Best Vespa model ever made in my opinion. I still have a 1981 totally rebuilt one. Most reliable vehicle i've ever owned-keep it serviced and it will never let you down. Greetings from Plymouth, England
My first scooter. I'm in Denver, September, ending my vacation to Rocky Mountain National park. It is 1981. Banned 2-strokes were being loaded on to a semi. Paid $1,000 for a brand new white p200e and then extra $90 for the Vespa windshield. Drove it home to Chicago in two days on the I70/I80. Varying speeds and watching for traffic. Carefully broke it in the first day. Changed oil about 1/2 way and eventually rode it throttle pinned (about 65 on the speedo) back to Wrigley field. Remember, 55mph was the supposed national speed limit. Got stopped by State Trooper for too small bike. Got off after explaining this is the BIG Vespa. 15 horsepower or 150cc being legal on the Interstates. I thought the Vespa rode as smooth has my '65 /2 500cc BMW. But it was twitchier at speed until I learned to perch on the seat and very lightly hold the handle bars. No horsing around. All in all two 500 mile days behind the windshield and the Vespa lowers, very pleasant. Then, it was great city bike. Rode 2-up easily anywhere. After six months and six thousand miles it was stolen. I had no insurance. Heartbroken when the insurance man told me I could have had full coverage for $30 a year. Still have the /2 and I would have kept the P200e:-)
Since I did manage a few kilometers on a vespa for the last 20 years now, and some tourism on them too, I can tell You a few thinks about these wasps. As for the killer switch, it is probably dirty. Open it, some brushing & some ELECTRO - CLEAN & you are ready to go.If not, some soldering at the wire connections with the conducts will probably put back everything in order. Same goes at the key. It actually works as a permanently killer switch. At least for Europe that is. The gear handle has an indicator that presents the neutral. It is a ball shape scar. It must have the ability to play about half centimeter in order to be sure that the gears are correctly tuned. And the clutch wire, when it is well tuned, it must be relatively light. At the one third of its pull, whe the engine is operating must be changing the sound of the engine. If so then, everything seams to be right. Now... All Vespas, even the Indian copies have a problem to go from 3rd to 2nd gear, or the opposite. There is a trick. When You have fully throttled the 2nd gear close the gas handle and let the inertia of the motorcycle to strike on the gear. The extra weight will assist the clutch to receive the next gear more easily - with the relative GLANG!! ofcourse. Same on the third gear, to go to the second. If this, cannot be the case, then let the revolutions drop and with the clutch pulled and with a dry gas pull, drop the 2nd gear. Hope that helped. Happy ridings!
+Friday'sThe Bomb I know how you feel, mine is standing 5 meters away in the garden, but its snow on the streets so it feels like 2k miles. Is it yours? Its a beauty and i guess very rare in your country?
+Angry Ahab my dad bought it in 1984 and garaged it nearly since then. he gave it to me, and I got it running for a summer, but then i moved away. I'd say it's our Vespa I guess, and yes, they pretty rare over here. I've never seen another vintage model on the street before.
Friday'sThe Bomb Keep it, it´s a Gem! Cool to see that also in the US there are people which love Vespa, cause here in Europe its pretty usual. Here in Vienna there are in summer more Vespas on the street than cars. Hope you have the possibility to drive it again soon, cause Vespa driving is the coolest thing on earth. 12hp but way more fun than in a 500hp car!
+Angry Ahab I love it, its is such a blast man. it's never really run very well. eventually I'll have it in my own garage, but it will take some money to make it run right.
nice bike and love the sound. I am surprised you say it does 50 mph, as it's a 200, I have a 2014 primavera 125, just manges 65 mph. I think all Vespas are awesome. I have never been on an older Vespa so have no idea how they feel, only vertual ride by watching videos like yours, thanks for uploading.
why did it stop? You MISTEREATED it, so it protested! It is a VESPA you are riding - and vespas are people too! Remember. And yes I own one. Two in fact.
Nice video and nice ride, i'm pulling mine out this saturday for the fist time this year..... If you whant i can send you my video from italy. Let me know
+john mott I am lol. I haven't been able to get it tuned correctly. I spoke to a shop that told me it could be a vacuum leak from an internal seal. He quoted me around $500 for the job so I told him to forget it. some day I'll go through it myself.
Friday'sThe Bomb It would be better to reduce gears at a lower speed.Only engage first gear while idling.You know, less sound while shifting the langer the cross will last .
Best Vespa model ever made in my opinion. I still have a 1981 totally rebuilt one. Most reliable vehicle i've ever owned-keep it serviced and it will never let you down. Greetings from Plymouth, England
My first scooter. I'm in Denver, September, ending my vacation to Rocky Mountain National park. It is 1981. Banned 2-strokes were being loaded on to a semi. Paid $1,000 for a brand new white p200e and then extra $90 for the Vespa windshield. Drove it home to Chicago in two days on the I70/I80. Varying speeds and watching for traffic. Carefully broke it in the first day. Changed oil about 1/2 way and eventually rode it throttle pinned (about 65 on the speedo) back to Wrigley field. Remember, 55mph was the supposed national speed limit. Got stopped by State Trooper for too small bike. Got off after explaining this is the BIG Vespa. 15 horsepower or 150cc being legal on the Interstates. I thought the Vespa rode as smooth has my '65 /2 500cc BMW.
But it was twitchier at speed until I learned to perch on the seat and very lightly hold the handle bars. No horsing around. All in all two 500 mile days behind the windshield and the Vespa lowers, very pleasant.
Then, it was great city bike. Rode 2-up easily anywhere. After six months and six thousand miles it was stolen. I had no insurance. Heartbroken when the insurance man told me I could have had full coverage for $30 a year. Still have the /2 and I would have kept the P200e:-)
Wow, what a rocket! It remember when I was young, thank you and greetings from Italy!
Thanks!
Uguale alla mia p200e solo che è rossa rifatta bella e perfetta,senza miscelatore e rigorosamente messa in moto a piedivella😊
I had one of those back in the day, really miss it. Thanks!
Since I did manage a few kilometers on a vespa for the last 20 years now, and some tourism on them too, I can tell You a few thinks about these wasps.
As for the killer switch, it is probably dirty. Open it, some brushing & some ELECTRO - CLEAN & you are ready to go.If not, some soldering at the wire connections with the conducts will probably put back everything in order. Same goes at the key. It actually works as a permanently killer switch. At least for Europe that is.
The gear handle has an indicator that presents the neutral. It is a ball shape scar. It must have the ability to play about half centimeter in order to be sure that the gears are correctly tuned. And the clutch wire, when it is well tuned, it must be relatively light. At the one third of its pull, whe the engine is operating must be changing the sound of the engine. If so then, everything seams to be right. Now... All Vespas, even the Indian copies have a problem to go from 3rd to 2nd gear, or the opposite. There is a trick. When You have fully throttled the 2nd gear close the gas handle and let the inertia of the motorcycle to strike on the gear. The extra weight will assist the clutch to receive the next gear more easily - with the relative GLANG!! ofcourse. Same on the third gear, to go to the second. If this, cannot be the case, then let the revolutions drop and with the clutch pulled and with a dry gas pull, drop the 2nd gear. Hope that helped. Happy ridings!
Nice Vespa, and cool video! Im looking to buy a 1979 P200, theyre super sweet! Thanks man
Nice ride bro! Can´t wait until winter is over, i´m looking hours of Vespa videos as a substitute. Greetings from Austria!
+Angry Ahab I miss this bike. currently its located 2k miles from me in a friends garage :(
+Friday'sThe Bomb I know how you feel, mine is standing 5 meters away in the garden, but its snow on the streets so it feels like 2k miles. Is it yours? Its a beauty and i guess very rare in your country?
+Angry Ahab my dad bought it in 1984 and garaged it nearly since then. he gave it to me, and I got it running for a summer, but then i moved away. I'd say it's our Vespa I guess, and yes, they pretty rare over here. I've never seen another vintage model on the street before.
Friday'sThe Bomb Keep it, it´s a Gem! Cool to see that also in the US there are people which love Vespa, cause here in Europe its pretty usual. Here in Vienna there are in summer more Vespas on the street than cars. Hope you have the possibility to drive it again soon, cause Vespa driving is the coolest thing on earth. 12hp but way more fun than in a 500hp car!
+Angry Ahab I love it, its is such a blast man. it's never really run very well. eventually I'll have it in my own garage, but it will take some money to make it run right.
nice bike and love the sound. I am surprised you say it does 50 mph, as it's a 200, I have a 2014 primavera 125, just manges 65 mph. I think all Vespas are awesome. I have never been on an older Vespa so have no idea how they feel, only vertual ride by watching videos like yours, thanks for uploading.
1960ARC I have no idea how these vintage ones are supposed to feel. ive had some people tell me this bike should go faster and be smoother.
I had a 1980 Vespa p200e & it was standard & would easily do 75mph & 80 on a motorway flying along all standard
Hi !
what is your top speed for each gear ??
It seems your idle jet is dirty or the whole carburetor , clean it and it will be ok.
I got one too !
vespas125 i don't recall the top speed for each gear, sorry. I'll try cleaning the jets next time.
why did it stop? You MISTEREATED it, so it protested! It is a VESPA you are riding - and vespas are people too! Remember. And yes I own one. Two in fact.
Ce l'ho.... marzo 1981
Nice video and nice ride, i'm pulling mine out this saturday for the fist time this year..... If you whant i can send you my video from italy. Let me know
sure if it's on youtube
From the sound your having problems with the carburator
+john mott I am lol. I haven't been able to get it tuned correctly. I spoke to a shop that told me it could be a vacuum leak from an internal seal. He quoted me around $500 for the job so I told him to forget it. some day I'll go through it myself.
+Friday'sThe Bomb RMS Serie guarnizioni vespa px arcobaleno 200 con miscelatore Engine gasket set p200e automatic mixer www.amazon.it/dp/B00NMEZH5O/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_LfHXwb4SENHFR
+Friday'sThe Bomb how you doing? I posted some new vids of my vespa.....
Idle jet
Where is the shifter
srsg 24 The left hand lever is rotated forward and back when the clutch lever is engaged
90% of what's on screen is just nameless, faceless highway
Brasil. UA-cam Luciano Vidal do Nascimento. Nice...
Youre mixture is to weak.Big chance of overheating.And the way you drive the internal gearshiftercross wont last long.
Don Rueda alright, so tell me how to drive.
Friday'sThe Bomb It would be better to reduce gears at a lower speed.Only engage first gear while idling.You know, less sound while shifting the langer the cross will last .