Out For a Ride

[Charlize]

I took the old gal out for a lovely ride today.  She started with the first kick.  Awesome for a 52 year old bike ridden by a 71 year old woman.  Such fun

[VickySGV]

Looking good there.  I have never had the courage to ride one of those.  I used to be fine with the pedal type of bicycle, but the engine driven ones were too scary.

[Jani]

Looking good Charlize!  Be safe when you're out there.  

 

Hugs, Jani

[EvanC]

Oh, you have an beemer, and it's just about as old as me. Looking great!

 

I haven't been on a bike in over 20 years, but I still miss it sometimes. I guess it's not too late to think about getting on one again someday.

[tracy_j]

Looking good Charlize! You are reminding me of an old life from some time back

 

Tracy

[Maid In Bedlam]

Hey Charlize You may be 71 but have the soul of someone half that age. As you managed to tame that beast.

 

Get those goggles on and keep on riding sweets ?

[Charlize]

I had given up riding bikes with pedals and those with engines for 15 years or so.  My drinking had gotten so bad that i had little balance regardless of the time of day.  I once raced bikes with a license but managed to fall even having no booze for a night.  Anyway almost 13 years of sobriety and i'm doing well.  The BMW is heavy so E makes it a bit hard to push around but i'm slowly and carefully getting my legs under me on the back roads in our neighborhood.  i had a good mechanic get her back up and rolling with new tires.  It's great now to let my long scarf go out in the wind proclaiming my gender.  I got wonderful thumbs up from women on bicycles as i rode.  

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize

[ToniTone]

Beautiful bike!

 

~Toni

[KymmieL]

Charlize, I know the feeling. being one with the bike. Just letting the rest of the world melt away.

 

Ride safe.

 

Kymmie

[Cyndee]

Lovely ! 

 

C -

[Robin]

Hi Charlize,

 

That is a very nice looking bike.  Do you have any other classic vehicles, besides that and the Chevy truck?

 

Robin.

[lauraincolumbia]

Great bike!

 

[Charlize]

I’m working on getting this 64 Vespa street legal.  It was purchased on eBay from Vietnam Nam beautifully rebuilt but NJ doesn’t accept the bill of sale as a title.  It runs beautifully.  Hoping to have it on the road this fall.

 

Hugs

 

Charlize

[Timber Wolf]

Hey biker gal,

Be careful. The BMW is gorgeous! Like the rider!

 

Lots of love,

Timber Wolf ?

 

[Robin]

Hi Charlize,

 

Your Vespa looks lovely.  It would look good next to my Chevy, as they are a very similar shade of yellow. 

 

I have got a Vespa that I am gradually rebuilding , but unfortunately it is nowhere near roadworthy yet.

 

If your Vespa has been converted from 8" to 10" wheels, please make sure that it has got the correct length of front fork.  If not, under heavy breaking, the front wheel could hit the top of the fork tube and lock up.  The results of that happening could be lethal, so please check, as I have seen scooters that have been poorly converted and sold to unsuspecting customers. 

 

We don't want to lose you!!!!

 

Robin.

 

[Charlize]

Thanks for the heads up Robin.  I'll check that out.  Do you have any idea what the clearance should be?

I am certainly looking forward to riding her.  Riding in a skirt would be awesome.

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize

[Ellora]

On 9/15/2019 at 8:02 PM, Charlize said:

out for a lovely ride today.

Sweet ride! 

[Jani]

Also as the whitewall on the tire is yellowing, you might want to check the date code.  Even tires that look good age out and are dangerous when exercised on the road.  It will be a 4 digit number, (YDDD).  You can go to the manufacturers website to learn their method of date coding.

 

Happy motoring Charlize!  

[Robin]

Hi Charlize,

 

Unfortunately, the subject of classic Vespas is almost as much of a minefield as that that of gender identity.  There have been numerous models of Vespa, produced by various different manufacturers, in a number of different countries.  To the uninitiated, they all look very similar, but when it comes to interchangeability of parts, it can become a bit of a nightmare. 

 

The first issue with a scooter that has been restored by persons unknown is trying to establish exactly what combination of parts you have got.  This is made even more difficult by the use of aftermarket parts of indeterminate origin.

 

If your Vespa has the frame from a VNA/VNB or VBA/VBB model, then it would probably have been fitted with 8" wheels originally.  There were models that used that type of frame with 10" wheels, but they are quite rare.  The later type of frame was used on models such as the GL/Sprint/SS/Rally etc. with 10" wheels, but also with 8" wheels on the Super models.

 

Sadly, the forks from the VN/VB models are not interchangeable with those from the later models, as the stem is different.  This has lead to people either just fitting a 10" wheel and appropriate hub to the early style fork, or also extending the fork leg with a piece of tube, sometimes with very bad welding, covered by body filler.

 

It is not all doom and gloom though, even if you find that you have an undesirable collection of parts.  If you have the later type of frame, parts are readily available to build whatever setup you want.  With the earlier design, I believe that there are extra long aftermarket front forks manufactured in India, to enable the conversion to be carried out as a bolt in swap.

 

If you are in any doubt about whether or not your scooter is safe, I would strongly recommend that you consult a reputable classic Vespa specialist for advice.

 

Robin.