Steela or Bajaj Chetak

RandomGS · 10-22-2005, 10:10 AM

The Stella is a two stoke, and has many more things that can be done with the engine. But I located a Bajaj Chetak on Craigslist denver for considerably less investment. Bajaj claims EPA rating of 100MPG. Are these the same bike with a different engine?

I realize that the Stella is a Vespa, and has the real reputation for '80's engineering.

Anyone seen a Bajaj in real life?

Greg

Bueller · 10-22-2005, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandomGS

The Stella is a two stoke, and has many more things that can be done with the engine. But I located a Bajaj Chetak on Craigslist denver for considerably less investment. Bajaj claims EPA rating of 100MPG. Are these the same bike with a different engine?

I realize that the Stella is a Vespa, and has the real reputation for '80's engineering.

Anyone seen a Bajaj in real life?

Greg

Yes, I've seen them in real life but I haven't ridden one. It is not the same scooter as a Stella - two different manufacturers. Nonetheless it has reasonable quality but won't have quite as much acceleration as the Stella. If you want to hop your scoot up go with the Stella. If you just want to ride it in stock form the Bajaj is a decent choice.

Photog · 10-26-2005, 11:59 AM

The Chetak is a great scoot--I've heard from locals that the gas mileage is as advertised, and durability is excellent.

Rode one briefly--can't say I could give a report from that experience--but have ridden alongside a few enroute to the local pubs during Mod vs. Rocker Sundays.

It's not a Stella/Vespa with a 4T engine. There are significant body differences, enough so that the typical Vespa catalog from Scooterworks won't be applicable to more than a handful of parts.

Downsides - aside from pipe/headwork the engine can't be modded as easily as the 2T stella, and not many Vespa body parts fit the new Chetaks (Bajaj used to make licensed Vespa copies so this doesn't apply to their old bikes), and the dealer network in the US is sparse.

Upsides: very clean bike emissions-wise, durable, and like most metal scoots, you can just keep beating the body panels back into shape after they've been dinged and bent.

If you like it for what it is--a 4T, clean-burning, high-mpg, manual transmission scoot with classic lines, go for it. Bajaj has been building rugged stuff for decades and is in bed with some major manufacturers to build their components.

If you want the more classic appeal of a Vespa's lines, along with a better motor and the entire Vespa catalog and european tuner goodies available, go for the Stella. I've been 100% thrilled with mine from both the practical standpoint and the joy of owning a classic bike.

RandomGS · 10-27-2005, 04:41 AM

I rode the Stella at the dealer yesterday. He said that the cat. was quite restrictive, and power and top end would be better after "modification".

Darn those red one's look good.

Photog · 10-27-2005, 05:22 AM

It doesn't take much to uncork 'em--carb and exhaust will do the trick nicely with a stock engine for not much money. The Sito Plus exhaust is $99 and works nicely, and there's a ton of good carbs out there that have jetting info readily available...the Vortex, Dellorto 24E, and so on.

Parts prices are pretty cheap overall and availability is fine--plenty of good dealers here in the US, plus the mack-daddy (SIP) in Germany is pretty cost-effective, surprisingly enough.

The cylinder kits have been dyno'd over at www.stellaspeed.com, so making that upgrade choice is fairly easy, too.

I've got the Pinasco 177 kit, Dellorto 24G carb, and SIP Jim Lomas expansion chamber (race pipe). A bit loud but runs like a scalded goat...you can leave the thing in 3rd gear and pull from a stop or idle around town with nary a hiccup.

I think the best thing, though, is that it's got genuine classic looks and a design that's evolved over the past 60 years to be completely utilitarian and durable as a primary vehicle if you should decide to use it as such (I have). The glovebox is surprisingly cavernous and with some creativity you can haul a week's worth of groceries and several fridge-packs of cokes (laid across the running boards) using only the grocery hook and a bungee or two if you need to use the back seat. Freakin' practical little critter.

Best of all, people recognize it as The Real Deal and you get a thumbs-up and plenty of conversation. Lots of old vets that were stationed overseas have approached me and talked for a while about how they toured Europe on them.

Reliability with mine has been excellent--never fails to start and run. Soft-seized it once...just let it cool down and drove 60 miles home in 95 degree weather w/o complaint. Tough little sucker.

RandomGS · 11-06-2005, 08:53 AM

I wimped out. I did not buy the classic Stella.

I did, however get a pristine '93 Honda Helix - 2200 miles, and ready for an oil change.

VespaFitz · 11-07-2005, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandomGS

I wimped out. I did not buy the classic Stella.

I did, however get a pristine '93 Honda Helix - 2200 miles, and ready for an oil change.

OO, sweet. They're pretty cool.

Photog · 11-07-2005, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandomGS

I wimped out. I did not buy the classic Stella.

I did, however get a pristine '93 Honda Helix - 2200 miles, and ready for an oil change.

Suh-weet!

Someone locally had one that had about 40K miles on it and was chugging along just fine last time I saw it. He rides that thing everywhere--commutes during the week, heads for the hills or the coast on weekends. Not one complaint from him...and he's been riding HD baggers for decades.

dwestmodesto · 12-23-2005, 11:51 PM

Bajaj had the license from Piaggio to produce Vespas for the asian market through the 1960's. They made lots of scooters that were sold with vespa tagging. In 1970, Piaggio changed from the Bajaj factory to make their scooters for asia to the LML factory. The Stella is produced in that factory. Stella is only the name that Genuine scooters puts on it when they import it from India. I believe it is sold as the LML Star in many other locations. It has other names in other countries. It is basically a px150 with front disk brake, electric start, and catalytic converter. After Bajaj lost the piaggio contract, the continued making vespa like scooters for many years. In the recent past Bajaj has worked with Kawasaki. Kawasaki designed the four stroke motor used in the Bajaj scooters. Bajaj now makes all of the small kawasaki bikes(less than 185cc) for the world market.
Both scooters are good bikes.
Good Luck,
Dave

Quote:

Originally Posted by Photog

The Chetak is a great scoot--I've heard from locals that the gas mileage is as advertised, and durability is excellent.

Rode one briefly--can't say I could give a report from that experience--but have ridden alongside a few enroute to the local pubs during Mod vs. Rocker Sundays.

It's not a Stella/Vespa with a 4T engine. There are significant body differences, enough so that the typical Vespa catalog from Scooterworks won't be applicable to more than a handful of parts.

Downsides - aside from pipe/headwork the engine can't be modded as easily as the 2T stella, and not many Vespa body parts fit the new Chetaks (Bajaj used to make licensed Vespa copies so this doesn't apply to their old bikes), and the dealer network in the US is sparse.

Upsides: very clean bike emissions-wise, durable, and like most metal scoots, you can just keep beating the body panels back into shape after they've been dinged and bent.

If you like it for what it is--a 4T, clean-burning, high-mpg, manual transmission scoot with classic lines, go for it. Bajaj has been building rugged stuff for decades and is in bed with some major manufacturers to build their components.

If you want the more classic appeal of a Vespa's lines, along with a better motor and the entire Vespa catalog and european tuner goodies available, go for the Stella. I've been 100% thrilled with mine from both the practical standpoint and the joy of owning a classic bike.

JoeKher · 12-31-2005, 06:01 AM

Bajaj can be tuned to run better like the Stella needs to be tuned to run good. Mill the head to raise compresion and Pride of Cleveland makes a performance exhaust for the Bajaj! They are great little bikes for the $!

scootertrash · 01-01-2006, 09:17 PM

what kind of miles can you get on a Stella's top end before rings/piston are required? This is assuming it is fairly stock, but uncorked...

brockster · 01-02-2006, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeKher

Bajaj can be tuned to run better like the Stella needs to be tuned to run good. Mill the head to raise compresion and Pride of Cleveland makes a performance exhaust for the Bajaj! They are great little bikes for the $!

The president of the Gem City Rollers (Dayton, Ohio's scooter club) has a black Bajaj with that pipe. Sounds totally different than a Vespa/Stella. Think thumper with a less restrictive exhaust. One guy said it sounded like a little Harley, but I think that's pushing it.

JoeKher · 01-03-2006, 05:37 AM

The 4 stroke scooter sound funny with pipes. A friend has an ET4 with some pipe on it and it does sound like a DRZ!

10-22-2005, 10:10 AM	#1
RandomGS ^OP Beastly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2003 Location: Pueblo West, CO Oddometer: 5,863	Steela or Bajaj Chetak The Stella is a two stoke, and has many more things that can be done with the engine. But I located a Bajaj Chetak on Craigslist denver for considerably less investment. Bajaj claims EPA rating of 100MPG. Are these the same bike with a different engine? I realize that the Stella is a Vespa, and has the real reputation for '80's engineering. Anyone seen a Bajaj in real life? Greg

10-26-2005, 11:59 AM	#3
Photog Charismatic Megafauna Joined: Oct 2003 Location: Cackalacky Oddometer: 46,091	The Chetak is a great scoot--I've heard from locals that the gas mileage is as advertised, and durability is excellent. Rode one briefly--can't say I could give a report from that experience--but have ridden alongside a few enroute to the local pubs during Mod vs. Rocker Sundays. It's not a Stella/Vespa with a 4T engine. There are significant body differences, enough so that the typical Vespa catalog from Scooterworks won't be applicable to more than a handful of parts. Downsides - aside from pipe/headwork the engine can't be modded as easily as the 2T stella, and not many Vespa body parts fit the new Chetaks (Bajaj used to make licensed Vespa copies so this doesn't apply to their old bikes), and the dealer network in the US is sparse. Upsides: very clean bike emissions-wise, durable, and like most metal scoots, you can just keep beating the body panels back into shape after they've been dinged and bent. If you like it for what it is--a 4T, clean-burning, high-mpg, manual transmission scoot with classic lines, go for it. Bajaj has been building rugged stuff for decades and is in bed with some major manufacturers to build their components. If you want the more classic appeal of a Vespa's lines, along with a better motor and the entire Vespa catalog and european tuner goodies available, go for the Stella. I've been 100% thrilled with mine from both the practical standpoint and the joy of owning a classic bike. __________________ Only an XR1200 owner knows why Cthulhu hangs its head out a car window. Like I like. Yep.

10-27-2005, 05:22 AM	#5
Photog Charismatic Megafauna Joined: Oct 2003 Location: Cackalacky Oddometer: 46,091	It doesn't take much to uncork 'em--carb and exhaust will do the trick nicely with a stock engine for not much money. The Sito Plus exhaust is $99 and works nicely, and there's a ton of good carbs out there that have jetting info readily available...the Vortex, Dellorto 24E, and so on. Parts prices are pretty cheap overall and availability is fine--plenty of good dealers here in the US, plus the mack-daddy (SIP) in Germany is pretty cost-effective, surprisingly enough. The cylinder kits have been dyno'd over at www.stellaspeed.com, so making that upgrade choice is fairly easy, too. I've got the Pinasco 177 kit, Dellorto 24G carb, and SIP Jim Lomas expansion chamber (race pipe). A bit loud but runs like a scalded goat...you can leave the thing in 3rd gear and pull from a stop or idle around town with nary a hiccup. I think the best thing, though, is that it's got genuine classic looks and a design that's evolved over the past 60 years to be completely utilitarian and durable as a primary vehicle if you should decide to use it as such (I have). The glovebox is surprisingly cavernous and with some creativity you can haul a week's worth of groceries and several fridge-packs of cokes (laid across the running boards) using only the grocery hook and a bungee or two if you need to use the back seat. Freakin' practical little critter. Best of all, people recognize it as The Real Deal and you get a thumbs-up and plenty of conversation. Lots of old vets that were stationed overseas have approached me and talked for a while about how they toured Europe on them. Reliability with mine has been excellent--never fails to start and run. Soft-seized it once...just let it cool down and drove 60 miles home in 95 degree weather w/o complaint. Tough little sucker. __________________ Only an XR1200 owner knows why Cthulhu hangs its head out a car window. Like I like. Yep.

01-01-2006, 09:17 PM	#11
scootertrash Mobile Homie Joined: Aug 2003 Location: "My leg's tired, let's live here." Oddometer: 2,066	what kind of miles can you get on a Stella's top end before rings/piston are required? This is assuming it is fairly stock, but uncorked... __________________ TV-free for 5 years and counting "The difference between Adventure and Adversity is attitude"

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10-27-2005, 04:41 AM	#4
RandomGS ^OP Beastly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2003 Location: Pueblo West, CO Oddometer: 5,863	I rode the Stella at the dealer yesterday. He said that the cat. was quite restrictive, and power and top end would be better after "modification". Darn those red one's look good.

11-06-2005, 08:53 AM	#6
RandomGS ^OP Beastly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2003 Location: Pueblo West, CO Oddometer: 5,863	I wimped out. I did not buy the classic Stella. I did, however get a pristine '93 Honda Helix - 2200 miles, and ready for an oil change.

12-31-2005, 06:01 AM	#10
JoeKher Third world or bust! Joined: May 2004 Location: DETROIT, MI Oddometer: 162	Bajaj can be tuned to run better like the Stella needs to be tuned to run good. Mill the head to raise compresion and Pride of Cleveland makes a performance exhaust for the Bajaj! They are great little bikes for the $!

01-03-2006, 05:37 AM	#13
JoeKher Third world or bust! Joined: May 2004 Location: DETROIT, MI Oddometer: 162	The 4 stroke scooter sound funny with pipes. A friend has an ET4 with some pipe on it and it does sound like a DRZ!