So you’re thinking of buying a vintage scoot?

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Posted by: Paul

7 April 2009 908 views No Comment

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I can tell you from personal experience that the reason I run around on a modern Vespa is because I used to do it on a vintage Lambretta. And that wasn’t for show, it was my primary mode of transportation and therein lay my mistake. 9 times out of 10 my bike was either in the shop or the garage for a tinkering. Now admittedly, the bike had “problems.”

My policy moving forward? A modern scoot for the day-to-day, a vintage for weekend glamor.

If, however, you’re a vintage newbie and you’ve considered a vintage scoot for your day-to-day (hell if you’re considering one for anything) it’s important you give the prospective bike a thorough going over before you purchase. But what should you be looking out for?

The always-excellent folks over at Scooter Lounge have put together a couple of indispensable before you buy guides for both vintage Vespas and Lambrettas.

Much like a used car purchase, warped bodywork can be an indication that the bikes been in a crash at in it’s history. Now every vintage scoot is going to come with it’s dings and scrapes, but if this is in the area where the floorboards meet the leg-shield, as Scooter Lounge say “walk away.”

The engine? Scooter Scoop says you can learn a lot about the bike from a quick look at the spark plug:

A black electrode indicates a rich mixture, which may indicate poor jetting resulting in excessive carbon build up on the piston, ports and exhaust.

Their most salient tip? Know that with every missing piece (if it’s your intention to restore) comes an added cost. Most of these bikes are over 30 years old now and trackign down parts can become exhausting.

Read the full guides, and get in-depth model by model advice by visiting the Scooter Lounge.