Young son on Vespa PK 50 XL

 

Here's my middle son, 16 years, riding a scooter for the first time. Almost legally...

Earlier you only had to be 15 years old to drive 50 cc moped in Sweden. Nowadays it's compulsory to have a license that will set you back about €500!
These pictures are taken near our country house, practically no traffic at all.

Doesn't he look happy on the Vespa PK 50 XL?

Happy Easter, Buona Pasqua!

Is it the 1,4 hp or my arm strength?
Happy Easter and Buona Pasqua to all Vespisti and Lambrettisti in the whole wide world!
Just about +3 degrees C here in Stockholm, so the rideout today on the Vespa PK 50 XL was very brief.

Scooter spring? Not yet...

Sun is shining, and the weather is cold...
A picture from today of my Vespa PK 50 XL, in the remains of the snow which is slowly melting away (but more coming next week).
Pic taken just before I discovered that the rear tire is flat. Have to fix that even if there is ice and snow on the roads and still -4 or 5 degrees C.
In the background my Lambretta TV 175 series 1. Maybe it should be stored inside...

The Vespa PK 50 XL is back!

I think the white rims goes well with the snow.

The Vespa PK 50 XL is back on the road, nah, on the snow!
I broke the handlebar cover a couple of weeks ago when the Vespa fell over. A new cover arrived from Germany and I painted it with the colour that was defined by a spectrometer. And it's a 97-98 percent match. You'll notice the difference if you watch closely, but don't...
So, all ready for the New Years rideout here in Stockholm. I think I wish for less snow before I go!

The rim around the speedo needs paint.

Very X-masy!

I like this photo, you can almost see the sun behind the trees.

Bad news - and good ones



A mishap occured when my Vespa PK 50 XL was about to get a new wheel bearing at the front. When I moved it in my car, it fell on the side (shoddy fastening on my part). The plastic handle bar cover went to pieces, as part of the head lamp. The changing of the bearing went well, but now it's not really drivable, at least in trafic.

Well, the handle bar cover and a head lamp is available through SIP. About to place an order!

Then I have to paint it. Did a test at a paint shop with a spectrometer and came up with similar colour. Since its not an original colour there is no colour number available. I hope it will match.

Porchetta and Vespa PK

Rain again here in Stockholm. I took a short ride on the Vespa PK 50 XL to the local "flea market". Have made some bargains there before, but not today.
Before leaving home I put an italian porchetta in the oven. Pork (yes, you can tell) seasoned with garlic, fennel seeds and fresh rosemary. Will cook for five hours!
More interesting maybe, a friend found the table game "Tour du monde en Vespa" in France this autumn. Fortunately he's not a Vespa freak, so I have the chance to buy it! Very nice!
The game is featured in Robin Davy's fabulous book "Vespa Forever". So is the ash tray I bought a couple of days ago. Apparently the ash tray was made in England.

A french table game from the early fifties.

Too blue!

The right colour!

The start of the porchetta, roll it together and then bind it.

Chilly ride on the Vespa PK

Once again, the colour is more blue than in reality.

Autumn is definitely here in Sweden. Around zero degrees during the night and 9 plus today. I took the  Vespa PK 50 XL for some errands. Buying groceries, taking stuff to the recycling station and some more groceries...
I have greased the clutch, gas and brake wires. Next service coming up is to change the bearings at the front wheel. There is a small unpleasant noise I'd like to get rid off.
I'm very pleased with the seat and the riding position, very good for my length (1,86 m). It also feels nimble and nice on the road. Although it's no rocket, 53 km/h is the top speed according to a speed camera nearby. Speed isn't everything...

Bought these two at the Imola fair, a bit to big maybe...

The the backside of the fog light to the right has been polished by me.

The license to my PK 50 XL, "il libretto".

PK 50 XL gets new rims

I tended to the PK 50 XL this weekend. Since the spare wheel was missing I bought two new ones. In pearl white instead of silver. At the front I fitted a new tyre and inner tube. At the back the old tire was okay. Good thing, the rims that came with the Vespa was quite rusty on the inside.
I also adjusted the brakes, now it stops better. When the back wheel was off it was easy the clean the engine. Lot's of Italian soil came off. Now mixed with the Swedish and some Finnish dirt, the latter coming off my Lambretta Cometa. A European union?
Well, the PK have some flaws that I missed that hot, sunny day when I bought at the Imola fair (And the money was burning in my pocket). We'll se how much I will tend to. I might get a can of colour to fix the side panels, talk about "orange peel" (?).
To get the right hue I will go to a proper paint shop. Since it's not an original colour it's necessary to use a device (spectrometer?) that sorts out the right colour mix. If you look at the last pic here you cant see that the colour is turquoise, not blue. I think it's stylish, with the pearl white rims!

Some Italian soil on a screwdriver, found under the Vespa.

Actually some sun under the work on the PK.



Pic taken with proper camera, more greenish.