Bringing a 1983 Primavera back to life

Tengai In Toronto · 01-22-2013, 08:47 PM

About 8 years ago my mother went through a minor mid-life crisis, buying an old Smallframe to get to and from work. About 4 years later, on her way to work, she checked her blindspot in order to change lanes. When she turned forward again, the Volvo wagon in front of her had come to a stop. Uh oh.

She ended up going through the rear hatch, probably scaring the living shit out of the two children in the back seat. She needed some stitches on her hairline as she was wearing an open faced helmet, and some in her knee, but other than that, just minor bruising!

The bike however, was a little beat up. The leg shield was dented, the front fender was mangled, and the front forks were bent beyond repair.

She replaced it immediately with a new Vespa S and abandoned the '83 in the bowels of my parents' one car garage.

4 years later, I remembered its existence and decided to BBRRRRRING IT BACK TO LIIIIIIFEEE!!!!!

New forks, new wheel bearings, relined the tank, new petcock, oil change, new front fender.....unpainted as of yet....yellow headlight film, plastidipped wheels, army surplus pouches ($4 for the pair) and a sweet red cross sticker....no clue where it's from.

Here she is:

redhandmoto · 01-23-2013, 02:48 PM

Noice!

kiznile · 01-23-2013, 03:32 PM

well done!

climbamt · 01-23-2013, 04:56 PM

Nice scoot, I wish I could find something like that in my parents garage!

~climbamt

JerryH · 01-24-2013, 09:54 AM

Very nice. You're lucky the frame wasn't severely bent. The forks probably took most of the impact. Always nice to see an old Vespa put back on the road.

Tengai In Toronto · 01-24-2013, 12:47 PM

Thanks guys! It was pretty satisfying getting it going again. Shes a little rough around the edges but i dont really care. Im surprised the frame is straight as well......but it is!

JerryH · 01-24-2013, 09:18 PM

Isn't that a manual shift 2 stroke? Quite a change going from that to a twist and go. I have a Zuma 125 and a Vino 125, but my favorite by far is my 2 stroke manual shift Stella. I just wish it were more reliable so I could go touring on it. I almost always grab it for short trips around town, it's such a blast to ride.

Tengai In Toronto · 01-25-2013, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JerryH

Isn't that a manual shift 2 stroke? Quite a change going from that to a twist and go. I have a Zuma 125 and a Vino 125, but my favorite by far is my 2 stroke manual shift Stella. I just wish it were more reliable so I could go touring on it. I almost always grab it for short trips around town, it's such a blast to ride.

It sure is! 4spd manual, shifter is the left grip. Its so much fun. You get to drive it hard, as if youre a moto gp racer, but you still end up barely being faster than city traffic lol.

As if the gear to displacement ratio isn't ridiculous enough, i have a Yamaha DT50 as well, a street legal 6spd 50cc bike. You shift to second at around 5mph lol. Its just constant gear changes on that thing.

Lola Rides · 01-27-2013, 02:22 PM

That is so cute. I love old Vespas, and that one is adorable.

Tengai In Toronto · 01-28-2013, 08:56 PM

CUTE?? You think it's CUTE?? It's handsome. And manly.

seraph · 01-29-2013, 02:03 PM

Very nice! I'm definitely jealous. A smallframe is on my shortlist as soon as I can get a second scooter.

01-22-2013, 08:47 PM	#1
Tengai In Toronto ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Apr 2011 Location: Toronto Oddometer: 182	Bringing a 1983 Primavera back to life About 8 years ago my mother went through a minor mid-life crisis, buying an old Smallframe to get to and from work. About 4 years later, on her way to work, she checked her blindspot in order to change lanes. When she turned forward again, the Volvo wagon in front of her had come to a stop. Uh oh. She ended up going through the rear hatch, probably scaring the living shit out of the two children in the back seat. She needed some stitches on her hairline as she was wearing an open faced helmet, and some in her knee, but other than that, just minor bruising! The bike however, was a little beat up. The leg shield was dented, the front fender was mangled, and the front forks were bent beyond repair. She replaced it immediately with a new Vespa S and abandoned the '83 in the bowels of my parents' one car garage. 4 years later, I remembered its existence and decided to BBRRRRRING IT BACK TO LIIIIIIFEEE!!!!! New forks, new wheel bearings, relined the tank, new petcock, oil change, new front fender.....unpainted as of yet....yellow headlight film, plastidipped wheels, army surplus pouches ($4 for the pair) and a sweet red cross sticker....no clue where it's from. Here she is: __________________ '02 BMW F650GS Dakar, '01 Suzuki Bandit 600S, '93 Yamaha DT50 '93 Dnepr MT-11, '83 Vespa Primavera ET3 Www.tothegapandback.com, A 20,000km solo ride Canada->Panama->Canada

01-23-2013, 02:48 PM	#2
redhandmoto Studly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2008 Location: People's Democratic Republic of Tarsnakestan Oddometer: 511	Noice! __________________ Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense.

01-23-2013, 03:32 PM	#3
kiznile Scooter Commuter Joined: Nov 2012 Location: Elk Grove, CA Oddometer: 45	well done! __________________ *Kyle Sutherland* '09 Aprilia Scarabeo 200 (5700 miles so far) -Fender delete, DDM 4500K HID's, PIAA 1100x Driving Lights, Dr Pulley Sliders 11g, heated grips, Pirelli Diablos

01-23-2013, 04:56 PM	#4
climbamt Adventurer Joined: Jun 2012 Location: Baltimore, MD Oddometer: 10	Nice scoot, I wish I could find something like that in my parents garage! ~climbamt __________________ Vespa GT200 Kymco People 150 Kymco People 50

01-24-2013, 09:54 AM	#5
JerryH Vintage Rider Joined: Jul 2009 Location: Chandler, AZ Oddometer: 1,655	Very nice. You're lucky the frame wasn't severely bent. The forks probably took most of the impact. Always nice to see an old Vespa put back on the road. __________________ "I refuse to give up the thrill of living for the relative safety of existing" Nick Ienatsch "Life is not a race. Don't treat it as such. If you don't believe me, just have a look at the finish line"

01-24-2013, 12:47 PM	#6
Tengai In Toronto ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Apr 2011 Location: Toronto Oddometer: 182	Thanks guys! It was pretty satisfying getting it going again. Shes a little rough around the edges but i dont really care. Im surprised the frame is straight as well......but it is! __________________ '02 BMW F650GS Dakar, '01 Suzuki Bandit 600S, '93 Yamaha DT50 '93 Dnepr MT-11, '83 Vespa Primavera ET3 Www.tothegapandback.com, A 20,000km solo ride Canada->Panama->Canada

01-24-2013, 09:18 PM	#7
JerryH Vintage Rider Joined: Jul 2009 Location: Chandler, AZ Oddometer: 1,655	Isn't that a manual shift 2 stroke? Quite a change going from that to a twist and go. I have a Zuma 125 and a Vino 125, but my favorite by far is my 2 stroke manual shift Stella. I just wish it were more reliable so I could go touring on it. I almost always grab it for short trips around town, it's such a blast to ride. __________________ "I refuse to give up the thrill of living for the relative safety of existing" Nick Ienatsch "Life is not a race. Don't treat it as such. If you don't believe me, just have a look at the finish line"

01-27-2013, 02:22 PM	#9
Lola Rides Avid Adventurer Joined: Jan 2013 Location: Jacksonville, FL Oddometer: 13	That is so cute. I love old Vespas, and that one is adorable.

01-28-2013, 08:56 PM	#10
Tengai In Toronto ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Apr 2011 Location: Toronto Oddometer: 182	CUTE?? You think it's CUTE?? It's handsome. And manly. __________________ '02 BMW F650GS Dakar, '01 Suzuki Bandit 600S, '93 Yamaha DT50 '93 Dnepr MT-11, '83 Vespa Primavera ET3 Www.tothegapandback.com, A 20,000km solo ride Canada->Panama->Canada

01-29-2013, 02:03 PM	#11
seraph asshole on a scooter Joined: May 2008 Location: Seattle, WA Oddometer: 268	Very nice! I'm definitely jealous. A smallframe is on my shortlist as soon as I can get a second scooter.

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