Archive for May, 2008
Called Motorsport today after consulting my Haynes manual, because it does indeed appear that there should be a bolt on the end of the bolt that passes through the loop on the bottom of the shock absorber. There doesn’t appear to be one, and further, that bushing is definitely completely shot. I think I’m going [...]
Since I got this bike, I’ve noticed that when I hit larger bumps, that the front end makes a bit of a metalic “clunk” when the suspension compresses. In taking a look at the front end assembly, it looks like there is a bolt that passes through the bottom loop of the shock absorber that [...]
Couldn’t ride the scooter to work today on account of the pending rain. I was really close to just risking it and gambling on the 20% chance of rain, but that 20% has turned into 100% - it is currently raining in Encinitas at the office. I’m thinking of going to fly my kiteboarding kite [...]
Having never ridden another old Vespa, I have no idea how the front end on these should behave. All I know is that mine feels very soft, as though the spring is too soft or has worn out. I need to check out some other scooters somehow and see what they should feel like. I [...]
I got up this morning, got ready for work and decided to take the scooter to the office. It is so nice out today, you can’t imagine. at 0800 it must have been 70 degrees, bright and sunny. When I pulled up to the light on Coast Highway, it took all my strength to turn [...]
I know I’m jinxing myself by even saying the above, but I’m pretty sure it’s fixed. I took the bike for a solid 1/2 hour ride, hitting wide open throttle for extended periods a whole bunch of times today, and no issues. The adjustments I made to the carb seem to have actully increased the [...]
Turns out, it was a fuel problem, but not the 2T oil “glob” that I thought it might be. Turns out, the gas tank, after having sat empty for a month in transit had some surface rust in it that broke free and clogged up the fuel filter in the tank that is part of [...]
Hmm… I was on the way home from work today and about 2 miles into the trip, the engine just died on me. Nothing spectacular, no strange noises - just died. I pulled off to the side of the Coast Highway at near Ponto and fiddled around with what little I could tinker with on [...]
Well, after many months of waiting, my Vespa finally arrived. It’s a 1964 VBB, with 10″ wheels and a seat for my wife on the back. Although now she seems to have her eye on her own scooter with sidecar, or perhaps - if we can find one - an Ape (pronounced: ah-pay) - a [...]