Awesome 2 stroke

[springer1]

Jump to 12:20 on the attached video and checkout the ride on this Vespa with a custom engine. If nothing else, you can see how the clutch and gearshift are integrated in the the left handlebar / grip / lever. I rode a 150cc Vespa (actually it was a "Stella") for 4 years and it was awesome fun, but 2 stroke Stellas have a tendency of seizing at speed once they get mileage on them - so I sold it and thus have the PCX.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmlgEP-ihls

[PCX150Rider]

Cool video.

The oncoming white car near the end looked "over the line".

I had hoped for a Stella a couple of years ago but after reading about the problems I decided against it. The newer version they introduced had electrical problems and an ECU recall right at the get-go. Sadly the manufacturer, LML, has decided not to produce them anymore so the last vestige of the old Vespa P200 type scooters, as the Stella exemplified, is no longer available.

That being said the PCX works for me. . .. It's not "retro" but it is certainly reliable, economical, performs well, and parts or dealerships/service is widely available.

[Mel46]

How many quarts of oil per mile??

[easyrider]

Reminds me of those clown cars from yesteryear.. Not for me to drive , but definitely something for the shelf.

[springer1]

How many quarts of oil per mile??

Not much. The spec was a 2% mix, provided by the bike's auto-lube (no manual mixing required). But I thought that was a bit short so I also mixed 1% to to the fuel. But not before I first added a CHT (Cylinder Head Temperature) gauge to get baseline stock engine head temps in real time in various ride conditions ...... I wanted the baselines to compare engine temps with after I made oil mix and fuel jetting changes.

Adding oil to the fuel actually leans out the fuel mix because the added oil displaces fuel - so you can wind up with a well lubricated piston seized from excess heat from a lean mix.

So I richened both the high end and mid range jets to compensate for both the added oil and to also make sure the stock engine wasn't a bit lean in order for them to meet EPA requirements. I've been around a while, and I never heard of ANY 2 stroke guys mixing just 2% oil. Many people just let the auto-lube do the 2%, but I didn't feel comfortable with it.

Anyways, I never had any problems - and the new 2T synthetics burn so clean that 3% resulted in zero carbon or ash buildup in the combustion chamber that I could find, even with the richened fuel jets.

[Mister Paul]

Nowt wrong with a proper Vespa. Had a PX125 years ago. They're holding their value over here now, so I'll have another one in the not too distant.