Vespa Club of Britain forum

Hey everyone thought I would introduce myself and my first vespa. I'm a 19 year old student in London and for years I have longed for a classic vespa and finally I had an oppurtunity to get one. I was into the whole VW scene before but that was not possible for me to pursue in London so I sold my car and then came weeks of searching for the rite vespa, finally found it, bought the scoot a few weeks back and its currently getting some mot work done on it at Scooterworks and its getting re-registered. Should be on the road in next couple of days. It is a 1959 Vespa Douglas 125 in egg shell blue, had a rebuild but is completley standard and thats hows its gonna stay. Can't wait to ride around London, riding it on a CBT to start with its going to be interesting coming to terms with the gears. I will post some pics later when I can link them. James

I cant post until I have at least 5 postings so whats the best way to secure the scooter in london? Any recomendations?

What chain locks should I use and are there any simple ways to make it harder to steal?

Will get some better pics up when I get it on the road, James

looks yummy
if i was going to chain it up i would put one through theforks to somthing like a lamp post.

that looks the mutts nutts love the colour

Make sure you put at least two locks and chains on it. The best you can afford. And use a ground anchor at home. They will have it if you give them the opputunity. And thatd be a big shame, its really nice. Go careful.
Harry

I'd chain a nasty rottweiller to it

Cheers for the response. A ground anchor is not an option as I'm not at home. It will be kept in a locked area most nights with a security guard on shift at the entrance and cctv on hand. But this mite not always be possible if they get arsey with me wheeling it through the building. I'm just worried about the times when it wont be which is going to happen at some point. The fact that it has no keys also worries me slighty. Apart from the front forks where else can I chain, around the body? to something. I've seen those video's on youtube were they test top of the range chains and they cut them in seconds so I think its a waste to spend over £40 on a chain, its joyriders and random opportunists I want to stop, if someone is really good they can steal anything. Apart from chains are there any other things to use? Alarms are a bit pricy for me at the moment and they will only drain the battery and besides no-one pays attention to them nowdays. I've seen the disc locks with built in alarms they look good what is the alternative if any for a classic vespa? Anyone hide a switch somewhere for the ignition? Cheers James

Great looking scooter worth putting a cut out switch/ignition switch in the lockable tool box on the sidepanel..

love the scoot, got a real continental look to it

Thats a great scooter you got there, a real peach for a 1st time ride. Take good care of it!!
cheers

OHH the memories. I had one of those in 1980 it was my first scoot and i paid £50 for it.
Painted it Black and green hammerite then rung the tits of it.
Happy days.

hi beatneckkid,
Nice looking scooter,I will post a pic on the main vcb website members scooters page if you don't mind?

Yeh sure, I will put some better pics up soon of me riding it in soho or sumthin less predictable! It is going to stay as it is, maybe a clip on mirror on the leg shield and a sticker that says "My other ride is a 66 Chevy Nova" (I wish) I will be riding it on a CBT, so no chicks till I've got a few weeks under my belt. Just bought a Modena Open faced helmet from Scooterworks in Waterloo, now that is one nice chilled place and nice coffee think I will be going there a lot more with the Vespa. Just waiting for the papers to come back should have been back last week buts thats the DVLA for you, I hope the age related regestration is good aswell. One slight hitch though, I have never ridden a manual vespa before so that should be interesting when I go to pick it up. I think some practice laps will be needed. James