Piaggio Scooter Tuning Guide
Categories: 50cc Tuning, Featured, General Tuning
Written By: admin
Piaggio Performance Tuning Guide
To compliment to the Moped & Scooter Tuning: The Facts article, here is my personal reccomendation on how to tune Piaggio scooters, at my old work we have used this setup literally on every 50cc scooter we tune and have never had a kid come back from his test ride without a smile on their face.
This article covers any Piaggio engine based scooter, so will apply to all Gilera, Vespa and come Aprilia scooters, but beware that exhausts may be specific for certain Vespa & Aprilia models due to bodywork differences.
Although a little different in order from the previous article, these are the three main things we to do Piaggio scooters, and most people do not require anymore!
1. Fit a performance Race Pipe / Sports Exhaust
We reccommend the Giannelli Reverse (or the Giannelli Extra if your budget can’t quite stretch that far) for Piaggio motors (Remember all Gilera, Vespa and later post 2004 Aprilia’s use the same motors).
Firstly, this exhaust is sold as a legal aftermarket exhaust, not technically a race pipe by law, so it’s got a nice little stamp on it which means it’ll pass an MOT, as well as coming with a warrenty, so if it breaks, you can get it sent back and replaced (providing its fitted by a qualified mechanic)
Alongside this, a larger jet is required on the cat models, we usually go up from a 56 main jet (standard) to a 62 size jet. These usually cost around £3 and many places will trade in your old jet for a pound off or so.
Lighter rollers are then fitted, and the variator transmission restriction ring is taken out whilst we’re in there if it already hasn’t been. These rollers should be 5.5g and Piaggio actually supply a genuine parts lighter rollers kit, so there is no need to mess around with cheap inferior rollers which can wear out quicker, otherwise we reccommend Malossi rollers are fitted. Remember to keep your original rollers safe too unless they’re worn out.
All this done should see your scooter gaining a good 7-8mph normally, with the liquid cooled models doing nearly 60mph on the speedo, and the air cooled models doing 50mph, give or take for conditions.
2. Fit a performance Malossi 70cc big bore kit
Notice Malossi there, I would not reccommend any other manufacturer as much as I do Malossi, if you ever have a choice and are unsure, choose Malossi everytime. They’re not always the cheapest, but they are the best by far. Almost every scooter in the Italian scooter races runs Malossi race parts, and for good reason, they work closely with Piaggio when developing their products and come finshed to nothing short of the finest standards possible, the inside of their cylinders are like works of art.
With a big bore kit you have a piston rubbing against a barrel machined to percise tollerances at over 9000rpm, protected by a thin film of oil a few micrometers thick, would you really want to take your chances with a cheap taiwanese knock off cylinder kit?
After fitting the 70cc big bore kit, your scooter will be making more torque lower down, so will no longer need to rev its nuts off to go anywhere, so we will re-fit the original rollers into the variator, alongside an even larger jet into the carb, this time generally around a size 68.
Since all Piaggio Hyper2 engines come with a 17.5mm carb, there is no longer any need to upgrade the carb to a bigger one for normal road tunes, unless you have one of the older engines with a 12mm carb, in which case upgrading to the larger Dellorto 17.5mm carb would be beneficial, either from Piaggio genuine parts, or as a Malossi kit.
3. Fit a performance variator and torque spring
Malossi again make the best kit here, with an aftermarket performance variator, rollers and torque spring available as one kit. And not only that, but the rollers that come with in work perfectly with your existing setup, so it’s literally a bolt in kit.
The performance race variator not only gives you better acceleration by smoothing out the transmission, it also gives you an ever so slightly higher top speed as well.
After fitting this kit, if you still require some extra “bite” off the line, it might be worth fitting a slightly stronger set of clutch springs, although we have found this is more a personal preference.
4. Go have some fun!
This setup will make it very quick off the mark, with even enough power for the odd little wheelie. If you do prefer to go faster in a straight line, or do a lot of A road riding, then it is probably a good idea to fit a gear up kit now, which will add another 10mph or so onto your top speed
Also remember riding a tuned scooter isn’t cheap, it could now be making over 4 times the power it originally had, so things will wear quicker and it will need more regular servicing, including belts, rollers, pistons, and even brakes! Remember you’ll be stopping harder when your scooter is tuned as you’ll be riding faster! For better brake pads, either go for EBC HH or Malossi Sintered compounds.
If you’ve completed all this and want to do more, consider upgrading your brakes, tyres and suspension.
My little brothers Piaggio Zip SP has all the tuning in this guide done, but without the gear up kit, and it will quite easily clock over 65mph when following it in a car (Zip speedos only go up to 50mph). I’ve also done these exact stages on countless Piaggio NRG Powers, Zip’s, Typhoon’s, NRG MC3’s, Gilera Runners etc, etc, nobody has complained yet!
June 18th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
I have a stock 05 piaggio typhoon 50,the variator ring was already taken out I suppose if its behind the front cone, I have installed a performance muffler (Techigas next muffler) And installed the rollers and 3x tighter springs into the clutch,I had 2 sets of rollers that came with the muffler but ended up putting the biggest ones in being they seemed lighter and the engine ran best with that, the top end has dropped some I am a big guy and it’s now doing 32 MPH maybe, was 34MPH, start seems a little better, you say I need to install a Jet into my carb is that right? I am in the USA so will be hard to figure where to get that if its a hard part to get. I want to know should my next step be focusing on the Jet? I do want to add the 70cc but not at this very time, anyway any advice is greatly appreciated, I am a little bummed out the muffler and rollers alone didn’t add top end, but getting advice from someone who has already done this maybe can save me some mistakes in the future.WDGayden@aol.com
June 19th, 2008 at 5:47 am
Hi there,
Piaggio’s take 19×15.5mm rollers, so not sure why your exhaust came with two sizes :S
Either way, the Technigas Next isn’t the best exhaust on the planet, infact I’d probably put it at one of the worst exhausts available if I’m being brutally honest, they’re not built with the same amount of R+D as the proper exhausts are, and I won’t even bother telling you how cheap dealers buy them for.
Your bike deffinately needs an upjet however, because it is now running lean and this is dangerous, don’t ride it like it currently is! Go from a 56 to a 62 main jet and then see how it runs, it may require fine tuning on the rollers, although I still wouldn’t expect a lot from a Technigas Next either way.
When it comes to buying a big bore kit I suggest you do not skimp out on price and quality, deffinately buy a Malossi kit (Cast Iron 70cc Malossi kit is £99 here in the UK). If you buy a cheap taiwanese knock-off kit and it goes bang, it can potentially cost you a LOT more in repairs if it drops any bits into the crankcases.
July 3rd, 2008 at 7:08 pm
I have a 100cc piagio 4t zip and was wondering if there was any way to make it speed up!
July 4th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Hi, unfortunately the Zip 100 is a new engine out, so Malossi only do an aftermarket variator for it now
This will help improve things slightly, but not a great deal to be honest
It might be worth upgrading to a 125cc Piaggio bike, especially if you do a lot of A-road riding, the 100’s are more designed for around town / city riding
July 31st, 2008 at 7:14 pm
i ave a typhoon 2002 50cc an i was really annoyed because it was only going 26mph so i looked if i could derestrict it so i decided to take the variator ring off but it already was if you could me some advice it would be super
July 31st, 2008 at 9:53 pm
Hi,
Something is wrong then, does it have any other parts fitted etc? Make a post on the forums http://forums.tunemyscooter.com and I’ll try and help you further
August 4th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Yo, not to up with everything so got a few questions….
I want my bike to go faster than 30 coz its just anoying lol, but i want to know about the laws and things, i got an 08 nrg liquid cooled, first owner. So if i put just a new exhaust on it as long as its road legel can i get done for it? Or what will happen etc??
ty
August 4th, 2008 at 9:45 pm
i have a piaggio nrg mc3 2003 and the speedo is in km/h can i buy a different speedo in m/h and will it work and be acurioute? and were do i get really sick vynals from ?
August 5th, 2008 at 12:08 am
http://forums.tunemyscooter.com
August 30th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
ello i got a piaggio zip 2 stroke 70cc 2002, when i first brought my moped i was abit bummed that i didnt have enough for something like the gilera, however i would not change to a gilera now at all piaggio zips are amazing. there is not a 50 or 70cc which can beat me at all lol.
ive got a pm 360 pipe, 5,5g rollers mallossi, 70cc mallossi kit, maloosi air filter and a malossi air filter, bike which are more tuned dont beat me and it is the easiest bike ever too wheelie. the only down fall to the zip is looks are quite hard to compare to the gilera and the nrg however i do have a custom white and bike spray job but the front like is a bit of a pain does anyone now how to improve this. fanx mikeal
September 6th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
i ride a dna 50 but it struggles to pull away and its slow uphills, i have changed the rollers to 5.5 grms an di have put a sports pipe on it but still has the same probs what else can i check or change ??
October 5th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
hi i currently have a 2006 Piaggio NRG Power DT (Air Cooled) and it has had a derestriction on it, (washer taken out and exhaust pipe cut). i am now thinking of putting a race pipe on it but having a hard time deciding what to buy, i have my eye on Gianelli Reverse, LeoVince ZX and Stage 6 Pro Replica. i know i need to buy 5.5g rollers and need to upjet it but what upjet would i have to do, and could you tell me what exhaust to buy out of the ones listed above
thank you.
October 17th, 2008 at 4:21 am
hi i currently have a 05 50cc typhoon. i was wondering how much it would cost approximately to have this done in a shop, parts included and what should i tell them to do? is there some kind of term for this or should i just ask them to do what is says here individually? and is there any other upgrades you would suggest? to make it cleaner looking or just better looking iv been looking into different lights and things like that. is there certain brands i should try not to get?
if anyone has any suggestions i would really like to hear them my email is hobokiller_101@hotmail.com (i know its childish but i would rather not give out my main email and this one will automatically send it to my main email address)
November 10th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
hi ive got a 56 plate nrg mc3 air cooled and i have put a leo vince pipe and derestricted it in the variator!!it currently hits 50-55 depending on weather how can i get it wheeling i have 200 quid to do it with and dont mind losing any speed as i want more fun !!!and i dont need to worry about mot as it doesnt run out until next june
December 19th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
hi, i have a gilera dna 50, and am thinking of getting a leo vince ZX handmade exhaust, just wondering what else will i need to do to fit it? jets? these roller things? am really confused. all help will be very gratfully appreciated.
January 26th, 2009 at 8:44 pm
on my nrg 58 plate liquid cooled i have added a new giannelli reverse and rollers but even if i go a shourt dustance it over heats and is red hot i snaped a water pipe when i installed it i was just wondering if thats is a bigger jet nessercerry or not wb many thanks
alex
January 27th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
how much different it will be my zip 100 if i put on the malossi variator kit will increase both top speed and acceleration? Mine already is doing 82 klm top speed
March 3rd, 2009 at 12:48 pm
itee this is a real eye opener thanks i have a piaggio nrg mc3 ac does 45 now im wanting to so every thing that is stated upbove money is no object will anygarge do this? i live in west sussex any one know a place that do this? x
thanks
March 3rd, 2009 at 6:19 pm
hi, i have an NRG power, with leo vince ZX pipe, did have 4.7grm rollers but only got 45ish out of it, switched to mix of 6.6 and 4.7, it still seems lot slower than my mates aerox, what else can i do, without buying a 70cc kit, cheerz tony.
March 6th, 2009 at 2:29 am
i have just got some new rollers for my gilera stalker and can not get the nut off to acctley get 2 it how do i perpose 2 get it off plz reply
March 25th, 2009 at 12:20 am
helo Jake.
you need a variator locking tool.
click on this link ul find wot you need
here —> http://www.adrenalin-pedstop.co.uk/cp-TOOLS-4868.aspx
March 25th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
put a screw driver in the cog to stop it from moveing then bang the nut with a hammer an then try to undo it hope that helped
March 26th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Hey Kye, it’s been awhile since I have talked at you. I have a general question about my Piaggio typhoon 70cc , after installing a red malossi air filter,(I never oiled it ) my scoot seems to rev real good but I am concerned because I dont see alot of smoke from the muffler, so I have upjetted to a 74 main jet,I don’t know if you remember I pre mix my gas 40/1 , it seems to run stong as ever, but still I want to make sure I am getting enough fuel+oil to the cylinder, this is what I want to ask, you know on the muffler side of the scooter on the carb there is a knob that is the fuel idle knob, just under that is a flathead screw, I assume that is a fuel richness screw, I turned it one half turn to the left trying to increase the fuel flow, Am I correct is turning to the left the right dirrection for this? I drove it up the road once it seemed to smoke a little more and runs great, but I dont want to ride it more until I confirm this adjustment I made.
April 5th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
hi. just brought the new piaggion zip rs
just wondering what to do with it
any ideas on improving ?
April 6th, 2009 at 11:40 am
hi there, i have a piaggio zip 50 cat (01 model ) i am the third owner and have owned it for 2 weeks now, when i got it it strugled to do over thirty mph but now i have a viper power pipe, power commander (set to high ) ,k&n air filter and many other parts.
since then i have clocked the bike doing 70mph roughly 100kph but cant get a long enough road to see what it actually does as i am not old enough to drive it on the road…..
CAN YOU HELP ME THERE IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO THE REED VALVES BUT I CANT REMEMBER…….. Cheeers callan.
April 21st, 2009 at 3:26 pm
i am from australia could you recomend me a spare shop to shop for on line in aud or one in uk and where do i get detailed manual for piaggio zip 50 2 stroke
thanking you andre
April 23rd, 2009 at 1:57 pm
H i my name is Alex and i was wnadering what rollers would be suitable for a NRG power 2000 with a stage6 pro replica. would you be able to help me please?
Thanks
Alex
April 23rd, 2009 at 3:10 pm
I see a used Arreche 19mm 8192 for sale and am wondering if this carb would work on my piaggio typhoon , I want to put a open air filter on and dont know what size main jet to go with if I do that , it comes with a 75 and a 95, also I just installed a malossi mutivar 2000 variator and with the rollers that came with this kit I have lost my bottom end power, any suggestions on what size rollers to get to bring back some of my bottom end without hurting my top end too much, I also installed the tork spring that came with the kit.
May 14th, 2009 at 9:52 pm
Hi I have a NRG mc3 air cooled and
May 14th, 2009 at 10:00 pm
Hi I have a NRG MC3 Air cooled and I think it’s fully de -restricted and I only put the throttle half way and I am able to hit 50 mph very easy on my bike. I’m too scared to go over that just incase I blow the engine.
I was wondering is there any way of increasing the speed without having to increase the amount of revs used? I want to hit fast speeds with less amount of revs if that is possible. And im sure that I do hit 50 mph because on a 40mph roaD my speedo reads that Im doing 50mph AND i seem to go past a few cars who are only doing 40.
Also I hear rumurs from alot of people that to make your bike hit 80mph++ you can buy mallosi multivar variator which is able to give you the extra amount of speed. Just wondering if this is true…?
May 15th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
hi i have a 2001 nrg extreme aircooled and it does 55mph and it only has a performance end can and mollossi sponge filter thing and has been deristricted but im not sure if anythink else has been done to it because i only bought it a month ago but all the people say there mopeds are goin slow but nuffink much has been done to myne so im wondering y im gettin this much speed for a 50cc when it has not got a race pipe bigger jets and lighter rollers ? ?
June 1st, 2009 at 6:16 pm
Hi,
I have a ‘99 Piaggio Zip SSL25 bought from Germany, and originally was restricted to 30km/h , i took the variator ring down, and also put a new variator instead, changed the torque spring, and bought a new piston kit, and a bigger carb the old one was a 12mm dellorto and I mounted a 15mm bgm ( dellorto copy) with new unrestricted intake manifold. And now it reaches 55km/h … What is wrong with it? I cheked the exaust is not restricted, the intake, I also changed the ignition… and the battery also… and the sparkplug… Where is the restriction?
A friend of mine bought one from Italy took the variator ring down and changed the ignition and it runs with 85km/h
Please help !