Vespa 125
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| Vespa 125 | |
| Manufacturer | |
|---|---|
| Production | 35 000 units |
| Engine | Four stroke, single cylinder |
| Compression ratio | 6.5:1 |
| Top Speed | 70 km/h / 43.5 mph |
| Ignition | Magneto |
| Transmission | 3 Speed, grip-shift |
| Suspension | Front: Trail arm, coil spring Rear: Coil spring with damper |
| Brakes | Front: Drum, 125 mm Rear: Drum, 125 mm |
| Front Tire | 3.5 x 8" |
| Rear Tire | 3.5 x 8" |
| Wheelbase | 1130 mm / 44.5 in |
| Seat Height | 790 mm / 31.1 in |
| Weight | 77.5 kg / 170.8 lbs (dry), |
| Fuel Capacity | 5 L / 1.3 US gal |
| Manuals | Service Manual |
It could reach a top speed of 70 km/h / 43.5 mph.
Engine[edit | edit source]
The engine was a Air cooled cooled Four stroke, single cylinder. The engine featured a 6.5:1 compression ratio.
Drive[edit | edit source]
Power was moderated via the Oil bath, multi plate.
Chassis[edit | edit source]
It came with a 3.5 x 8" front tire and a 3.5 x 8" rear tire. Stopping was achieved via Drum, 125 mm in the front and a Drum, 125 mm in the rear. The front suspension was a Trail arm, coil spring while the rear was equipped with a Coil spring with damper. The 125 was fitted with a 5 L / 1.3 US gal fuel tank. The bike weighed just 77.5 kg / 170.8 lbs. The wheelbase was 1130 mm / 44.5 in long.
Photos[edit | edit source]
Overview[edit | edit source]
The Vespa 125 (and its progenitor, the Vespa 98) was the perfect vehicle in the perfect time. For post-war Italy, it offered a flawless combination of beautiful design, innovative engineering, and one of the best marketing programs the world has ever seen. At a time when fewer than 10 percent of Italian households had the combination of electricity and running water, Italians scraped up every bit of cash they had, and some they didn't have, just to have the opportunity to get out and about again. Vespa--literally and figuratively--got Italians moving again.
Innovation was everywhere on the Vespa. The front suspension operates like a scale model of an aircraft's landing gear. The engine and transmission comprise a single unit, without a messy chain to adjust. Both wheels feature lug nuts like those on an automobile, and can be removed in seconds with a single hand-tool. The parcel rack could also be fitted with a spare wheel and tire holder, making a flat a two-minute delay rather than a trip-ending disaster. By incorporating a cooling fan on the face of the flywheel, and surrounding the engine with an elaborate sheetmetal shroud, D'Ascanio was able to overcome cooling problems inherent in the original Vespa prototypes.
The Vespa 125 (referred to now as "Fenderlights" to differentiate these bikes from later Vespa 125s with the headlamp in the cast-aluminum headset) offered continuous improvement over the Vespa 98. The original scooter wasn't fitted with a centerstand. You just rolled up to a curb and propped the floorboard up against it. The 125 included a stand after 1949 so you could park it anywhere. The gearchange was moved to the left side, where it would stay as long as Vespas made shiftable scooters.
The 1949 version of the Vespa 125 had a new designed horizontal fins to promote better cooling. A key lock is also introduced as is a stand In 1950 a new TA 17B carburetor is added and a new muffler with removable terminal.. V15T headlight is made so that it is adjustable.
| Make Model | Vespa 125 |
|---|---|
| Year | 1948 - 50 |
| Production | 35 000 units |
| Engine Type | Four stroke, single cylinder |
| Displacement | 124.8 cc 7.6 cub in |
| Bore X Stroke | 56.5 x 49.8 mm |
| Compression | 6.5:1 |
| Cooling System | Air cooled |
| Fuel Mixture | 1:20 |
| Induction | Deflector piston |
| Ignition | Magneto |
| Starting | Kick start |
| Clutch | Oil bath, multi plate |
| Max Power | 2.6 kW / 3.5 hp @4500 rpm |
| Transmission | 3 Speed, grip-shift |
| Final Drive | Direct drive |
| Front Suspension | Trail arm, coil spring |
| Rear Suspension | Coil spring with damper |
| Front Brakes | Drum, 125 mm |
| Rear Brakes | Drum, 125 mm |
| Wheels | Interchangeable |
| Front Tire | 3.5 x 8" |
| Rear Tire | 3.5 x 8" |
| Dimensions | Length: 1655 mm / 65.2 in Width: 790 mm / 31.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 1130 mm / 44.5 in |
| Seat Height | 790 mm / 31.1 in |
| Dry Weight | 77.5 kg / 170.8 lbs |
| Fuel Capacity | 5 L / 1.3 US gal |
| Consumption Average | 2 L/100 km / 50 km/L / 118 US mpg |
| Top Speed | 70 km/h / 43.5 mph |
| Colours | Metallic Green |
| Sources | Vespa by Giorgio Sarti, vespa-italia.com, www.vespafan.ch, Hemmings Motor News |