Fan**ckintastic,
That my friend is a bloody lovely well engineered scooter,
Pat yourself on the back and grab yourself a well earned shot of rum!
Ma Vespa GL150 - GTS 12" Wheels
Fantastic deduction MCH.
Initially I tried a std GTS rear tyre 130/70/13, I got it to fit in the dry build and was going with it right up to the final build. But the main problem I had was not with touching the swing arm, but on the first test rides I found it touched the frame where it indents around the back of the carb. It was too close for comfort anyway against the exhaust bolt and as you suggest on the swing arm curve. Considering the expansion in the tyre at high speed I didnt like how close it was all round. I was just being greedy and wanted a f**k off wide tyre at the back. So dropped it to a 120/70/13 and now it has plenty of clearance and still looks good. The front was just as much a problem. Couldnt use a standard GTS front, as using a PX fork its closer to the tyre, obviously designed for a thin std 10x3.50 wheel. But with a few trial and error tyre purchases I got there in the end.
I did consider LX wheels and even purchased a set. But to be honest they look shite. There is so much difference between them and a GTS wheel if I was to go big wheels I was going the whole hog ! Front shock was from an LX however. Its 210mm high compared with a standard PX at 255mm. Thats the shortest I could go, any shorter and you have problems with the fork link being the wrong angle. As the original GL mudguard is slim it needed a bulge added on the side over the shock. Had I used a rally one I may not had needed it. But I was trying to keep the original parts and look of the GL150 in tact.
Yep Sean the engine had to be cut and shifted to the right, this was around an inch from memory. Made a SIP wide wheel kit spacer seem like a coke can shim ! But this had many adverse effects. Weight on the right side, with the engine now even more to the right and with a P2 lump it was damn heavy. So a counter balance in the side glove box was needed. I bought a load of lead weight ingots from a roofing company and kept adding one more until I was happy. The engine side panel was a problem also, on the GL its quite slim and would no longer fit as the cylinder was now out further and stopping it. So it had to be extended out. Luckily this was spotted this before it was painted. An extra inch was added to the front of the panel but kept it the same at the back to retain the look from the rear. Stand also, originally it had a centre stand but the exhaust was now in the way once it was put up. So had to opt for a side stand. Not my original choice as I'm not keen on the whole carb flooding and starting issues but long as I remember to turn of the fuel when parked its fine. I felt everytime I did one thing it created 3 more problems to solve. But hey after some head scratching it comes together albeit slowly.
Now its built, I wanna build another
I can use all the knowledge and then add some more features like a rear disc brake for example. Should be a lot quicker 2nd time around as well.
But it would mean selling this one to fund the next project.
any offers lol !
Initially I tried a std GTS rear tyre 130/70/13, I got it to fit in the dry build and was going with it right up to the final build. But the main problem I had was not with touching the swing arm, but on the first test rides I found it touched the frame where it indents around the back of the carb. It was too close for comfort anyway against the exhaust bolt and as you suggest on the swing arm curve. Considering the expansion in the tyre at high speed I didnt like how close it was all round. I was just being greedy and wanted a f**k off wide tyre at the back. So dropped it to a 120/70/13 and now it has plenty of clearance and still looks good. The front was just as much a problem. Couldnt use a standard GTS front, as using a PX fork its closer to the tyre, obviously designed for a thin std 10x3.50 wheel. But with a few trial and error tyre purchases I got there in the end.
I did consider LX wheels and even purchased a set. But to be honest they look shite. There is so much difference between them and a GTS wheel if I was to go big wheels I was going the whole hog ! Front shock was from an LX however. Its 210mm high compared with a standard PX at 255mm. Thats the shortest I could go, any shorter and you have problems with the fork link being the wrong angle. As the original GL mudguard is slim it needed a bulge added on the side over the shock. Had I used a rally one I may not had needed it. But I was trying to keep the original parts and look of the GL150 in tact.
Yep Sean the engine had to be cut and shifted to the right, this was around an inch from memory. Made a SIP wide wheel kit spacer seem like a coke can shim ! But this had many adverse effects. Weight on the right side, with the engine now even more to the right and with a P2 lump it was damn heavy. So a counter balance in the side glove box was needed. I bought a load of lead weight ingots from a roofing company and kept adding one more until I was happy. The engine side panel was a problem also, on the GL its quite slim and would no longer fit as the cylinder was now out further and stopping it. So it had to be extended out. Luckily this was spotted this before it was painted. An extra inch was added to the front of the panel but kept it the same at the back to retain the look from the rear. Stand also, originally it had a centre stand but the exhaust was now in the way once it was put up. So had to opt for a side stand. Not my original choice as I'm not keen on the whole carb flooding and starting issues but long as I remember to turn of the fuel when parked its fine. I felt everytime I did one thing it created 3 more problems to solve. But hey after some head scratching it comes together albeit slowly.
Now its built, I wanna build another
I can use all the knowledge and then add some more features like a rear disc brake for example. Should be a lot quicker 2nd time around as well. But it would mean selling this one to fund the next project.
any offers lol !-
iheartoldskool
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lol i wish i could make you an offer on it!! :bigsm: