Mofa

Veybach Racing and the Ciao Custompaint

Thuersday 05 October, 2023

Veybach is already a friend of the house, but they have a long history behind them: "A passionate mechanic and tuner of classic Piaggio mopeds for over 25 years"

So this Custompaint Ciao, presented for the first time at #opendaysc, was not his first tuning.

We were able to see his work in action first hand at the Nörvenich moped race when Frank, Roland and Maryza took their Ciaos on a tour of the event. and with the adrenaline of seeing all these little ones doing their best, we didn't hesitate for a second when Veybach Racing Team needed spare parts to continue the race, and we sacrificed Roland's Ciao.

So we wanted to take a closer look at one of their new designs: the Custompaint Ciao. Dirk tells us:

"What once started as an idea turned out to be our most elaborate paint project to date.

Only with the support of the entire team, my business partners:

Pulver Design Gibesch
HaPe bikes
Scooter Center
and my friend Rolf Bubmann
the project was finally completed in time for the @scootercenter Open Day on 23.09.23 could be presented! ?

I had the "ICE effect" during a visit to HaPe Bikes workshop on one of his painted competition bikes and was immediately impressed. After a brief conversation with him, we decided to try it out on a larger surface, i.e. on a moped. ?

I then did all the preparatory work so that Rolf could paint the Ciao, including all the add-on parts, completely in silver.
Then all the parts went to Hape, who applied the "ICE effect" and all our logos in an elaborate paint job. ?

The first step was to sand down all the parts that had previously been painted silver so that the urea required for the effect would otherwise bead up on the clear coat and not achieve the desired effect. After this had dried and crystallized, Hape painted a layer of anthracite over it and washed everything off again after drying ?
The remains of the anthracite remained in the "crystal structure", which is then responsible for the desired effect. This structure was then covered with 7 layers of violet glaze, which was sealed again with a layer of clear varnish!
Now it was time to sand again... So that the logos of all the participants could then be painted on. Hape used a plotter to create special negative templates for this.
Then came another 2 coats of clear varnish and lots of sanding and polishing.

During the paint work on the logos, René came up with the idea of using one of my 17" 5-spoke "Banana" wheels instead of the 16" 3-spoke "Avio" wheels that he had already powder-coated in "Blackberry Candy" (and which I had already completely fitted?)... But then to powder-coat them in the shimmering "Rainbow", like the logos! So I quickly ordered from @selog_brock
2 Michelin Pilot Street and mounted everything again... ??

After I got all the painted parts back on 18.09. and the rims on 19.09., I was then able to start assembling ?
A small "screwing marathon" with velvet gloves then took place the next few evenings, after my main work had finished... ?

I tried to include many details, such as color-matching end sleeves, Bowden cables and much more. Even the gearbox housing was painted in shimmering black.

The engine, on the other hand, was kept quite classic.
A Polini Speedengine with a DR crankshaft and a 57cc AlfaErre cylinder from the 90s was installed. A 13/13 Dellorto carburetor with a Malossi air filter and a LeoVinci Krul were also fitted to properly discharge the exhaust gases ?

As a team and with the support of my employer, I was finally able to get everything ready in time so that nothing stood in the way of the presentation at the Open Day on September 23rd ?

Thanks also to the whole team at Scooter Center, who supported us with the supply of parts and the fantastic stand at the Open Day!"