Month: February 2007

Buddy 07: improved lights, new model

Buddyitalia.jpg

Genuine Scooter Co. have announced a new Buddy 125 model, the Series Italia. The bike (a U.S.-market PGO BuBu) features new two-tone olive paint/plastic and a few other nice touches. Genuine’s ability to change up colors and names, and throw an extra few decals on a bike is surprisingly (and rightfully) effective, it’s surprising to not see other importers copying their ideas. Italian-named Asian scooters are so common now (Vino, Milano, Il Bello, etc.) it shouldn’t even seem strange, but it still is. The Series Italia (and all 2007 Buddys,) will feature upgraded lighting, a cell-phone charger, and hazard blinkers, and a new red Buddy is on the way. In other news, Genuine and Black Cat are sponsoring the AMA Flat Track Championship. (Image: courtesy Genuine Scooter Co.…their new designer is doing nice work.)

Vespa Blogs: 404

It appears that Vespaquest and Vespaway have both been shut down, either because PiaggioUSA and CooperKatz were embarrassed by bad press, or too disorganized to pay hosting or domain fees.

I want to make it very, very clear that even though I find perverse joy in Piaggio’s dismal marketing failures;

  1. I’d find even more joy if they did something right. (I’ve seen the new MP3 print ads, and they’re fantastic, I hope they make the most of that opportunity.)
  2. It’s 100% inaccurate to call the blogs “failures” (as I have) because both were entirely successful, despite Piaggio’s lack of involvement. A child abandoned by her parents that ends up going to Harvard is not a failure, but the parents deserve none of the credit. The blogs were raised by wolves, Crystal and Neil specifically, and they did a really amazing job. I looked forward to both sites daily. Crystal’s Girlbike is among the best scooter sites out there, and I check it religiously. In the past, I’ve credited them with “making the most of what they had to work with,” which sounds negative, but it was meant as a compliment, they did a lot for Piaggio for just about nothing in return.
  3. Both blogs were important resources that should have remained on the web. Even though the most recent post on each was a bit embarassing for Piaggio, the other 99.9% of the content was good stuff, and good marketing for Piaggio. The content will be missed, and I hope Crystal and/or Neil can repost it on their own sites, or otherwise make it available once again (It’s still cached in Google).

GTS exhaust gasket: Technical Bulletin No 18/06

In September 2006, we reported on a potential safety hazard involving the GTS250’s exhaust gasket. At the time, the issue got a lot of attention on the scooter forums, and many Vespa owners have been surprised by Piaggio’s lack of a public response. Today, 2strokebuzz received an email from “Paolo Timoni” (clearly not the real Paolo Timoni, as you will see):

Piaggio acknowledges a flaw in design and issues a tech update (months ago?). They post the update quietly in archives of dealer net perhaps intending to defer responsibility for the flaw on improper maintenance if a bike loses brakes/burns. Too bad for people who work on their own bikes not to have the very critical information. Oh and “wear and tear” muffler maintenance will run you $30 for the part + labor every time you remove exhaust…???? Does the NHTSA know about this?

Attached to the email was a PDF of “Piaggio Technical Bulletin No 18/06,” titled “VESPA GTS: Maintenance Procedure for Exhaust System/Gasket.” The bulletin is from Piaggio&C s.p.a. (not PiaggioUSA) and so is presumably targeted to dealers worldwide. For copyright reasons, we won’t post the bulletin here, but (along with a few photos outlining alignment and placement) here is a summary:

  • The graphite exhaust gasket (Part 826388) must be replaced any time the exhaust is removed from the downpipe.
  • A re-used gasket, or improper positioning or torque upon replacement, may result in exhaust gases leaking from the joint, with the possibility of heat damage to surrounding parts.
  • The part is considered a “wear and tear” item, and thus must be charged to the customer at any service after the first.

We can’t speak to “Paolo’s” charges that the bulletin was backdated or purposefully buried in the service archives. It is dated September 19, 2006, a couple weeks after the internet flare-up. The bulletin does make it clear that the gasket must be replaced or danger could result, which is good, but considering the number of home mechanics in the scooter world, and the necessity to remove the pipe for service as simple as changing the rear tire, that the public should have possibly been better informed, and the specific dangers made even more clear to the dealers. Additionally, it is unclear if there were ever quality issues with the gaskets, or if they should be replaced regularly even if the exhaust is not removed. Piaggio absolutely should address these concerns to the public, whether or not NHTSB involvement is necessary.

2sb contributor/scientist/scooter mechanic Brooke Kelley makes a good counterpoint:

I think people need to get used to the idea that now that they’ve got what they wanted in gigantic 4 stroke scooters with freeway cruising power, that they will have to pony up for maintenance, just like a car. When you have to remove exhaust headers on a car, no garage would reuse gaskets that are crucial like that.

If the problem *is* limited to reassembly, mechanics (amateur or professional) should know better than to re-use a gasket. But considering that the exhaust must be removed to change a tire, a service often performed outside a dealership, and that it costs $30, more than a typical gasket, it would be wise for Piaggio to clarify the importance of replacement to owners, and possibly suggest they keep a spare gasket handy. At the time of the original buzz, many owners and dealers claimed that the gaskets were nearly impossible to find. This may have complicated the problem and provoked dealers to re-use gaskets rather than keeping scooters in the shop for weeks waiting for the part.

Even if the bulletin was published (and publicized to dealers) as soon as the problem was discovered, it seems Piaggio could have taken further steps to remedy the situation, both from a safety and a public-relations standpoint. That photo of a gutted GTS on the side of the road, whether it was legitimate or not, probably didn’t sell many bikes.