Vespa T5

Vespa
Vespa T5, GB import, manufactured in 1990
PX 125 T5 Lusso
Manufacturer	Piaggio , Genoa
Production period	1985 to 1990
class	Scooter
Motor data
1-cylinder two-stroke engine , fan-cooled
Displacement (cm³)	122
Power (kW / PS )	(9/12) at 6000 rpm
Torque ( N m )	12.4 Nm at 4,800 rpm

transmission	4 / draw key gear
drive	direct, wheel on main transmission shaft
Brakes	Drum v / h
Wheelbase (mm)	1,170
Dimensions (L × W × H, mm):	1,820 × 700
Empty weight (kg)	106
Previous model	PX 125 Lusso
successor	none

The Vespa T5 (also: "Vespa PX 125 T5 Pole Position") is a motor scooter model from Piaggio , which is technically based on the Vespa PX model series introduced in 1979 and was mainly produced in the 1980s. There are roughly 3 variants:

Vespa T5 with speedometer in digital design
Vespa T5 with tachometer in analog design
Vespa T5 Classic,

There are variants with an electric starter and battery and others without.

The model is still very popular with collectors and drivers, because Piaggio has installed the most powerful 125 cc engine with manual transmission here.

The motor

Gilardoni aluminum cylinder with Nikasil ® tread.

Crankcase with 5 overflow channels (2 lateral ports on the right and left and a scavenging channel opposite the outlet opening (= "boost port")).

Cylinder head with central spark plug.

Crankshaft with wider cheeks, bearing by ball bearings + cylindrical roller bearings.

Clutch of the Vespa P200, but with a different clutch gear (20 instead of 23 teeth).

Exhaust: silencer box with resonance pipe inserted in a serpentine shape; Manifold connection through flange to M8 stud bolts on the cylinder side.

Magnetic flywheel igniter: DUCATI with 90 W. Ignition base plate with small diameter and lighter fan wheel.

Carburetor: Dell'Orto SI 24/24 type "G" with PX200 air filter and oil pump.

The variants

There were the following variants of the T5, each using the T5 frame and / or the T5 engine:

Vespa T5: T5 body with T5 engine and typical equipment, e.g. B. long bench, speedometer in digital or analog design.

Vespa T5 Classic: Vespa PX Lusso body with T5 engine. Equipped with PX-Lusso handlebars, PX-Lusso bench, T5 floor mats, small parts shelf above the glove compartment, spoiler and T5 lettering on the side panels.

Vespa T5 Classic Millenium Edition: Vespa PX Lusso body with T5 engine. Equipped with PX-Lusso handlebars, PX-Lusso bench, but again with aluminum skirting boards.

Also to mention:

GS 200: T5 body with standard PX 200 Lusso engine (as sold abroad)

MOTOVESPA TX 200 (Spain): T5 body with all attachments, optionally with electric starter and blinker beeper, with PX 200 Lusso motor. The engine code of these models begins with 118M, the chassis number begins with the prefix 118C. Other special features of the Spanish models: optional mixed or separate lubrication, alternating current chatter instead of direct current horn (without horn rectifier)

LML Select (India): This is an LML 150 with a less powerful 150 cm³ standard engine and T5-like optics, but no T5-typical tachometer in the speedometer

Features of the T5

Main features of the T5 compared to the standard Vespa P series:

the body extended at the rear by means of a box structure with a long seat, rear light and mud flaps (not T5 Classic)
Handlebar with instrument cluster (speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge display lamp) and rectangular headlight (not T5 Classic)
one-piece fender without seam and the horn cascade with horn grille (standard: two-piece welded fender)
Front spoiler under the leg shield, hubcaps and the rear mud flap
Floor mats in the step-through (standard: aluminum skirting boards)
Horn / buzzing: Some T5s do not have a horn rectifier or DC horn. Instead, a speed-dependent alternating bucket is installed.
Motor with a higher power-to-weight ratio (T5: 96 PS / liter compare with PX 200: 50/60 PS / liter)
Cylinder made of aluminum with Nikasil running surface (instead of gray cast iron). In the classic Vespas, Piaggio only used aluminum cylinders for the smallframe Vespa 50 SR / 50 HP and for some Vespa Cosas.
Exhaust with flange: stud bolt mounting (standard: clamp: nozzle)
Cylinder head with central candle
Crankshaft with wider crank webs (not suitable for other engine types)
Transmission: shorter 4th gear (36 teeth on the main shaft)

Spare parts situation, status 2017

Many spare parts are compatible with the other parts of the Vespa P ... series.

T5 plastic injection molded parts: are also available as replicas (cascade, handlebar parts, windshield), which may have to be reworked, as some of them come from the LML -T5.

Headlights: replica made of plastic

Bench: There are replicas of different quality (original bench seats can optionally be refurbished). NOS articles are rarely found.

Exhaust: The original is often only used or NOS available from remainder. Alternatively, products from aftermarket suppliers must be used.

Floor mats: Originals only rarely available. The floor mats of the Indian LML-T5 need to be adjusted.

The T5 and the standard Vespa models

In the early 1980s, aftermarket suppliers began offering a wide variety of tuning parts for Vespar scooters. This was very popular in the scooter tuning community, which Piaggio recognized and with the T5 offered a model that had similar performance as the conversions, but without registration-related restrictions. The target group was young people aged 16 and over. This did not work in the FRG, as this group of buyers was only allowed to drive 80 cm³ and older people preferred to buy the PX 200 with more displacement. From 1986 to 1987 this led to low sales of the T5 in Germany, which in this country were only available with a speedometer in digital design.

The modified construction of the T5 engine interior means that some engine parts (crankshaft, ignition base plate, pole wheel, cylinder) are not interchangeable with those of the standard models. The gear parts are, however, so that they can find their way into standard models for conversions and vice versa. The installation dimensions of the complete drive set of the T5 correspond to those of the Vespa scooters of the "Largeframe" frame type (from 1959). It can therefore be installed in all largeframe Vespas. However, the electrics and wiring harness need to be adjusted.

The Vespa PX 125 (P125E) as the standard model has a top speed of 89 km / h and an output of 8.9 hp (CUNA, measured on the crankshaft). The T5 engine achieves a speed of 98 km / h (according to the letter) and 12 HP (of which around 10.5 HP are delivered at the rear wheel according to measurements with Dynojet) from the same displacement. Genuine original T5 engine parts are now rare and expensive. For a fully functional T5 engine that has been completely revised, prices are around 1200 euros, the prices of engines in need of overhaul are between 500 and 800 euros.

Empirical values

Various sport struts can be installed to improve road holding and driving safety. Gas pressure-assisted systems are available for the front and rear, in which the spring preload as well as the rebound and compression stages are adjustable. Appropriate tires should be selected in the same way.

The braking system is acceptable with good maintenance and well-worn brake pads. However, you can convert to a disc brake (Grimeca, Vespa PX Millenium) at the front.

The motor with aluminum cylinder has a long life expectancy if handled properly and is fully gas-resistant even on long motorway journeys, as it is more thermally balanced than its standard gray cast iron counterparts of the PX models.

Many Vespa drivers shut down the oil pump and mix oil with petrol every time they fill up with petrol, as they have always done. The characteristics of the oil pump seem as if they deliver too much oil in the lower speed range and too little in the upper range, which does not seem logical for a high-revving engine like the T5.

The manufacturing quality of the carburetor pan and the transition of the overflow ducts from the crankcase to the cylinder fluctuates. Steps of up to 1 mm can occur here, probably due to manufacturing tolerances. It is advisable to correct this when the engine is overhauled by adjusting the channels.

The original coupling can be exchanged for one of the "Vespa Cosa 200" type or one of the available retrofit couplings.

There is a medium-sized selection of tuning items for the T5 to increase engine performance, and new engine housings are now also available.