Since Max When Yicheng stepped onto the scene, he made one thing clear: he could apply his signature style to any bike. The man in the back Custom 2LOUD The moniker has made everything from big clutches to small Honda Cubs, with stunning results wherever you go. So when a friend asked for a custom Vespa, Max was delighted.
Max’s friends really like the old Vespa motorbike special, so the sponsor’s bike has been pieced together from the Italian brand’s greatest hits. The body is a 1960s Vespa 90, while two strokes Engines are from newer PK 125s from the 1980s. But both are no longer in their original condition.
The monolithic chassis has not only been restored to showroom condition but also has some tasteful mods.
The horn, though customized, is front and center as it always is on vintage Vespas – but the front fender trim is new. Max also keeps the Vespa and Piaggio badges in time, but that’s where the OEM stuff ends.
Vespatist will immediately notice a major change in the cockpit. This Vespa wears a custom set of rods, which are stretched and dropped in a scooter-cum stylecafe racer Style. The steering cover has been re-engineered to match and fitted with new headlights from Germany’s SIP-Scootershop.
Max has also installed custom CNC machined throttle and lever assemblies, along with new grips and one-off end bars. Completing things is the classic switch assembly, with a single mirror mounted to the left of the crank, lowered.
In addition, the new cafe racer style of this Vespa cannot be ignored. Featuring traditional stitching and a traditional back panel, it’s done to perfection — right down to small details like the carefully crafted seat hinges. The saddle flips up to reveal the storage compartment, while the hump forms part of the fuel tank.
Max completed the second half of the scooter with a hand-made air intake cover and cheeky Mooneyes taillights. The neat floor trim and side racks are also new additions.
Looking closer, you’ll discover substandard wheels and suspension. The rims come from SIP and are wrapped in Bridgestone Battlax BT-39 scooter tires.
Each head gets a new BGM shock, and Max has even customized the brakes.
Then there’s the engine, which is almost as active as the rest of the bike. Inside, you’ll find a 136 cc upgrade from Malossi, complete with a racing crankshaft from Mazzucchelli. Max has also fitted a new seamless clutch with carbon steel plates, and a lightweight CNC machined distributor with a custom cap.
A PWK30 carb powers the engine through an MRP intake manifold. Air exits through a custom JL titanium exhaust system (also supplied by SIP), which has a ceramic coated tip.
However, there’s nothing too fussy about the Vespa’s paintwork. It’s finished in a timeless piano black, complemented by a host of chrome and electroplated parts, and just a little pin stripe.
The whole thing is so elegant, that from a distance one could easily see a vintage Vespa. But under close scrutiny, it showcases the glamorous style we’ve come to expect from Max’s work.
It also makes a strong case for customizing classic Italian scooters that purists can leave alone. More Vespa customizations, anyone?
