How easy is it to repair a Piaggio zip? (Problems listed)

[Joewrite]

First off I know absolutely nothing about mechanics or bikes in general, however I’ve been offered a spares and repair Piaggio zip for £250 and I’m really interested in getting into this sort of thing, I’d like an apprenticeship in mechanics soon and maybe this is a good place to start? Apparently it needs a new HT lead, the carburettor will need cleaning and it will need a new plug, how much is this likely to cost me parts wise and how complicated will it be, if all else fails how much will it be to take it to a garage and get it repaired? I’m unsure if there are other problems this is just what I’ve been told. Thanks

Edit: I am also just very interested in the cheap ped, I turn 16 soon so I’m looking for one

[Ste]

If it was as simple as they've told you then they wouldn't be selling it as spares or repair.

[Joewrite]

[Robby]

It will need a lot more work than that, seeing as you have just described about an hour's work and less than a tenner in parts and sundries. If that was all it needed, it wouldn't be spares or repair for £250.

Budget £250 in parts to make it roadworthy, another £100 for parts you break whilst learning, and a fair amount of tools.

You won't make any money on this, but you might learn a bit about fixing scooters.

[Ste]

[Joewrite]

[Robby]

It will be learning experience. Probably not cheap in the end.

[Joewrite]

[Ste]

The learning experience will be that if a seller tells you a £250 spares or repairs bike only needs £10-20 in parts to be fixed then that seller is taking shit.

It will be an expensive lesson.

By all means spend £250 on a spares or repair bike but do at least try and pick a seller who's got the decency to tell you what they really know is wrong with it. All that seller is doing is telling you what you want to hear. Who knows, maybe someone used the same line on him when he bought it but I can guarantee you one thing, if it was as easy and cheap to repair as he's telling you it then he'd have done it himself and would be selling it for at least twice as much.

[Joewrite]

[Riejufixing]

[Joewrite]

[Joewrite]

[Easy-X]

£250 sounds a bit steep unless it's in really good nick.

I got given a scooter with roughly the same described problems... for nothing! (And offered a similar scooter, in a similar state for "a drink" a few months later.)

Time will be the main thing: hours pissing about cleaning the carb of old fuel. Cursing from the lack of some special tool to dismantle the CVT. Discovering the exhaust is rusted through... etc. Check out my "Turd Scooter" thread in Show & Tell to get a taste of what you might be up against.

For £250 I'd be expecting something like a running bike with no MoT needing some minor work 'cos for £500 you might find a running scooter with an MoT.
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Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[Ste]

[Joewrite]

[Joewrite]

[Riejufixing]

[Joewrite]

[Ste]

"please do not press buy it now or i will send you a bolt!"

Oh.

[Joewrite]

[Riejufixing]

[Joewrite]

[Easy-X]

I clicked the listing... that has to be the ugliest example of a scooter I've ever seen.

Sorry

That aside, "2 smoke" and "used to work and then it stopped working"

No, find a 4-stroke for your first bike. Much easier.
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Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[Joewrite]