Hi Velo.
I have changed my plans. I have been talking to people a lot and trying out some bikes. I want a scooter for work/home use, so driving through traffic will be it's general purpose.
I have a piaggio zip SP with a 70ccm racing setup (MHR speed grade), so i like throwing my scooter around a lot. The plan for a 4-stroke set-up was mainly because I would like to ride a scooter that gets to high speeds and still handles very well. I thought the ideal scooter for this would be a Zip SP because it handles so well. Unfortunately, there are a few catches. The Zip 125 is not made anymore. I am stuck with second hand scooters, and to get one, I would probably have to travel to germany. Then, I still don't know in what shape it is, and if it is in bad shape, I have to return home without a scooter, that's a waste of time.
Also, the zip has only 10" wheels, so with side wind you will probably be blown away.
Last week, I have built a 2t Zip 180 with a malossi cilinder and a Sito exhaust. This setup is a little slower than my race zip, but it runs quiet and more smooth, because it doesn't have inner rotor ignition. I tested the zip at high speeds, it was still stable because of the RS24 shock absorbers, but I felt not as comfortable as I'd like it to be. Also, the stear was shocking heavily when the engine runs idle, the big piston makes the whole scooter vibrate a lot.
I have also test driven a Vespa GTS 125, which runs really smooth and quiet. Really comfortable, but the wheelbase is long and the scooter wheighs 150KG, too much too be a light scooter. The next day there was a GTS 250 at my scooter dealer, and as a returning customer and good friend of the staff they always allow me to make a short test run. The 250 was much faster, and also at lower RPM's, so it's a comfortable ride. Unfortunately the sides of the scooter hit the ground all the time when taking corners. The Vespa is definately nothing for me, as I like corners.
A friend of mine has a Runner VXR200, and I have ridden it a long time ago. I even forgot, but remembered it again when seeing your topic. I remember that it was fast, but I hadn't done any corners with it.
Inspired by your project, I am now looking for a runner set-up. The runner is a lot more fit for traffic use than a zip at higher speeds. Unfortunately not that many people place their motor runner projects online, so it is hard to see what kind of parts people use.
The big plus for the runner, is that is can still be bought brand new. Everything that I build must be new-looking. I never drive in the rain. Taking a second hand zip this meant that I would need to completely rebuild it.
What would you use as a street front fork? Malossi says the F32S is a good fork for street use, but I have read no reviews of it.
What kind of shock absorbers would you advise me for the rear part? You have nice custom made Bitubo's, I'll guess they're pretty good at the track. Is something like that possible for a street setting and how much will I have to pay for something like that?
As far as for the engine: I have read that the MHR 34 carb by dellortho will not fit because of the helmet compartiment. Just as with my 70cc zip. Only, this runner will be a transport scooter, so the helmet compartiment needs to stay in tact. So I will be looking for a carburettor that will fit. But that can be done later. The 278ccm kit will be placed, as well as the malossi cam, cdi, valves and valve springs. Do you know if the ports on the VXR200 are the same size as the Vespa GTS 250 and 300? The heads seem the same to me. What kind of exhaust would you advice me? I found a scorpion, and two leovince exhausts (SBK/ 4Road) for the Runner, but I'd like to know if these are big enough for the 278ccm kit.
Thanks for your reply.
)
