Customizing The New Ride 👨🔧 Our Piaggio Ape Auto+ 🛺 435cc Of 3-Wheeled Diesel Fury 💨
After being stranded abroad and facing years of lockdowns and curfews in Suriname, we now have more freedom of movement than ever in our new ride.
My First Piaggio Ape 🛺 A Tick Off The Bucket List
It may sound silly, but my dream car for the last 25 years has been a Piaggio Ape, more recently and specifically a Piaggio Ape Auto+ 435cc Diesel. Before we left Cambodia a few years ago, our family transport was a Bajaj RE, an autorickshaw very similar to our new Piaggio Ape. I was bummed that a few months after purchasing my Bajaj, Piaggio began exporting Ape's to Cambodia, so I missed my opportunity to own my dream car.
In the USA I used to restore and tune vintage Vespas and Lambrettas, and I've owned several different kinds of old Italian scooters through the years, but always wanted my own Piaggio Ape. I never thought I'd end up with one as awesome as I now have, but still @sreypov and I wanted to pimp it out with rain doors and a few other mods.
Roadside Stitching 🪡
This post is actually not in sequential order, I do have a post about the day we picked up our Ape from the dealership, but my phone was dead that day. I used my wife's phone to document that special day, but she was at the market when I had time to make a post, so I'll share that with you all another day.
This post is about the awesomeness of scarcely regulated small scale roadside businesses in Cambodia. The one we hired on this day was a tuk-tuk upholsterer, whom fitted our rain doors and made some reinforcements to the canvas shell. Of course when places like this work on your ride, you sometimes end up with new holes in other places.
Killin' Time ⌛
The area of Phnom Penh where we got our ride modded was a busy intersection. There wasn't much to do in the area, and there was little shade, so we did our best to stay entertained, hydrated, and patient. The crew had never worked on a ride like ours, so I watched to make sure as few mistakes and unnecessary holes as possible were made.
We hung around, chatted with the workers occasionally, took photos for Hive content, and dreamed about the adventures we will have in our diesel-powered family transport.
It's hard to go anywhere in Cambodia and not bump into fish being dried in the sun. Even this impromptu shop that is set up each morning and broken down in the evening made time to dry some fish on the jobsite.
@sreypov got friendly with the wife, and we found out the team is a husband and wife crew with their kids helping, a real family operation.
Finishing Touches 🪄
We spent the better part of a day at the tuk-tuk upholstery place, but we have rain doors in addition to some new unwanted holes on top that will also allow rain in, but I've learned through the years to not have high hopes for attention to detail when it comes to Cambodian work like this.
I'm absolutely in love with our new family transport, and the diesel engine just puts along like a tractor. 1st gear has so much torque that no throttle is required, and it's the perfect gear for inching forward in city traffic.
I leave with this evening shot, @sreypov waiting in the Ape for some vegan takeaway from an underground Cambodian vegetarian restaurant. $2.50 can feed the family for an evening, but that sometimes comes with fishing a few hairs out of your food, a small price to pay for such affordable and tasty food.
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Hello @justinparke ,how are you?
this black and white vehicle reminds me of one in the city of Jakarta, its name is Bajaj, the vehicle is blue and has 3 wheels. The vehicle's fuel is gas.
This is very good transportation. Congratulations on your new vehicle.
We have Bajaj here in Cambodia too, and now TVS, Atul, and few other Indian tuk-tuk companies too. The owner of Piaggio told us that Hun Sen's buddy is the owner of the Bajaj brand in Cambodia, and for this reason it will always be given priority in the Cambodian market. Ours is diesel, but most models here run on petrol/LPG. Thank you, we love our new ride.
hi buddy @justinparke
your dream is really silly hehehe,, but it looks very interesting, good health always my friend
A silly dream, I know, but we are a silly family that enjoys things outside of the norm.
This would be like a dream for me. Wow you're finally manifesting the thoughts that you had in Suriname. It's encouraging for me. I need to start dreaming of how I want life to be instead of worrying about the way it seems to be. You did it!!!!
I wish they had those here.
It is weird to see it come true, but I have always been one not to make my dreams to big. I honestly would rather have 200 Apes for my friends and family than one luxury car. For me there is no better feeling in life than enjoying roadside picnics with the fam in new locations. Thanks for the uplifting words.
Awesome vehicle, you can more mobile with it. In Jakarta there is the kind of transportation. It is called Bajay. The vehicle is very efective to transport people in the narrow streets in densed residencial area.
Bajaj is the number one brand here too, but now that there are many companies here in Cambodia selling tuk-tuks, I prefer Piaggio as I used to be a Vespa mechanic and tuner. The Piaggio Ape is mechanically very similar, so it's easier for me to work on.
Hello.
It's the first time I've heard of Ape because of you, it seems like a lot of fun. I need this kind of mini-vehicles with which I can travel comfortably with my dog. Here they are called electric bicycles. I dream of owning something like this in the future. I think these types of vehicles are more paric. I'm happy for you 😊
I have seen a three-wheeled Chinese car like the white one in your photo here. The only problem with the Chinese electric mini-cars is that they often don't last more than two years, and spare parts and repairs are a serious undertaking often involving emailing random Chinese companies for odd spare parts that break often. The Piaggio Ape I have is diesel, and is more or less unchanged for 50 years, so it's a proven workhorse that will transport my family all over Cambodia. I do wish I had some proper doors on our Ape though, it would make rainy rides more manageable.
Let me ponder that. I am getting better at plucking a hair out of my food these days though...
What a contrast with Suriname where you could probably get one overdue vegetable for that price...
Hurry for the new ride!
You must feel like the King and Queens of the road now ;<)
The difference in cost of living is so great it's hard to fathom. I must admit it does feel nice to be part of an economy again. In Suriname we always felt like unwanted outsiders, socially, culturally, and especially financially.
Congratulations! If you really wanted to have that dream in your life it really comes. You just have to work hard on it and wait for the right time. 😊
A small dream, but one I am glad to see come to fruition. We feel at home in a tuk-tuk moving down the road for some reason.
It's small but every outcomes yes we will always be glad.
This dream of yours that you really wanted to have is so cool. This is my first time seeing this car too. I'm sure your trips with this with your family is a dream come true.😊 Just always be safe in every trips you have.
I think there Bajaj three-wheelers in your country, but I remember once hearing they are heavily regulated. I was excited to see tuk-tuks were available in Ecuador, but after arriving there we learned only registered taxi companies can buy and drive them, a big bummer for us.
It's not exactly the same as that. That's why I've said that it's my first time seeing it.
I want but I have not money
You have a remork already, but yours is for transporting petrol and diesel 😁.
Loved the color. What missing is some decal 😁😁
That is what I am expecting from a 435cc diesel engine 💪💪 btw, how many speed is the gearbox?
I'm not gonna let a single strand of hair ruin my appetite 😁😁 unless if it is a bunch of hair 😅😅
We have been talking about giving it a Hive makeover, perhaps including the logo and links to our blogs as well an onboarding QR code. The diesel versions in India often have 5-speeds and a foot clutch, but the diesel models sold in Cambodia are 4-speed and hand-operated clutches. We've been driving around at 45-55 km/h, and so far it feels up to the task, even with 600kg of payload onboard.
We also have tons of these vehicles in our place, it's a very convenient vehicle and can also fit many passengers at a time. The best feature of this vehicle is that it's very quiet compared to traditional passenger vehicles.
They are awesome vehicles, especially for families. Ours is a bit loud compared to our former Bajaj, but the engine is twice the size and it sounds more like a tractor than a tuk-tuk because of the diesel engine.
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Oh wow, what an amazing ride!
I was really hoping for baby blue, but the importer has cut back on the diesel models because they weren't selling very well. Apparently the Khmer customers don't like the sound of the engine and just aren't ready for diesel three-wheelers yet. This unfortunately means the only color available is white for the foreseeable future.
well you can always repaint that bad boi later. I'd love a vehicle like this but it probably wouldn't work in the streets where I live. Not being driven by me anyway.
There is something similar to what you mentioned in the town where I live. In other cities it is also called 'aoeway' or 'dote dote'.
Funny how no matter where you go, these things often acquire a local name that is an approximation of the sound of the engine. In Cambodia they are culled tuk-tuks, a very similar sound to the local name in Myanmar for these things.
I just found out that you are finally all together @justinparke! I am so happy for you and this car is the coolest! Congratulations! I wish you all the best in your future endeavours and lots of blessings 💖🙏💖
It is such a relief, sometimes while driving down the road I turn around and look at them and smile, and they have no idea why. It just feels so good being together as a family, something I never thought I'd have to fight for in this life.
I was without my daughters here in Canada for 7 years, so I know what you mean. Anyway, I am truly happy for you Justin. Enjoy your new life!
I somehow missed the post that you're back in Cambodia! Congrats! That is such wonderful news and I am so glad your family is together again! 😊 Congrats on the new ride, too!
We've been so busy that I've found little time for posting, and we are still traveling with 7 suitcases in the tuk-tuk, so it's not as fun as it could be. We are on the road now, sleeping at a random hotel. Once we have our rental room sorted in the new town, signs of normal life will slowly begin to reappear.
I am late to the party.. I've been out of town for a couple of days. Wow.. I've never heard of the Piaggio Ape. It looks pretty cool. Do the dry fish smell? In Malaysia, where there is dry fish, there is the smell. The smell of saltiness.... hahaha..
You always know the drying fish by the smell, but if you're not paying attention and the wind is not blowing towards you, it's possible to walk face-first into hanging fish on the sidewalk. I've taken a dried fish to the face more than once here, I guess it keeps you on your toes while walking in the city.
hahahahaha.. I can imagine the smell. At least there is the feeling that someone is always around. They use those dried fish in their dish as salted diced fish? It's always fun to see your reply.
I would say the poorest of the poor in Cambodia living way out in the ricefields where there are no veggies and large animals, eat almost solely dried fish and white rice. Even my wife have stories of the first time encountering soy sauce and the revolution it was. Things used to be scarce during the war, and the new economy still hasn't reached sections of this country.
No wonder there are lots of dried fish... , It's really interesting to be reading of real life stories.. I guess, it was really scary a decade ago. The good thing is that at least Cambodia is stable and I am pretty confident that it will grow. =) Have a great day...
Congrats JP! Can't wait :)
Kind of feel like we won at life, even though we are in a town most people wouldn't visit if they were paid too, and we drive a vehicle most people would never consider safe. I can't wait for you to come visit (I mean come to visit and accidentally make Cambodia home).
Congratulations for your new family transport, now you can move freely with your Ape... The girls are surely delighted! Hive on Justin!
We all love it, already planning the adventures we will do and places we will go in it.
Missed the opportunity to vote. Looking at the Piaggio, she's a total sexy beast! I already have an idea of replacing the halogen headlamp with high power LEDs, and a pair of roof mounted yellow fog lamp. Probably a few more unrelated stickers and emblem, like V8, turbo, AMG 🤣
I've seen a few riding around with LED light modules, so somebody in the country is selling them. We haven't done too much night driving, but I'm curious to see how adequate the stock lights are. A roof rack is also a common feature added here, but that is only because the smaller models have nowhere to stash cargo. For us though, we have a place nearly the size of a pickup truck bed, so I don't think we'll ever do a roof rack and add more unnecessary aero drag. Other than the obvious Hive stickers that will eventually adorn this beauty, I have been thinking of some #Engrish sticker designs, if you have great ideas let me know. I was thinking of "My kid sings karaoke better than your kid."
very good. in my area it is called a bemo vehicle.
That's a new name for me, funny how these things have so many different names. Even in Cambodia the name is still fluid, most places it's called a "three-wheeled trailer" in Cambodian, but here in our new town they call them PassApps, the app that made these autorickshaws popular.
omg congrats this is amazing! sorry for my short comments but i'm trying to catch up with you all after so little time.. stoked! This is a awesome ride!