Next Project: 1980 Bajaj Chetak

The way I understand it, in the late 60's, Vespa built a factory in India to supply the Indian market. For whatever reason, Vespa was unable to operate there and the factory was sold to the Bajaj Motor Company. They began, under license from Vespa, to build the Bajaj Chetak. The scooter was basically an exact (?) clone of the Vespa Sprint and thousands were manufactured. After 1980, the model style changed to a clone of the popular Vespa P200. The Bajaj scooters are considered to be hardy machines

This is one of them. It's a 1980 model in the Sprint style. I am picking this one up next Tuesday and will see how far I can take it. If I can make it nice and sell it to someone to enjoy, that's great. If it just winds up being a dirty little runaround, I am happy about that too. (it did not work out to buy it) I love having a herd of scooters with different personalities. 

Not that I am anthropomorphizing anything....

Next Project: 1978 Vespa P200

This is a 1978 Vespa P200, one of the most popular Vespa models ever made. They are considered quite the workhorse. In my head, any Vespa has value and this one, ugly and not currently running is included.
I spoke with the owner and he said it was mostly complete with some cosmetic work needed. Exactly the sort of bike I love.

It's only parts and the parts make systems and the systems run the bike. If the bike isn't running, a system is failing and IT'S JUST PARTS. It can be dealt with. I am picking this one up in two weeks from today. It will most likely be my regular daily runner and that 200cc engine is sure to keep me thrilled.  I picked up some others scooters locally instead.

(Don't laugh at me you motorcycle riders...)

ET2 clean up and preparation

Scooter Steve helped me figure out the ignition system and also suggested I flood the cylinder with Marvel Mystery Oil overnight. That should help dissolve any deposits that developed while sitting for so long. I also pulled the carburetor and am going to soak it overnight as well and then clean it and rebuild it before I put it back in. I connected up a battery to it today and it seems like it has plenty of compression and will fire up when I have it ready to do so.

Vespa ET2; Stoked about a 2-stroke

I bought this scooter out of the back of a lumber yard today thinking it was a Vespa ET4. I figured I could part the bike out to fund future projects. It turned out to be a Vespa ET2 instead which means it has a 2 stroke 50cc engine. It also means that rather than part it out, I am going to buy a new key and barrel set for the ignition and see if I can fire the thing up. The scooter is mostly complete. The things missing are cosmetic aside from a indicator lens. I tried the kick start and it sounds like it has pretty good compression and why wouldn't it? It's pretty obvious why it it wasn't being driven all these years. 

I just told someone yesterday that I would love another 2 stroke 50cc and here it is!