PX 125 T5 (VNX5T)

Vespa PX 125 T5

Description:
With the Vespa T5 Pole Position, Piaggio presented the sporty interpretation of the PX 125 in 1985. The T5 was intended to build on the sporty past of the GS and SS models, which Piaggio had somewhat lost sight of with the Rally series, which was designed to be rather tame and suitable for everyday use.

In terms of style, the T5 presents itself as a significantly revised version of the PX models. Everything has become more angular and edgy and many details that are clearly reminiscent of Vespa's long past have been completely revised. For example, the tread strips have been replaced by black rubber floor mats. The most striking feature at the front is the trio of handlebar head, cascade and mudguard. The steering head with angular headlight has an implied windshield. The cascade is pulled further down and looks much more aerodynamic, a feature which, like the sleeker mudguard, has already given one or two PXs a sportier appearance. A shelf for small items is glued to the glove compartment located in the leg shield. Under the running board is a spoiler made of black plastic. The side hoods have been adopted from the PX, but feature large T5 lettering. The rear has also been redesigned and forms a line with the steeply sloping seat. The angular rear light blends in harmoniously.

The real delicacy of the Vespa T5, however, is the engine flange-mounted on the right-hand side. This is a completely revised PX engine, which makes the T5 by far the most powerful Vespa 125. The tried-and-tested rotary valve principle has been retained, but all important engine parameters have been significantly optimized. A characteristic feature is the aluminum cylinder with the five overflow channels, which provide a considerable surface area for better scavenging of the cylinder.

The engine is designed with a short stroke. While the ratio of bore to stroke on the PX 125 is 52.5 mm to 57 mm, the T5 comes with a 55 mm bore and a 52 mm stroke. The short stroke and the generously dimensioned channels allow the high-revving engine to respond spontaneously. To ensure that sufficient fresh gas is available, a revised version of the PX's large 24 SI carburetor with modified air filter was developed. The increased compression ratio of 11:1 and the longer timing of the cylinder and the rotary valve made it necessary to reduce the pre-ignition value to 16°. The short gear ratio results in a high rev level that is incredibly fun on the road. The exhaust is a completely new development, which has also proven itself as a performance-enhancing measure on many PX engines.

Frame numbers by year of construction:
1985: VNX5T 1101-16089
1986: VNX5T 16090-24139
1987: VNX5T 24140-30975
1988: VNX5T 30976-33368
1989: VNX5T 33369-35991
1990: VNX5T 35992-37161
1991: VNX5T 37162-37495
1992: VNX5T 37496-37588
1993: VNX5T 37589-?