www.tubebuddy.com/LurgsHowToGuides I use TubeBuddy to grow my TH-cam channel. Click this link to install, even the FREE version is great. This link is an affiliate link which means if you buy a TubeBuddy licence I will receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you. . Other useful How To Guides to help you save ⏱TIME and 💰 MONEY: Vespa GTS How To's, Tips, Tricks, Fixes & Reviews th-cam.com/video/16LcQelRTlc/w-d-xo.html 5 things I hate about my Vespa GTS 300 th-cam.com/video/16LcQelRTlc/w-d-xo.html 7 things I love about my Vespa GTS 300 th-cam.com/video/h0nWikLMFLg/w-d-xo.html Vespa GTS 300 Review and Ride th-cam.com/video/iMmJyuPvbkU/w-d-xo.html Vespa GTS 300 Rust problems th-cam.com/video/q_kLZT_iRV0/w-d-xo.html Vespa won't start issue th-cam.com/video/g2FaJ_5IAXc/w-d-xo.html Vespa GTS 300 Underseat Storage does a standard Crash Helmet fit and other Alternatives th-cam.com/video/LCmAbywTG8M/w-d-xo.html Vespa GTS Battery Location and How to check battery on Vespa GTS th-cam.com/video/S2h7ltTophU/w-d-xo.html How to charge Battery on a Vespa GTS th-cam.com/video/jqmR4NAASbg/w-d-xo.html Vespa GTS 300 Battery Change th-cam.com/video/-He3Wca40lw/w-d-xo.html Vespa Side Stand don't use it Ever th-cam.com/video/MJ1xuX2TUhc/w-d-xo.html How to put Vespa on the Center Stand th-cam.com/video/ZlwZfTkS7Go/w-d-xo.html Vespa Tire Pressures th-cam.com/video/1lwrkW9k0Js/w-d-xo.html Vespa GTS 300 Top Box Review th-cam.com/video/HHDbrhnnr54/w-d-xo.html Vespa GTS 300 Oil change and Oil Filter change th-cam.com/video/5VfKR7c4eJo/w-d-xo.html Vespa Dashboard Lights Meaning th-cam.com/video/TgFp0jszqTA/w-d-xo.html Vespa GTS Fuse Box Location and How to check fuses on Vespa GTS th-cam.com/video/V2fw3_NwWXk/w-d-xo.html Vespa GTS Coolant Check and Top up th-cam.com/video/iwRFvRPI-WQ/w-d-xo.html Vespa GTS Radiator Fan checking it works th-cam.com/video/OAQ_XlzsrOY/w-d-xo.html Vespa GTS Oil Leak problem th-cam.com/video/b8HplSY6UPs/w-d-xo.html How to set Clock on Vespa GTS th-cam.com/video/ZVGCymP5peQ/w-d-xo.html How to tighten mirrors on Vespa GTS th-cam.com/video/YUNplaufUvA/w-d-xo.html How to replace Headlight Bulb on Vespa GTS th-cam.com/video/ZOfORe1T5H4/w-d-xo.html How to remove rear light cluster on Vespa GTS th-cam.com/video/eXOYsnWkJSo/w-d-xo.html How to replace front indicator bulb on Vespa GTS th-cam.com/video/ob4QeVL2NUQ/w-d-xo.html How to replace tail light bulb on Vespa GTS th-cam.com/video/UNKlh5NsT5s/w-d-xo.html How to replace Brake Light Bulb on Vespa GTS th-cam.com/video/TTVSGmLfn9Y/w-d-xo.html How to replace number plate bulb on Vespa GTS th-cam.com/video/UbQWmtltZ1o/w-d-xo.html How to replace Rear Indicator Bulb on Vespa GTS th-cam.com/video/qICzWR_C0-8/w-d-xo.html How to test a Motorcycle Battery with a Multimeter th-cam.com/video/e6nrKVst-CM/w-d-xo.html All the Motorcycles I've ever owned th-cam.com/video/R5O5CT6rLCg/w-d-xo.html
*GET A LITHIUM BATTERY!* *NOW!**From what I see, there is 'out-gassing' occurring ...where molecules of sulfuric-acids and 'free hydrogen' is being slowly liberated from your battery...likely far more quickly when being 'charged' by the alternator* *You cannot 'make it stop' with the batt. you have because there's electrolyte inside it...even if it's sealed* ( *If you know 'Vespa'...then you already know they are notorious for 'rust issues' and always have been because of 'body panels' frequently being 'charged' every time you ride it...and when that charge encounters a 'weld-point' it builds-up a static-charge that in turn allows the 'free hydrogen radicals' in common steel to bind the steel's carbon with molecules of oxygen...and that occurs at a furious pace if the metal is being 'charged'in any manner...and steel turns to rust* )*This why an 'iron blade' left exposed to air/humidity/and sunlight begins rusting in only minutes* ( *The Sun is providing the 'charge' in the form of ultraviolet light* )
It’s certainly helped me! This has been a valuable part of my research. I won’t be buying a Vespa. This standard of build, but not covered by warranty, is unacceptable. This needs shoving hard and emphatically under the nose of S. Piaggio
Josephine Bennington Glad to have helped. I'm guessing lots get sold in hot countries so rust isn't a big issue, here in England it really is. It's poor but does Ride lovely. If you can get one without rust then get a sluk guard and get the underneath treated. But why should we have to do this? They are very expensive, it should be top quality at the price they charge. Let's hope my video gets noticed by someone at Piaggio!
Lurgs It’s now a big IF that I’ll ever buy one, but the flat underside is only painted. It’s exposed to everything the road will throw up. It should have the same treatment as that under cars. Trouble is, if it’s not done at the factory, the rot starts immediately, before it’s sold.
Nobody would warrantee rust. They have no control over how you ride. Salt water? Gravel roads? However, If I were to buy a new one, I'd spray the bottom with a matching color "bed liner" spray.
I've just bought my first ever scooter (own multiple motorcycles) and I love it to pieces. It's the 2021 GTS300 75th Anniversary model so I really want to keep on top of corrossion, so this is my three main pointers. 1) Get a front fender-extender (as advised by Midland Scooter Centre). I purchased the Pryamid brand (apparently the best fitting).Stuck it on with Sikaflex (so no drilling/screws) 2) ACF50. Like others have mentioned. Aircraft industry standard. I bought 4ltr (lifetime supply!) and a cheap spray gun, stripped the plastics and went to town. Note: there will be drips on the floor overnight so prepare to wipe down any excess with a cloth and re-apply to any areas you didn't spray... 3) Rust Blocker grease. Smeared it into the seams on the underside of the bodywork. Wipe after, leaving Rust Bocker only in the creases/nicks Of course you'll get dust/detritus sticking but simply ignore it, because it's protected 🙂 If I do see anypaint chips underneath I'll touch them in. If I see rust I'll treat it with ferro-zinc (brilliant rust-eater) then touch in. Happy scootering!
Great info, if I'd have bought mine from new I would do all those things. But it bugs me we have to do these things on an expensive scooter. You wouldn't buy any car and expect to have to treat it underneath all the time. Congrats on your new model, ride safe.🛵😎 I'm like you I have come from motorcycles. Here are all mine if you are interested th-cam.com/video/R5O5CT6rLCg/w-d-xo.html
I had a 2008 Vespa that didn’t show any signs of rust when I sold it in 2012. I bought a second one in 2012 (GTS) and within a year, it was showing signs of rust in numerous places. This included the metal seat hinge and the screws that support the rear rack. Now I feel compelled to check for rust in the battery compartment and am beginning to fear the worst. This is a clear lack of proper quality control.
It really is shocking. Piaggio should be ashamed. These Vespa's are £6,000 new, disgusting for this build quality. I had a Vespa ET125 2003 with not a spot of rust on it. Not happy at all. Very poor quality.
I eventually bought a 2009 model Vespa GTS 300, 2 weeks ago. Many thanks for the info mate, it helped me choose the right one. The previous owner had put bitumen floor sealer on the underside, so all was looking fine. There was a small amount of rust showing in the battery compartment, but not as bad as yours. I have since then cleaned the area and applied a coat of ACF50. I have also cleaned the engine and the surroundings and look like new, again ACF50 on anything that looks like it will corrode. Rode the scoot up to Scotland from Berwick Upon Tweed and the road was covered in wet salt. Hosed it down with cold water immediately after arrival. One week later sitting in the garage and the centre stand had seized. These scoots don't like U.K. winters. I intend to lift the floor and apply some ACF50. I can't wait until Spring to put it to use, it goes like stink, 90mph pinned on the road up. Happy New Year mate. :-) 👍☘
IRISHROVER I think you're right they don't like Winter. Shame coz as you say they ride beautifully. Thanks for the info and Happy New Year to you as well and safe riding.
The seam that is behind the front wheel is not sealed well enough at the factory. Theres a film doing the rounds that shows the assembly process and just how slap dash they are. Once you treat the rust it's a good idea to add seam sealer or at the very least some PPF on that whole area. Also, to stop the area getting shot blasted by debris, buy a wheel arch extension kit.
I’ve recently bought a Vespa 300 new and saw this video and decided to do something before the rust appears so I’ve taken the battery out and Wax oiled all inside the battery compartment and the cills and underneath that should sort it out and I will be applying on a regular basis wet soil on the underneath of the scooter floor pan, sorted
I am looking for a vespa gts 300 and most people spray them with ACF50 or XCP Clear Coat/Rust blocker which keeps them clear of rust. One of the local dealers recommended spraying them with ACP50 once or twice a year.
Looks like a wet-cell battery venting acid. I use AGM sealed batteries. Thanks for the heads up if I buy a Vespa. I have a Burgman 650, it has its own issues to deal with.
I was thinking of buying a used GTS 300, not anymore after watching this. I am from an era of long ago and I had a Vespa SS180 , Reg JLP68D I was only a kid and this thing didn't get a service cos I didn't have the cash, it was driven hard , had money for petrol but not for 2 stroke as well, so when we went into the garage we rummaged in the bins for the old 1 and 2 pint oil cans that were in there and all the dredges went into the Vespa fuel tank with petrol added after to mix it. This was never measured at all but this Vespa never missed a beat and it never had a bit of rust anywhere, totally different animal
It’s strange as I had a Vespa ET4 125cc much older than this and no rust either, considering the price I’m very disappointed with this, people suggest coating it underneath but shouldn’t have to do that on something so new
When Vespa spot welds the metal together it looks like their paint is not able to get between the seams so the bare metal that's not painted is rusting between the seams. That's my best guess.
Thanks for the information Lurgs, now I know what I need to do before riding my new Vespa, I will have to put a coating of some kind of protection paint under it.
Johnny Small Yes definitely put some protection under it. I think the Sluk guards are good to stop stones bouncing up and chipping it. Please subscribe if you can, would really appreciate it. Have a great week and thanks for visiting my channel. And ride safe!
I am shocked to see the rust underneath Vespa. The steel sheet used is substandard. A galvanised sheet should hv been used to prevent rust as the weather in Eyrope is wet. I am using Vespa Super 1970,and it is still rust free.Offcourse I take extraordinary care to keep it clean, dry and painted.
For as much as a Vespa costs, you should never have a problem like this! I have a 2009 Honda metropolitan and there is no rust anywhere on it. It even sits outside winter and summer. No rust anywhere. I bought it new for 2,000 dollars. I liked it so much that I bought a second one. Same year different color. I would expect much more from a Vespa.
Thanks for the info. I have watched your other gts videos. I am planning on buying a scooter to commute to work. I was looking at the vespa gts 300 although the rust issues have seriously put me off! I might go for the honda SH300 instead, although I do like the style of the vespa 😣
Great stuff. Hopefully it's helped you make an informed choice. Some Vespa GTS's seem to be ok. It's odd as I had a 10 year old Vespa ET4 with not a spot of rust on it. It does seem very poor. Thank you for the comment and please subscribe if you can, would really appreciate it. And ride safe!
I got a Peugeot Tweet 125 2011 2 months ago intending to slightly refurbish it....finally stripped it to the frame which I had shot blasted...guy asked me if it had been in the river...I then painted it in Red Oxide...then Grey Undercoat...then painted it twice...yet to paint it with clear lacquer....
.....I don't believe in those paints where you paint over rust....first step is to remove all rust...then paint a few times over the metal to protect it....I start with Red Oxide etc....as this scooter has around 20,000 miles I'm changing brake seals....wheel bearings...all screws and bolts...most of which are corroded...and collapse as soon as I try to undo them....hmmm
I know this can be a problem with some Vespa GTS's but I had one for six years and never had a problem. It was a 2012 model in red. I now have a GTS touring 2018 and have under sealed the underneath.
I had a 2003 ET4 125cc with not a spot of rust on it, this one is awful. It was only 2 years old when i got it with 2,000 miles on it and already there was spots of rust underneath, very poor and annoys me every time I think about it, especially when they cost so much money.
I've got a few other videos about it as well (Love and Hate). It's a great ride but yeh deffo check out underneath if you do decide to get one. Happy New Year.😎
Yes salty roads but I do about 500 miles a year on mine in mostly dry conditions and it's permanently garaged. I checked it the other day and more rust! I might make a follow up video, it's very poor. Some comments say there's have been 'written off' by rust. Piaggio should be ashamed and should recall them for treatment. £5000 for a rust bucket. Shame coz it rides sweet. Thanks for visiting and please subscribe if you found this useful. Cheers.
very impressed by these scooters but the rust issue is not very good, but that said one of these scooters are top of the list for my next scooter. and as a professional painter and decorator I'd recommend a couple of coats of dulux metal shield or hammerite direct to rust to fix your issues
I'm Spartacus It is a great scooter but I did expect better quality at the price they are! Also I've got another video about an oil leak I had. Oil filter underneath is so exposed, that failed and rusted. It rides great and plenty of grunt. Cheers for the tip re. Rustproofing
I know this happens, I have seen a lot of pictures and videos of rusted Vespas. I belong to a Vespa forum where people are constantly complaining about their Vespas rusting. But in all fairness, I don't believe it is entirely Piaggio's fault. I have a 2006 Vespa GT200. I bought it used in 2016, with 1800 miles on it, in brand new condition. Absolutely no rust. It now has 27,000 miles on it, and is still in near new condition. It has some paint chips in the front, behind the front wheel, that were hit by rocks thrown up by the front wheel. But there is still absolutely NO rust, even where the paint chips are. This scooter is 18 years old. The reason it has no rust is because it has never been exposed to salt. I live in Arizona, U.S. They do not use salt on the roads here. I have seen 4-5 year old cars and trucks from states where they do use salt on the roads rusted so badly that they were no longer safe to drive, and not worth trying to repair. Vehicles made out of metal, no matter what the brand, or how much they cost, WILL RUST if exposed to salt. I have 4 cars, 3 motorcycles, a 1979 Vespa P200E, and the Vespa GT200. None of them have ever seen salt, and none of them have any rust.
Its poor quality metal and welding. I had a Vespa ET4 old one and it never had a spot of rust on it. This thing was rusty underneath 2 years after it was new, not impressed at all. I've got a 13 year old VW T5 Van and that is not rusty underneath. You are lucky not to have salted roads. Ride and drive safe, enjoy the sunshine!
Try using Rust-Oleum rust reformer before applying any kind of paint. Clearly that was not a good paint job to begin with. Vespas are bomb proof. They should have a paint job to match.
Hungry Basset Cheers. In the summer I'll strip it back and apply that stuff before painting it again. Thanks for the info. But really shouldn't have to do it on something that is 4 years old with 2800km mileage and garaged. Piaggio should be sued! Apart from that it's Great
I agree with your comments. My vespa GTS 300 was just 18 months old when I discovered the dreaded internal rust on the bottom seam. In the end I chopped it in for a Beverly 350 which is far better scooter. As Piaggio is obviously unable or unwilling to rust proof its iconic scooter it really doesn’t deserve anyone to buy such utter rubbish. My old Douglas vespa was far better built. Why should buyers of an expensive scooter rust proof it when all cars are rust proofed from new. That’s why Lancia failed to sell in the UK.
I had one in Perth, Oz. Probably one of the driest places on Earth. Exactly the same issue.... Had to have the whole frame treated. Loved the bike but the rust problems are appalling!!!!
You might want to add a mud flap to the back of the front fender to keep the crap off the underside of the scoot. It looks like a new scoot should have a layer of "undercoating" sprayed to the bottom of the frame and the inside of the battery box too.
Maybe the newer models are better, it's not great though, I used to have a Vespa ET4 2003 and there wasn't a spot of rust on that, just poor quality for the price.
I'm not a body and paint person, but I think all you did is cover up the problem with paint, which means the problem is still there. The rust needs to be removed first and that means the original paint needs to be removed. I'm not sure how you would deal with the rust in between the metal seams. I guess if your a future Piaggio owner, you might want to treat the bottom and inside of your new scooter before rust develops.
MotorheadRedo Yeh I know, I need to strip it right back and do it properly. Blooming annoyed I have to though on something quite new. Very poor quality for such a high price
After watching this I’ve inspected my 2010 gts and it’s bad. It’s in for service but when I get it back I’ll be inspecting further in the battery compartment. I hope it’s recoverable (!) I’m Planning on stripping back as much paint then one or two coats of hammerite kurust then final coat of black hammerite underbody seal. After that, if I’m happy with the job, I’ll invest in a sluk mudguard extender the newer long ones. Hopefully this will control the rust!
Soon as I saw this checked my 125 sprint at 3-1/2 years old never had a drop of rain on it garaged like yours and with only 2500 miles on clock rust started to appear on underside I was so disgusted gone out and immediately p/X with a Yamaha no more Vespas for me.
I hope someone who works at Piaggio reads this. Every time I hear it happens to someone else it infuriates me as Vespa's are not cheap!. Very disappointing. Good luck with your Yamaha, I once had a Yamaha TZR250, absolute rocket machine screaming 2 stroke. Power band was crazy, happy days. Ride safe 🏍🏍😎 In case you are interested here is a short video of all the motorcycles I've ever owned > th-cam.com/video/R5O5CT6rLCg/w-d-xo.html
Sorry to say this Lurgs because you mean well but all you are doing is kicking the can further down the road, in a year or so's time the rust will be back, you need to get rid of as much rust as you possibly can with a grinder or Dremel and then treat it with a rust converter like Kurust or similar, then a treatment of red oxide paint before primer and topcoat, maybe then you will have peace of mind but nothing is guaranteed.
Yes all true, this video was really just to highlight the rust issue and isn't really a video on how to fix the rust. Still bugs me with the price of them.
in finland we get salted roads even in summer time, it "bonds" (not sure if correct word) dust etc.. I've been thinkin of buying a 300 GTS but this rust issue is just ridicolous. I've had several 1000cc superbikes before, but ran out of money few years ago
Yes I’ve always come from motorcycles as well. The rust issue is well known and it annoys me when you consider the cost of Vespas. Why should we as customers have to treat them, I don’t treat the underside of my VW Van. Ride safe and if you are interested here is all my old motorcycles! th-cam.com/video/R5O5CT6rLCg/w-d-xo.html
I was riding Vespas for 20 years now but this year I give them up and one of the residences I give them up was because of rust it doesn't matter what u do they rust so now I have a Yamaha xmax 300 the Yamaha doesn't rust and is a mush better bike than any vespa
@@LurgsHowToGuides the next time you buy a bike give the Yamaha a go it cheaper than the vespa has a.b.s has u.sb port has tsr has more power 28hp has more top speed handling is better has more store under the seat it's a better bike
Well that is Italian engineering for you. I am lucky I bought a second hand Vespa with a slight rust problem bust the secret is not to ignore it, cut it out and treat it.
Try posting about this rust issue on official Vespa dealers networking sites and see how quickly they get deleted. Nobody will talk about it in case they upset the boss man
Lurgs Lol, well if you do, can you ask them to sort out something to stop them being so bloody easy to nick as well! And not wanting to rub it in, but I’ve already done that trip. Well, it was Oxford(ish) to Milan, via the South of France but on a Lambretta (and it got me back home again lol)
Dave D Also last week I had a stone flick up and hit the oil filter and oil was spraying all over the place, such a poor design being exposed underneath. Might have to get a sluk guard. Thanks for visiting my channel.
Thanks for the video from south korea. That rust seems quite disgusting. Pretty look but bad quality. I wonder piaggio have aolve the rust problem with the new 2022 models.
Let's hope so. Very annoying as I had a 2003 Vespa ET4 125cc with not a spot of rust underneath, just poorly made. Even the centre stand is rotting to pieces as I type this! Ride safe. 😎
Great now I'M spending my weekend on my back but not in the way I wanted .....off to the garage I go. It is a shame I may go on seal paint underneath as in the stuff used under cars its hard wearing and won't really be seen under there
mdaydj I feel for you. It's very poor quality considering how much they cost. As you say it's underneath so can't see it, just get it sorted. Please subscribe if you can to help me reach 1k of subs. I also have a Vespa playlist of stuff. Good luck with the rust. Piaggio should cover the cost, not impressed.
mdaydj Take up the floorboards to do this job properly friend. The inside of that front seam is the worst bit as it rots from the inside out. Just treating the bits you can see through the battery well or underneath is simply not enough. Once treated/painted many people cover it in a coating of body panel wax like Dinitrol on the inside. Have a look at the Modern Vespa website for a thorough discussion and treatment ideas. Piaggio should be sued!
Lurgs I was going to move up to a Vespa. I wanted the 300gts. Now, I'm not so sure. I just may have to stick with my 49cc Honda Metropolitan. I love the Honda but I sure would like a bit more power, but still have that classic look. But i wouldn't want to have to keep battling corrosion.
This is unbelievable. So after all, a plastic body is better than a metal one. I have a Chinese scooter for less than a thousand bucks and after 3 years and about 4000 km on the odometer, all I had to replace was the (single)shock.
It is poor. I didn't buy mine new but a Vespa GTS 300 new is about £6,000 so to watch it rot before my very eyes is pretty soul destroying! Thanks for visiting my channel, really appreciate it. Have a great weekend.
How did you find the paint quality? I’m looking at a 2nd hand one from 2015, I noticed the paint on the bend in the front is uneven, almost pooled in some places. Is that a common Vespa feature?
I find it poor considering how much Vespas actually cost. I used to have a 2003 Vespa ET4 125cc no rust at all, this one is awful, and it’s garaged and hardly sees the rain
Thats traditional in Italy, they build cars and scooters, that are rusty when they leave the fabrik. You are lucky, because you can be shure this is a original Vespa and not a boring Honda without any Problems.
Piaggio headquarters is based in Pontedera italy.www.google.com/maps/place/56025+Pontedera,+Province+of+Pisa,+Italy/@43.662264,10.6042071,13z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x132a75e9463c70dd:0x7e1059c6352d52d!8m2!3d43.6625156!4d10.6363586 i leave the link in the comment just in case you want to still drive there. Piaggio was founded in 1884 and Vespa few years later 1946 soon after the war ended. since the begin of Vespa production is been well known from the general public that Vespa suffer from rust because they are made of........metal. even other motorbikes frame suffer from rust especially in UK which i think you are situated (i can get that from your accent) i am based in Whitstable Kent. and my Vespa GT 125 is 15 yo. the previous owners tried to prevent rust but failed. during the years all Vespa need maintenance and love.....more then a regular scooter. i was able to fully rebuild , re-weld, respray and look after all the bits and boobs myself because i couldn't stand the idea that a Vespa had to be thrown away. is not in my nature and no Vespa should ever be crashed for a bit of rust. always prevent and cure if that is the case. you cannot blame piaggio or `vespa for it. we only have to accept it. everything we buy has issues. (phone , cars , houses , watches ) we just have to deal with them. and this case because of Vespa history maybe we need to deal with it a little bit more then an usual Vespa. Ciao bello.
D L Love Whitstable,, gorgeous place. I agree things need looking after but am disappointed at the rust after 3 years, low mileage and always garaged. If that happened underneath my VW T5 I'd be gutted. Enjoy the sun and thanks for visiting my channel.
I agree , with very few miles the Vespa shouldn't have such issue. but unfortunately if we drive on a motorway and a stone chip the paint then we store the vespa humidity will help rust to come prematurely. my audi is 10yo and 160000 miles and there is no rust or what so ever. so i totally get where you are coming from. hopefully we will meet at some Vespa meeting soon. you enjoy the sun too with lovely vespa ride. thank you for the video and the response.
yiks you should be upset i have a 2013 vespa 300 super sport i live in vancouver B.C. canada lots of rain it's outside all year and i have no rust ? really bummer you should very upset!!
Torsten Hranchuk That's odd as it's a known issue here in England, maybe yours have extra treatment. Lucky you. Please subscribe if you can to help me reach 1k subscribers and check out my Vespa GTS 300 playlist. Thank you for visiting my channel.
My guess is this... With Vespa they're focusing their Research and Development budget on looks and feel. Their target market are people who like to look trendy. So, looks, but also the feel of how it rides. Clearly the Vespa does well on both counts. They know the type of people who buy them, are also the type of people who would spend extra money on designer clothes etc (obviously not always, but in general I think that's probably true). So, they know they can get away with charging more. I think they've done well on the looks, and the feel of how it rides. But the rest of it, is like a Turd rolled in Glitter to hide its flaws. A Honda is probably boring looking compared to a Vespa. But it won't rust like a Vespa, it'll use quality components designed to last and it'll be well thought out and well designed. I'd choose a Honda Scooter all day long, but my wife couldn't care less about a Honda scooter, she's only interested in a Vespa. I know that even if I show her your Rust video and your 7 things you hate video (which I will) she'll agree with me that it's not a sensible purchase, but if I ask her would she still buy it, she'll smile and say absolutely. That's where me and her differ, hers would be an emotional purchase (which is fine) mines would be a logical purchase. Neither of the two are wrong... life is for living. People just buy what makes them feel good.
Yeah, nice looking scooter until you get a closer inspection, with no warranty? You would think the workmanship of the All Steel body would have better protection especially for the price which is dear! I've always loved Vespas oh, but I want buy a new one now
MY 2015 VESPA GTS300 have the same problem I use rust remover and sandpaper I also use antirust oil This is a annoying problem and I don't understand why piaggio can't solve this problem
Better if you use a new sock as the stench can add to the rust, hehe only joking but yes Vespas have always been suspect to the old metal weevil, I am disappointed to see after all the years they have been making them that they still have not done any sort of prevention (Galvanizing before paint, waxoyl afterwards? Piaggio)? after all they are as dear as a small well made car. As a long time rider of classic scooters and the newer rev n go's I will not be getting a New (or 2nd hand)Vespa anytime soon, shame as they have really improved and updated to the modern era in every other way. Just a quick message to the owner of this lovely scoot try "Bilt hamber HYDRATE 80" way better than the holts rubbish.
No don't do that, rust needs to be taken off then it treated properly. But it really annoys me we should even have to worry about it, my Vespa is very low mileage and permanently garaged.
I wouldn't be very happy either, if it is possible to take them parts to pieces I would have them powder coated or even stove enamelled. After being sandblasted to remove all rust. I like the GTS but think I will stick with my Burgman as it's plastic ;-)
Steve B yeh I'll take it to a rust place then get it sand blasted and treated properly. But on something so new with tiny mileage and constantly garaged it is very poor for such an expensive scooter. I've got a VW T5 and if that was rusting the same VW would sort it out under a rust warranty. Before this I had a Vespa ET4 that was 12 years old and no rust underneath. I think Piaggio have cut corners building this model.
Its like everything nowadays nothing is made to last or made to be repaired. Bikes, cars and scooters all get more complicated so you have to pay silly money to have them serviced / fixed. Hope you get it sorted properly ;-)
Is this a problem with new Vespas now? That’s shit quality, I’m thinking of buying a new 2018 model but this has got me questioning my choice. Loving your videos though 👍🏼
I don't know. It really is poor on this model. I had a Vespa ET4 125cc before this which was 13 years old and didn't have any rust on it. Maybe if you are thinking of buying one ask what the warranty is on the paintwork! Thanks for the great comment and thanks for visiting my channel. Good luck in your choice.
Piaggio uses the same traditional rust creating technology of the '60. I have the Vespa gt200 2006 US model and is the same as yours. I was repairing the door of the glove box and the plastic of the hinges is flimsy and ridiculous. The worst industrial consumerism applied, in line with the Henry Ford's concepts.
I would have thought they would have used galvanised steel, I take it they don’t, even on the new ones? I have to say the finish on motorcycles in general is pretty poor; they never seem to be made for the real world.
True but since you Bought is second Hand its just bad luck,I would say ''f@~K it! '' and just take the opportunity to build one of my own custom made, maybe with a different cool color too. But if It was bought New the dealer would really have to do something about it, 6000k its a lot hard earned money.
This is so shocking! My vespa started rusting after less than a year and I have now spent six months trying to get it sorted. Still not done. Not sure if you are in the Vespa GTS owners club on facebook but there's some pictures of mine and stuff on there plus lots of other people commenting about how useless it is.. facebook.com/groups/5210463534/permalink/10157228325578535/ I think perhaps it is time I started doing some videos of mine too. terrible workmanship!
The New Biker No I'm not part of any club but I hope someone at Piaggio watches this video and reads the comments. It's very poor for something so expensive. Thanks for visiting my Channel, please subscribe if you found this useful, would really appreciate it. Have a great weekend and ride safe.
Thats why japanese brand is durable than the italians brands when it comes to body, because japanese brand use plastics and fiber glass on their body, no rust what so ever even in 20yrs time
Sorry but you're wasting your time! It's all over for your vespa unfortunately, you're just treating it over the rust. You're not stopping rust this way, don't kid yourself, you're just making it look shiny!
νικος γιώργος Yeh I know, I'll get it treated properly but Piaggio should be sued for this. A Vespa is £5500 and it rusts after a few years, I'm really unhappy about it. I bought it 2nd hand 2yrs old and it already had rust on it.
Lurgs Had mine for 3 years, sold it to a friend, bought it back from him 4years later, kept it for another year myself, a total of 8 years no rust whatsoever! So, it's climate and salt dependent...Must be. You're right though, the bodywork should definitely be galvanized or optimally drainaged from the factory!
νικος γιώργος I might start a petition or a lawsuit against Piaggio! My VW van has an 8 year anti rust warranty I think, Vespa does it even have one? hopefully this video makes more people aware of the issue
Vespa should treat the chassis the same as they do with cars these days and do the welding a little better to be honest they are not the cheapest in the world i expected more a little advice before anyone paint remove the rust entirily because if you seal the remaining rust it wil come back worse.
Robbin vd wijgert I am disappointed in the build quality from Piaggio, they should be paying to sort it out. Something that costs £5500 shouldn't be rusting away after 2-4 years. My Vespa has done only 2,000 miles and is garaged and cared for. Really not impressed. Why should I have to pay to get it all treated, it's not some cheap Chinese import, it's a very expensive vehicle.
Lurgs Loo i always give my gilera a extra paint job unterneath the frame and remove all the screws and treat them and repaint ste center stand once a year i shouldnt but its neccesary
Robbin vd wijgert Good idea, trouble is now the rust has started so I need to get it properly treated and then painted. Very upset I have to pay for this when Piaggio should be sorting it out. In fact I think I'll write them an email complaining.
Maybe you live in a nice hot country. My Vespa ET4 never had any rust at all, it’s only this model, very very annoying for the price. Safe riding to you 🛵
4min 22secs in the link below goes some way to explain why they rust so easily. Almost no care is taken to seal the welds up especially the dreaded one that gets soaked in muck if you haven't fitted a mudguard extension. th-cam.com/video/eHhV_i2clX0/w-d-xo.html
Very poor isn't it. Don't see why a Vespa only 3 years old and on super low mileage and garaged started to go rusty. As customers we shouldn't be having to worry about Rust repair so soon. Not impressed. Thanks for the link.
i agree bro.. very very very poor metal sheet selection by the manufacturer would have been great if they opt for GALVANIZED SHEET METAL.... but yeah i love my GTS
Why are the prices so high in England? Here in Greece vespa GTS 300 ABS costs 4400 - 4700 euro depending on the version..They have totaly different price policy in each country or you have bigger VAT..here is 23%.
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Hello
*GET A LITHIUM BATTERY!* *NOW!**From what I see, there is 'out-gassing' occurring ...where molecules of sulfuric-acids and 'free hydrogen' is being slowly liberated from your battery...likely far more quickly when being 'charged' by the alternator* *You cannot 'make it stop' with the batt. you have because there's electrolyte inside it...even if it's sealed* ( *If you know 'Vespa'...then you already know they are notorious for 'rust issues' and always have been because of 'body panels' frequently being 'charged' every time you ride it...and when that charge encounters a 'weld-point' it builds-up a static-charge that in turn allows the 'free hydrogen radicals' in common steel to bind the steel's carbon with molecules of oxygen...and that occurs at a furious pace if the metal is being 'charged'in any manner...and steel turns to rust* )*This why an 'iron blade' left exposed to air/humidity/and sunlight begins rusting in only minutes* ( *The Sun is providing the 'charge' in the form of ultraviolet light* )
It’s certainly helped me! This has been a valuable part of my research. I won’t be buying a Vespa. This standard of build, but not covered by warranty, is unacceptable. This needs shoving hard and emphatically under the nose of S. Piaggio
Josephine Bennington Glad to have helped. I'm guessing lots get sold in hot countries so rust isn't a big issue, here in England it really is. It's poor but does Ride lovely. If you can get one without rust then get a sluk guard and get the underneath treated. But why should we have to do this? They are very expensive, it should be top quality at the price they charge. Let's hope my video gets noticed by someone at Piaggio!
Lurgs It’s now a big IF that I’ll ever buy one, but the flat underside is only painted. It’s exposed to everything the road will throw up. It should have the same treatment as that under cars. Trouble is, if it’s not done at the factory, the rot starts immediately, before it’s sold.
Nobody would warrantee rust. They have no control over how you ride. Salt water? Gravel roads?
However, If I were to buy a new one, I'd spray the bottom with a matching color "bed liner" spray.
I've just bought my first ever scooter (own multiple motorcycles) and I love it to pieces.
It's the 2021 GTS300 75th Anniversary model so I really want to keep on top of corrossion, so this is my three main pointers.
1) Get a front fender-extender (as advised by Midland Scooter Centre). I purchased the Pryamid brand (apparently the best fitting).Stuck it on with Sikaflex (so no drilling/screws)
2) ACF50. Like others have mentioned. Aircraft industry standard. I bought 4ltr (lifetime supply!) and a cheap spray gun, stripped the plastics and went to town. Note: there will be drips on the floor overnight so prepare to wipe down any excess with a cloth and re-apply to any areas you didn't spray...
3) Rust Blocker grease. Smeared it into the seams on the underside of the bodywork. Wipe after, leaving Rust Bocker only in the creases/nicks
Of course you'll get dust/detritus sticking but simply ignore it, because it's protected 🙂
If I do see anypaint chips underneath I'll touch them in. If I see rust I'll treat it with ferro-zinc (brilliant rust-eater) then touch in.
Happy scootering!
Great info, if I'd have bought mine from new I would do all those things. But it bugs me we have to do these things on an expensive scooter. You wouldn't buy any car and expect to have to treat it underneath all the time. Congrats on your new model, ride safe.🛵😎 I'm like you I have come from motorcycles. Here are all mine if you are interested
th-cam.com/video/R5O5CT6rLCg/w-d-xo.html
XCP CLEAR COAT is supposed to be as good but less sticky.
Great video mate, that is absolutely insane. Vespa has to really hate this video, but the truth is the truth.
Thanks. Yes it is insane. When I first saw it all I couldn't believe my eyes.
I had a 2008 Vespa that didn’t show any signs of rust when I sold it in 2012. I bought a second one in 2012 (GTS) and within a year, it was showing signs of rust in numerous places. This included the metal seat hinge and the screws that support the rear rack. Now I feel compelled to check for rust in the battery compartment and am beginning to fear the worst. This is a clear lack of proper quality control.
It really is shocking. Piaggio should be ashamed. These Vespa's are £6,000 new, disgusting for this build quality. I had a Vespa ET125 2003 with not a spot of rust on it. Not happy at all. Very poor quality.
I eventually bought a 2009 model Vespa GTS 300, 2 weeks ago. Many thanks for the info mate, it helped me choose the right one.
The previous owner had put bitumen floor sealer on the underside, so all was looking fine. There was a small amount of rust showing in the battery compartment, but not as bad as yours. I have since then cleaned the area and applied a coat of ACF50. I have also cleaned the engine and the surroundings and look like new, again ACF50 on anything that looks like it will corrode.
Rode the scoot up to Scotland from Berwick Upon Tweed and the road was covered in wet salt. Hosed it down with cold water immediately after arrival. One week later sitting in the garage and the centre stand had seized. These scoots don't like U.K. winters. I intend to lift the floor and apply some ACF50. I can't wait until Spring to put it to use, it goes like stink, 90mph pinned on the road up. Happy New Year mate. :-) 👍☘
IRISHROVER I think you're right they don't like Winter. Shame coz as you say they ride beautifully. Thanks for the info and Happy New Year to you as well and safe riding.
The seam that is behind the front wheel is not sealed well enough at the factory. Theres a film doing the rounds that shows the assembly process and just how slap dash they are.
Once you treat the rust it's a good idea to add seam sealer or at the very least some PPF on that whole area.
Also, to stop the area getting shot blasted by debris, buy a wheel arch extension kit.
Yeh sluk guards are good. But it’s just a shame customers (ie. Us lot) have to worry and fix these sorts of things on new Vespas. Thanks for the info
I’ve recently bought a Vespa 300 new and saw this video and decided to do something before the rust appears so I’ve taken the battery out and Wax oiled all inside the battery compartment and the cills and underneath that should sort it out and I will be applying on a regular basis wet soil on the underneath of the scooter floor pan, sorted
Yeh great idea. Shame we have to do that though when you see the price of Vespas! Ride safe 🛵
I am looking for a vespa gts 300 and most people spray them with ACF50 or XCP Clear Coat/Rust blocker which keeps them clear of rust. One of the local dealers recommended spraying them with ACP50 once or twice a year.
Looks like a wet-cell battery venting acid. I use AGM sealed batteries. Thanks for the heads up if I buy a Vespa. I have a Burgman 650, it has its own issues to deal with.
Donald Jones cheers for the info man.
Wow! This made me question my plans to buy a Vespa! They need to sort this out.
Yeh it’s poor
I was thinking of buying a used GTS 300, not anymore after watching this. I am from an era of long ago and I had a Vespa SS180 , Reg JLP68D I was only a kid and this thing didn't get a service cos I didn't have the cash, it was driven hard , had money for petrol but not for 2 stroke as well, so when we went into the garage we rummaged in the bins for the old 1 and 2 pint oil cans that were in there and all the dredges went into the Vespa fuel tank with petrol added after to mix it. This was never measured at all but this Vespa never missed a beat and it never had a bit of rust anywhere, totally different animal
It’s strange as I had a Vespa ET4 125cc much older than this and no rust either, considering the price I’m very disappointed with this, people suggest coating it underneath but shouldn’t have to do that on something so new
When Vespa spot welds the metal together it looks like their paint is not able to get between the seams so the bare metal that's not painted is rusting between the seams. That's my best guess.
Thanks for the information Lurgs, now I know what I need to do before riding my new Vespa, I will have to put a coating of some kind of protection paint under it.
Johnny Small Yes definitely put some protection under it. I think the Sluk guards are good to stop stones bouncing up and chipping it. Please subscribe if you can, would really appreciate it. Have a great week and thanks for visiting my channel. And ride safe!
I am shocked to see the rust underneath Vespa. The steel sheet used is substandard. A galvanised sheet should hv been used to prevent rust as the weather in Eyrope is wet. I am using Vespa Super 1970,and it is still rust free.Offcourse I take extraordinary care to keep it clean, dry and painted.
Great video, mine has the same problem. I’d be curious how it looks in a few months, please keep us posted!
Steve T Yep will do. I'll update the description or post a new video. Thanks for visiting and joining, really appreciate it.
For as much as a Vespa costs, you should never have a problem like this! I have a 2009 Honda metropolitan and there is no rust anywhere on it. It even sits outside winter and summer. No rust anywhere. I bought it new for 2,000 dollars. I liked it so much that I bought a second one. Same year different color. I would expect much more from a Vespa.
Jim Sherlock I know it's very disappointing. Another comment on here with rust on one and lived in Perth Oz! Not happy I've gotta pay to fix it all.
maybe because it is a plastic body?
I have a Metropolitan as well. It's all plastic as opposed to all metal Vespa
Thank you for your video! I have been thinking of getting a Vespa because I like the classic/retro look, but this is really disappointing.
Glad it was useful. They are brilliant to ride but build quality is not great. Still worth looking though incase it’s ok but be careful of that rust!
Thanks for the info. I have watched your other gts videos. I am planning on buying a scooter to commute to work. I was looking at the vespa gts 300 although the rust issues have seriously put me off! I might go for the honda SH300 instead, although I do like the style of the vespa 😣
Great stuff. Hopefully it's helped you make an informed choice. Some Vespa GTS's seem to be ok. It's odd as I had a 10 year old Vespa ET4 with not a spot of rust on it. It does seem very poor. Thank you for the comment and please subscribe if you can, would really appreciate it. And ride safe!
I got a Peugeot Tweet 125 2011 2 months ago intending to slightly refurbish it....finally stripped it to the frame which I had shot blasted...guy asked me if it had been in the river...I then painted it in Red Oxide...then Grey Undercoat...then painted it twice...yet to paint it with clear lacquer....
.....I don't believe in those paints where you paint over rust....first step is to remove all rust...then paint a few times over the metal to protect it....I start with Red Oxide etc....as this scooter has around 20,000 miles I'm changing brake seals....wheel bearings...all screws and bolts...most of which are corroded...and collapse as soon as I try to undo them....hmmm
I know this can be a problem with some Vespa GTS's but I had one for six years and never had a problem. It was a 2012 model in red. I now have a GTS touring 2018 and have under sealed the underneath.
I had a 2003 ET4 125cc with not a spot of rust on it, this one is awful. It was only 2 years old when i got it with 2,000 miles on it and already there was spots of rust underneath, very poor and annoys me every time I think about it, especially when they cost so much money.
I was just starting to look at Vespas, but this is enough to stop me.
I've got a few other videos about it as well (Love and Hate). It's a great ride but yeh deffo check out underneath if you do decide to get one. Happy New Year.😎
Does your roads get salt put on them during winter? Good info in your video, thanks.
Yes salty roads but I do about 500 miles a year on mine in mostly dry conditions and it's permanently garaged. I checked it the other day and more rust! I might make a follow up video, it's very poor. Some comments say there's have been 'written off' by rust. Piaggio should be ashamed and should recall them for treatment. £5000 for a rust bucket. Shame coz it rides sweet. Thanks for visiting and please subscribe if you found this useful. Cheers.
very impressed by these scooters but the rust issue is not very good, but that said one of these scooters are top of the list for my next scooter. and as a professional painter and decorator I'd recommend a couple of coats of dulux metal shield or hammerite direct to rust to fix your issues
I'm Spartacus It is a great scooter but I did expect better quality at the price they are! Also I've got another video about an oil leak I had. Oil filter underneath is so exposed, that failed and rusted. It rides great and plenty of grunt. Cheers for the tip re. Rustproofing
I know this happens, I have seen a lot of pictures and videos of rusted Vespas. I belong to a Vespa forum where people are constantly complaining about their Vespas rusting. But in all fairness, I don't believe it is entirely Piaggio's fault. I have a 2006 Vespa GT200. I bought it used in 2016, with 1800 miles on it, in brand new condition. Absolutely no rust. It now has 27,000 miles on it, and is still in near new condition. It has some paint chips in the front, behind the front wheel, that were hit by rocks thrown up by the front wheel. But there is still absolutely NO rust, even where the paint chips are. This scooter is 18 years old. The reason it has no rust is because it has never been exposed to salt. I live in Arizona, U.S. They do not use salt on the roads here. I have seen 4-5 year old cars and trucks from states where they do use salt on the roads rusted so badly that they were no longer safe to drive, and not worth trying to repair. Vehicles made out of metal, no matter what the brand, or how much they cost, WILL RUST if exposed to salt. I have 4 cars, 3 motorcycles, a 1979 Vespa P200E, and the Vespa GT200. None of them have ever seen salt, and none of them have any rust.
Its poor quality metal and welding. I had a Vespa ET4 old one and it never had a spot of rust on it. This thing was rusty underneath 2 years after it was new, not impressed at all. I've got a 13 year old VW T5 Van and that is not rusty underneath. You are lucky not to have salted roads. Ride and drive safe, enjoy the sunshine!
Try using Rust-Oleum rust reformer before applying any kind of paint. Clearly that was not a good paint job to begin with. Vespas are bomb proof. They should have a paint job to match.
Hungry Basset Cheers. In the summer I'll strip it back and apply that stuff before painting it again. Thanks for the info. But really shouldn't have to do it on something that is 4 years old with 2800km mileage and garaged. Piaggio should be sued! Apart from that it's Great
I agree with your comments. My vespa GTS 300 was just 18 months old when I discovered the dreaded internal rust on the bottom seam. In the end I chopped it in for a Beverly 350 which is far better scooter. As Piaggio is obviously unable or unwilling to rust proof its iconic scooter it really doesn’t deserve anyone to buy such utter rubbish. My old Douglas vespa was far better built. Why should buyers of an expensive scooter rust proof it when all cars are rust proofed from new. That’s why Lancia failed to sell in the UK.
Great comment. Cheers. Yes I'm thinking of getting rid before it falls apart in front of my eyes. And mine is permanently garaged. Very poor quality.
I had one in Perth, Oz. Probably one of the driest places on Earth. Exactly the same issue.... Had to have the whole frame treated. Loved the bike but the rust problems are appalling!!!!
Simon Holmes Wow that is bad. I've got family in Mandurah and have been out there, gorgeous place.
The gilere runner and dna have a plastic tube plugged in the battery for the toxid fumes i make them longer and out of the frame
You might want to add a mud flap to the back of the front fender to keep the crap off the underside of the scoot. It looks like a new scoot should have a layer of "undercoating" sprayed to the bottom of the frame and the inside of the battery box too.
bigwheelsturning Yeh they sell them, they are called Sluk guards. Gonna deffo get one and get the rust treated properly. Thanks for the comment.
Great video, I wanted to buy one of these, not any more! Why is one of the most expensive scooters you can buy rusting? 🤷♂️. Thanks for posting this👍
Maybe the newer models are better, it's not great though, I used to have a Vespa ET4 2003 and there wasn't a spot of rust on that, just poor quality for the price.
Insane ! Crazy !
Picked up my nmax Yamaha scooter today p/X'd my Vespa -after rust. didn't realise what a difference these machines are to ride how much better.
Steve Soul Yeh it's very poor. Glad you have a new beast, ride safe 😎
Regular cleaning is neccesary
Doesn't help. Vespa uses the worse steel and a simple zinc bath would prevent it. You only pay for Vespa brand. Quality is non-existent
I have a 2014 primavera it has the same problem. I treated mine with rust eater and repainted the under side.
Good job there, but why should we have to do it on something so new, very disappointing.
I'm not a body and paint person, but I think all you did is cover up the problem with paint, which means the problem is still there. The rust needs to be removed first and that means the original paint needs to be removed. I'm not sure how you would deal with the rust in between the metal seams. I guess if your a future Piaggio owner, you might want to treat the bottom and inside of your new scooter before rust develops.
MotorheadRedo Yeh I know, I need to strip it right back and do it properly. Blooming annoyed I have to though on something quite new. Very poor quality for such a high price
if my a future Piaggio owner?
After watching this I’ve inspected my 2010 gts and it’s bad. It’s in for service but when I get it back I’ll be inspecting further in the battery compartment. I hope it’s recoverable (!) I’m Planning on stripping back as much paint then one or two coats of hammerite kurust then final coat of black hammerite underbody seal. After that, if I’m happy with the job, I’ll invest in a sluk mudguard extender the newer long ones. Hopefully this will control the rust!
Yeh good luck, it's very poor quality for a bike costing so much money, not happy about it.
Soon as I saw this checked my 125 sprint at 3-1/2 years old never had a drop of rain on it garaged like yours and with only 2500 miles on clock rust started to appear on underside I was so disgusted gone out and immediately p/X with a Yamaha no more Vespas for me.
I hope someone who works at Piaggio reads this. Every time I hear it happens to someone else it infuriates me as Vespa's are not cheap!. Very disappointing. Good luck with your Yamaha, I once had a Yamaha TZR250, absolute rocket machine screaming 2 stroke. Power band was crazy, happy days. Ride safe 🏍🏍😎
In case you are interested here is a short video of all the motorcycles I've ever owned > th-cam.com/video/R5O5CT6rLCg/w-d-xo.html
Sorry to say this Lurgs because you mean well but all you are doing is kicking the can further down the road, in a year or so's time the rust will be back, you need to get rid of as much rust as you possibly can with a grinder or Dremel and then treat it with a rust converter like Kurust or similar, then a treatment of red oxide paint before primer and topcoat, maybe then you will have peace of mind but nothing is guaranteed.
Yes all true, this video was really just to highlight the rust issue and isn't really a video on how to fix the rust. Still bugs me with the price of them.
in finland we get salted roads even in summer time, it "bonds" (not sure if correct word) dust etc.. I've been thinkin of buying a 300 GTS but this rust issue is just ridicolous. I've had several 1000cc superbikes before, but ran out of money few years ago
Yes I’ve always come from motorcycles as well. The rust issue is well known and it annoys me when you consider the cost of Vespas. Why should we as customers have to treat them, I don’t treat the underside of my VW Van.
Ride safe and if you are interested here is all my old motorcycles!
th-cam.com/video/R5O5CT6rLCg/w-d-xo.html
Helpful!
I was riding Vespas for 20 years now but this year I give them up and one of the residences I give them up was because of rust it doesn't matter what u do they rust so now I have a Yamaha xmax 300 the Yamaha doesn't rust and is a mush better bike than any vespa
Paddy Doyle Agree. Vespa are expensive so it's very disappointing the build quality. I think they are taking customers for a ride!
@@LurgsHowToGuides the next time you buy a bike give the Yamaha a go it cheaper than the vespa has a.b.s has u.sb port has tsr has more power 28hp has more top speed handling is better has more store under the seat it's a better bike
Well that is Italian engineering for you. I am lucky I bought a second hand Vespa with a slight rust problem bust the secret is not to ignore it, cut it out and treat it.
Try posting about this rust issue on official Vespa dealers networking sites and see how quickly they get deleted. Nobody will talk about it in case they upset the boss man
I would drive it over there but with a few thousand miles to Italy it will probably rust away before I reached them.
Lurgs Lol, well if you do, can you ask them to sort out something to stop them being so bloody easy to nick as well!
And not wanting to rub it in, but I’ve already done that trip. Well, it was Oxford(ish) to Milan, via the South of France but on a Lambretta (and it got me back home again lol)
Dave D Also last week I had a stone flick up and hit the oil filter and oil was spraying all over the place, such a poor design being exposed underneath. Might have to get a sluk guard. Thanks for visiting my channel.
Lurgs I got one of the new SLUK guards and would definitely recommend getting one 👍
Yeh cool, I will deffo get one. Was it easy to fit? If so I'll get one and do a Video on how to fit it.
Thanks for the video from south korea. That rust seems quite disgusting. Pretty look but bad quality. I wonder piaggio have aolve the rust problem with the new 2022 models.
Let's hope so. Very annoying as I had a 2003 Vespa ET4 125cc with not a spot of rust underneath, just poorly made. Even the centre stand is rotting to pieces as I type this! Ride safe. 😎
Small claims court that’s shocking . Try krust anti rust treatment don’t think your primer and paint will last
Yeh it is shocking, always garaged as well. This was a temp fix really, gonna get it shot blasted and then I'll treat it properly. Cheers for the tip.
Much better ✅👌🏻
Great now I'M spending my weekend on my back but not in the way I wanted .....off to the garage I go. It is a shame I may go on seal paint underneath as in the stuff used under cars its hard wearing and won't really be seen under there
mdaydj I feel for you. It's very poor quality considering how much they cost. As you say it's underneath so can't see it, just get it sorted. Please subscribe if you can to help me reach 1k of subs. I also have a Vespa playlist of stuff. Good luck with the rust. Piaggio should cover the cost, not impressed.
mdaydj Take up the floorboards to do this job properly friend. The inside of that front seam is the worst bit as it rots from the inside out. Just treating the bits you can see through the battery well or underneath is simply not enough. Once treated/painted many people cover it in a coating of body panel wax like Dinitrol on the inside. Have a look at the Modern Vespa website for a thorough discussion and treatment ideas. Piaggio should be sued!
Great information. Much appreciate for that. Thank you.
Lurgs
I was going to move up to a Vespa. I wanted the 300gts. Now, I'm not so sure. I just may have to stick with my 49cc Honda Metropolitan. I love the Honda but I sure would like a bit more power, but still have that classic look. But i wouldn't want to have to keep battling corrosion.
mdaydj ha ye me 2 think the lad who had it first has been jet skiing 🎿 on it f me that is bad I'm of now 2c mine bud
This is unbelievable. So after all, a plastic body is better than a metal one. I have a Chinese scooter for less than a thousand bucks and after 3 years and about 4000 km on the odometer, all I had to replace was the (single)shock.
It is poor. I didn't buy mine new but a Vespa GTS 300 new is about £6,000 so to watch it rot before my very eyes is pretty soul destroying! Thanks for visiting my channel, really appreciate it. Have a great weekend.
After 2016 all vespa have electrostatic painting so doesn't exist rust anymore .
That's good to know, really Piaggio should recall my model and fix it!
How did you find the paint quality? I’m looking at a 2nd hand one from 2015, I noticed the paint on the bend in the front is uneven, almost pooled in some places. Is that a common Vespa feature?
I find it poor considering how much Vespas actually cost. I used to have a 2003 Vespa ET4 125cc no rust at all, this one is awful, and it’s garaged and hardly sees the rain
Thats traditional in Italy, they build cars and scooters, that are rusty when they leave the fabrik. You are lucky, because you can be shure this is a original Vespa and not a boring Honda without any Problems.
Its not to bad, you can still fix it.
Did you fall and land on your head?
Good job m8
👍
Ho avuto la Vespa 300 GTS per 10 anni , non avuto problemi di ruggine .
Indovina che hai un bel clima caldo e secco.
Piaggio headquarters is based in Pontedera italy.www.google.com/maps/place/56025+Pontedera,+Province+of+Pisa,+Italy/@43.662264,10.6042071,13z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x132a75e9463c70dd:0x7e1059c6352d52d!8m2!3d43.6625156!4d10.6363586
i leave the link in the comment just in case you want to still drive there.
Piaggio was founded in 1884 and Vespa few years later 1946 soon after the war ended.
since the begin of Vespa production is been well known from the general public that Vespa suffer from rust because they are made of........metal.
even other motorbikes frame suffer from rust especially in UK which i think you are situated (i can get that from your accent)
i am based in Whitstable Kent. and my Vespa GT 125 is 15 yo. the previous owners tried to prevent rust but failed. during the years all Vespa need maintenance and love.....more then a regular scooter.
i was able to fully rebuild , re-weld, respray and look after all the bits and boobs myself because i couldn't stand the idea that a Vespa had to be thrown away. is not in my nature and no Vespa should ever be crashed for a bit of rust. always prevent and cure if that is the case.
you cannot blame piaggio or `vespa for it. we only have to accept it. everything we buy has issues. (phone , cars , houses , watches ) we just have to deal with them. and this case because of Vespa history maybe we need to deal with it a little bit more then an usual Vespa.
Ciao bello.
D L Love Whitstable,, gorgeous place. I agree things need looking after but am disappointed at the rust after 3 years, low mileage and always garaged. If that happened underneath my VW T5 I'd be gutted. Enjoy the sun and thanks for visiting my channel.
I agree , with very few miles the Vespa shouldn't have such issue. but unfortunately if we drive on a motorway and a stone chip the paint then we store the vespa humidity will help rust to come prematurely.
my audi is 10yo and 160000 miles and there is no rust or what so ever. so i totally get where you are coming from.
hopefully we will meet at some Vespa meeting soon.
you enjoy the sun too with lovely vespa ride.
thank you for the video and the response.
yiks you should be upset i have a 2013 vespa 300 super sport i live in vancouver B.C. canada lots of rain it's outside all year and i have no rust ? really bummer you should very upset!!
Torsten Hranchuk That's odd as it's a known issue here in England, maybe yours have extra treatment. Lucky you. Please subscribe if you can to help me reach 1k subscribers and check out my Vespa GTS 300 playlist. Thank you for visiting my channel.
An informative and thorough tutorial - thanks! #789
Mr Tompkins Ed Tech Cheers. I'll check out your stuff tomorrow
My guess is this... With Vespa they're focusing their Research and Development budget on looks and feel. Their target market are people who like to look trendy. So, looks, but also the feel of how it rides. Clearly the Vespa does well on both counts. They know the type of people who buy them, are also the type of people who would spend extra money on designer clothes etc (obviously not always, but in general I think that's probably true). So, they know they can get away with charging more.
I think they've done well on the looks, and the feel of how it rides. But the rest of it, is like a Turd rolled in Glitter to hide its flaws. A Honda is probably boring looking compared to a Vespa. But it won't rust like a Vespa, it'll use quality components designed to last and it'll be well thought out and well designed. I'd choose a Honda Scooter all day long, but my wife couldn't care less about a Honda scooter, she's only interested in a Vespa.
I know that even if I show her your Rust video and your 7 things you hate video (which I will) she'll agree with me that it's not a sensible purchase, but if I ask her would she still buy it, she'll smile and say absolutely. That's where me and her differ, hers would be an emotional purchase (which is fine) mines would be a logical purchase. Neither of the two are wrong... life is for living. People just buy what makes them feel good.
Totally agree with all of that. You are paying for the name and the style. Maybe the newer ones are better quality but they are so expensive.
Maybe you can trade your wife for a Honda, win win.
You wonder after watching something like this if what people say about "Just paying for the name" is true.
I think you are correct. I sold my Ferrari & Aston Martin's as they are a bugger to start in the Cold Weather! Thanks for visiting my channel.
they didnt use the ecoat primer in the factory. thats criminal. cost cutting measures
Very cool Vespa:)
Yeah, nice looking scooter until you get a closer inspection, with no warranty? You would think the workmanship of the All Steel body would have better protection especially for the price which is dear! I've always loved Vespas oh, but I want buy a new one now
MY 2015 VESPA GTS300 have the same problem I use rust remover and sandpaper I also use antirust oil This is a annoying problem and I don't understand why piaggio can't solve this problem
林景賢 Yeh it’s very poor, we shouldn’t have to do this after a few years use
Great video
Better if you use a new sock as the stench can add to the rust, hehe only joking but yes Vespas have always been suspect to the old metal weevil, I am disappointed to see after all the years they have been making them that they still have not done any sort of prevention (Galvanizing before paint, waxoyl afterwards? Piaggio)? after all they are as dear as a small well made car. As a long time rider of classic scooters and the newer rev n go's I will not be getting a New (or 2nd hand)Vespa anytime soon, shame as they have really improved and updated to the modern era in every other way. Just a quick message to the owner of this lovely scoot try "Bilt hamber HYDRATE 80" way better than the holts rubbish.
NEDRAGLIGHTRAILWAY Thanks for the great info and you should upload some more train stuff. Have a great weekend.
Rusts never sleep on a Vespa scooter!
Indeed, it's in my garage right now rotting away. Very poor. Won't be getting another one.
I would have scraped as much as the rust off first with wire brush etc then treated with rust converter before applying the paint
Yeh I redid it all properly but Piaggio should be ashamed. Shouldn’t have to
Most Chinese scooters I've seen have plastic battery trays seems like the common sense thing to do
Paint straight to the rust?is that true?it isnt gift agift?
No don't do that, rust needs to be taken off then it treated properly. But it really annoys me we should even have to worry about it, my Vespa is very low mileage and permanently garaged.
The trouble is you haven't stopped anything. The rust under the paint hasn't been stopped at all. You should have a least wire brushed it 1st.
Steve B It was a temp fix, I'll sort it all out properly in the summer, still very angry, Piaggio should be paying to sort it out!
I wouldn't be very happy either, if it is possible to take them parts to pieces I would have them powder coated or even stove enamelled. After being sandblasted to remove all rust. I like the GTS but think I will stick with my Burgman as it's plastic ;-)
Steve B yeh I'll take it to a rust place then get it sand blasted and treated properly. But on something so new with tiny mileage and constantly garaged it is very poor for such an expensive scooter. I've got a VW T5 and if that was rusting the same VW would sort it out under a rust warranty. Before this I had a Vespa ET4 that was 12 years old and no rust underneath. I think Piaggio have cut corners building this model.
Its like everything nowadays nothing is made to last or made to be repaired. Bikes, cars and scooters all get more complicated so you have to pay silly money to have them serviced / fixed. Hope you get it sorted properly ;-)
Is this a problem with new Vespas now? That’s shit quality, I’m thinking of buying a new 2018 model but this has got me questioning my choice. Loving your videos though 👍🏼
I don't know. It really is poor on this model. I had a Vespa ET4 125cc before this which was 13 years old and didn't have any rust on it. Maybe if you are thinking of buying one ask what the warranty is on the paintwork! Thanks for the great comment and thanks for visiting my channel. Good luck in your choice.
Do you drive it when there’s rain?
Once!!
Looks like Piaggio omitted the stage of galvanization before priming and painting. Shameful for what they charge.
Yes they cost a fortune so I would expect top quality, but apparently not. But they do look Ace 👍
Made in Italy need protektion from day number one
Never had this issue. And I live on the east coast.
East Coast of where? Guess it's somewhere dry and hot. Lucky for you!
Piaggio uses the same traditional rust creating technology of the '60. I have the Vespa gt200 2006 US model and is the same as yours. I was repairing the door of the glove box and the plastic of the hinges is flimsy and ridiculous. The worst industrial consumerism applied, in line with the Henry Ford's concepts.
I wouldn't care if they were cheap as chips but Vespa's are top money.
👍
I would have thought they would have used galvanised steel, I take it they don’t, even on the new ones?
I have to say the finish on motorcycles in general is pretty poor; they never seem to be made for the real world.
Not sure about newer models.
If it was me I would remove the engine, electrics etc, sand blast the shell and re start from the beginning.
Yeh great idea but not something we should have to do on something so new!
True but since you Bought is second Hand its just bad luck,I would say ''f@~K it! '' and just take the opportunity to build one of my own custom made, maybe with a different cool color too. But if It was bought New the dealer would really have to do something about it, 6000k its a lot hard earned money.
Very costly process, and most people can't do that themselves, I'm thinking of how expensive these suckers are!
@@ripmax333 and yet Piaggio is just thumbing their nose at it, go away you've already bought it
Beautiful my friend: watch video Almost complete
Always help each other
It can happen if the garage is damp makes the bike rust
Grant Barclay True but it's still awful quality for the money the Vespa costs, not happy🙁
R putting ya bi away when it's hot 🔥 in a prefab garage it Wil rust like f. My dad's mg did this just sell it its fucked
if you live in England, where its a wet mess year around, why are you surprised?
Richard Degen My VW Van is 6 years old and no rust underneath. Poor quality.
Without removing rust before???
Andrea Marassi It was a temp fix, now sorted properly. Not that as customers we should have to sort it!
What a rust bucket, I will never ever buy this, my 23 years old BMW has no Rust and this Vespa is shocking
My Honda Activa 15 years old has no rust at all that’s why we say 👍HONDA is HONDA VESPA 👎🏻
Yeh I've never had a problem with Rust on any of my previous 13 motorcycles, it's very bad.
Nice POS you drive
This is so shocking! My vespa started rusting after less than a year and I have now spent six months trying to get it sorted. Still not done. Not sure if you are in the Vespa GTS owners club on facebook but there's some pictures of mine and stuff on there plus lots of other people commenting about how useless it is.. facebook.com/groups/5210463534/permalink/10157228325578535/ I think perhaps it is time I started doing some videos of mine too. terrible workmanship!
The New Biker No I'm not part of any club but I hope someone at Piaggio watches this video and reads the comments. It's very poor for something so expensive. Thanks for visiting my Channel, please subscribe if you found this useful, would really appreciate it. Have a great weekend and ride safe.
Same as mine...rubbish build quality...chrome sub standard...do not buy...
Once it rusts, forget about it.
Yeh it’s spreads fast, very poor
Thats why japanese brand is durable than the italians brands when it comes to body, because japanese brand use plastics and fiber glass on their body, no rust what so ever even in 20yrs time
Juan dela Cruz I've had loads of motorbikes but never seen rust like this. Disappointing as it rides lovely
You don't need to use it a lot, once the salt gets in there it's all over...
Get a Honda SH 300 i. It is much better scooter.
Sorry but you're wasting your time!
It's all over for your vespa unfortunately, you're just treating it over the rust.
You're not stopping rust this way, don't kid yourself, you're just making it look shiny!
νικος γιώργος Yeh I know, I'll get it treated properly but Piaggio should be sued for this. A Vespa is £5500 and it rusts after a few years, I'm really unhappy about it. I bought it 2nd hand 2yrs old and it already had rust on it.
Lurgs
Had mine for 3 years, sold it to a friend, bought it back from him 4years later, kept it for another year myself, a total of 8 years no rust whatsoever!
So, it's climate and salt dependent...Must be.
You're right though, the bodywork should definitely be galvanized or optimally drainaged from the factory!
νικος γιώργος I might start a petition or a lawsuit against Piaggio! My VW van has an 8 year anti rust warranty I think, Vespa does it even have one? hopefully this video makes more people aware of the issue
Code peinture 544 " montbianco" faut poncer avant pour enlever l' oxydation.
????
Vespa should treat the chassis the same as they do with cars these days and do the welding a little better to be honest they are not the cheapest in the world i expected more a little advice before anyone paint remove the rust entirily because if you seal the remaining rust it wil come back worse.
Robbin vd wijgert I am disappointed in the build quality from Piaggio, they should be paying to sort it out. Something that costs £5500 shouldn't be rusting away after 2-4 years. My Vespa has done only 2,000 miles and is garaged and cared for. Really not impressed. Why should I have to pay to get it all treated, it's not some cheap Chinese import, it's a very expensive vehicle.
Lurgs Loo i always give my gilera a extra paint job unterneath the frame and remove all the screws and treat them and repaint ste center stand once a year i shouldnt but its neccesary
Robbin vd wijgert Good idea, trouble is now the rust has started so I need to get it properly treated and then painted. Very upset I have to pay for this when Piaggio should be sorting it out. In fact I think I'll write them an email complaining.
I was in the market for a GTS 300, not anymore!
Let's hope someone from Piaggio reads all this stuff ! Very poor quality underneath especially in this day and age and at the price they are.
SONO 45 ANNI CHE GUIDO VESPA, MAI NESSUN PROBLEMA DI RUGGINE.
Maybe you live in a nice hot country. My Vespa ET4 never had any rust at all, it’s only this model, very very annoying for the price. Safe riding to you 🛵
I wouldn’t own one of these if someone gave it to me for FREE. I would throw that thing straight into the GARBAGE!!!
rdizzo1313 these don’t have this issue in Florida and there’s salt spray from the ocean everywhere. I don’t know what’s going on with his Vespa.
4min 22secs in the link below goes some way to explain why they rust so easily. Almost no care is taken to seal the welds up especially the dreaded one that gets soaked in muck if you haven't fitted a mudguard extension.
th-cam.com/video/eHhV_i2clX0/w-d-xo.html
Very poor isn't it. Don't see why a Vespa only 3 years old and on super low mileage and garaged started to go rusty. As customers we shouldn't be having to worry about Rust repair so soon. Not impressed. Thanks for the link.
Exactly the same as mine, rubbish build quality chrome very sub standard...do not buy one!!!
simon worrall Indeed. Rides great and I love it but the build quality is shocking, bit like the old Alfa Suds back in the day
oh Piaggio,. Come on,. its too Bad
Bloody hell, and they have the cheek to give cheap chinese scooters a bad name!
clanmac66 Yep it's not good. Guess a lot are in hot climates but doesn't help me in England!
Do you drive on salty roads? Subsciber #919
Italjohn13. How hard can it be? Not really, it's always garaged and washed. I'll check out your stuff later.
Done :-)
Mines never been used in wet weather. Salt or no salt still rusted
lol... didnt even bother removing nor scraping out those existing rust...
cadworx Was just to highlight the problem, I'll do it properly in the summer. Not happy about the quality on something that costs £5,500
i agree bro.. very very very poor metal sheet selection by the manufacturer would have been great if they opt for GALVANIZED SHEET METAL.... but yeah i love my GTS
Why are the prices so high in England? Here in Greece vespa GTS 300 ABS costs 4400 - 4700 euro depending on the version..They have totaly different price policy in each country or you have bigger VAT..here is 23%.
Orfeas Lampropoulos no doubt it's Tax! Yep they are very expensive.