World wide travel...and a Vespa

[leroi]

Hi everyone…
Just looking for a wee bit of advice. I have recently come back from travelling round the world which was a fantastic experience. One of the places I stopped was Vietnam…you can see where this is going can’t you?

I met this Aussie guy who had recently brought a Vespa from Vietnam and he had arranged to go to the workshop where his came from and take a look around. Having always been fond of Vespa’s I went too.

The owner was also Australian and he showed us his set-up, just him and a local Vietnamese guy who restored the bikes and sold them on ebay.

The scooters looked fantastic. I’ll be honest enough to say that I have no idea at all about engines/scooters etc., but the owner started one up in front of us and it sounded great.

He only had about 8 Vespa’s in stock and said it was more a hobby than a business. He also warned me off some of the bigger restoration business in Vietnam. I pretty much trust the guy restoring and shipping them from Vietnam, but am not sure what I should be looking for.

He says the model I like is a VBB (means nothing to me) and is sure he can find me one. He also said something about a serial number on the engine matching another serial number (something along those lines) does anyone know what he means by this?

I have checked out most of the info for importing, but if anyone has imported…how did you get the Vespa from the Port to your house?

For a complete engine re-build, spray and shipping, I’m looking at £1400. Sound fair? I have also seen other bikes for sale with an LML engine…what is this?

Sorry, I’m sure you get asked this all the time…so thanks in advance!

[skrappey]

First thing is paying the VAT, = £245 Next MOT, don't know what that will be in England, maybe £60?
Cost of picking up from the docks, probably £100 or borrow a van. You can't ride it even if it works.
Serial numbers aren't the same on engine and frame, because one's an engine, the other a frame, if they match I would be suspicious, I could be wrong, just form experience.
An LML engine is an Indian built Vespa, good engines but which gearbox you get is a bit of a lottery, I got a PX150 box with a 125. But it has 5 ports, like a t5. (now a 180)
I will probably get corrected on some of these points, we'll see.

[leroi]

Hey thanks so much. I didn't realie about the VAT ...probably pushing £1700 when it's all done, not cheap eh?

I think I'm right in saying I don't need to pay import tax due to the age of the scooter. (I forgot to say earlier that it's a 150)

I've seen other Vespa's for sale with LML engines...is that the better way to go?

[Spence]

It'll cost you in the region of £2350 to get a quality resto done by Vivo in Edinburgh. I know things are much cheaper in the Far East, but a full grand less - including shipping - is a huge difference. You might be onto a real winner, but just make sure what you're getting isn't an utter bodge. You hear lots of tales of people importing 'bargains' from the Far East only to find they have to throw money at it when it arrives to make it roadworthy, and end up paying more than they would have done if they'd got it done here.

I would've had to pay import tax on a 1967 scooter from Italy, but because it had been in a Birkenhead cellar for 35 years and I was lucky enough to get a woman at the VRO with some common sense, she said not to mention it coming from Italy again and she wouldn't consider it an import. So you probably will have to pay the duty.

Vespas for sale with Vespa engines are better than Vespas for sale with LML engines.

[sterice (Ricey)]

Spence,

Funny you mention Vivo scooters as I have looked at their website as couple of times as I am torn between getting a GP200 from Resurrection Scooter or something from Vivo, have you met anybody or heard any good or bad feedback about them.

Bit far to go for a shop visit unless I can fool the wife into thinking that a dirty weekend in Edinburgh would do her good ;D ;D ;D

[nat]

I got a 150 Sprint from Vivo early last year. My experience with it has proven to be rather mixed. I'd be interested to hear from anyone else who has bought a scooter from them.

[glyn]

dont forget to add ....port fees..customs fees ,registration fee ( currently £55 ), storage fees if you dont collect scoot quickly, cost of transporting to dvla inspection centre


i"ve just been through this process, it took me nearly 4 monthsto complete

[madmike]

Apr 21, 2008 14:48:49 GMT nat said:

I got a 150 Sprint from Vivo early last year. My experience with it has proven to be rather mixed. I'd be interested to hear from anyone else who has bought a scooter from them.

Me too, thought the 2 port engine was tat, whipped it out and put in a px motor. Costs just kept spiralling what with new rims, tyres, shocks, front hub.. blah blah blah Would def think twice about doing it again, but admittedly I have seen UK bikes in even worse shape.