vivovespa

[nat]

Considering going 'vintage' and was wondering if anyone had any experience of vivovespa based in Edinburgh, good, bad or indifferent. Their website is very impressive, would like to know if the service is similar

Cheers!!!!

[Big Scotty]

Having looked on the vivovespa website I saw some pics of scooters with paint jobs that 'rung a bell'.
It looks like they are buying their scooters from these people www.groupharrington.com/classic/vespa.asp and selling them with a bit of profit added on.
If you buy them direct from Harringtons you could save a few quid, even including the import duty charges.
They are however, restored in Vietnam. So if it was me I wouldn't bother.

[yorkshireranger]

Member of our scooter club (Leeds Crusaders) bought himself an impresive Lambretta from Harringtons, needed minor adjustments, for which Harringtond re-embersed him for the work to be done locally.
Looks the part, rides nice, whats the problem, great scooter good price!!!

[nat]

Blimey!! Looks like you are right Big Scotty!! Paid my non-refundable deposit on a Sprint now so not much I can do about it although from what yorkshire ranger says it should be ok. Doesn't mention anything about being restored in Vietnam on the website but then I suppose it doesn't say it isn't either. Will just have to wait and see.

[Big Scotty]

Nat - How did you get on mate? Has your scooter arrived yet? if so, what's it like?

[nat]

Big Scotty - Its due to arrive beginning of April. I've scoured various scooter forums and I'd say 80% of stuff I've read about Harrington has been positive. Been in touch with a fella who was getting a Lambretta from them that was due last week and he was getting it checked over by his local dealer so 'verdict' should be in this week.
Hopefully all will be good with mine. I've got it booked in for a 'once over' in my local bike shop when I get it. I will post the results on here once I get them.

[nat]

Sprint finally arrived today. Looks brilliant. Took it for it's inaugral spin and everything seems ok thus far, hopefully it wil remain so.
I did notice two very small bits of rust under the seat. Can anyone tell me if this anything to worry about?

[Spence]

Can you be more specific, or even post a photograph?

[nat]

On closer inspection I think it is marks left from the original seat (I opted for a bench seat instead of the saddle type) I don't think it's anything too much tro worry about.
Took it for a long spin round the sunny streets of Birkenhead and seems to be running well. It is a very different riding experience from the PX though!!!

[Spence]

Can you please tell me which streets in Birkenhead are sunny? I have yet to find those.

[nat]

I must confess to a degree of artistic license. No sunny streets here today!!!

[Devo McDuff]

Different experience in what way? Am curious having only ever rid a PX 125.

Though have few hours training and my test on a T5 next month ... am looking forward to that, well the first part at least!

[Spence]

The first thing I notice when I ride my Sprint after riding my PX is how much lighter it feels. The PX feels much more powerful (well it is a 200) but it's a bit like handling a tank after the Sprint. I don't suppose all the chrome helps.

[nat]

It's different in quite a few ways. It seem lower off the ground and generally just doesn't run as smoothly, not a bad thing just different. I had a go on my PX last night having ridden the Sprint for the last couple of weeks. The responsiveness (?) of the disc brake takes a bit of getting used too again!!
On an entirely unrelated topic I did my full test on my PX as oppose to a T5 and got the full A2 license. Am I to assume was lucky or should I not be riding the Sprint (which is a 150)??

[Big Scotty]

Nat,
How's the Sprint going mate? Still no problems?
As for your A2 licence I think that means you can only ride up to 125cc with no L plates and you can carry a pillion. You'll need an A1 licence to ride the Sprint legally I believe.

[Devo McDuff]

After 2 years with an A2 license you can ride what you like ... even one of those ridiculous greasy speed demon contraptions if the mood takes you

During the 2 years you are limited to anything up to 33bhp. So the Sprint should be legal on your license even if you haven't had it 2 years.

There are plenty of more detailed threads on here about this if you take a butchers, 'ave posed the question myself in the past.

[madmike]

I bought myself one of those Vietnam Scoots from the same supplier to Vivo, is a 1966 Super 150 and to date it has been great, there is a few minor hickups like the seals being of inferior quality etc but it is pennies compared to the savings on the overall price.

Have heard bad stories about bikes from Nam but we had ours photographed every step of the way and the frame and engines numbers sent prior to build. We drop them to our local dealer upon arrival and he does a full snag list, which never amounts to much.

Absolute pleasure to drive, they do feel light and nimble when the crappy nylon tyres are replaced. And to me a little bit of rust adds charm to somrthing thats 40 years old looking like a new penny.

Only draw back to me is the 2 port system as it is very slow and dropping a px engine just kills the look.....

[nat]

Sprint still going fine thanks. The one problem I had was the sparkplug cap kept coming off and so the engine would keep misfiring and die. I bought a new one and since then it's been fine. Even managed to inpress my girlfriend with my 'technical' ability replacing it!!!! (she is quite easily pleased, thankfully)
It does look really good and has attracted a lot of compliments. I will try and get a photo uploaded to the site when I get to grips with with the technology.
Further to the post above the tyres do seem a bit cheap and lose a bit of pressure after a relatively short time, I might look to get them replaced. Is it possible to get decent tyres in whitewalls?

[mark]

I run on continental whitewalls , a bit dear I paid about £40 each for mine but well worth the expence. There is a thread running about whitewalls with some other suggestions as well hope this helps.