1980 Other Makes Piaggio P 200 E

VSX1T39424

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1980 Vespa Piaggio P200E I purchased this vintage beauty in from a Vespa collector in Philly a few years ago and then put about $250 into getting it fully serviced by Cycle Therapy on 125th Street in NYC (still have the receipt). With just a little TLC, they got it up and running like new. Sadly, I started working crazy hours the next month and the Vespa went on to sit idle for years in an indoor garage. It needs a little tune up again (possibly just gas), but this is a true masterpiece of Italian design in excellent condition. Mileage is low - only 5,073 miles - most of which were clocked by its original owner, an Italian guy in Philadelphia who treated it like a gem. The engine is 200 cc's and it's incredibly well built and durable. DOT helmet, lock, and rain cover included. Comes with original owners manual. Style The Vespa P-series was the last of the "classic" Vespas to come out of Piaggio's factories. Though many of the brand new scooters reaching American shores have a "Vespa" badge, they are cut from a different cloth entirely. The P-series Vespas are probably the sturdiest models. The P-series scooters consisted of three models, the P125X, P150X, and P200E when it debuted in 1977. On the P's everything was bigger. The frame was newly designed, and was physically much larger than any previous models. The cowls were made more angular, and had integral turn signals. The electrical contact for the signals was made through the locking pin for the cowl, which was virtually foolproof, unlike the previous delicate U.S. models' signals. On the front, the signals were attached on the sides of the legshield. The front mudguard was also enlarged and made in a more square shape. A black aluminum fender crest was placed on top of the mudguard. Gone was the metal exposed horn. It was now placed behind a removable plastic horncasting. The horncasting also hid a large electrical wiring junction box. On the other side of the legshields, all models came with a large locking glovebox. All U.S. market P's were top of the line, with turn signals, 12 volt electrics, a battery, and the auto oil injector system. The handlebars on the P's were also completely redesigned. First, the headlight was made much larger than the previous U.S. models. It accommodated a large car-style sealed beam headlight which was required by U.S. regulations. Another major change was that the headset was made with a removeable plastic top. This top, secured by four screws, allowed access to the wiring and cables when removed. The speedometer was totally new, and physically much larger than previous speedos. In U.S. models, the speedometer included a small green neutral indicator at the bottom. There were several versions of the speedometer for the U.S., including a mph and kph version on the P200. Above the speedometer on the headset top were two indicators, one for high beam, and the other for turn signals. All P's had an ignition switch on the headset top, and finally, the switch had an actual key unique to each switch, rather than a blank key. The headset bottom was cast and was solid on the bottom. As on previous Vespas, there were four mounting holes on the bottom of the headset for mirrors or a windshield. The seat was also redesigned, and in keeping with the rest of the design changes, it was made larger. All P's came with a dual saddle, and the venerable single seat was relegated to history. Another alteration on the P's was that the floor rails and runners were made larger and no longer had ridges, but were flat. The end caps were now a square shape, as opposed to the pointed shape on the earlier models. The center stand was also changed to include a larger buffer stop. The taillight used on the P's in the U.S. was identical to that already used by the previous Rally/Sprint/Super models. This "tractor style" rear light included the license plate bracket, which was painted the same color as the scooter as on previous models. The P-series also added a plastic bumper with integrated mudflap at the rear of the frame, a feature unique to the P's. Motor Power Output: 200: 12 h.p. The motor on the P series was not nearly as radically different from the previous models as the frame and styling was. On the P200, the motor was an evolution from the Rally 200's powerplant. On the 200, the big change was the substitution of a Ducati electronic ignition for the Femsa unit. The Ducati system was less complex and allowed for adjustment of the ignition timing. The CDI unit for the Ducati system was much smaller than the Femsa, and was mounted on a small bracket at the back of the motor itself, rather than on the frame. On all models the electrical system was upgraded to 12 volt, a first for a Vespa, and a major improvement. In the U.S. all P's came with a battery. There were other internal differences on the P motors, the most notable of which was the alteration of the motor seal and bearing on the flywheel side to make the motor easier to service. The suspension on the P series was also changed. At this point, the old separate spring and dampener setup on the front fork was finally abandoned. The front dampener on the P's was now a one-piece dampener unit. The spring was abandoned in favor of a large dampener. The rear dampener and spring was unaltered. The front dampener greatly increased the smoothness of the ride, and lessened the harsh front end dive upon braking, which was characteristic of previous Vespas. All P series Vespas sold in the U.S. came with oil injection as standard. Though all largeframe Vespas sold in the U.S. had come with the oil injection system since the late 60's, it was the P series which introduced this feature to much of Europe. Bottom Line The P series Vespas are without a doubt, the most practical Vespa to own. They have the fastest and most refined motors of any of the Vespas. They are also the most comfortable to ride. And finally, since they are still in production, and have been in production continuously for 30 years now, and therefore parts are cheap and easily available. For all of the above reasons, the P series scooters make a perfect introduction to the classic scooter world. All of them can keep pace with modern traffic, and with their 12 volt electrical system, and functional turn signals, make very sensible commuters.