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I’ve had this scooter since November 2006 and it’s the first one I’ve ever owned.
I wasn’t really interested in owning one until a friend of mine decided to sell his and asked me if I fancied buying it. I thought what the hell, I’ll give it a try and if for some reason it didn’t appeal to me, I’d sell it on.
Anyway, I’ve had it for around two and a half years now and I can’t get enough.
This particular model is an LML Star manufactured in India and sometimes referred to in the scootering fraternity as a ‘curry burner’. So truthfully, it’s not a true Vespa PX, although only the purists would really tell the difference. Virtually all the specifications are the same, it’s just made in India under a different license.
Whatever! I always, like anyone who sees it, call it a Vespa.
I bought it as a standard 125cc scoot with no engine modifications, so within the first couple of months I had a 166cc Malossi kit fitted, along with a Simonini exhaust. This is probably as far as I’ll go with regards to tuning. Let’s face it, with all the shiny bits I’ve added, I’m not going to break any records for land speed, no matter what I do to it! That said, it will do around 60 with no head wind. I tried it once and once is enough on 10” wheels!
Vespa PX 125 (166 Malossi)
With regards to accessories, it came already fitted with a small backrest and grab rail, a chromed cover for the side spare wheel plus a black and white rear number plate set within a chrome surround.
These I removed and replaced, except for the chrome wheel cover and rear number plate and surround.
This is basically how it arrived, minus the fender bars and side crashbars.
My first bits of chrome were 2 mirrors on 22” stems. Well you have to start somewhere! But within the first coupe of months I’d also bought and fitted, side panel crash bars, a front fender bump bar and a 3 in 1 stainless backrest complete with spare wheel and Union flag wheel cover. The rest of the chrome and stainless steel I’ve added in bits and bats along the way. This consists of a chrome front rack, fitted with 5 large clear spots, 2 medium amber spots and 5 clear bullet lights, (all as yet unconnected). In addition there’s a Northern Soul badge, 4 mirrors on 14” stems, a badge bar which I placed spare Sundance grips onto the ends, and an original 60’s AA badge.
The front fender has a Jaguar emblem fitted on top of the chrome embellisher, plus another 2 clear bullet lights - one either side of the fitted bump bar. I replaced the plastic logo that came with the bump bar, with a small KTF (Keep The Faith) plaque I made from a piece of painted oak and chromed adhesive letters. Either side of the fender I’ve spray-painted black and cream diminishing stripes, to help tie in with the Union flag colours to the side panels. The rear of the front fender sports a chequered mudflap.
Original numberplate and chrome surround. 3 in 1 backrest, spare wheel and wheel cover. Blue indicator covers and grill protectors.
This picture shows how I had to fit the mirrors in order to get it through the side gate.
I've since sorted that problem by widening the gate.
Trouble is...now it won't fit in the shed!!
On the inner side of the head casing, covering the steering column, I’ve again applied some simple computer designed graphics in black and cream. I originally removed the standard handlebar grips and replaced them with chrome ‘Sundance’ grips. These have again been replaced by new rubber grips, in order to fit the black and white tassles.
The vynil graphics I made for the head casing. I used card templates to get the exact shapes of the housing from the scooter, scanned them onto my PC and designed within the shapes to get a perfect fit. They were printed by www.scootgraphics.com
Simple badge made from Oak then sprayed silver to replace the standard plastic badge on the front fender bars. Complete with adhesive chromed lettering.
Staying at the front end of the scooter I also fitted a chromed crashbar around the legshield and attached 10 mirrors on stems and 2 medium clear spots. The fly screen I sprayed silver to match the original silver paintwork, then designed some graphics on the computer and applied them to the Perspex screen. The PX graphics were bought as standard lettering. Another 2 stems and mirrors are fitted to the underside of the head casing. There is also a chromed peak to the main headlight.
This vynil graphic was again made by using a card template, cutting it to the actual size of the screen, then simply creating the design on the computer.
It does occasionally get very wet!
A sew on badge I designed for the KTF S.C.
The original clear indicator covers I removed and exchanged for blue ones and completed the look with black protector grills. The front wheel is embellished with a chromed spoke rim complete with black disc insert. Both front and rear tyres I replaced with new ‘whitewalls’.
The black and cream union panels were bought as is, already painted and were easily exchanged for the originals once I’d fitted them with the existing indicators, grills and panel rubbers. The only other addition to the panels are small chrome GB letters to the rear of the left one.
I originally fitted standard chrome crashbars to protect the panels but later swapped them for a ‘Florida’ style in stainless. They can be easily set up horizontally, or as they are now, bolted diagonally via wingnuts to the 3 in 1 back rest. Either way they literally takes no more than 30 seconds to remove to gain access to the panels. On each of the 2 Florida bars, I’ve attached 2 red bullet lights and connected all 4 to the main rear light.
Note the change of numberplate in order to get it through the MOT!
Ride out to Southport with the Lancashire Alliance 2007
Coming onto the 3 in 1 backrest, I replaced the original black backpad with a custom made job to match the Union flag wheel cover, fitted a badgebar to the rear top rail, complete with a Lancashire Red Rose enamel badge, 2 small sprung antennas to the side rails, an alloy Vespa rear bumper bar to the mid rail plus a black and chrome spoked wheel rim to the rear. The extended vertical backrest I designed and fabricated from a new chrome front crashbar, originally made for a Lambretta. A few measurements and trial positions made sure it was practical, not only for the pillion but also so that it didn’t obstruct the removal of the spare wheel. Then a simple cut and shunt, plus a couple of drilled holes enabled me to bolt it securely to the 3 in 1. All I needed to finish it off was to buy a ready-made slip-over pad in black and voila!
Underneath the rear number plate is the stainless tubular fitting for the alternative attachment of the Floridas, to which I’ve coupled 2 whip antennas and 2 rear fog lights. The furry bits on the small antennas and whip arials come in the form of a black and white Fox tail and 2 stripey Racoon type tails.
Whitewall tyres and chrome spoke rim.
Bullet lights fitted to Florida bar and side rail of 3 in 1 carrier.
Wired directly to the rear light.
Detail showing the rear spoked rim, badge bar and Red Rose badge plus some road kill tied to the small sprung antennas
Extended backrest bolted securely to the 3 in 1 complete with backpad.
Up to press that’s everything although I’ve still got to design some graphics for around the toolbox, plus fit and wire up a set of triple air horns to the font crashbars.
Also for the rear end, there’s another two 16” stainless antennas that come with 50’s style bullet lights at the top. Oh and then there’s a new seat cover to design and get made, plus I need a custom jobby for the top backpad.
Nearly forgot, 2 custom mudflaps, new black leather grip tassles, double stainless leg protectors, wire the front lights….and so the beat goes on!
Latest upgrade; 5 blue lense covers to the small front bullet lights, chrome strip surround to flyscreen, RAC & AA badges, King & Queen seat, 2 new Vespa mudflaps and a new spring front shock absorber. Plus, I've removed the large rear foglamps and replaced them with 2 bullet lights.
Pictures of my scoot after my accident in August 2009.
I hit some diesel as I was approaching a roundabout at about 15mph, braked, and before I knew it was lying on the ground with a broken arm.
Fortunately my scooter didn't receive extensive damage:
One spotlight was crushed, a few scrapes to the rear florida, some paint damage to one panel and the mirrors knocked out of line.
The most expensive damage was to the front crashbar that will have to be replaced. It also caused a slight kink to where it was bolted to the footplate but that I can live with.
A bit of TLC should get everything looking presentable again.
Front crashbar bent out of shape and irreparable.
Small spotlight completely ruined. Mirrors and brackets twisted but salvagable.
N.B. I managed to repair the crashbar with the help of a crowbar and a bit of gentle persuasion. Looks as good as new!
