Tuesday, 23 December 2008
Screw the Recession. Let's have a Session!
Que se lixe a recessão. Vamos é fazer um festão! Foi o lema desta noite de Dezembro. E que noite! Muitos "gangueiros" habitués compareceram, outros novinhos e estreantes encheram o Europa para mais uma Vespa Gang Mod Club.
Em nome de gang, agradeço a presença de todos, ao longo deste ano 2008. Tivemos a honra de ter música ao vivo, com os The Poppers, The Ratazanas, muitos selectas convidados e amigos do gang, como Miguel Angelo, Mod 64, Vespa 77, Mr. Dorian sem esquecer o nosso Milkshake, esse garageiro inveterado e campeão do yê-yê. Estamos já a preparar a entrada em 4ª velocidade, de punho enrolado, a fundo...
Proxima sessão Vespa Gang Mod Club: 24 Janeiro de 2009.
Os meus votos, opticamente confirmados
Faço meus os votos do Instituto Óptico e da Óptica Modelo.Fácil, fácil a receita desta mensagem: pega-se numa moda, em crescente de popularidade, agarra-se numa imagem sobejamente conhecida do Pai Natal a acelerar numa Vespa cheia de presentes natalícios e espeta-se na publicidade à nossa firma.Depois espera-se que algum aficionado ou familiar de um ex-proprietário de Vespa, se cruze com a
Monday, 22 December 2008
The trouble with buying your dream scooter over the net..
The trouble with...
ASIAN VESPA AND LAMBRETTA RESTORATIONS
By Sam Schembri-Portland
Never before has the old saying "Buyer Beware" had more significance for the modern day scooterist.
If you've been involved in the booming scooter industry or keen on old scooters at all, you would have heard all about the thousands of scooters sold all around the world each year which start their new lives in sweaty Asian chop shops.
Of course there are some good ones out there, I am referring to the many many hundreds of 'dealers' who are set up to rip people off for as long as they can before being shut down.
The aim of their game is to find the cheapest scooters they can, remove all the original, pitted and dull looking parts and replace them with poorly chromed and badly made parts that they think we would like to see on the scooters. They add home made shims where they need to in order to make parts pit without rattling and if a goo coke can shim won't fix it then they have learned that epoxy resin will!
If you don't have access to "O" rings you can simply make them out of some cotton and electrical tape!
By Sam Schembri-Portland
Never before has the old saying "Buyer Beware" had more significance for the modern day scooterist.
If you've been involved in the booming scooter industry or keen on old scooters at all, you would have heard all about the thousands of scooters sold all around the world each year which start their new lives in sweaty Asian chop shops.
Of course there are some good ones out there, I am referring to the many many hundreds of 'dealers' who are set up to rip people off for as long as they can before being shut down.
The aim of their game is to find the cheapest scooters they can, remove all the original, pitted and dull looking parts and replace them with poorly chromed and badly made parts that they think we would like to see on the scooters. They add home made shims where they need to in order to make parts pit without rattling and if a goo coke can shim won't fix it then they have learned that epoxy resin will!
If you don't have access to "O" rings you can simply make them out of some cotton and electrical tape!
This is how the story unfolds all over the world....
A person spots an old Vespa or Lambretta online and falls in love with it.......thats's fair enough-who wouldn't?
They check it out from all angles, looks good, it has a great write up by someone who sounds like they know what they are talking about so that gives them some confidence.
They search online and find that other scooters are fetching similar prices all over the world so they decide to think about it some more.
That night they can't get to sleep as they think about how cool it will be to pull up at the coffee shop and watch all the heads turn to check out the old scooters and it's cool rider!
The next day they check it out again, notice someone else is bidding and as they have pictured themselves on it already, riding through the streets with the warm summer air on their face they decide there and then to buy it.
A few weeks and a bit of extra cash later the crate arrives at the port, yipppeeee. They rush down and pay all the appropriate fees to all and sundry, organise to get the crate home, dreaming of their first sidewalk macchiato.
After all the unpacking and admiring from afar it's time to start her up, or at least try to!
This is the step where people start to realise what they've bought into the country and where I usually get all my business from.
Sometimes they'll be lucky and get going for the time being. That might be for 10kms, 100kms or even 1000kms but when things go wrong and they finally have to drop and open the engine they discover things that make their hair curl!
On investigation, one of the very first things they hear from the so called 'people in the know' is ...'can't help you-sorry.'
Most shops just won't touch Asian restored scooters. There's probably some legal reason why Vespa shops won't touch them. This has got to be the single biggest warning sign of them all when doing your purchsing homework. When you ring the bigger Vespa shops in the country and ask "Can you service my old Vespa?" , one of the very first questions they'll ask is where is it from? I'm almost 100% sure they all give you the same answer.
So what do you do if you've bought an Asian restored Vespa and it won't go?
EMAIL ME NOW!
We should be able to get you going again and well enough to pass your roadworthy test which is our goal of course.
You can also look at this phenomenon from another angle completely. This is the scenario I am personally fighting against. Essentially, every single old Vespa or Lambretta coming out of Asia has been restored to death. Despite the restorers thinking they are selling an old scooter to someone to use as transport, in actual fact they've done the opposite. They are modifying them so heavily or the work is of such a poor standard that the new owners dreams of riding a classic scooter to the cafes will never be realised without first having to spend much more hard earned cash on it.
You can also look at this phenomenon from another angle completely. This is the scenario I am personally fighting against. Essentially, every single old Vespa or Lambretta coming out of Asia has been restored to death. Despite the restorers thinking they are selling an old scooter to someone to use as transport, in actual fact they've done the opposite. They are modifying them so heavily or the work is of such a poor standard that the new owners dreams of riding a classic scooter to the cafes will never be realised without first having to spend much more hard earned cash on it.
Scootissimo came about to try to help those people get those old scooters on the road rather than losing them to the Asian Scooter rip off scams, it's bad enough that people have spent thousands already on their scooter dreams, throwing good money after bad hurts even more..
Email now if this sounds like it's happened to you or even someone you know.
We are NOT here to say.."that's what you getwhen you buy a scooter online from Asia"! ...which is all you'll hear from lots of scooter shop people all over the country, believe me! I've heard it all myself!!
We are here to help you, for a reasonable price we'll get you scooting again and what's more..SAFELY!! We'll remove all the crappy scooter bling and home made modifications so you'll pass your roadworthy inspection with flying colours. We don't pass anything back to you with any kind of guarantee (we can't do that) we just get your scooter running smootly and you'll have that long awaited "scooter grin" ...sitting at your local cafe admiring your pride and joy on the footpath.
NEED HELP GETTING YOUR ASIAN RESTORED SCOOTER RUNNING AND FIT FOR REGO?
Email now!!
We CAN Help.
:)
Saturday, 20 December 2008
Jello Biafra's Advice to Obama
If you are up for some in depth reading, I suggest you check out this open letter to Barack Obama from Punk-Rock-Patriarch Jello Biafra. It's the sanest thing I've read in some time.IRAQ – TRY THIS!The closest thing to a solution I have heard was offered clear back in April 2004 by the Organization of the Islamic Conference (www.oic-ico.org). The OIC is comprised of 57 Islamic countries ranging
Thursday, 18 December 2008
Este sábado vamos estar no...
Meninas e meninos, aprumem-se porque temos reunião este sábado, vai ser no local do costume e a coisa promete. O nosso convidado, Mod 64 além de ser músico experiente promete trazer os seus discos 2 Tone, Mod Revival e mais umas quantas armas secretas que prometem abanar a pista de dança do Europa. A partir da meia-noite...
P.S.: Aviso a todos os Scooterboys & girls. Quem tiver capacetes pode deixa-los no
bengaleiro que não paga nada!
Tuesday, 16 December 2008
Então cá vai a dolorosa
Foi com estas palavras que o homem da Honda me fez chegar às mãos a conta da revisão da minha CN. Comprada à apenas dois ou três meses num Stand oficial da Honda em Almeirim, com garantia e com o preço nivelado por alto, esperava mais, ou melhor, esperava pagar menos!
Na verdade, já há algum tempo me sentia um pouco enganado pelo homem de Almeirim. Já nem em senhores de meia idade, de cidades pequenas, uma pessoa se pode fiar. Passados 2000 km, o pessoal da Motorway (desisti da Santomar, demasiado longe, demasiado desatentos) confirmou os meus receios. Nem uma revisão o tipo tinha feito à scooter! Os travões estavam completamente nas lonas, a transmissão precisou de tudo e mais alguma coisa, impressionante. O que eu pensava ser feitio da CN, travagem extremamente dura, sobretudo na frente, afinal era as pastilhas a roçar com o disco e isso pelos vistos já estava assim quando a comprei!
Sem ter trocado nenhum componente fundamenental, como por exemplo o escape (que bem precisa) a brincadeira ficou por mais de 300 Euros! Bem lhe podiam chamar dolorosa, a mim deixou-me a fazer contas à vida.
Saturday, 13 December 2008
Tool Chest
As a kid I was not exposed to working on scooters, motorcycles, or cars. However I did work on my BMXs, mountain bikes, and skateboards, etc. I want to make sure that things are different for my son and he grows up with an appreciation for a clean and organized workshop and a love of scooters . . . so I am starting him young and sadly old for myself.
My dad has some basic tools and a decent work bench, but I recognize I need more. I just bought the Craftsman tool chest (40%+ off) and will slowly fill it with new nice tools to lay along side my current tools. No more 5 gallon buckets to hold my tools. And some day, my son will inherit a scoot from mom and dad and workshop tools to boot.
Wednesday, 10 December 2008
LML Star @ Original Vespa
Ele há dias assim. Dizem.
Andava a adiar uma visita à afamada Original Vespa, para evitar cair em tentações, quando me vi obrigado a lá ir em trabalho. O dia tinha começado sem grandes novidades, o ensaio da carrinha "para chefes de família que não abdicam de carros com patanisca" tinha sido cancelado e o tempo escorria de forma pachorrenta, enquanto eu aguardava que outro trabalho me fosse assignado.
Já estava à espera de ter que fotografar mais uma fornada de livros ou cosméticos no estúdio, quando tomei conhecimento de que a Motociclismo iria fazer um trabalho sobre "essas Vespas Indianas"... A apatia transformou-se rapidamente em entusiasmo, quando me foi atribuída a tarefa de fotografar o dito artigo.
Pouco depois de almoço estávamos em Caneças, na demanda da mítica loja de peças para scooters clássicas. O ambiente é muito particular, há uma certa atmosfera que dificilmente outro estabelecimento consegue ter. Não sei se será da decoração, das muitas scooters cobertas que rodeiam a casa/estabelecimento, se será a forma descontraída com que os clientes são atendidos, muitos deles conhecidos ou mesmo amigos de longa data, a verdade é que a Original Vespa não trai as expectativas de quem já se habituou a escutar palavras de admiração e respeito por este espaço.
Depois, estão as LML. Alinhadas, apertadas a um canto fazem lembrar um punhado de coloridos rebuçados. E são quase tão irresistíveis como um doce seria para uma criança. Vistas de perto, deixamos de ter dúvidas sobre a qualidade, pelo menos aparente, do produto. Estas indianas convencem, a chapa, a pintura, tudo é robusto e aparentemente durável. E claro, são lindas!
Levámos uma LML Star Deluxe laranja para o jardim e ali fizemos as fotos, que poderão ver na próxima Motociclismo. A scooter deixou-me muito bem impressionado, tanto que nem pedi ajuda para muda-la de posição para as fotos, sempre era mais uma oportunidade de eu mexer no bicho...
Se não sabem o que é uma LML, devem ter chegado a esta parte do texto um bocado desorientados. Eu explico: uma LML Star é um clone da Vespa PX, o clássico Italiano criado no final dos anos setenta e descontinuado o ano passado. Ao contrario das scooters de imitação barata chinesas, as LML são feitas na India mediante prévio acordo com a Piaggio, por pessoal e maquinaria que já fabricou as PX para o mercado Indiano. A LML é um dos maiores produtores indianos de motociclos, podem ver uma visita guiada às instalações aqui, cortesia do importador das LML para o UK, Eddy Bullet. Nos EUA as scooters são vendidas como Stella, com bastante sucesso. Na Oceania, chamam-lhe Belladona.
Mais importante que tudo isto, é que actualmente, a LML/Stella/Belladona é a única scooter tradicional de carroçaria em metal e mudanças manuais ainda em produção. E agora eu sei onde elas andam. O Natal está à porta... Vocês estão a ver como isto vai acabar...
O longo e frio inverno de 2008
A falta de posts frescos neste blog está directamente relacionada com a falta de quilómetros realizados de scooter nos tempos mais recentes. Se mal não recordo, a última vez que meti gasolina na CN foi dia 13 de Novembro, há quase um mês. Entre deslocações para fora de Lisboa em trabalho e boleias, tenho usado a scooter em média uma vez por semana.
O frio, a chuva, a revisão da CN que se aproximava a largos passos (será amanhã), e alguma preguiça, tudo se conjugava para deixar a scooter em casa. Ontem, fui acordado para a realidade por dois factores de peso. Primeiro fiquei preso em engarrafamentos várias vezes no mesmo dia, e rapidamente percebi que já não tenho paciência para isso. Depois fui por gasolina no carro e gastei de uma vez quase o orçamento do mês da CN... Reality Check! Passar a vida stressado, enlatado e entalado, contribuir para a riqueza das grandes petrolíferas e os Xeques das Arábias não é para mim!
Além de tudo isto, sinto falta daquela sensação de liberdade que só as duas rodas podem dar.
Ando a planear algumas mudanças na minha vida, a mais importante é a saída de Lisboa para os arredores. Sobre a scooter também recaem algumas hipotéticas alterações, ainda não decidi, mas como sempre, vocês serão os primeiros a saber.
Os segundos, vá.
Eu digo qualquer coisa...
O frio, a chuva, a revisão da CN que se aproximava a largos passos (será amanhã), e alguma preguiça, tudo se conjugava para deixar a scooter em casa. Ontem, fui acordado para a realidade por dois factores de peso. Primeiro fiquei preso em engarrafamentos várias vezes no mesmo dia, e rapidamente percebi que já não tenho paciência para isso. Depois fui por gasolina no carro e gastei de uma vez quase o orçamento do mês da CN... Reality Check! Passar a vida stressado, enlatado e entalado, contribuir para a riqueza das grandes petrolíferas e os Xeques das Arábias não é para mim!
Além de tudo isto, sinto falta daquela sensação de liberdade que só as duas rodas podem dar.
Ando a planear algumas mudanças na minha vida, a mais importante é a saída de Lisboa para os arredores. Sobre a scooter também recaem algumas hipotéticas alterações, ainda não decidi, mas como sempre, vocês serão os primeiros a saber.
Os segundos, vá.
Eu digo qualquer coisa...
Tuesday, 9 December 2008
Dance Craze
Thursday, 4 December 2008
Life Imitates the Illuminatus Trilology
I just have no idea what to make of this story.In the months prior to 9/11, Israeli Art Students with loose links to Israeli Ecstasy traffickers attempted to infiltrate DEA offices; visited DEA agents at their homes; and lived near the 9/11 hi-jackers.If you think this sounds like the ravings of that guy on the bus who smells like stale milk and wears mismatched shoes, I don't blame you. But I
The Poppers em estúdio.
Fomos espreitar...
Pontualidade. Profissionalismo. Poppers. The Poppers.
O Gang foi espreitar os ensaios para o segundo álbum dos The Poppers e gostou do que ouviu.
Continua a sonoridade do primeiro álbum mas agora um pouco mais...garage rock...Kinks...
Mais diverso que o primeiro, mais maduro.
O mesmo com as letras do "face" Rai.
O famoso "fantasma do segundo álbum" não mora aqui.
A ver se a imprensa "culta" continua a ignorar como fez com o primeiro álbum...
E até existe uma música em homenagem ao Gang...
O Rapaz do Chapéu.
Fotos de Elsa V.
Actualização: Durante esta semana, os The Poppers estiveram no Estúdio Valentim de Carvalho em Paço de Arcos, a gravarem os novos temas do álbum, a produção está a cargo do Nuno Rafael.
Sunday, 30 November 2008
Retro-Futurist Bikes
For your Gernsbackian delight, Well Medicated blog has a post up with 45 covers of classic pulp science magazines. Check out the title link for all kinds of groovy domed houses, jet-packs, and flying cars. I have of course selected all the cycle related covers, for your immediate edification.via bOINGbOING
Tuesday, 25 November 2008
Solving Motorcycle Parking Problems
A Kent County man who got fed up with the run-around his requests for two-wheeler specific parking received from the local council, took matters into his own hands and painted the lines for a cycle parking spot himself. This story just made my morning.He painted a space for one motorcycle and carefully added the letters ‘MC’, only to realise there was no way he could park his bike in it. “It
Vespa Gang Mod Club em Novembro...
Mais uma noite daquelas, aconteceu no sábado passado. Numa noite fria, o ambiente esteve bem quente. Muitos habitués marcaram presença e ainda novos membros que nunca tinham posto os pés na nossa pista de dança e na festiva noite com mais groove de Lisboa e arredores. Cool but crazy, Crazy but cool.
O Vespa Gang Mod Club regressa em Dezembro com data a confirmar aqui neste espaço.
O Vespa Gang Mod Club regressa em Dezembro com data a confirmar aqui neste espaço.
Monday, 24 November 2008
Marcus Dairy Prints
Since moving to Fairfield County, I've heard a lot about Marcus Dairy, a local diner which is something of a biker Mecca. "Will you be at the Dairy Sunday?" is the local motorcyclists' version of "See ya later." I hadn't really gotten a chance to go, until Oct. 12, which just happened to be the last "Bike Show" there. No scooters in attendance, but there was plenty of target practice for shooting
Sunday, 23 November 2008
3D CT Animation of Unhelmeted Rider's Head
Check the title link for the most compelling argument for wearing a helmet you'll see this week.
Nissan's EV Strategy
This article on Nissan's plans for moving towards electric vehicle and zero-emissions vehicle production, and their maneuvering for the creation of infrastructure necessary for such a proliferation, is pretty damn interesting:Nissan is bringing the first of their electric cars to market by 2010 in many locations around the United States. According to Alan Buddendeck, Nissan’s VP for North
Cracked TV175 S.3 engine case
I must have the worst luck with engine cases. One of the cases on my wife's Vespa VSC was cracked at a critical point -- a seal. It would be very risky to save the case. She now has good cases, but the numbers don't match. I am now have a TV175 s.3 case with a crack in it. I need to figure out what to with this case. Click on any photo to enlarge to zoom in on the crack.I have no idea if this case was cracked in the move. I doubt it as we were so careful with it. And it was stored in a rubbermaid wrapped tightly in old clothes. I will see if I have any close-up photos of this engine from back in PA to determine if I am the one that cracked it or not.
I don't know if the cases for Lambrettas must match in order to secure a seal and correct compression. It's my novice understanding that the Li 125 & 15o share this same case as the TV175 and the difference is the other case which is stamped. If so, maybe for less money that a TIG weld I could purchase a new case.
If not, I will need a weld. I suspect a TIG weld is the best choice. Either way I will research this and report on what I find.
My father-in-law is a professional welder and knows TIG. If that's my best option than I may ask him to do the work for me at a family discount.
I suspect a TIG weld and a proper grind down could be done for under $100.
The final question I have is . . . is the crack at a non-critical point and can this case be saved?
Please post a comment and make recommendations if you can. I will email my mentors on this issue and post their recommended solutions.
Since this post I have learned:
1) I can purchase an NOS case around $100. Or used for less.
2) Mike Analt from LCUSA wrote:
"That's an easy fix and a common problem. What happens is the front sprocket is either not tightend down when the cover is put on or the sprocket bolt comes loose while running. It dosen't look like it was running when it happend.
Any good alloy welded can fix it, usually around 50 bucks.
When you have it welded be sure to check the crack to make sure it dosen't leak. Lay the case cover inside up and fill the repaired area with solvent (carb cleaner works too). If the weld is bad it will leak, if it's good it won't. the only thing the case cover does is hold the oil in the case and hold the clutch arm (so it works)."
I don't know if the cases for Lambrettas must match in order to secure a seal and correct compression. It's my novice understanding that the Li 125 & 15o share this same case as the TV175 and the difference is the other case which is stamped. If so, maybe for less money that a TIG weld I could purchase a new case.
If not, I will need a weld. I suspect a TIG weld is the best choice. Either way I will research this and report on what I find.
My father-in-law is a professional welder and knows TIG. If that's my best option than I may ask him to do the work for me at a family discount.
I suspect a TIG weld and a proper grind down could be done for under $100.
The final question I have is . . . is the crack at a non-critical point and can this case be saved?
Please post a comment and make recommendations if you can. I will email my mentors on this issue and post their recommended solutions.
Since this post I have learned:
1) I can purchase an NOS case around $100. Or used for less.
2) Mike Analt from LCUSA wrote:
"That's an easy fix and a common problem. What happens is the front sprocket is either not tightend down when the cover is put on or the sprocket bolt comes loose while running. It dosen't look like it was running when it happend.
Any good alloy welded can fix it, usually around 50 bucks.
When you have it welded be sure to check the crack to make sure it dosen't leak. Lay the case cover inside up and fill the repaired area with solvent (carb cleaner works too). If the weld is bad it will leak, if it's good it won't. the only thing the case cover does is hold the oil in the case and hold the clutch arm (so it works)."
3) My mentor Christopher Markley wrote:
"Yeah, JB Weld would do. Clean her up really well inside, JB it, and presto.
If you have it welded, consider that it will likely warp the part a bit, and it would be wise to lap it on a nice granite kitchen countertop or thick piece of plate glass. Then, just make sure to use something like Yamabond when you put it together, for extra sealing protection. Plus it's nice to see an old part stay on the road."
If you have it welded, consider that it will likely warp the part a bit, and it would be wise to lap it on a nice granite kitchen countertop or thick piece of plate glass. Then, just make sure to use something like Yamabond when you put it together, for extra sealing protection. Plus it's nice to see an old part stay on the road."
4) Tom G. wrote:
"Jeremy, Don't sweat this too much. Its just a chaincase cover, so only that has to be replaced (or repaired). The main case component is the rare and expensive one. The chaincase covers are interchangeable between all Li models. As somone already posted on your blog, all this cover has to do is not leak oil. You can epoxy it, weld it, whatever. Or replace it for about $35."
5) Stu Werner wrote:
"Buy a new one."
I have decided to have mine welded by a local LCUSA member and will post a follow-up after I have it done.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)