Modern Vespa

For now, just added a TomTom 720 gps. Not a great unit, and the MPH is so small. Still trying to figure out the FM transmit part. Second project, is I just mailed off my seat to Russell for redoing. Third project will be to tap on a set of LED lights, to the "directional beeper circuit" I added. Then stick the LEDs, just under the top dash. Since mounting an FM radio ontop of the handlebar center cover, the lower dash lights are out of sight. Project 4 : Picked up a set of "wingrack2" used. Going to give the Givi E21 side hard cases a shot. Looks like two back braces, one under trunk and other to back taillights will be good. Then a brace on top of the shock bolt. Front can clamp on the side rail. That is my idea so far. The cruise control, being a dual sensor, I am leary about? A seperate speedo and sensor may work with a cruise control, may be a 2010 project. Will post pictures as they develope. So what are your plans?

Edited the title - couldn't stand the txt spk any longer - jimc

Dual .50s front or a minigun, haven't decided yet. FLIR vision. Aft will add tacks, smoke screen, chaf. RADAR and Laser jammer. Can't afford the Russell ejection seat just yet.

Maybe add one of these

http://tailgunner-exhaust.com/

I think a good part of the winter could be spent reviewing your project updates... Looking forward to your report on the side hardcases.

For me I hope to get the Dr Pulleys and new belt installed and add a battery/charging monitor as well as some additional lighting; maybe a GPS (if I find a pile a dough somewhere)... and might do a little painting/pinstriping if I get the time... First off though I am already disassembling all electrical connections and filling them with dielectric grease to deal with the rain.

Or I might just hibernate and pick up in the spring.

Now those are very cool!

I was actually thinking of transforming my MP3 500 into a single seated roofed vehicle. Something like this....





Do any of you think this is possible? If so, how would a person go about making such a conversion on the MP3 500?

Or, do you think this is a bad idea?

Derwin

My October project was to add Oxford heated grips and buy a Tourmaster heated jacket liner. Both work great and on minimum setting with the lowest temperature so far, high 30s.

My winter project is to keep riding.

OMG, she's wearing seat belts! What for! Does she really want to go down with the ship? Seriously though why don't you just buy the beemer and call it good? Sell your current ride and put the money towards the real deal, then when you're tired of it you can peddle it as a factory machine, not a home-built. And don't wear the damn seatbelts!

LL

LOL! Holy crap, that is funny! LOL! I shot 7-up out of my mouth when I read that! Your so right about the seat belts. Kind of silly if you ask me. Well, the beemer isn't available in the US at this time, and it isn't near as cool as the MP3 500 with 2 wheels up front.

I like the large windshield. I also like the fact that it's a one seater since I never ride with 2 people. That's why I would really like to make some major conversions to the MP3.

What? Am I being sacrilegious or something?

Derwin

Just ride all winter

It's too COLD here in Chicagoland. I'd freeze my gonads off!

I'm hoping for a very SHORT winter!

Derwin

Derwin[/quote]

OMG, she's wearing seat belts! What for! Does she really want to go down with the ship? Seriously though why don't you just buy the beemer and call it good? Sell your current ride and put the money towards the real deal, then when you're tired of it you can peddle it as a factory machine, not a home-built. And don't wear the damn seatbelts!

LL [/quote]

Actually the C1 required seat belts to keep the body protected inside the cage and did not require to wear a helmet. Rode on of these one as a lender and quite nice besides the lack of power. Downside was the cold wind draft in winter that kindda sucked. All in all, sales were somewhat slow in France for a few years and then picked up suddenly when BMW announced they were retiring the C1...

OH, regarding my winter projects = heated grips + Powerlet socket for my heated vest + (tentative) have the MP3 Ziebarted since winter roads are full of salt... Already have the Tucano Urbano hand muffs and leg cover installed... With the grips and heated jacket, i am getting ready for sub freezing (urban) riding!

Well, Larry is the one that brought the seat belts up. I just happened to agree with him. But since they're required in that part of the world, I guess it's good. Heck, I think I'd rather wear a seat belt then a helmet anyway...especially in that!

Derwin

Seat belt ! Heck, just look at those Strapped Saddle shoes. Lots of ankle protection there! Must be a Roman thing ? I have the Dr. sliders on back order for three months now. No idea when i ever may get them. 2500 miles so far on the scoot. New seat will not get back until mid December. Now I have to lug out the real "goldwing" to ride. Will take a few pictures of my "poor" installation efforts on the GPS and radio tomorrow! Maybe even a show of the wingrack bracket in the air, for looks. For anyone interested in helmet "ipod type speakers", search edset.com they just came out with phono plug speaker set for helmet. $75 but I still hear music in the 70 mph range. I give them a "thumbs up".

My winter project is... to build a fire.
Or, maybe to restore my '01 Aprilia SR50 DiTech, my first love. Give her a 70cc BBK and make her into a SCREAMER!

In Milaan BMW introduced the new C1, BMW stopt the production in 2002 or 2003 that was a 150cc if i'm correct, and now they have a fully electric one

The C1 requires seat belts where ever it is ridden. The idea is it has the cage to protect your head area. It's not something you can get out of easily if you go down so you are better off being strapped in.

Just remember if you build a roof and you go down, the roof is going to drag you right along the ground as the scooter slides down the road.

Wayne B

Why does everybody talk about "going down"? Heck, if I didn't know better, I would think I'm on a porno forum!

Seriously... is dropping a bike all that common for people? Is this something that most all riders have experienced?

I'm being completely serious in this question, because I am new to biking, and really don't know.

Derwin

Dunno about the going down thing, but in some circles there are said to be two groups..........the ones that have..........and the ones that will. In the 25 years of street riding that I've done this seems pretty accurate if you stay with it very long. The best that I have found to do is prepare yourself as best you can. AGATT and a MSF or other type of "real" training course and keep your machine well maintained always.

Check other threads here on this oft-covered subject and be prepared. (I just mentioned one in the other thread where you posted similar question)

The reality is no matter how skilled a rider you may be and how fortuitous your luck when riding, there is always the unexpected. And with the Mp3 there's a little added issue with top and front-heaviness which can quickly become rather unforgiving if it begins to tip and you are not firmly in control. Always stay fully aware of your situation, but be prepared for whatever eventuality may occur.

+1 on all recommendations for MSF training, reading Proficient Motorcycling (et al), and practice, practice, practice for a new rider!

Well after "bubble gumming around", all afternoon; here are some pictures. Issues are my gps mount, radio and lock, Cheap pair of handle grip guard covers that need the stitching let out for room to move the front "stabilizer lock", a picture of cheap $20 barney saddle bags with no seat, and my first quick side hard case wingwrack2 mounting. The white plastic pvc piping is a temporary mount idea for now. E21 cases on order, and hope they fit the guessed setup area. Until they come in, holding off for "hardware finish". E21 came in, look like they may fit, and do not stick out that far, just a few inches more then the handlebar ends.

The radio mount will slide off, reason for the lock.

These Scoot Logic gloves are only $20. Break all the wind, can drive with no gloves.

Cut back the thumb area seam about 2 inches. Now can access lock and directionals easy.

These pictures are before the seam cut back.

Well now we know, LOL.

holding in area to mount

first pass of bubble gum mount. Plan on using EMT tubing for final braces.

Please ignore the messy garage!

Poor lighting and still temporary mount.

Looking into more Red LEDs around E21 side and rear.

Final bracket made, 3/4 flat bar, 3/4 pipe nipple cut in half.

Last edited by G03 on Sat Nov 21, 2009 12:36 pm; edited 6 times in total

WOW what are you up to? Drive around the world?

i'm thinking about sandblasting my rims, and then polish them and spry the centre and spokes black metalic kinda like the rims of a vespa gts

Build a shed in the backyard.

How is this a winter project. There is no winter in Florida.

After getting out of the Navy I took a job in Perry, Florida. My wife started complaining she wanted to live where there is winter. After a few years I accepted a transfer to northern Alberta. After a couple years there she told me "I didn't mean all the time." Gave her what she asked for and still couldn't please her.

OK well maybe I should call it "cooler summer project"

Sounds like my wife too. Who is, in fact, in Perry as I type this. She loves her teachers there but that is about it...oh and the Oysters at Deal's

Do the "Finest people in the world still walk through the door at the sound of a buzzer"?

LOL! fo sho. They still say it while shuckin those oysters.

kinda like this

Well my son just came over and he is now testing the LaminorLip that I just put on. He is about 8 inches taller than me so I though that putting it on would help us both.

Laminor lip, we need "reviews"! what size did fit? how is the air noise? Wind buffering? Cross wind? Waiting auxiously!

I was hoping to take my baby out for a ride today, but with a clogged ear I'd better pass.

From what I could gather with my son's ramblings, he loved the change! I have the shield mounted about 1 1/2" over my normal givi screen. He noticed a significant amount of less buffering than before, but when I asked him about the noise level he said it was about the same As you can see, my son comes up quite a bit over the windscreen, and he loves the difference it now makes. It was well worth the $100 investment. Once I can find my camera, I will post a picture with the laminorlip on it so you can see how much it really helps.

Dang, almost forgot. If you do want to order one, get the one that fits the can-am spyder.

Usually when a bigger wind buffer is added, then more engine and road noise are heard, just wondered if a "big", change was noticable. Thanks for all your efforts.

Goodbye TDub, helloooooo UniGoooo!
LL75

G03, there are three things I have seen on MV that need to be turned into commercial products. One, my UFP footpegs (check); two, .50cal's handlebar mounting thingamajig (still bugging him about it); and three, your idea for sidebag mounting. You absolutely need to refine that down to a standardized, plug-n-play solution for the /500 and market it. I'd buy them (or swap you for a UFP3) in a heatbeat.

My projects: Next-generation UFP3, maybe adding a lip to the side to provide more contact area to compress against when mounting on the rubber floorboard of a /400; (2) thinking about - not necesarilly buying, mind you - a brand-new replacement screen to replace the originally hole-ridden, now scratch-ridden and glue-crazed screen in my Ultimate Cruiser Windshield project mod; and (3) thinking about - not necesarilly doing anything about - some offshoot of the UFP for a rear passenger.

And say goodbye to $2,400! Yikes, they got to lower that price.

I wouldn't argue the point, that's for sure. There's another one-wheel trailer out there for lots less but as far as I can tell it's not nearly as nice. When you think about it there are lots of scooters available for less than the MP3 series but we still step up to the plate and buy them, don't we?

LL75

The hard saddlebags, my welding is amatuer - , waiting on my seat to test out the road vibrations, and still have to connect the directionals to make sure they work. (possible they may overload the circuit board?) E21 are small, but hang out the back, an inch or two past the directionals oem. If the extra directionals do not work, it becomes a hazard; cannot see from the rear side. Hose clamp is only thing holding bottom support bracket to bike. Will up date when my seat comes in before christmas i hope! The brac I made has a 2 " rise at the back, 3 inch rise at the front, and then add in the angle of the rear license plate frame tubing. A jig would have to be made up for any possible close fittings. Not a simple tubing bend set up like most other models bikes. Looking from the back the saddle bag is level, and all angles rise up to the frame.

Here is my Laminorlip

LARRLARRY75 - What type of bags do you have on your Ninja? That is about the size bags I want to get

I'm presuming you're looking at the hard cases? For the ride to Nova Scotia it was a set of Monokeys that I bought from RL Motorcycles. Soft cases as shown on the first ride to AK were also GIVIs, let me know if that's what you're interested in and I'll wander out to the garage and look.
I like their gear but it's not perfect, at least not yet. The best part is their US importer treated me really good when I had issues with the soft bags. RL jr is another nice guy, fills orders quickly and understands bikers.

Best,

LL

PS - I know this may belong on the Ninja forum but in case anyone's interested I have a set of custom made brackets I no longer need and can make someone a deal on. For graphic info you can see them on my Nova Scotia on a Ninja blog. I had them made for soft cases. Jeese..