Hello From Los Angeles.

**yankee1919** · 07 February 2012

Hello All,

My name is Tony and I reside in Los Angeles/ Eagle Rock area. I honored to be on this forum and I am very much interested in converting a vespa to electric.

Thanks.

**scoot440** · 07 February 2012

Hi Tony! Do you already have the Vespa?

**yankee1919** · 07 February 2012

Hello Scoot440

Yes, it is a 74 Rally 200, I bought it last year when I was going thru my scooter phase (i have many phases, not good for piggy bank), I had picked up a classic 58VBB and a friend of mine was selling a project Rally. I sold the gas motor and now looking at the options in electric motors and hardware.

Tony

**Allen_okc** · 07 February 2012

where is a good place to find vespa?

i have a 48volt kelly system i would like to find a project for...

**scoot440** · 07 February 2012

Rally 200 is a great place to start - just be prepared to catch grief from Vespa purists. If you have not already, check out Soundspeed Scooters. They manufacture a swingarm and base a conversion on the components from an EVT168. Allen, there are thriving Vespa groups in Dallas and there are several scooterists in OKC. Check out the classifieds on scoot.net. Unless you specifically want a Vespa, I keep eying Mitsubishi Silver Pigeons and Cushman step-throughs as great conversion candidates.

**teddillard** · 07 February 2012

Originally Posted by scoot440

just be prepared to catch grief from Vespa purists.

I thought I'd catch hell from all the R5/RD350/400 purists too... quite the opposite, though. There's a small group here in Boston, in fact, that thinks the R5e is totally cool, and are making a ride out to see the shop. Especially if you're taking a vintage bike and breathing new life into it, I think people get behind it...

...but maybe those Vespa guys are more hardcore.

**scoot440** · 07 February 2012

The difference here is just the rarity of the model. If you had built yours out of a Kenny Roberts RZ350 you might have a little different reaction.

**harlan** · 07 February 2012

Hi Tony. If you need any help getting your hands on the rights parts, we're happy to help and not too far away from you. Good luck with the project. I hope you'll bring it by the shop when it's finished!

**yankee1919** · 07 February 2012

Hello Harlan,
Will do, it's great that there is a supportive community going on here. I have been viewing some of the other builds on the forum and Wow!

Allen, look for a project on your local scooter group. There is a guy in los angles craigslist who has a lot of vespa stuff but try your local groups. Don't limit yourself on the vespa, I was going to first tackle a honda metropolitan or honda ruckus but found the vespa first. I would shoot even for a 80's honda elite.P9240168.jpg

Good luck.
Tony