![]() 02/23/2020 at 21:52 • Filed to: None | ![]() | ![]() |
Say hello to the new whip. Ideally this will take over dd duties for a while.
It’s a factory special edition tie-in with fireball Whiskey, Ferrari, and Fi reball candy. Yes, seriously. It came with candy (12 years old) and a shot glass in the storage compartment.
The “At omic Fireball Stella”
And before you ask, no. It’s not JUST a bitchin’ decal kit. This bad boy has higher 3rd and 4th gears than the standard Stella , and will allegedly hit 80mph.
Mods from the previous owner include some really cool fold-down luggage racks, knobby tires (he included street tires), and... Somehow the fuel g uage doesn’t work despite the low mileage. Oh well.
I only managed 60, but that was because it was windy and I was very underdressed. And... I got lost taking it home from Seattle. Allegedly. Oh, it’s a manual. Grip shifters are weird, but neat. 150cc 2 stroke , so it scoots pretty well. Feels as fast as m y 90's 250 ninja.
Cost? $1100, down from $1500. Sold because he had too many toys, and the wife gave him a 5 vehicle limit.
I was also looking at a Honda Metropolitan for $1200 (and no wiggle room), but ultimately the manual transmission was the deciding factor. Thank you nojustno for convincing me I need to just buy something already lol.
AMA.
![]() 02/23/2020 at 21:58 |
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Stars, you need more stars
![]() 02/23/2020 at 21:59 |
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I literally saw this on CL yesterday. Nice pickup! It's a bit of a departure from what you were looking at. There's an event every year in Seattle called ferry 2 ferry put on by the scooter crew, you should bring that.
I hope your crank bearing lasts longer than mine
![]() 02/23/2020 at 22:02 |
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Still planning on a bike soon , but I really needed something while the Miata is being sold and/or worked on. This should bridge the gap.
O h and I hope my everything lasts forever.
![]() 02/23/2020 at 22:06 |
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Use high-quality synthetic, mine grenaded at 8300 miles and sent shards into the head.
![]() 02/23/2020 at 22:07 |
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I always start things off with a crass and completely not serious but completely on target shot over the bow.
What is the deal with all the dimples along the rear of the footboard directly below the
seat on curved panel
? They look like someone took a screwdriver and punched speedholes.
Hawaii’n or Ed Hardy shirt a better match to your image of yourself riding this? ( I’m trying)
![]() 02/23/2020 at 22:10 |
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Definitely Hawaiian shirt, although I’m thinking I’ll just ride around in a full tuck in racing leathers to confuse people.
Hmm, no idea on the dimples. I'll look at that closer in a bit
![]() 02/23/2020 at 22:10 |
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Nice find! When I was scooter shopping, there was a Fireball Stella for sale on PA. I was tempted, but it wasn't running at the time and I didn't want a project. Welcome to Team Scooter. Between this and the Metropolitan, you made the right choice.
![]() 02/23/2020 at 22:11 |
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Poor thing. Okay, good to know. My maintainance plan was to clean it throughly, change oil, and check brakes. Maybe try finding a better headlight. Anything else you'd reccomend right off the bat?
![]() 02/23/2020 at 22:12 |
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The economy model Duc, congrats.
![]() 02/23/2020 at 22:12 |
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Everything's a Hypermotard if you drive it hard enough
![]() 02/23/2020 at 22:13 |
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All of you convinced me to join the club. Even freezing my ass off on the ride home, I was having a blast.
![]() 02/23/2020 at 22:13 |
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![]() 02/23/2020 at 22:15 |
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Well it’s two stroke, so by change oil I assume you mean gear oil? Make sure you use something wet clutch compatible, the clutch shares the trans oil. New plug would be a good idea, along with lubricating all the cables in the shift mechanism.
Tires too if it's still running the originals as I expect it is.
![]() 02/23/2020 at 22:16 |
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On first appearances, this looks very on- brand. You are to be congratulated.
![]() 02/23/2020 at 22:19 |
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Similar upright riding position, too.
![]() 02/23/2020 at 22:22 |
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God damn
![]() 02/23/2020 at 22:29 |
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Awesome purchase! You are going to have so much fun! Definitely a better choice than a Metropolitan.
![]() 02/23/2020 at 22:32 |
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It's got knobby tires, so I'm 100% using it if there's snow.
![]() 02/23/2020 at 22:32 |
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I just went on my first proper scooter ride today and it was awesome.
![]() 02/23/2020 at 22:34 |
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I really need to become employed again and ditch this kia lol
![]() 02/23/2020 at 22:35 |
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The street tires should be good for another 5 mph.
![]() 02/23/2020 at 22:38 |
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Glad to hear that from one of oppo’s resident scooter experts! I can’t wait to ride it to work and see the look on my coworkers faces.
![]() 02/23/2020 at 22:41 |
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My personal opinion is that both of those things would be good. Not going to lie, I'm really going to miss your rare insurance stories.
But enjoy the free(ish) time while you have it!
![]() 02/23/2020 at 22:43 |
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Some people won't get it, but they also won't be able to wipe the smile off of your face. Those who get it, really get it.
![]() 02/23/2020 at 22:54 |
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I anticipate having a few offers by next week. This will likely work out quite well for me and the insurance stories will be back!
![]() 02/23/2020 at 23:01 |
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What in the absolute fuck is this? I love it.
Bring it to the Lake Washington C&C next week and you’ll be the toast of the town, or at least of one particular lakeside parking lot.
![]() 02/23/2020 at 23:04 |
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Glad to hear it!
![]() 02/23/2020 at 23:15 |
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That is pretty sick! I like the idea of Oppo becoming home to more small 2 wheels goodness.
Also 150 2 smoke! That’s gotta sound pretty cool.
![]() 02/23/2020 at 23:22 |
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Good! I’m super curious to see what you do vehicle-wise once the dust clears and you’re settled in.
That email you wrote when you were trying to get full value for the written-off Mazda was beautiful. Reading that felt like t he equivalent to w atching a surgeon at the top of his game perform open-heart.
![]() 02/23/2020 at 23:22 |
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That is so you. Perfect.
![]() 02/23/2020 at 23:28 |
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I love it! A hotrod red scooter is just perfect. Have fun and Lmk if you want to ride sometime. thanks for the shout out :)
![]() 02/23/2020 at 23:35 |
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That’s a sweet find! A scooter is a fun as hell and I miss having one, the bike is awesome but not as simple and I don’t smil e as much as much as when I'm a scooter.
![]() 02/23/2020 at 23:41 |
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Fun times a head.
![]() 02/24/2020 at 00:28 |
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Stars and stripes helmet and enough to tassels
to make Elvis blush;
and the
people will pay you to show up places to do your best Evil Knievel.
![]() 02/24/2020 at 02:08 |
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A Fireball whiskey branded scooter is the most Seattle thing ever. Unless there’s a cocaine branded branded scooter out there.
![]() 02/24/2020 at 05:16 |
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YESSSSS! The Stella is a great scooter! Indian Bajaj-built older Vespas built under license, if memory serves!
$1100 is an insane price...ANY scooter here seems to be like $1000 for the most clapped out one, if you can find one. Scoots are super rare here...
![]() 02/24/2020 at 05:38 |
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That thing is freaking awesome! Now you need some proper riding gear to match.
If you weren’t on the other end of the country I’d be interested when it was ultimately time for you to sell. Scooters here are always expensive and you rarely see anything interesting.
![]() 02/24/2020 at 06:46 |
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That’s awesome . I had a red Stella for a bit. It was a comfy ri de and certainly good for 60mph. For relatively short money and without much trouble you can swap in suspension components that will make a huge handling difference.
![]() 02/24/2020 at 09:37 |
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SAE 30 in the gearbox.
![]() 02/24/2020 at 09:42 |
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Panel spotwelds. Real Vespas had them too.
![]() 02/24/2020 at 09:45 |
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If two stroke Stella’s are half as quirky as original Vespa's you’re in for a world of quirkiness. I used to have a 125 Primavera and a P200.
![]() 02/24/2020 at 09:56 |
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Your crank bearing is why Marmalade isn't my daily scooter! Gotta savor this bish as long as she'll last!
![]() 02/24/2020 at 10:02 |
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I need to practice my dank whoolies
![]() 02/24/2020 at 10:03 |
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The Stella wa s built by Lohia Machines Ltd under license, imported, badged, and sold by Genuine Scooter Company.
Bajaj also has their own license built vintage Vespas and you can buy them in America, albeit only through powersports dealers that bother to order them.
![]() 02/24/2020 at 10:03 |
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This is starting to s ound l ike my old Husqvarna backpack blowers...
![]() 02/24/2020 at 10:04 |
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...I have so much to learn.
![]() 02/24/2020 at 10:05 |
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Welcome to the Stella gang!!! My little Marmalade ('05 Stella that's taxicab yellow) does about 60-63ish and it’s stock, so with good tires and streamlined gear yours should be a little rocket!
![]() 02/24/2020 at 10:09 |
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“Fireballs”
![]() 02/24/2020 at 10:14 |
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Not really. They’re giant weedeaters with a gearbox. Keep things lubed and it will work just fine. Vespa's will run like shit forever. Just remember more premix oil does not equal more protection; it’s the exact opposite. Although now that I'm thinking about it, yours probably has an oil tank and does the mixing for you.
![]() 02/24/2020 at 11:22 |
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Yes, the seller mentioned the oil tank. I'll be pouring through the owners manual to figure out how everything works
![]() 02/24/2020 at 11:23 |
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That looks like so much fun. I hope I get off work early enough to transfer the title today
![]() 02/24/2020 at 11:24 |
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So if I want to look up maintainance videos or forum stuff, what model do I search? Is it just “2008 Stella” or...
![]() 02/24/2020 at 11:31 |
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I think that you’ll be glad that you didn’t get the Metropolitan. 4 strokes are always less powerful than the same size 2 stroke. My Riva is a 125cc 4 stroke, and I top out around 52 mph on flat ground. A 50cc 4 stroke metropolitan probably has a hard time cracking 35mph.
I wrote about my trip yesterday here in case you missed it :
https://oppositelock.kinja.com/oppositelock-meetup-2-wheeled-vehicles-of-the-lehigh-v-1841877522
![]() 02/24/2020 at 11:37 |
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When you get some time, go over all the cables and make adjustments. Especially the shifter; there’s a push/pull setup. It should be very easy to shift if it isn’t already. If the rear brake doesn’t feel like it’s doing much, there’s probably a hub seal leaking. You should be able to easily lock it up.
Like I said in another post, these things are weird and quirky but they’re simple and cheap to fix. Just be glad you aren’t working with 40+ year old wiring and various owners lack of mechanical skills.
![]() 02/24/2020 at 13:37 |
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Pretty much! I just search “Genuine Stella ____” when I’m looking for something.
![]() 02/24/2020 at 13:41 |
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Oh, no wonder I got myself mixed up. At least I got the built in India licensed Vespa part right! :)
![]() 02/24/2020 at 16:57 |
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Where & when?
![]() 02/24/2020 at 22:43 |
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Ooof. Yeah, I’m definitely glad I picked the Fireball. I really like the couple that sold it to me too, which helps. I didn’t get the best vibes from the Metropolitan seller.
![]() 02/24/2020 at 22:46 |
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Honestly everything seems to be working perfectly. I wouldn't mind an adjustable clutch lever though, as it seems set up for super big hands right now...
![]() 02/24/2020 at 22:47 |
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I love it so much. I didn't really think of it at the time of purchase, but between the knobby tires, luggage racks, color, and underdog vibe it's basically the two-wheel version of my Miata!
![]() 02/24/2020 at 22:48 |
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I'm shocked at how comfortable it is. It takes speed bumps better than any car I've ever owned.
![]() 02/24/2020 at 22:49 |
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Road trip ;)
Good point. I wonder if I can find some fireball whiskey branded gear.
![]() 02/24/2020 at 22:50 |
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This summer for sure! Seems like we're getting a few new riders in the area!
![]() 02/24/2020 at 22:51 |
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It sounds gnarly. I'll get an exhaust clip sometime.
![]() 02/24/2020 at 22:51 |
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God I would love to. I'll have to take a day off one of these weekends.
![]() 02/25/2020 at 00:22 |
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THIS IS THE BEST OPPO
![]() 02/25/2020 at 01:07 |
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Sundays, 10-noon, Madrona Park lot on Lake Washington Boulevard.
![]() 02/25/2020 at 07:04 |
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I’m sure you could find some stickers for a helmet. I think a red helmet with bass boat levels of metal flake would be good.
I don’t know if you could find a big iron on patch on Etsy or somewhere like that.
That would be an epic road trip. I don’t know that my ass is up for that long on a scooter though.