Ape

[idiotboy]

Just wondered if anyone on here had ever been in / driven a Piaggio Ape 50. If so what was it like?

[idiotboy]

Just wondered if anyone on here had ever been in / driven a Piaggio Ape 50. If so what was it like?

[pompei]

Terrifying and deafening I'd imagine

[pompei]

Terrifying and deafening I'd imagine

[wuvvum]

I've only ever driven one round a yard. Would imagine one would be dangerously slow on the road - they'll just about do 30 on the flat but anything resembling a hill and they drop down to 15-20. There isn't actually a particularly high level of engine noise as the engine is behind the cab - plenty of rattles and bangs though. The gearchange isn't the most precise thing in the world (or at least it wasn't on the one I drove), and with four gears to get to 30 you do need to change gear a lot - flat out in first is about 4mph. There's no heating of any description, and ventilation is marginal - there's a flap on the front of the cab that you can open, but the side windows open outwards (hinged at the top) and there's only about a 2" gap, so would imagine the cab could turn into a bit of a greenhouse in hot weather. They're also very unstable.

 

Conclusion: for masochists and 16-year-olds with no sense of balance only.

[wuvvum]

I've only ever driven one round a yard. Would imagine one would be dangerously slow on the road - they'll just about do 30 on the flat but anything resembling a hill and they drop down to 15-20. There isn't actually a particularly high level of engine noise as the engine is behind the cab - plenty of rattles and bangs though. The gearchange isn't the most precise thing in the world (or at least it wasn't on the one I drove), and with four gears to get to 30 you do need to change gear a lot - flat out in first is about 4mph. There's no heating of any description, and ventilation is marginal - there's a flap on the front of the cab that you can open, but the side windows open outwards (hinged at the top) and there's only about a 2" gap, so would imagine the cab could turn into a bit of a greenhouse in hot weather. They're also very unstable.

 

Conclusion: for masochists and 16-year-olds with no sense of balance only.

[Cavcraft]

Could you lob a P200E/PX 200 lump in though for a laugh?

[Cavcraft]

Could you lob a P200E/PX 200 lump in though for a laugh?

[Micrashed]

Could you lob a P200E/PX 200 lump in though for a laugh?

 

Yes you can, and it has been done - there is a lad in Blackpool who did this and runs a gardening business with one.

Edit - I think its a PK125 donkey actually

[Micrashed]

Could you lob a P200E/PX 200 lump in though for a laugh?

 

Yes you can, and it has been done - there is a lad in Blackpool who did this and runs a gardening business with one.

Edit - I think its a PK125 donkey actually

[idiotboy]

Could you lob a P200E/PX 200 lump in though for a laugh?

 

I've see a few you tube vids of tuned examples with Poloni 140cc kits, but since you could get a vespa with 300cc that could be fun in an Ape.

[idiotboy]

Could you lob a P200E/PX 200 lump in though for a laugh?

 

I've see a few you tube vids of tuned examples with Poloni 140cc kits, but since you could get a vespa with 300cc that could be fun in an Ape.

[Cavcraft]

Aye but the 300s are 4 strokes, so that'd be no fun at all.

[Cavcraft]

Aye but the 300s are 4 strokes, so that'd be no fun at all.

[wuvvum]

They did actually do a bigger version of the Ape with a 125cc or 200cc PX engine and a two-seater cab. The later ones even had a steering wheel and floor shift gearbox.

 

 

 

Edit: LOLZ

 

[wuvvum]

They did actually do a bigger version of the Ape with a 125cc or 200cc PX engine and a two-seater cab. The later ones even had a steering wheel and floor shift gearbox.

 

 

 

Edit: LOLZ

 

[Guest]

Bouncy and deafening.

 

No, wait, that was just my mate's Mini.

[Guest]

Bouncy and deafening.

 

No, wait, that was just my mate's Mini.

[bub2006]

50cc painfully slow. Realistically 25 tops. 70kit may get you 35. The larger models had option of steering wheel available in petrol or diesel were called the ape tm. Can't remember cc but I'm sure diesel is kubuto twin cylinder 400 cc. Very unstable too. I love them!

[bub2006]

50cc painfully slow. Realistically 25 tops. 70kit may get you 35. The larger models had option of steering wheel available in petrol or diesel were called the ape tm. Can't remember cc but I'm sure diesel is kubuto twin cylinder 400 cc. Very unstable too. I love them!

[bub2006]

Want something semi stable,different and fun and easy to mod look at q pod 50cc

[bub2006]

Want something semi stable,different and fun and easy to mod look at q pod 50cc

[Guest]

 

Falc do expensive but ace gear which is a injustice to call 'kits'.

[Guest]

 

Falc do expensive but ace gear which is a injustice to call 'kits'.

[AeroNautiCal]

I too was curious about these, and have made a point of asking everyone that had one, and being as how they're ridiculously popular as mobile (expensive) coffee stalls around here, I got to ask quite a few.

 

The general consensus is that they truly are a thing of horror! I was never able to determine if this was solely due to having heavy Gaggia coffee machines, large (full) water tanks, stock, etc, as none of the owners had ever intentionally driven one prior to taking them on as a business.

 

I bet NCAP love 'em...

[AeroNautiCal]

I too was curious about these, and have made a point of asking everyone that had one, and being as how they're ridiculously popular as mobile (expensive) coffee stalls around here, I got to ask quite a few.

 

The general consensus is that they truly are a thing of horror! I was never able to determine if this was solely due to having heavy Gaggia coffee machines, large (full) water tanks, stock, etc, as none of the owners had ever intentionally driven one prior to taking them on as a business.

 

I bet NCAP love 'em...

[mattblack]

I see this driving around near me sometimes...

 

[mattblack]

I see this driving around near me sometimes...