Hi guys and gals;
I have put an offer in on a 1978 Korean made P125x, I was wondering, should I go for it or should I stay away from it as it is not really a real Vespa (or is it)? I have a scooter (well 2 right now), but a vespa would be great; it is not running and needs the front brakes redone and the headlight replaced (at least). I am not mechanical, but I will learn to be (the hippie, self sustainability thing).
Should I run away or take a chance, and are they very reliable?
Keep dreamin' of the spring
Glenn
(50ccscooter on twitter)
Honda Elite 80
Saga 150
Korean Vespa, buy or run away?
Moderator: Moderators
Cheap enough. Check to see if it was ever registered in Alberta. If not, you will need to do an out-of-province inspection which can be a real hassle. Ask here before going ahead if that is the case.
P125s are slow. Still, given the price, you could kit this engine and, assuming there's not too much other work required, have a good scoot at a good price.
P125s are slow. Still, given the price, you could kit this engine and, assuming there's not too much other work required, have a good scoot at a good price.
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stefansmith
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Mon Feb 13, 2012 10:55 am
I looked into this last year, and Daaren's advice was stay well away!
It's a "Mashin" Korean Vespa. Seems real enough, but also sort of weird. Daaren was worried it may depend on some weird, unique, impossible to find parts.
That's not the biggest reasons to stay away:
First, it was never properly imported. The original Canadian owner (a friend of the seller, supposedly) somehow got the bike here, started to sort out the papers after the fact, but never went all the way with it. So that's a gigantic headache right there.
It appears to have been repainted at some point. Who knows what other dodgy work has been done to the bike.
There's evidence of a sidecar, and with that always come the potentail of frame damage.
I was excited by the price, like anyone else, but the cliche is often true: you get what you pay for.
That's just the advice I received that I thought I'd pass forward. It's also always a bit suspect when something remains for sale for so long (like I said, I initially talked to this guy well over a year ago).
Cheers,
-s.
It's a "Mashin" Korean Vespa. Seems real enough, but also sort of weird. Daaren was worried it may depend on some weird, unique, impossible to find parts.
That's not the biggest reasons to stay away:
First, it was never properly imported. The original Canadian owner (a friend of the seller, supposedly) somehow got the bike here, started to sort out the papers after the fact, but never went all the way with it. So that's a gigantic headache right there.
It appears to have been repainted at some point. Who knows what other dodgy work has been done to the bike.
There's evidence of a sidecar, and with that always come the potentail of frame damage.
I was excited by the price, like anyone else, but the cliche is often true: you get what you pay for.
That's just the advice I received that I thought I'd pass forward. It's also always a bit suspect when something remains for sale for so long (like I said, I initially talked to this guy well over a year ago).
Cheers,
-s.
Last edited by stefansmith on Mon Feb 13, 2012 3:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Korean Vespa, buy or run away?
Hi;
Thanks for the help and advice. much of the joy (to me) is in finding these hidden gems or passing by, so the search continues. By the way, my Elite 80 now runs; poorly, but still it runs (rear brake cable is gummed up). Now does anyone have any idea what I can do about the non functioning lock on the front trunk? There is no mechanism inside and replacements are not available from Honda. I hope that a non locking trunk would not affect the out of province inspection.
My Saga 150 has started up consistently through the winter, that is two Chinese scooters that I have owned that have been trouble free, did I luck out or is the quality better than many people (on the internet) say?
Keep happy and not long now until we are back on the road
Glenn
Thanks for the help and advice. much of the joy (to me) is in finding these hidden gems or passing by, so the search continues. By the way, my Elite 80 now runs; poorly, but still it runs (rear brake cable is gummed up). Now does anyone have any idea what I can do about the non functioning lock on the front trunk? There is no mechanism inside and replacements are not available from Honda. I hope that a non locking trunk would not affect the out of province inspection.
My Saga 150 has started up consistently through the winter, that is two Chinese scooters that I have owned that have been trouble free, did I luck out or is the quality better than many people (on the internet) say?
Keep happy and not long now until we are back on the road
Glenn
Korean Vespa, buy or run away?
Hi;
I guess it will only be an issue when I stop
I guess it will only be an issue when I stop