Emergency flat tire kit

Getting a flat: well since I ride my scooter everyday I feel like it's not a question of whether it will happen, but a question of when it will happen. And since I like to be prepared for these kinds of things, I recently decided put a little emergency kit together of tools that can be used to fix a flat on the road. I'm not sure how common it is for people to do this, and although I've had several flats since I've started riding a scooter, this is my first emergency kit. It's a reasonably compact kit, and fits well within the front dashboard with some extra room leftover.

Here's what I put in my kit:

• Tire plug kit. I got mine from the local NAPA auto-parts store, it was the smaller variety. Came with some smaller and bigger plugs, rubber cement, and a plugging tool for $7.
• Small knife. This one's just a box cutter I picked up for less than a dollar. This is used to trim the plug down once it's been placed in the tire.
• Portable bicycle pump. I happened to have an extra one around, but they can typically be found on the cheaper end for less than $20 (make sure these work with Schraeder valves, and not just Presta).

Although I haven't had the chance to actually use the kit on the road, I did end up getting a flat recently after getting the tire plug kit, and successfully plugged the leak at home. I do not actually notice that the tire leaks air any faster than the non-plugged front tire. Self pat on the back for a job well done I suppose. The only thing I feel this kit could benefit from would be a small pair of pliers that would come in handy for extracting any nails, etc. Will be keeping my eyes out for a cheap one.

Update: I've since used the kit on the road several times. It definitely has come in handy. In addition to the kit, another really good way to prevent getting flats is to keep your tire inflated at the recommended pressure at all times (I actually inflate mine higher than the Vespa recommended PSI, I just pump it to the max PSI that's printed on the tire itself). A soft under-inflated tire is much more prone to getting punctured by unwanted objects than a hard one.

How to fill up without spilling

My 2004 Vespa GT is actually the first vehicle I've owned that requires premium fuel. A sticker on the headset specifically recommends using fuel of 90 octane or above (also in the manual) and I've been filling it with the 92 octane. Although it costs more than the lower grade, this is not something I would cut corners on, as the engine was engineered to consume a specific type of fuel, and using the recommended fuel will ensure not only that your vehicle will run better, but also that it will last longer.

There is a particular issue with the GT model and their variations (GTS/ GTV etc.) however, and that is how easy it is to overfill the tank. By overfilling, I mean when you're filling up at the station and you're holding down the pump lever, and by the time the gas stops flowing from the hose there's a bit of spillage (due to the way the bike was designed). Overfilling by itself is not always an issue as gas evaporates quickly, but on the GTs it can turn out to be an issue. Due to the design, any gas spillage can leak into the air filter, causing problems in the way the scooter runs (more details available on the forums at modernvespa.com). These problems can certainly be fixed by removing and cleaning out the air filter, but a preventive approach can also ensure no spillage.

To ensure that spillage never occurs, I follow these basic steps when filling up the tank:

1. I run the scooter until the yellow 'need gas' light comes on. When this light comes on, it means there is 0.5 gallons of gas left in the tank, which is usually enough for me to finish my current trip with ample time to hit the station.
2. Since the total capacity of the gas tank for the GTs are 2.5 gallons, when I fill up, I then watch the meter and try and fill it up to 1.9 gallons (give or take a few), but not more.
3. This ensures that there is never any spillage while filling the tank, and also that the tank is full (just a tad under 2.5 gallons).

How to program a vespa key(s)

The gist of it.

Well, it turns out to be a pretty simple process that doesn't involve any programming on your part. The electronics in the vespa headset does all the work for you. All you really have to do is some quick key switching maneuvers.

You will need your master (brown) key, and the blue keys to be programmed. Apparently you can program multiple blue keys in the same session, so if you do have multiple ones, have all of them ready. I only programmed one blue key, but the same process is repeated with multiple keys. If you need to get extra blue keys, here's a post on where I got mine.

The basic procedure:

1. Put your brown key into the ignition.
2. Turn it on and then off (within 3 seconds).
3. Put the blue key to be programmed in the ignition.
4. Turn it on and then off (also within 3 seconds).
5. If you have additional blue keys, repeat step 3 and 4 for the rest of those blue keys.
6. Finish off the programming by inserting the brown key again.
7. Turn it on and then off (within 3 seconds).

And that should do it for the programming! Now check to make sure all the keys can start your scooter. This worked for me on my first try, but if it doesn't you may want to make sure you're doing the whole procedure fast enough and not waiting too long in between the steps.

Oh, and any older blue keys that aren't reprogrammed when you program the new blue keys, will no longer work. Apparently each time the "programming" process occurs, the vespa starts new and forgets all the old keys. This shouldn't be a problem if you accidentally left out some older keys. Just repeat step 1 to 7 above, making sure to include all the blue keys you own, and they should all work again.

This fact actually comes as good news to me, because even though I was only given the one brown key when I bought my used vespa, I know that after "programming" my new blue key, none of the original blue keys will now work on my scooter. Only the keys I have now will work.

Getting a new vespa key replacement

Brown 'master' key and regular blue key. The master key is considerably thicker.

When I bought my vespa used, it only came with one brown key. I later found out that this brown key is the "master" key. Apparently all modern vespa keys are "electronic" in that they have transponder chips inside the key head. This chip has coded information that interacts with the vespa headset, and ensures that only certain keys that have been programmed (which either the factory programmed or incidentally you can also program) will be able to start and get your vespa running.

This added measure of security is good in that it should make your expensive vehicle harder to steal. It is also bad in that you can't just take a vespa key to the key shop and get a clone made that will work on your bike (on most models). Apparently new vespas ship with 1) the brown master key 2) at least two blue 'regular' keys, and 3) a card with code information incase you loose or break all your keys. Wisdom has it that one should keep the brown key at home in a safe place as it is the master, and if you loose it along with your blue keys, your panties would most certainly get bunched from not being able to startup the badboy (the brown key is basically the one key that rules them all). In fear of this scenario, I decided to get myself a blue key so the brown could be stowed away at home.

After calling the local dealer (we only have one on Oahu), I found out they wanted $50 for a 'blank' new replacement key, which still had to be cut and programmed. Forget about that. After a bit of internet searching, I found a guy on the Big Island who sent me a new 'blue' key in three days after hitting up his paypal account with $15 + $3 shipping ($5 shipping USA nationwide, $8 international). I then took the new blank key to be cut, and then programmed it myself following some simple steps.

Here's the link to John's website:
http://www.motorcyclekeys.com/vespachipkey.html

And here's another source for blue keys:
http://allmotorcyclekeys.com/

Cover for Vespa

With the intention of getting my used Vespa to last for a long time with minimal exterior wear and rust, I bought a cover for it. This one cost me $20, and has a nice elastic bottom that keeps it well attached to the bike even in very windy areas (like my house).

• Got a large which fits the GT200 (no top case) perfectly, covering a lot of the wheels.
• Got it off amazon.com, it's the "Raider Black and Silver Large Motorcycle Cover"
• Comes with a bag also, for when you want to take it on the go
• Fabric is relatively lightweight, with heavier reinforcement in the lower areas (muffler, etc.)

New used 2004 GT200 Vespa!

I just acquired my first Vespa this summer! It's seafoam green, and feels much larger compared to my previous vehicle, a Honda Metropolitan. It's got a 200cc engine, and I can really feel the horsepowers. This thing takes me on the freeway in style. Love the Vespa for many reasons:

• Smaller vehicle (than a car) means better gas mileage, and also more manageable DIY maintenance, which is fun and rewarding!
• Riding a motorcycle is more enjoyable than driving a car (duh)
• Smaller carbon footprint than owning a car
• No need to worry about shifting gears (I do enjoy manual transmissions, but this gives a sense of liberation. Kind of like how riding a single speed or fixed-gear bicycle lets you enjoy the scenery and frees up some cognitive resources)
• Vespas are stylish, have history, and are well built (i.e. expensive).

I will try and document my maintenance activities on the Vespa here, both for the benefit of having a centralized location for personal reference, and also to share this information with others. Maybe you will find it useful. I hope so!