A high-performance, reliable Ignition system designed as an upgrade for classic Vespa models.
With VAPE, SIP has partnered with a European manufacturer to produce high-quality ignition systems for our beloved Vespas. A great deal of development work and passion from our team goes into every ignition system. Solutions have even been devised for rare Vespa models. The materials, workmanship, and construction of the SIP PERFORMANCE ignition system are of the highest quality. You can tell just by looking at the laser engraving how meticulously the manufacturer has crafted this product. The Ignition’s advantages speak for themselves:
- Powerful power supply
- Strong, reliable spark
- Exceptionally sturdy flywheel
The electrical design reflects the current state of the art. With 8 Lighting Coils on the Base Plate, enough current is generated to make the vehicle’s lights shine brightly even at idle speed.
The Extremely Stable Flywheel
One of the greatest advancements is the manufacture of the flywheel from a single piece, without a separately riveted Cone. This virtually eliminates imbalance and out-of-round rotation. Engine vibrations are reduced, and wear on the crankshaft bearings is minimized. The fanwheels are CNC-milled from aluminum and match the airflow of the original flywheels on the PX125 and PK Models at both low and high RPMs. The cooling performance significantly surpasses that of other aftermarket ignition systems without causing a loss of power at high RPMs.
The weight of the flywheels, including the Flywheel, is 1,390 g for the small frame and 1,660 g for the large frame. These fans are therefore lighter than the originals. The engine responds more readily to the throttle but remains comfortable to ride in everyday use and when carrying a passenger. The original Flywheel Puller also fits the SIP-VAPE.
The two versions of the SIP-VAPE Ignition: Road or Sport
The CDI is available as a Road version with a fixed ignition timing, like the original, and as a Sport version with variable ignition timing. This provides greater advance at low RPMs. The result is higher torque, especially in the pre-resonance RPM range. In the resonance range itself, the advance is reduced, combustion occurs at a cooler temperature, and the rev range widens toward higher speeds. The exact adjustment range is shown in a diagram in the manual. Between 4,000 and 8,000 rpm, the Ignition is adjusted, for example, by 8 degrees toward late.
The Pickup on the Base Plate is arranged in two parts, one behind the other, rather than side by side as in the original PIAGGIO design. As a result, this ignition system is less sensitive to lateral misalignments that can occur due to manufacturing tolerances in some crankcases, crankshafts, Stator Plates, and Flywheels. The exact ignition timing is marked on the Flywheel and Base Plate with a precise line. This allows the Ignition to be adjusted without using a strobe light. To do this, it is simply necessary to determine top dead center (TDC), for example, using a crank angle measurement.
Now it gets interesting: alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC)?
The SIP-VAPE ignition system is available in both DC and AC versions.
AC: The most common variant is the AC version for all models without a Battery. Here, the alternating current generated by the alternator is simply limited and stabilized by a Voltage Regulator.
