I realise they are a Pandora's box. (now there's a thought, Pandora's Box)

I'm sure Dave from Britain will have the photos:) Don't post them here though Dave, you'll get into trouble!

A recent 150 Sprint needed over $800 worth of work to get to the stage of being 'roadworthy' and by this I mean brakes and suspension.

A huge "This scooter appears to have extensively been repaired with 'automotive filler' and I have not opened the engine up to inspect it and I recommend changing the tyres and tubes for a more reputable brand such as..." was noted on the bill along with the repairs that were detailed.

The most amazing thing were the home made rear brake shoes. They were very dangerous as they were the wrong shape! Considering Vespa brake shoes are available for $23 AUS, this was representative of the corners that are cut when a scooter is restored in Vietnam.

LOL

Tall, white corporate guy, cargo shorts and polo shirt, clean cut, friendly.

"Oh! This isn't a Vespa!"

"No, it's a Bajaj, kind of a Vespa....Piaggio, etc, etc"

"Yeah, I know about them...anyway. I just bought three scooters in Vietnam and they're sitting in Atlanta. Do you think they'd sell up here?"

"What are they? Are they restored?"

"Oh yeah, completely restored. They're all mid-60's bikes. I just got a good deal on them and couldn't pass it up."

"Yeah, they'll sell."

-pause-

"So, are there any shops around here that work on scooters?"

"Vespa Washington up in Silver Spring"

"Ok, cool... see you around. Nice Bajaj."

Me: Puke.

The problem is that guys like that have no IDEA that the restorations are crap. They see scooters. They see pretty paint. They see chrome. They see exchange rate.

Gosh. Idiots.

A related problem might be that people who DO have an idea aren't willing to clue those guys in when the opportunity arises. Not that it's your responsibility, but it seems like you had a perfect opportunity to politely educate him.

In case anyone buys the Certificate, I have a 2 page Word document I can send you, so that you can send to people that 'Buy' I believe it is useful advice. It offers advice on where to look for a scooter and what to look at when you have found one. It includes spotting the badly restored ones.

Email me at redgreenANDwhitepxATyahoo.com.au and I can send it. It's 71kb.

I agree you should have had a go at the tosser!

Hell his bikes could have been 100% correct restorations with the best parts available.

My only option would be to say "Most bikes out of 'Nam are shit, so you should have a mechanic check them out before you try to sell them to anyone" which I contemplated doing but the guy is going to sell his bikes regardless.

He specifically asked about selling in D.C. and I check the DC Craigslist (which is where I told him to post them when they arrive) and can move forward from there with checking them out and then telling him whether they're crap or not.

Good thing about DC CL is that you can post anonymously on there about bikes you've checked out and tell people they're crap.

I have had 3 sales on the first day. The main thing however is to NOT to actually get sales as they are time consuming.

If someone were to email me I would describe what is in the document. The document does exist. Posting the full document plays into the hands of the dodgy sharks.

It is a 2 page Word document printed and ready to go.

I also have included my email and have said I would be willing to offer further advice if needed.

There is nothing in the document I could be sued on but it is hard hitting!

I just don't want to see any more people duped. It's bad and it's bad for scootering.

Hopefully someone does. I just checked out what's up now and there's a lot of asian stuff.

And for those of you who have somewhat followed my lame story, I broke down and bought a Stella. The two-tone Vespaj is sitting in my garage. It taunts me every time I walk past it.

-Nicolet.

Or we could just all make some page of the various "before" photos and then the internal photos and then the "after" price-tag.

Seems like something scooterhelp, scoot.net or this page could host. Then that could be posted all over every craigslist and ebay site anyone wants to. I don't see how that plays into any of the sharks's hands.

Still, it's buyer beware. I was a newbie not long ago and I learned quickly when reading ScootRS's site and here that these bikes are crap. Anyone that bids on eBay but doesn't take the time to actually research what they're buying deserves what they get. I mean, what's the train of thought there? First time browsing bikes on ebay and $3000 to burn? Oh, shiney, okay, I'll ship it half way round the world. Sheesh. Just one Vespa search on google will take you to both ScootRS (where the bargain hunters will definitely be drawn to, as was I) and this site.

If it saves one person, it's worth it. If it saves person a big headache on potential repairs or whatever, it's worth it too.

John F.

I don't believe I am generalising. All of the Vietnamese and Indonesian Vespas and Lambrettas I've personally seen here and I've seen at least 20, have had faults, most of them have had major faults. (They are not all from the same company either!)

These are scooters that people have paid $5,000 for and are described as completely restored, with the following parts replaced.... listed.

These scooters are being mis represented on E bay either by the overseas agent, an agent/dealer here in Australia or are being sold by the owner who bought it first up and is passing the junk along. The parts listed haven't been replaced. The bodywork contains excessive 'automotive body filler', panels have been significantly altered, brakes and suspension are dangerous etc etc.

In a word, they are shoddy.

A mate of mine who runs a reputable scooter shop has just finished restoring an Li series 3 for a customer. The scooter is absolutely superb!
I've seen the parts inventory for the restoration and the parts total well over $5,000 AUS alone and these are at wholesale prices!

If the parts in these Vietnamese scooters had really been changed in the restoration they would have to charge a lot more, wouldn't you agree?

They probably have been changed.

Changed from worn out original parts to home made crap parts.....coke can shims anyone?

And before anyone starts, yes I have stripped a Viet resto engine and found these, and so have others in the UK...(Scooter Surgery to name but one. The stripdown of this engine was covered in full in 'Scootering')
and home-made engine mounts, and lethal brakes (better described as 'no brakes at all') ...and 'cut & Shut' frames on both Vespas and Lambrettas...and restamped engines......

I'm not sayng this is representative of ALL Vietnamese restos....

I AM saying that MOST (not all) are utter shit, and not safe to be on the road.

Who'd object to that? Maybe we should start some Aussie v Kiwis banter to break up the monotony of the Brits v Yanks debates. We can refer to your convict heritage, you can fire back sheep jokes...You laugh at our league team, we'll mock your rugby team.......LOL.

Neither of these have moved in price in the last few days.

As for the bloke in the USA coming onto this thread and saying he brings well restored Vespas into the states. Why not mention your business name if you
are proud of your scooters?

If you mentioned your business name, owners of your imported Vietnamese scooters could then let us know what they think of your scooters. and the service you provide.

Until then, people like myself and GS160 Guy are free to 'generalise'

I still believe that it is impossible to fully restore a Vespa Sprint, including replacing all the parts that these people claim they have replaced, with quality parts, then ship the scooter and still make a profit when it is sold for say $4,000 AUS.

Corners have to be cut. And they are!

I reckon what you're doing is great. Even though I live in country NSW I have people ask me about the Vespa's that are on ebay and the net. I always give them the truth, warts and all.

I notice that there's also a bloke in Perth selling what look like Danmotors from Indonesia on ebay. He's also selling lots of small parts which also look like they're from Indonesia of Vietnam.

There's also a shop in Sydney who are selling parts and other stuff which they don't know about. Case in point they had a horn for sale. I emailed them and asked 6v or 12v AC or DC and got a response all horns are the same.

I'll hit you on your email address in the coming months as Dubbo draws closer to coordinate travel. My scooter is currently being painted and should be back in a few weeks. the PX200e motor is ready to be dropped in and I've got a new harness and fork to go on.

Paddy

http://www.dubbo2005.com

The ones in Perth on E bay do look like Danmotors ones or possibly they are from Malaysia?

Shop in Sydney, would it have been Gasoline? Mixed report on them I've read. Bajajs allegedly re badged as Vespas, SILs allegedly sold as Italian etc etc.

Thanks also to all those kind people who have contacted me to show their support in all of this.

If anyone else would like the Word Doc. (71kb) 2 pages, please email me at redgreenandwhitepxATyahoo.COM.au

The document could easily be used elsewhere by changing Australia twice for your country of origin!

I'll try and make Dubbo, if I can get off work.

Jo

Interesting to have it confirmed on the re badging front with reference to Gasoline in Sydney.

Have any other readers here had experience of scooters being re badged etc???

Eg Bajaj to Vespa, SIl to Lambretta.