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Post by oldchopperguy on Apr 5, 2015 15:34:48 GMT -5
Y'all are most welcome!
Trying to "morph" an iconic design to "modern" is just not always a great idea... Sort of "doable" but maybe not "great"...
My effort to put some edges on the curvy Vespa design gets frustrated when it comes to the front end. I like the idea of modern streamlining. However, the original Vespa curves which complement the cheeky rear end don't lend themselves well to hard edges.
The "classic" mudguard and "Roman helmet" front fender were always my least favorite elements of the Vespa styling. By making the front fender and plastics "flow" into the angular shapes I put into the body, and enlarging the wheels, it sort of comes together, but the squared-off fender is too reminiscent of the dated 1970's Japanese motorcycles.
I'm afraid I'm FAR more qualified to restyle a FIFTIES' Cushman scooter to look more like a FORTIES' design... LOL!
My favorite design elements of the Vespa are the cheeky rear fenders, which I kept in the revise, AND the drooping, drag-style handlebars with headlight up high on the bars, which I did not keep, in deference to the "new" look. Chinese Vespa clones and scoots like the Honda "Joker" are probably THE best cosmetic re-design of the Vespa look. But THESE keep the small wheels, and are truly designed as 50 to 150 in-town rides.
I wanted a design that kept a fairly short wheelbase, but larger wheels and aerodynamics to make  mph cruising feasible, while packaged in a ride that would still remain nimble for in-town scooting... It's not easy! Few manufacturers have even pulled it off. My older Kymco comes close, remaining "Chinese 150" sized, with a good compromise on wheel-size. However, it's still too heavy. The Vespa unit-construction NO frame aluminum technique on a ride like mine would be about ideal... Shave her down from 340 pounds to 225, and replace her carbureted 2-valve 19 hp 250 with a fuel-injected 4-valve 35 hp 300... HMMMM... SWEET! Whether heading for Wally World, OR across the country!
But those pesky cosmetics... I think maybe it's best to just remove the Vespa's front fender, add the next bigger size tires, with whitewalls, paint the rims red, the body black and paint a checkerboard on the mudguard and call it done... HeHeHe!
I hope some others out there will draw up their ideas on their favorite designs! You don't have to be a good artist... Just get the design on paper for us to see. It's the ideas that count, not the artistic quality.
Happy Easter to one and all from the old chopper guy!
Leo in Texas
PS: I'm surprised that some enterprising manufacturer (particularly the crotch-rocket boyz) haven't snagged the term "Lethal Injection"... On a killer bike, It's a natural!
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Post by shalomdawg on Apr 6, 2015 14:46:41 GMT -5
howdy and all the best of the season to one and all
ya have ta know that this place wouldn't be the same without the ol' leo. often i come just to see what new stuff falls outa his keyboard.
thanks leo and
lotsa miles and smiles to ya
ken
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Post by oldchopperguy on Apr 7, 2015 0:31:01 GMT -5
howdy and all the best of the season to one and all ya have ta know that this place wouldn't be the same without the ol' leo. often i come just to see what new stuff falls outa his keyboard. thanks leo and lotsa miles and smiles to ya ken Ken,
All my best back at ya! Have a bone on the old chopper guy...
I'm mighty old-fashioned and do appreciate the younger riders putting up with my nostalgia. I lived through the best times America ever had, and REALLY enjoyed the old stuff that was "state of the art" long before fuel injection, electronic ignition, 400 hp crotch-rockets and 650 hp Cadillac SUV's.
I remember well the days when a high-school kid could build a really nice, credible Model A, 'Deuce or Model T street rod in his driveway for around $800 ready to run. And pay back then was still at least a third of what it is today for similar jobs... What kind of rod could you build today for $2,400? LOL!
I don't know which is more enjoyable; to actually MAKE stuff yourself (which while REALLY cool, can't equal new factory-made stuff...) or, to make a bunch of money and just BUY what you want. (And you CAN buy just about anything you can imagine and drive it home these days). Both ends of the "acquisition" spectrum have a lot of appeal!
Soon, when I get a break to fool around on the drawing board, draw up the Vespa I would style today... Nobody younger than 60 would buy it, but it's fun to fantasize!
Ride safe!
Leo
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Post by spandi on Apr 7, 2015 0:44:18 GMT -5
Ya know, you'd think Vespa would get a clue and make a more modern design to go along with their classic "modern" lineup.  (I think Leo should copyright his and send it to the folks in Italy) |
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Post by shalomdawg on Apr 7, 2015 20:29:13 GMT -5
howdy and back at ya
yup the nostalgia hits hard when i remember usually paying 15 to 50 bucks for the car sitting along the road and a few dollars into it would make a fine ride for several thousand titillating miles then a sale to someone else for 3 times what ya had in it. i had a choice one day of two cars in a car lot. one was a 57 ford wagon with auto and y block 312 engine. it needed brushes in the generator. the other was a perfect 59 edsel with the push button auto trans controls in the steering wheel center. i was wanting to go camping and pull a trailer and the wagon had a trailer hitch which the edsel didn't have . both were priced at 15 dollars. i chose and drove the wagon away. it was great but oh and oh, i'd sure like to have that edsel with that 411 cubic inch engine. it wouldn't fit in my garage but i'd be happy to build a new garage-----------
lotsa miles and smiles to ya
ken
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Post by oldchopperguy on Apr 8, 2015 1:12:15 GMT -5
Ya know, you'd think Vespa would get a clue and make a more modern design to go along with their classic "modern" lineup. (I think Leo should copyright his and send it to the folks in Italy)
Thanks! But I don't think Vespa would be as enthusiastic about my design as you kind members... LOL!
When I can, I will draw up my own idea of what an "updated" true-to-vintage Vespa might be... Including a return to 2-stroke power. I can't help but think how sweet that hamster-cheek rear body would be, stuffed with a 3-cylinder 500-800 cc modern snow-machine-style 2-stroke... And those motors are tailor-made for CVT trannies! I'll bet with computer-controls and oil-injection they could be made to meet most emissions regs.
Using beefed-up existing Vespa unit-body construction, with aluminum and carbon-fiber, and semi-vintage lines, with 14" wheels and speed-rated tires... a few inches longer wheelbase and hairpin-spring solo-seat with pillion-pad for a passenger... polished stainless chamber pipes, two on the right, one on the left old Kawasaki "Widow-maker" style...
280 pounds "wet" and 100-130 hp @ 14K rpm with handling and brakes to match... 0-60 in 3-flat, 140 top-end... OOOHHH! Be still my beating heart... WHAT a RIDE! Attsa one spicy meat-a-ball!
Yup... GOTTA draw THAT one up!
Ride safe, and go easy on the pasta...
Leo
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Post by oldchopperguy on Apr 8, 2015 1:24:13 GMT -5
howdy and back at ya yup the nostalgia hits hard when i remember usually paying 15 to 50 bucks for the car sitting along the road and a few dollars into it would make a fine ride for several thousand titillating miles then a sale to someone else for 3 times what ya had in it. i had a choice one day of two cars in a car lot. one was a 57 ford wagon with auto and y block 312 engine. it needed brushes in the generator. the other was a perfect 59 edsel with the push button auto trans controls in the steering wheel center. i was wanting to go camping and pull a trailer and the wagon had a trailer hitch which the edsel didn't have . both were priced at 15 dollars. i chose and drove the wagon away. it was great but oh and oh, i'd sure like to have that edsel with that 411 cubic inch engine. it wouldn't fit in my garage but i'd be happy to build a new garage----------- lotsa miles and smiles to ya ken
I do remember those days! My first car was a 1950 Chevy "Master Deluxe" I bought from a church lady who was getting too old to drive. I was 14, the Chevy had 35K original miles on her and I paid her $7.50... all I had saved up in three months... I later put in a 1953 Corvette Jimmy 6-banger from a wrecked 'Vette. Had a "FoxCraft" floor-shift, 2 side-draft carbs, cast-iron header with duals, Smitty glasspacks and scavenger-pipes. Woo-HOO! THOSE were the days!!!
Enjoy the memories!
Leo
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Post by spandi on Apr 8, 2015 1:28:43 GMT -5
yes Leo, you most definitely should "draw it up"  (about time Vespa joined the 21st century) |
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mph cruising feasible, while packaged in a ride that would still remain nimble for in-town scooting... It's not easy! Few manufacturers have even pulled it off. My older Kymco comes close, remaining "Chinese 150" sized, with a good compromise on wheel-size. However, it's still too heavy. The Vespa unit-construction NO frame aluminum technique on a ride like mine would be about ideal... Shave her down from 340 pounds to 225, and replace her carbureted 2-valve 19 hp 250 with a fuel-injected 4-valve 35 hp 300... HMMMM... SWEET! Whether heading for Wally World, OR across the country!
