as a disguise , tho a 6 3" knob with a charity bucket wud raise loads of cash ,people wud pay up to make you go away , H

[bryno]

Personally I'd love to relive my small-frame Vespa days but at a megre 5'10" & 11 stone they are just too small IMO.

If I were 6 foot plus i'd be spending my cash on a trials style 50 and trading up to a classic Vespa at 17.. or a PX if it was a daily ride.

[henri]

yep, def a trail/trials type of learner legal bike will give you a more comfortable seating position , but as i said earlier i passed me test on a ts100 an thats when my mates pointed out i looked like a "giraffe on a push-bike" , at over 6 foot ya goin to look big on any scoot/bike ,
but a smallie scoot will get ya back what it cost when ya 17 an up-ccing ,or be legal to take up to 125cc yourself ,an get ya more than ya paid for it if/when ya pass ya test.a modern bike will just depreciate in ya ownership , an a c50/fs1e will cost loads more an need lots of loving care to get ya money back on it , H

[vespasco]

I had a couple of primavera et3 in the past few years, one i restored, the other for a long road trip.. Im just under 6'.. They did look a 'bit' small for me...i also found that because they were light and small they took a lot more to 'handle' than a larger heavier scoot, as i got blown around more...i used to feel quite tired after a long run on a smallie,... The smallies are great around town tho'!
5'10" and 11stone aint so bad for a smallie bryno

[bryno]

^ don't tempt me mate ;-)

[rab]

The derbi 50 and 125s have piagio engines if your tall its a good learner bike option and if you want a touch more power out of one its basicly the same mods as a vespa

[vespasco]

Come on bryno, get rid of that KTM and buy a smallie.... you know you want to

[henri]

yep ,i'm only a short thrash into hampshire from you ,an happen to have a fairly original 1970 motovespa 125 super ,think slightly shrunk rally,with glovebox n round the rear light spare carrier ,an orig chrome peak on headlight , would part with it as its fighting my resto attempts ,guy before me had it 20 years n got as far as blasting/straightening/prep n got sidelined into gatherin all original spanish bits to finish,i think the scoot dont want to "get out of bed" an on the road again . H

[vespasco]

That sounds v v nice henri. If i was looking for a smallie project that would be perfect. I hope Bryno doesnt sell his KTM too soon!!!!! and youre only about 3hrs easy drive away!
I like any classic with a toolbox in the front. All my scoots have had front toolboxes, (with exception to a 152L2 i used to own). i kinda feel naked without one nowadays! They give a bit more rigidity to the frame too.
Oh! Hang on. My V90 didnt have one, neither did my very first scooter, a yellow n black wasp, a 50 special..

Let me rephrase that earlier statement! "All my post-teenage years scooters........"

[henri]

i'm not really tryin to sell it ,just tempting bryno ,i dont sell unfinished projects ,feel thats giving up but this one is testing my patience ,
got to re-paint as when painting exhaust with a drippy can had gloves on ,as i pulled em off they snapped n sent 2 drips of matt black etch the length of shed to land on the 1 spot the dust sheet had slipped off a ivory top coat, buggeration,rubbed back n re-sprayed the side panel but got a reaction that spread under the masking ,leaving a scar length of rear arch when i unmasked , sod it ,i'd finish the build ,call it a dry run an re-paint after motting whilst getting it registered,its a 1970 douglas import but has lost its reg ,anyways got to fitting the headlight to find the guy i'd got it from had prepped a primmy headset not the moto 1, he'd told me it was the moto 1 an the rough 1 was the primmy an i didnt check , so will have to paint that aswell , ggrrrhhhh , H

[vespasco]

gutted! Anyway, you could have always just left the black etch on it and turned it into a tribute to Jackson Bollock...

[henri]

saw a few px's back in the day will j.bollock type paint jobs , god awful,looks like somebody started by sniffing not painting the paint an then just used all the half empty rattles left in the shed.
could of left it as a tribute to "rorshach" of the blot-test fame, but was afraid i'd end up staring at it for hours looking for "meaning" ,an just finding 1 ,me n painting not a good mix, H

[bryno]

The 125 Super is one of my fav looking smallies, would probably fit it in the top box of the KTM and I just get it out for running round town :-)

[henri]

it is a pretty one ,an slowly stealing back in to my heart ,a bit ,H