Step 2:Next step is to remove the light and cell phone charger jack. Remove the screws securing the battery cover and carburettor cover.  Remove the 4 bolts securing the “met-in” box and lift it out to the scooter.

Step 3: View the seat/ “met-in” box removed

Step 4: Remove the screws and small plastic panels on both sides

Step 5: Remove 2 bolts holding black plastic to the frame. Remove 2 screws near gas cap. Remove screw in colored plastic at the body seam and the  screw attaching colored plastic to black plastic in engine compartment.

Step 6: Remove black plastic piece (with lid to gas cap) and replace gas cap.

Step 7: Note the flexibility of the colored plastic body. This will allow for removal of the valve cover in a bit.

Step 8: The part circled in red is the valve cover. This is what must be removed before you can inspect valves.

Removal of the valve cover requires the removal of 4 bolts, 2 nuts and 2 hoses.

The top 2 bolts and top hose can be seen in this picture. (circled in green)

Step 9: Now to the bottom right half of the valve cover. Remove the bolt and hose. The bolts and nuts can be removed with standard wrenches.

Step 10: Remove the 4th bolt and two nuts on the bottom left of the valve cover.

You will probably observe the valve cover separate from the cylinder head a bit. A little oil may drip from the now separated parts.

Now on to the trickiest part of the job, removing the valve cover from the bike. To do this, push down on the back half of the bike to change the orientation of the engine relative to the frame. Whilst you are doing this with you right hand, try to wiggle valve cover free with your left. Flex the colored body plastic (not too much) to make a gap a gap for the cover to slip through. This may take several tries, but you will get it eventually. Just think of the time saved by not taking all the body plastic off.

Step 11: Next get the engine to stop dead center. To do this you will have to turn the engine by hand while you look at the two visual indicators.

Begin by removing the three bolts holding the chrome piece onto the crank case. (note that oil filer is dangerously close to one of the bolts. Make sure the oil filer is blocked when removing the bolts to prevent bolts from dropping into your engine.)  Remove the circular hatch (upper left) part with a screw driver.

Step 12: Sandwiched between the fly wheel and the chrome plate you just removed is small easy to loose part. (see spring next to it.)

Step 13: With a 19mm sprocket, begin rotating the engine clockwise.

Step 14: The engine will be at “TDC” when the “T” mark on the flywheel aligns with the index mark on the case and the circle timing chain sprocket is visible.

Step 15: Select the blade on a feeler guage with a thickness of 0.1mm and slide into the gap as shown. If the blade will not fit the gap, the gap is too tight and must be let out 0.1mm.

If the blade is not be contacted on both sides, the gap is too big and must be closed 0.1mm

If its clear that the blade is being contacted both sides and passed through the gap with a small amount of friction, you are in good shape.

Step 16: If the valves need adjustment loosen the nut (see image below) and either unscrew or screw by hand until the proper gap is reached. Hold the adjusting screw in place with an adjustable wrench while you tighten down the nut.

Inspect the gap with feeler gauge to ensure the gap did not change while you where tightening the nut down.

Step 17: You may want to get an extra gasket on hand before you do your adjustment. Although the seal is rubber and reusable, it does wear out over time and can be damaged in the process. You never know exactly what you are going to find out when the cover is off so its better to be prepared.

Thats it! You just saved $100+ and now you know even more about the scooter you love. Now if you kept everything organized assembly should be quick and painless.

US Vespa Dealers

• First place you want to visit is: http://www.vespausa.com/dealers/zips.cfm This page on the VespaUSA site has a search function for both state and town. This page will give you an idea of authorised VespaUSA dealers but does not list the independents.

• Second place you want to visit: http://www.vespasuperstore.com/ This site covers the following areas: FORT LAUDERDALE, MIAMI and PALM BEACH. If your near San Francisco then http://www.firstkick.com/ should be checked out.

• Third place you want to visit: http://www.scootrs.com/ If you are not looking for a new scooter then scootrs does some great restoration projects. If you need to find an old Vespa wreck to do up then I suggest visiting Ebay or gumtree.

• Fourth Place you want to visit: http://www.google.com Try some long tail searches based on your area - e.g.: “Vespa dealer in washington”

• Fifth Place: If you want to not pay dealer price then by all means find a near new Vespa on Ebay, I have found some great bargains this way. Just remember to ‘watch’ a few before you make a bid, so you can get an idea of the market price.

Vespa Dealers UK

As I am based in the UK I have a large number of independents that you can check out for both new Vespas and restoration projects.

• http://www.belindo-classicscooters.com Offers restoration Vespa and Lambretta scooters - worth checking out.

• http://www.buzzsolomoto.com/ If you live near Halifax and need a Italian/Spanish restored Vespa then this could be the place for you. Again not had personal experience but worth a visit for research purposes.

• http://www.classicscootersuk.co.uk/ If you are looking for a Classic Vespa and you live near Surrey then this is very good site.

• http://www.eddybullet.com/ Based in Brighton these guys have a lot of information for a prospective Vespa buyer.

• http://www.euro-scooters.co.uk/ A london based Vespa Dealer. Worth checking out if you are looking for a brand new/used Vespa scooter.

• http://www.haywards.co.uk/ If your near Cambridge then this Vespa dealer is defiantly worth a look.

• If you live in the Manchester/Stockport area then http://www.phoenix-heinz.co.uk/navigation.htm should be checked out. You can also give Scooter Crazy a call on: 0161 476 5800 I have used these guys and they are really good (plus very affordable.) If you ask them what you want they should be able to track down a classic Vespa for you in the North West area of the UK.

• http://www.scooteremporium.com/ A London based scooter restoration dealership.

• http://www.scooterden.com/ A London Vespa dealership that offers new scooters to buy.

Again my advice for the US still stands for the UK, it’s worth checking out Ebay for some second hand bargains.

Additionally, bikers now have access to dedicated trip statistics that can make any road trip much simpler. The feature allows the biker to view the average and maximum speeds at which he or she traveled per journey, the distance from home, and the total miles traveled.

Even if you’ve previously purchased the RIDER device in one of its earlier incarnations, you can still benefit immensely from the updated software features - and software may be updated for free using TomTom HOME. Completely new maps are available with TomTom HOME as well. If a new map is purchased - along with a 2 GB DB card (which must be bought separately) - users will then also be able to easily take advantage of TomTom Map Share.

TomTom also offers a map guarantee. The guarantee states that if any new map is released within thirty days of the time the GPS user begins using his or her device, then it may be downloaded for free.

The new enhanced RIDER 2nd Edition comes already equipped with the newest Tele Atlas maps of North America as well. Comprehensive maps of both Canada and the United States make up the set.

With the advent of the RIDER software, motorcycle aficionados can now enjoy the same inventive features that users of the automobile products have enjoyed for some time. Best of all, it’s just in time for summer - prime motorcycle season.

A control I can’t say I have even though Ive ridden for over 40 years. Despite my numerous number of offs due to high speed or lack of experience, but I applaud these experts but would caution anyone without that level of expertise to be cautious in their own ability to outperform a factory fitted system like ABS. I did however, the other day have a need of a panic braking system and my 08 Burgman doesn’t have ABS fitted although it does have the linked braking system as fitted as standard. I did apply the left hand dual brake in emergency and the back brake locked up and gave me an interesting situation by locking up and stepping out which I wasn’t ready for.

I was fortunate and my reactions kept the bike upright and no problem but it was the first time Id locked the back wheel since I can’t remember causing me, now I do it was a 150cc Lambretta that caused me some consternation when it locked up on the rear brake and I ended up running into the back of a truck at slow speed with my back brake locked and the rear wheel skidding much again to my embarrassment as I damaged the front of the scooter and the front wheel jammed under the rear step of the truck in front locking the wheel under the step of the peoples carrier and my being in a position of not being able to remove it until they pulled forward and released my front wheel..

My note is to those on linked systems i.e. k series 400s and alike. Be aware that linked braking systems are indeed excellent but not foolproof. Its worth a note my k8 when delivered wasn’t the smoothest of the bunch and clanked and banged a little when new but now has calmed down with use and although the clutch uptake is still higher than the 03 its not a problem event though it records 4k on the clutch engage which I challenge.

I guess its nearer 3k and the recorded revs on engaging to be optimistic as the final speed generally tends to be. Anyway the bike is operating well and it seems to be settling in now Ive got a few miles on it. In comparison with the 03 its got more grunt at lower revs and wants to go faster when the open road calls but until I get the first service done I will keep the revs down.

I took their registration details and threatened to report them to the police. I’m not 100% sure it wasn’t a prank, they were quite immature young men - but I was angry at the time.

bottom line: don’t leave your helmet unattended, even for a minute.

I like to have Tyre Shield in my tyres in the hope that it will seal any puncture before I even know about it. I have not noticed any punctures on my bike tyres so far but I did use Tyre Shield recently to repair a basketball that my 3yo Lab pup managed to puncture with his teeth. When it was deflated I wrote it off, assuming I would have to buy a new one, and let him and some other dogs play tug-of-war with the deflated ball. As a result it ended up with about half a dozen teeth puncture holes in it. I put about 30ml of Tyre Shield in it and pumped it up and was surprised a just how many little white blobs started coming out of the ball. It stayed inflated for about a day the first time but after pumping it up a second time it has remained inflated for many weeks now and the dog plays with it every day. This was a great test of just how good Tyre Shield is at fixing a puncture.

This idea is great!
Say you have diabetes or a risk of heart attack - then how are you going to tell the doc/ambulance geezers that? This has been a major problem as many different diseases have the same symtpons which can make it that much harder for the doctor to treat the patient. Thankfully a company has come up with an idea called Medical ID which has the all the critical medical information a emergency doctor would need.

I may look at getting one, so when i next wrap up my scooter, they will put the right blood type in my veins.

This video, although not of a motorcyclist is a good example of how this works for all of us. Watch it and see what you think.

This is shocking news to me, as i expected her to be found dead. The police smashed into the house this morning and carried the girl out. Her parents where informed as soon as they got to the police station.

Rumours are now circulating that the girl was abducted by her grandparents but this has yet to be confirmed by police.

The fact that she is alive and well is great news for her parents. I will post more news as it happens.

In the second I was going on to the gravel median due to gravel all over my lane on a turn and was very easy on the brakes, I thought. Never the less the wheels hit the gravel, locked, dug in and I went down sliding along for about 10 to 20 feet on my and the bike’s side. I think ABS would have again prevented the lockup and I would have been able to steer back onto the road.

In my case I think the price I paid for the bike with ABS was well worth it. I think of ABS the same way I think of any insurance policy. You hope you never need it but are very glad to have it when you do. In a way it’s cheap insurance.

Another cheap insurance policy, for your kids, is after they have had their driver’s license for about a year, send them to a good Skid School. What they learn there for a few hundred bucks may save their life many times over their driving life. Most programs only take two days.