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Post by scooter on Feb 7, 2015 10:01:09 GMT -5
but you're the artist in the group so... Would you be willing to draw us a picture of an "updated" Vespa? Can you show us what a Vespa style scooter would look like if you made it aerodynamic and gave it "modern" lines, like car companies have been doing with cars like the Mustang? This is for anyone, but I know Leo has "the goods" to make it happen. No problem if you don't want to. It's practically scooter blasphemy, but I think it would be interesting to see. Who knows, maybe Vespa will take note. I must say what I see of their new scoots is a little blah, like an old washing machine on wheels, stuck halfway between then and now. Can you make it "sporty"? I may try it too but my drawing skills are not good.  I'm thinking "the Lamborghini of scooters" perhaps?  |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Mar 20, 2015 22:39:39 GMT -5
but you're the artist in the group so... Would you be willing to draw us a picture of an "updated" Vespa? Can you show us what a Vespa style scooter would look like if you made it aerodynamic and gave it "modern" lines, like car companies have been doing with cars like the Mustang? This is for anyone, but I know Leo has "the goods" to make it happen. No problem if you don't want to. It's practically scooter blasphemy, but I think it would be interesting to see. Who knows, maybe Vespa will take note. I must say what I see of their new scoots is a little blah, like an old washing machine on wheels, stuck halfway between then and now. Can you make it "sporty"? I may try it too but my drawing skills are not good. I'm thinking "the Lamborghini of scooters" perhaps? Cheesh, I just now saw this. I'll do it, but it may be a while. I'm pretty buried with health issues and work I need to do to keep the lights on. I'm not sure modernizing the Vespa would work too well, but I'll give it a try! Leo |
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Post by scooter on Mar 21, 2015 1:07:26 GMT -5
but you're the artist in the group so... Would you be willing to draw us a picture of an "updated" Vespa? Can you show us what a Vespa style scooter would look like if you made it aerodynamic and gave it "modern" lines, like car companies have been doing with cars like the Mustang? This is for anyone, but I know Leo has "the goods" to make it happen. No problem if you don't want to. It's practically scooter blasphemy, but I think it would be interesting to see. Who knows, maybe Vespa will take note. I must say what I see of their new scoots is a little blah, like an old washing machine on wheels, stuck halfway between then and now. Can you make it "sporty"? I may try it too but my drawing skills are not good. I'm thinking "the Lamborghini of scooters" perhaps? Cheesh, I just now saw this. I'll do it, but it may be a while. I'm pretty buried with health issues and work I need to do to keep the lights on. I'm not sure modernizing the Vespa would work too well, but I'll give it a try! Leo I hear you brother. Speaking of health issues, that Lamborghini is "sick"! |
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Post by phssthpok on Mar 21, 2015 7:35:33 GMT -5
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Post by scooter on Mar 21, 2015 8:57:01 GMT -5
HAHAHA! Nice move! That Morphous is a sweet looking ride! I want to try one out! It doesn't look anything like a Vespa, but as long as we're going crazy:  It looks like something Iron Man would ride. Mmmhmm he needs a moto-suit. |
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Post by tvnacman on Mar 21, 2015 9:58:43 GMT -5
HAHAHA! Nice move! That Morphous is a sweet looking ride! I want to try one out! It doesn't look anything like a Vespa, but as long as we're going crazy: It looks like something Iron Man would ride. Mmmhmm he needs a moto-suit. the red one makes me think of tron |
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Posts: 163
Likes: 15
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Post by phssthpok on Mar 21, 2015 13:14:13 GMT -5
HAHAHA! Nice move! That Morphous is a sweet looking ride! I want to try one out! It doesn't look anything like a Vespa, but as long as we're going crazy: It looks like something Iron Man would ride. Mmmhmm he needs a moto-suit. That's Kaneda's ride from the film 'Akira'. As for Moto-suit...Check out season 3 of Robotech (The Invids) Why yes... there *is* a bit of anime geek in me...  |
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Post by scooter on Mar 21, 2015 16:22:17 GMT -5
HAHAHA! Nice move! That Morphous is a sweet looking ride! I want to try one out! It doesn't look anything like a Vespa, but as long as we're going crazy: It looks like something Iron Man would ride. Mmmhmm he needs a moto-suit. That's Kaneda's ride from the film 'Akira'. As for Moto-suit...Check out season 3 of Robotech (The Invids) Why yes... there *is* a bit of anime geek in me... I used to watch Robotech a long time ago. I loved that show. |
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Post by scooter on Mar 21, 2015 16:24:11 GMT -5
HAHAHA! Nice move! That Morphous is a sweet looking ride! I want to try one out! It doesn't look anything like a Vespa, but as long as we're going crazy: It looks like something Iron Man would ride. Mmmhmm he needs a moto-suit. the red one makes me think of tron I don't think I've seen the new Tron movie yet. I'll have to check it out. |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Mar 21, 2015 18:35:21 GMT -5
Oh oh,
Now we ARE getting crazy! How's this one? Not a lot of ground-clearance, but I love the hubless wheels! Bet it would be a real booger on speed-bumps... LOL! Upon a closer squint, I believe that drive-chain gets a tad too close to one's posterior for comfort, too...
Y'all got me thinking on the updated Vespa look. I'll get on it as see what my old eyes can manage... Ride safe! Leo
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Post by scooter on Mar 22, 2015 18:01:47 GMT -5
Oh oh,
Now we ARE getting crazy! How's this one?Not a lot of ground-clearance, but I love the hubless wheels! Bet it would be a real booger on speed-bumps... LOL! Upon a closer squint, I believe that drive-chain gets a tad too close to one's posterior for comfort, too...
Y'all got me thinking on the updated Vespa look. I'll get on it as see what my old eyes can manage... Ride safe! Leo It's a beaut' Leo but you're right. It'd take a city block to make a turn and that chain would probably leave the bum sore. |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Mar 23, 2015 11:43:32 GMT -5
Scooter,
Yeah... It's a tad "low". Definitely NOT for speed-bumps... LOL! Doesn't even have a side-stand, it just lays over onto the foot-pegs. Amazingly, I HAVE seen custom "nekkid scoots" on the STREET like that! Although they lay over a little farther on the pegs, but still, no fast cornering with them.
I started fooling around with the "updating" of the Vespa look. Hmmm... That plump, round shaped scooter design is truly locked in the fifties! I'm no Chip Foose, and I'm not sure my ideas will be all that earth-shaking... LOL! But I'll have my best shot done pretty soon. It could be the Vespa should remain iconic, and not be "Lamborghini-ficated"... HeHeHe... We shall see...
As a side note, I had such a fun ride yesterday, I'm going to write a "happy-post" about it! Sometimes the weather and the ride just all come together so well, you gotta tell folks about it... LOL!
Ride safe,
Leo
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Post by oldchopperguy on Apr 5, 2015 2:31:34 GMT -5
OK guys and gals... After several various (and truly dismal) "attempts" I did up a concept of what might be done to modernize the venerable Vespa... You may have to click on the graphics to see them better.
I'm not sure it's a good idea to mess with the curvy original... LOL! I tried to retain enough of the original styling cues to keep it "Vespa" yet add enough "edge" to hint at Italian super-car cosmetics. I'm no Chip Foose, but here's the best I can do in the time I could spend (which ABSOLUTELY wasn't enough... LOL!).
I show the same scooter in both a flat-blacked-out, and traditional Vespa two-tone color scheme. I also played around with some identity-badging based on a 300 cc fuel-injected engine... The BLACK VENDETTA with "Lethal Injection" and the traditional ITALIANO badged with "Direct Port Injection".
Same scooters, but totally different cosmetic versions.
I did resist the urge to leave whitewalls on the "sinister" Black Vendetta... LOL! And tried to keep the overall design true enough to the Vespa image to at least be recognizable... Although I refrained from adding a wicker-basket to the front.
I'd surely keep the Vespa single-side suspension, allowing simple wheel-removal/replacement with automotive-style lug nuts. I changed-up the nose, raising a fairing to cover the handlebars and placed the headlight "locomotive-style" in the fairing. The fairing also is vented with plenty of room for a radiator.
For the exhaust, I paid homage to the original Vespa's two-stroke engine, with a "chamber" style muffler. These look sharp, and run great on four-strokes. A little old made new again...
I modernized the trademark Vespa "Hamster-cheeks" rear area by venting them completely in front. Not just a styling cue, but fresh-air intakes for both air and liquid-cooled engines. Baffles behind the open grilles keep water out of the engine. Rear lights are integral with the rear-bodywork. I kept a traditional Vespa seat (should be in tan or black full-quill-ostrich, of course!) and provided a simple, traditional rear grab-rail.
For handling on a 100+ mph ride, I added considerable rake to the front fork, and 14" rims front and rear... The rims indicated are polished (or black anodized) alloys, in the style of 1940's auto disk-wheels which are simple, and "appropriate" on both modern AND vintage designs.
Here's a line-drawing of the basic design for the kiddies to color on...!
It would take WEEKS of work to really do justice to this concept. This is not even close to what I'd like it to be but just can't spend the time right now. But, maybe it might be a starting point for you other budding designers to play with. Anyway, love it or hate it, enjoy!
Ride safe!
Leo in Texas
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Post by flyangler on Apr 5, 2015 6:06:24 GMT -5
A worthy effort Leo, as a long time member of MV I'm tempted to bring it over but I think I'll resist the temptation, however there are other members of MV here that might. I like the concept, it looks like a little Kymco influence found it's way in there.  |
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Post by scooter on Apr 5, 2015 10:11:38 GMT -5
Very nice Leo! I know which one I'd buy! Lethal Injection for me!  Putt putt putt VROOOOM!! Thanks Leo! |
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