Sure, I spend most of my time bitching and complaining, but that's what makes me so damn cuddly. This time I am going to give you two-million people here some real advice. Gas prices are quickly hitting $5 and hordes of people are looking into scooters as basic transportation. Good choice. We (me, the mouse in my pocket, and my dirtbag friends) tend to specialize in old Vespa and Lambretta scooters, but try to stay up on all things scooter. People are flocking to Ebay and Craigslist looking for cool vintage scooters with fresh paint and shiney chrome. I am telling you to watch out for Vietnam imports if you are thinking of going this route. There are bunch of ways to tell. First, read Eric's post on how to identify these rolling death traps
here. Now let me tell you about a 1966 Vespa VBC a buddy gave me that was Viet-tacular!
So, my buddy decides to be nice to me and shells out $1700 for a scooter in pieces because he knows I am into old Vespas. I thank him, take this thing home, and start tearing it down. Never take someone else's project as being road safe. The damn thing was a bondo wreck with the engine Viet-welded (known as JB Weld) and tons of silicon sealant. I messed with it for a few days, got it running, but decided the engine was shot and sold it to another buddy for $750, which is closer to what it was really worth. He messed with it, put in a new engine, then started finding wiring problems and cable problems and fuel problems and brake problems. He eventually sold it with full disclosure to somebody for $1000 with new motor. This thing was not only a piece of crap, but also a death trap. The person buying it from him only wanted the motor and the rest got trashed.
So, if you are going the route of buying a scooter and want vintage, get with your local dealer and buy something good. Or better yet, get with one of the shops advertising in Scoot! magazine
here. See, I am finally being nice to you people. BTW, scooters, even vintage, get ~70 MPG. Get one. Join a club. Have fun. Drink beer. Get nekked.
