Vespa Cosa

The Vespa Cosa is a model of scooter produced by Piaggio under the Vespa brand. It was in production from 1988 to 1993.

A second generation Vespa Cosa with aftermarket luggage rack and crash bars.

History

The Vespa Cosa was initially to be called the Vespa R (standing for Rinnovata, meaning "renewed"). It was unveiled at the Milan Motorcycle Show in 1987.[1] The Cosa is a direct successor to the Vespa PX series, and although the internal workings are largely similar, it came with newly developed gearbox that was a significant improvement upon the gearbox that had previously been used in the PX series. The PX series was still in production at the time, however, and has continued production even after Cosa production was discontinued. Other improvements upon the PX series included storage space beneath the seat and anti-lock brakes on the front wheel. More controversially, it was also the first Vespa to utilise a significant amount of plastic parts in addition to the traditional monocoque pressed steel frame.

The series is broadly divided into two generations. The first generation was built from 1988 to 1991, while the second generation (sometimes referred to as the Cosa FL) was in production from 1992 onwards. Both version are fundamentally the same, with some minor differences. Firstly, the clutch was modified so that it would be easier to pull in and release. Secondly, minor design alterations were made: the tail light was slightly different and moved to a new position, the seat lock was installed on the side of the saddle, and the saddle was widened for extra comfort.

Technical Information

While the engine is virtually identical to that of the Vespa PX series of the time, there are three major differences in the design:

  • The swingarm pivot on the Cosa is wider than that of the PX.
  • The rear spring strut on the engine housing is shaped differently. This is because the rear suspension of Cosa is longer than that of the PX.
  • The mounting for the rear brake is different due to the hydraulic rear brake.

In addition, the carburetor on the Vespa Cosa came stock fitted with an electronic fuel valve and automatic choke. It also had a digital tachometer (similar to that on later versions of the Vespa T5).

Specifications
Cosa 125 Cosa 150 Cosa 2001 Cosa 200
Years in Production 1988 – 1998
Chassis Number Prefix VNR1T VLR1T VDR1M VSR1T
Engine Type Air-cooled, single-cylinder, two-stroke engine
Displacement 123.4cc 150cc 197.97cc 197.97cc
Bore x Stroke (mm) 52.5 x 57.0 57.8 x 57.0 66.5 x 57.0 66.5 x 57.0
Power in kW (BHP) 5.88kW
(8 BHP)
@5800 RPM		 6.25kW
(8.5 BHP)
@5700 RPM		 7.35kW
(10 BHP)
@5000 RPM		 8.83kW
(12 BHP)
@6000 RPM
Maximum Torque (Nm) 10.5 Nm
@4500 RPM		 12.75 Nm
@4500 RPM		 14.5 Nm
@4500 RPM
Compression Ratio 9.2:1 9.2:1 8.8:1
Transmission Four-speed manual, grip shift
Top Speed 88 km/h 92 km/h 95 km/h 100 km/h
Fuel Capacity 7.7L

1 In Germany, the Cosa 200 was available with a 10 BHP engine. This made it cheaper to insure in Germany.

Notes
  1. Sarti, Giorgio (2006). Vespa : [1946-2006 : 60 years of the Vespa]. St. Paul, MN: Motorbooks. p. 376. ISBN 9780760325773.
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