Modern Vespa

Folks - As some of you may recall, more than a year ago I began a series of Mallosi full-power upgrades on a stock 60th Anniversary editon LX-125 with the good owners and mechanics at Planete Scooter here in Paris. What started out as a desire to simply increase the pick-up on a standard modern Vespa turned into a major experiment born of my own curiosity of the scooter we all enjoy. And I believe you might find the results interesting and of value.

There's absolutely no doubt that increasing the size of the cylinder, changing the gears, shocks and adding all other applicable Mallosi modifications greatly adds to the power and enjoyment of riding a Vespa. Indeed, I'm not the only one on the forum who has expressed that sentiment.

But be advised that the upgrade comes with a cascade of mechanical and safety issues that need to be considered - and that these issues result from how Piaggio manufactures its Vespas and the so-called performance mufflers available on the market.

First and foremost, what I've discovered is based on riding the Vespa in an urban environment, on streets rough, smooth and cobbled. Highway driving amounted to four 100-mile round trips on motorways leading into and out of Paris. I use my Vespa as a commuter vehicle, to take the kids to and from school and to drive to work. One weekend jaunt a month with my wife.

The Conclusions

The speed and increased finesse that comes from a Mallosi upgrade must be weighed against the poor stopping power that comes from Vespa's decision to continue using brake pads on the rear wheel. The poor rear braking power is evident under all conditions and particularly under wet conditions. There is much danger in this. The problem was most noticeable and chilling on the highway. How often you tighten the rear brakes matters nothing. I doubt that Piaggio will ever address this issue; still, the company would be wise to install rear disk brakes. There's no way of getting around this worrisome fact.

I've installed and tested all available performance mufflers, which include PM Tuning Pipe, Scorpion stainless steel, Scorpion titanium, Leo Vincent and the Sito Plus.

Again, under the conditions that I drive in, the one-and-only can to go with is the Sito Plus and here's why. The Leo Vincent, PM Tuning and two Scorpion cans are easily and readily damaged in an urban environment. The Scorpion pipes, in particular, require constant adjustment and are frequently knocked loose. Although you can't argue about the fine sound and good looks of the Vincent, PM and Scorpion models, the power-hassle equation just isn't worth it.

The Sito Plus is by far the easiest to fit and maintain - and I discovered only a marginal difference in ooomph and mileage with Sito Plus. Where as the Sito Plus has gone for some 3,000 miles with no problems, the other pipes had to be refitted or repaired within the first 800 or so miles after installation. And, yes, each pipe was properly installed and by experts mechanics associated with professional and amateur motorcycle racing teams.

In the end, I figure how each of us customizes our own Vespa is a matter of taste and where we drive. At the same time, I do believe, or at least claim to believe, it's well worth considering what I discovered after a year spent experimenting with all the available upgrades. Happy trails to all.

Can you elaborate more on specifics? Like-

Old/modified top speed?

Old/modified fuel consumption?

Old/modified speed/rpm torque?

Sure. In mph, the 125cc would on a good day reach 60. Fully loaded Malossi 195 or so cc has reached 72 mph. The oomph is in the pick up. 0-to-60 is real quick and, if you go full throttle from the start, lean forward or it's wheelie time. I've no specific data on fuel consumption, but I'm pretty darn certain the bike is getting better mpg with the Sito Plus can than with the others mentioned previously. The RPM/torque is the real bonus with the upgrade and there's no doubt about that. And the torque continues to kick in a tad past 60 mph, before leveling off. Cutting speed down, say to 45 mph, the torque comes right back at you after rethrottling up. I suspect this has more to do with installing the Malossi gear than anything else, but I'm no expert in this arena. The handling is superb. It's the clear the Vespa chassis and frame is built to handle much more than stock 125cc or 150cc engine and standard gear ratios. Still, the problem is the rear pad braking system and its woeful response to the added speed and torque. Hope that helps.

So how about the low down on exactly what you put in there, because all I hear so far is Sito Plus and the 190cc malossi top end.
I need more scooter porn too, so if you have pics of anything extraordinary; post 'em.

you take the kids to and from school on a vespa in paris?

i was scared driving around in a car there. props to you if so. how do you get them on thre, or do you have a sidecar?

Embarrassed to report that I'm a dinosaur and don't have a digital camera, so no "scooter porn." The body stock blue/gray in color with no visible adds except Sito Plus. On the question of detailing all the upgrades.

Bitubo shocks front and back
Front chrome bumper
187cc Malossi cylinder kit
Malossi drive belt
Malossi Multivar and weights
Malossi delta clutch
Malossi power disk front brake

And driving a motorcycle or scooter in Paris is not as dicey as you may think, though I've been doing this for more than 20 years. Parisian car drivers are overwhelmingly friendly and considerate to us folks, and often ask us questions about Vespas when stopped at traffic lights. It's the damn bicycle riders you have to worry about. No sidecar. I take the kids separately.

PS: and the Malossi gear-up kit.

I'm a newbie, and am just curious...
Apart from apparent hobbyist's joy of tinkering with the thing, what are the practical benefits of doing all the spectrum of power updates vs. just getting a next power level bike in a first place? Instead of reworking LX125/150 to be 180, get GT200 or so? Sounds to me that considering all the time and money efforts, more expensive power scooter at the end would go on par with the reworked one, but the more powerful scoot was already designed to handle that extra oomph properly? Again, I understand hobby part, just trying to find out if there is anything else behind this that I would like to know?

You ask a good question. The Vespa LX is a perfect size scooter for Paris and, once you've added a bit more power, it's even better. The GT-200, 250 and 250 with ABM brakes are also fine bikes, but for me, at least, they're somewhat too big for Paris, particularly since we here are allowed to ride between cars and can park pretty much wherever we like. Quite a few folks here drive GTs and the problems are few. I went with the LX and, prior to that, the ET4 and PX 200, because I'd spent most of my saddle time aboard a BMW 650. The question you've asked me was the same question I asked myself when turning in the BMW for a series of Vespas. Why go with a GT-250 for mostly urban driving, when I've pretty much the same juice on a BMW 650. In the city, size does matter. On top of all that, it's a hell of a lotta fun playing the mechanics on a Vespa LX and it's a splendid-sized bike for my kids to learn on. That said, if I had to commute into a city via a highway, I'd go with a stock GT-250 with the ABS brakes.

Yeah, I guess this is something that may come only with enough experience - reaching the point where you see what your current scooter is missing.. Thanks for your post - quite interesting

---
Back to exploring what esle my LX150 can do!

a pm pipe damaged easily?

mines been hammered for 20k in all weathers up and down the country



you wanna get a fatter rear tyre. those 10 inch tyres woll be seriously flying round at that speed.

it'll increase your top end by a hell of a lot!

A fatter rear tire?!? That's really interesting. Please, what make and size did you put on your Vespa? I'm all ears and ready to make the change. Thanks.

Did you also have much problems with the PM?
Mine has been broken twice!
Fully installed with the manual that comes with it.
In whole my Vespa life I've had lot's of different pipes but never one that's so bad made.

Maybe they stick on an smooth circuit roads, but definitely not on Belgian pavé!

It's a pitty because they sound and look beautifully!

You talk about a Leovinci pipe for the LX?!

I have never heard or seen this pipe.

I know the Sitoplus. I have that pipe right know. These are made at Leovinci.

Can you tell me more about this Leovinci?

The problem with the PM pipe affects those of us who ride on pave or cobble stones, as well as along any rough road for an extended period of time. And I don't believe there's any way of getting around that reality. The PM is wonderful on an open and pothole-free highway. From my own experience, the Sito Plus is built to perfectly fit a Vespa. As for the Leo Vinci pipe, I don't have the Web site readily available, but have seen photos and links somewhere on the forum. Anyway, the questions and arguments that orbit around just which pipe is best for a Vespa completely hinges on the your riding environment. I wish the roads and traffic of Paris could sustain a PM or the other available cans. Sadly, they don't.

Why all the talk about the rear brake? Most of your braking power comes from the front on any two wheeler, even scooters, even in the rain. I'd rather have a rear drum--no calipers to rot in winter, no brake lines to bleed in spring, nothing exposed to the elements, etc.

What size/kind would you recommend? Does it decrease the quality of the ride or anything? Whst about the front wheel? Can you upsize it as well? If you do upsize should you keep the larger front/smaller back combo or make them of equal size?

Thanks!

wouldnt do the front wheel, it'll put our speedo out.

Which second gearing ratio have you used ?

15/41 or 16/42

I have a ET4 standard and I want to put a new Sito plus Performance Muffler. I want to know how more is going to improve it.
My scooter rich until 60mph after the upgrade how many mile more you thing is going to rich o if the torque is going to improve.

Nice topic and has to continue
I wanna upgrade my lx 150 10.000km '05
I am thinking about these ;
1.malossi chili red oil filter
2.jcosta variator (maybe polini or malossi ) I need some help on it
3.malossi delta clutch (not necessary)
4. tires
5.belt ( original or kevlar) I dont know
6.secondary (malossi)gear
7.maybe bitubo front and rear susp.



for look
1.back and front baggage handler
2.xenon h4

I need your help from around the world thanks

Please help me about the combination . and what are you thinking about the list ??

Last edited by Onur on Mon Jan 11, 2010 10:09 am; edited 1 time in total

The Malossi oil filter is red. That's its main advantage.
Just get some lighter weights for your stock variator like 8.5gr.
Delta Clutch. Like you said, not necessary.
Tires. Yes! I'd get a Zippy1 in the back and a michelin pilot in the front.
Belt. Stick with stock.
Secondary gear. Nice if you plan to do a lot of top speed riding, but slows you down around the city. Need a 187cc cylinder kit to pull the taller gears.
Bitubos. Suspension can really make a scooter feel reponsive and handle well.

The number one performance modification you can make is the 187cc cylinder kit. That should be your number one priority.

Thank you for your answer
But are you serious about 8.5gr weights are better than a j costa ? I think it will reduce my topspeed :S

I am changing my list in this way

1.malossi chili red oil filter just for color
2.jcosta variator vs. original w/8.5gr weights (I thing it will reduce my top speed or not ?)
3.malossi delta clutch cancelled
4. tires zippy1 and michelin pilot city
5.belt original
6.secondary (malossi)gear if I add malossi 187 cylinder kit ( which will give a little top speed after 187cc's tork)
7.bitubo front and rear susp.

Can you give me some info about prices like malossi 187 ?
thanks again

The order in which I did my mods:

190 cylinder kit
Malossi variator and spring
Sito + exhaust

I'd advise against doing them all at once. Start with the cylinder kit—as Max says, biggest bang for your buck. Get used to it, then think about what sort of additional performance you want. Always go into the next mod with realistic expectations and the understanding that after a certain point, the returns are low compared to cost and affect on reliability.

I just replaced my Malossi variator with a Polini (after 9,000 miles on the Malossi) and really like it.

Cheapest and easiest performance mod: mid-sized windscreen.

See above for pricing. I'm not much of a fan of the J.Costa stuff. The magazine reviews were never very favorable, and there have been mixed reviews here in MV. If it were my bike, I would just go with lighter weights. Either a 8.5 or 9.3 gram. Either that, or the Malossi or Polini variator.

I completely agree that the 190 cylinder kit is by far the best bang for the buck. I just kitted mine a couple of months ago, just finished breaking it in, and am now trying to decide what is optimal for the variator. I have 9.5g Dr. Pulley sliders in the stock vario right now (with the upgear kit).

Waiting for warmer weather to hook up my new Tiny Tach to see what the rev profile looks like under various riding conditions.

thanks for replies.

So I decided to change my list in this way now

1. 9.5gr weights for vario.
2. malossi Cylinder Ø 70 allum. 4-stroke
3. secondary gear polini or malossi
4. bitubo susp. set
5. tires to zippyone and michelin pilot city in front
6. stock belt and malssi red oil filter


and Max your site is the one of the best site I've ever seen (for a scooter)
But for cylinder I will wait a little .

i think this is an interesting observation for us.

the streets of old europe can be challenging....from old cobblestone to smooth asphalt with patches and potholes, and the asphalt mixture here wears fairly fast, and grooves from the cars' tires can be tricky in the rain....and of course all of the severe bumping from the curb while riding the sidewalks to beat rush hour traffic and the too quick and short traffic lights.

if i don't tighten things down once a month trouble is on the way.

vibration and rocking around down the streets causes all kinds of loosening.

last month the fuel line came off after a series of bumpy street tactics....

i have bitubo shocks which was an improvement and all weather heidenau's...

and i have also heard from vespa owners here, that the sito plus is a good choice.

thanks for bringing this topic up.

your welcome
I think sito+ or a aftermarket exhaust will be a good choice if you have a 2T engine or real modifications on your 4t . In my country there are no heidenaus so I have to use continental ,michelin, metzeller or dunlop .
And our roads are totaly destroyed I have to think about bitubos too :S
Hard decisions but I don't wanna sell my vespa for 10 years so I have to improve too

sorry guys but is this the righy cylinder kit ?
http://cgi.ebay.it/CILINDRO-MALOSSI-PER-LIBERTY-TORPEDO-MOT-LEADER-125-150_W0QQitemZ120497931857QQcmdZViewItemQQptZRicambi_e_Accessori_Scooter?hash=item1c0e3c8651

http://cgi.ebay.it/KIT-CILINDRO-MALOSSI-D-70-LIBERTY-LEADER-3111393_W0QQitemZ370309330406QQcmdZViewItemQQptZRicambi_e_Accessori_Moto?hash=item563827f5e6

http://www.malossistore.it/Prodotto.aspx?type=M&&C=3111393&Search=si

becouse it's just 70 diameter cylinder for leader engine .
could anyone give me some info about that ??
thanks

Yes, that's the right one. Stock cylinder is 62.8mm.

The Malossi part # is 3111393.

BTW, I've switched from the Malossi MultiVar to the Polini Speed Control and I dig it.

Thanks so Im gonna buy it .

I've seen your topic and thanks for pollini vs malossi report too I am having problems with my internet connection :S

Hi again, I found another malossi cylinder kit 209cc M3111473 74mm how about this one ? is this Ok for a 150 Leader engine ?

I wish that cylinder would work. That jug is liquid cooled. I have not seen a larger cylinder for the air cooled leader than the 187. I could be wrong but I think I got this answer right.
Chris

The only one that will fit will be the M3111393

Thank you all I love modernvespa