It may not be big but the dent still needed sorting.
It may not be big but the dent still needed sorting.

There are advantages to owning a ‘proper’ metal-bodied scooter as opposed to a plastic modern machine. One of them is that accident damage can often be repaired rather than having to buy new bodywork. Another is that minor dents can be repaired in minutes without the hassle and time involved with going to a bodyshop.

 

This Vespa GTS was bought new in March 2015 ready for a ride to Croatia. Seeing as it was doing two weeks of heavy touring pretty soon after picking it up I decided to protect the panels from the wear caused by heavy overloaded panniers rubbing, so had some clear vinyl fitted. It’s pretty much invisible and even a year later looks as good as new. Or at least it did until some builders knocked a stack of breezeblocks over on to the scooter. The vinyl proved itself again though; it took the brunt of the impact and although the top of the panel suffered a minor dent and the vinyl was scuffed quite badly the paintwork beneath survived (aside from a tiny mark in the middle of the dent). The bottom plastic panel was scuffed badly enough to need replacing (that didn’t have vinyl on) and the rear indicator was also broken.

 

Getting a small dent repaired at a body shop is an expensive job but there are alternatives so I called a mobile car dent repairman. I also had an annoying shopping trolley-sized dent in my van door, so got him to do both at the same time.

 

With the van it was quite straightforward, he simply drilled a hole in the back of the door, slightly smaller than a 5p coin. Then used a tool to push the dent out and hammered the outside with a special candle shaped plastic tool until the dent vanished. A grommet covered the drill hole, job done in 10 minutes and as good as new. If you’re squeamish you’re best not to be around whilst the repairs are being done because it looks quite brutal.

You can just make out the dent in the reflection of the rear carrier.
You can just make out the dent in the reflection of the rear carrier.

With the GTS the dent was right on top of the panel next to the fuel tank, it was touch and go as to whether he’d be able to get in properly without dropping the tank out (not a five minute job). Before starting though he sticks a deflector on a suction cup to the panel. This prevents shadows so he can look carefully at the problem area as he works his magic. Luckily by taking the indicator out he could just get his poking stick into the gap between where the dent sits and the fuel tank and manipulate it to pop it back out.

Our man has a touch like a midwife but is also quite sadistic.
Our man has a touch like a midwife but is also quite sadistic.

Heat is also used to make the metal more pliable. Watching somebody using a blowtorch on your scooter\’s paintwork is a little worrying though. Once our man was satisfied that he’d done as much as he could on the inside he started hammering at the paintwork using his pointy plastic \’candle\’. Another scary part of the job. It was worth it though because the dent totally disappeared. Total cost for van and scooter, £60, bargain. The dent left behind a very small bit of damaged paintwork, I was going to use a ‘chip master’ type mobile repair service to sort that out but decided to just live with it instead. It\’s always an option though for smaller repairs.

 

That ain\'t no ordinary candle.
That ain\’t no ordinary candle.

After the dent was sorted I took the scooter down to my local graphics company to have the vinyl replaced. This is a job best left to the experts. They make it look very easy. I’ve tried sticking the ‘Super’ graphics on to the bottom panel in the past and ended up with a crumpled air bubble filled mess. Don’t waste your time. Ted at The Image Works makes it looks really easy; he takes a large sheet of clear sticky vinyl and liberally drapes it over the panel.

Former Blue Peter presenter, Ted can work wonders with sticky backed plastic.
Former Blue Peter presenter, Ted can work wonders with sticky backed plastic.

Using a heat gun he softens it to make the vinyl easier to work with. To me it looks like this large piece of plastic will never go on smoothly. Next he cuts around the curve using a scalpel (this bit also scares me, scalpels are fairly sharp and I worry for the paint beneath – he’s done this before though). Using a squeegee he manipulates the vinyl into position, forcing the air-bubbles out until he’s happy. Occasionally using heat when required. Trimming the edges with precision.

He\'s also a dab hand at minor operations, next week he\'ll be removing my spleen.
He\’s also a dab hand at minor operations, next week he\’ll be removing my spleen.

Ted repeats the process for the side of the panel, taking the vinyl down to the bottom (just above the plastic ‘Super’ panel strip. Finally he trims around the GTS badge and the louvres in the panel.

 

The job takes less than 20 minutes from start to finish and once it’s done you can’t even see where the vinyl is. On the older vinyl you can only tell it’s there on the very edges where dirt and polish shows as a slightly opaque edge. I also had the glovebox door covered when I bought the scooter (to stop a bag wedged between there and the frame rubbing) and the front seam on the frame; it’s prone to rust on a GTS so it protects it. Total cost £90.

 

 

As good as new and ready for some touring to Spain and the South of France next month.
As good as new and ready for some touring to Spain and the South of France next month.