Tabla de contenidos para July 2023 en Scootering

KICKSTART Hi Rhodz I’m building a Casa SSR 265 engine, it should be in the 47bhp range and frankly I intend to thrash the living daylights out of it. I’m not bothered how many miles I get out of a tyre, I just want it to stick to the road like glue. Any suggestions? Jim, Sheffield That sounds like it would be an absolute hooligan machine so grip over style is most definitely the way to go here. In the modern day situation of riding, normally I would opt for the higher speed rated Dunlop ScootSmart, which would be a good option for a sustained 93mph, although in this case may appear to be a bit of a general purpose tyre. The potential of this power unit also gives us…

The Lexicon of Scooters #19 Spanish Lambretta production started way back in the 1950s, but three decades later sales were falling as technology had moved on and consumers saw the machine as an ageing design. In an attempt to bring things up to date, a new model was launched named the Lince. Translated into English as Lynx, it would have many new features not seen before on any Lambretta design as the company tried to improve it. Although the earlier Serie 80 model had incorporated many features that would distinguish the Lince, such as a glass fibre front mudguard and horncasting along with PX style indicators, there were other changes afoot. Rebrand Launched in 1983, the Lince was produced in 125, 150 and 200cc versions, all with the Serveta name…

It doesn’t take much time in Gary and Lisa’s company to realise that they’re still the same, happy pair of scooterists who rode the length and breadth of the UK all those years ago. If Gary’s name sounds familiar then you’re probably harking back to the days of the National Scooter Riders’ Association, forerunner of the BSRA and of which Gary was for a time the chair. Before moving on to the PX and Royal Alloy we see resplendent in all their Ferrari inspired glory before us, it’s probably worth explaining how a Scooterboy from the 80s ends up being a serial Ferrari owner. It’s certainly not the ‘spoilt rich boy’ tale I expected to hear when the story first came across my desk. Had the stars aligned differently it’s…

It was named The Coronation Race due to a date clash with King Charles’ London gig; but those competing in the first endurance race of 2023 also had a day to remember. With a full grid of 40 machines it was always going to be a crowded track and a spectacular Le Mans-style start heralded the rest of the day’s proceedings. After the riders sprinted across the track to jump aboard their race scooters, the superfast Hornet Racing bike hit the front in the hands of BSSO star John the Greek; although he was pushed very hard from the off by the Swarbrick team. It wasn’t long before riders began throwing themselves at the tarmac, with the SRP team being early victims to a broken collarbone; the first of two…

EVENTS As with most great plans, the idea for the event started over a pint at the 2022 Section 8 SC Christmas bash. “We’ve got a bit of money doing nothing,” said one member. “We could have a major piss-up!” said another. “We could organise a scooter rally,” said another. And so the seed was sown and a long-standing ambition of Section 8 SC was about to be realised. January 2023 came and the first club meeting saw the seed grow. Ideas were bandied around; obstacles were looked at and given a damn good ignoring, and a venue was put forward. Camborne Rugby Football Club had shown an interest in hosting a scooter event for some time, so a meeting was arranged to discuss options. Once the venue was set,…

A SAD END FOR THE TROJAN NAME In the 1950s, there was a somewhat brief interest in forms of cheap personal transport that were not of the bicycle or motorcycle type. These were known collectively as ‘micro’ cars; in all probability, the most memorable of this subset of quirky forms of motor transport were the bubble cars – notably the German-manufactured BMW Isetta and Heinkel makes. Both were externally similar with a front forward opening passenger door, but the former vehicle was assembled around a tubular frame and the latter was of monocoque construction. HEINKEL IN GERMANY Following the end of the Second World War hostilities, Germany was forbidden to build aircraft by the Allies, so the aircraft company, Heinkel, turned the company’s design skills to building motor vehicles and…

This information is provided by Stephen Hattersley, of WildWood Legal, a firm of solicitors specialising in claims for injured scooterists. Stephen, a qualified solicitor for 25 years, has been riding scooters for more than 30 years and has acted for injured riders across the UK. He knows the tricks and pitfalls that insurers use and pulls no punches in his dealings with them. He rides to work every day and understands the challenges you face out there. Q. I was knocked off my scooter recently. My girlfriend was on the back. We were both injured. Do we need separate solicitors to make a claim or can we both use the same one? A. Sorry to hear that and hope you’re okay. You might be able to use the same solicitor;…

Of all the Lambretta models, it’s probably hardest to find publicity material relating to the Lince. Whether the budget had been used up, or the factory simply saw the writing on the wall, the material that survives is both poorly executed and badly printed. In an attempt to capitalise on its feline namesake publicity was, quite literally, drawn up. Apparently by a young member of someone in the advertising department’s family. Even if we forgive the amateurish cartoons, there was a distinct lack of attention to detail. Images were reversed, unforgivable on factory literature; while another series of advertisements featured an outgoing model, the Exclusiv, and under frame details that included the defunct toolbox. Even the few items that were printed were often of substandard quality. Considering the importance of…

With a career lasting more than a decade, throughout the 60s and 70s Evel Knievel was the legendary dare-dEvel stuntman who left a lasting impression on a lot of people. One of those impressionable youngsters was Paul Chippendale and when he decided to build his custom GP it was memories of Evel Knievel toys, figures, wind-up jumping motorcycles and other themed merchandise that inspired him. Sitting pretty The scooter started life as a plain yellow full-bodied SIL GP 200. “I kept it like that for a bit, but l wasn’t happy because after a while when I was riding it I started to think that I looked like a Spanish postman!” Paul laughed. To change all that Paul decided to give the scooter a sporty block-style street-racer paint job. “It…

I recognise that expression on your face: “Oh God, that Italian’s back, the same old Christian who gets lost in a long-winded introduction and errs in romantic excesses.” Brace yourself, you’ll see. The moment I entered Scooter the Fero’s workshop in Mozzecane, near Verona, and saw a Series 2 Lambretta poking from under its cover I realised that I was looking at a unique piece; a unique piece with two mufflers! The man behind STF and creator of this outstanding piece of engineering is Federico, and he wasted no time in introducing me to the concept. “Have you ever hoped to build a twin without depending on anyone, being able to choose your cylinder kits and carburettors?” His eyes are flaming as I reply: “It’s just a chimera, nothing more.”…

The BSSO Championship paid its first of two visits this year to the picturesque Cadwell Park Circuit in the Lincolnshire Wolds. The Cadwell circuit is massively popular with racers and spectators alike and as always plenty of road scooterists made the trip to spectate. Super Scooters Unusually in the race sequence it was the Super Scooters (Specials) up first with some standard class riders joining them for extra track time. These scooters are the fastest on track and did not disappoint. The Wilkinson Racing Team is always incredibly prepared and team supremo Warren Wilkinson was out on the Group 6 Lambretta. On the track he took a clean sweep of race wins but in the final race was demoted by a 10-second penalty. The officials also applied another slightly controversial…

It’s the same in regard to the new products that I try and bring to your attention and the constant (and seemingly lost) battle to get the news to you in print before it’s splattered all over social media. They do say today’s news is tomorrow’s fish and chip paper! There are several very new items that I’m awaiting details on before I can present them to you lovely readers in the coming issues, but in the meantime this particular page is more of an update about a couple of items I’ve been sent recently. THE FLASHERS First up are the remade indicator lens sets for the late Spanish Serveta models and Indian SIL Grand Prix Lambretta. I featured these a while back as Jockey’s Boxenstop over in Germany had…

LOST & FOUND Following on from last month’s little taster on the late Spanish-produced 200cc Lambretta, the Serveta Lince, the machine that I’d previously been informed was arriving in the country has since turned up at MB Scooters, down in the south (of Yorkshire). I dashed over there to see it first and get the lowdown on yet another find of a new old stock (NOS) Serveta Lince, this time a 150cc version, manufactured around 1984, according to the official Italian Declaration of Conformity that accompanied the scooter. MR B I’m in fairly regular contact with Mark Broadhurst from MB Scooters, as he keeps coming up with new stuff for our machines (which keeps me going with content for my What’s New page). A short while ago, I called over…

EVENTS The event was split between two sites with campers being on Tanylan Farm with static caravans across the railway tracks hugging the South West Wales coastline. Rosie and myself, being softy Northerners, decided instead to stay at the Three Rivers Hotel and Spa, Riverside (the location of the gala dinner evening on the Sunday night). As we arrived, we were greeted by several ‘early bird’ members who’d already settled into their pitches and statics. Alan Springall, the club’s general secretary and main organiser, had everything in hand, helped out by Mike Roberts, who he’d press-ganged into service at the last minute after receiving sick notes from other organisers. Mike took to the role and proved to be a big help on the rideouts as a ‘buddy’ assisting stranded/lost riders.…

KICKSTART Fancy a Lambretta twin but only have small-block money? Fear not, Scooter the Fero’s Chimera may just have the answer. As we were going to press, news reached us of an incredible development from Italian manufacturers of racing parts and accessories, Scooter the Fero. At this year’s Euro Lambretta the company will be unveiling a kit that will convert any Lambretta casing into a fire-breathing twin. Even better, the conversion can use almost any barrel kit on the market. The conversion, known as Chimera, has been in development for some time but has finally reached a stage where it can be unveiled to the public. The kit’s formal launch will take place at this year’s Euro Lambretta in Lincoln at the end of June; but if you won’t be…

Scooter customisation has been around since the very early days of production and comes in many different forms. It can be anything from bolting on a set of crash bars to painting the bodywork a different colour, but that type of customisation can always be reversed. In contrast there’s another form that is far more radical and involves taking a hacksaw to the frame. Contentious it may be, but the scooter look would be very different had it never happened. Before the editor’s postbag fills up with complaints that I’m telling everyone to cut their pride and joy to pieces, I’m only highlighting a practice that’s been carried out for decades. Owners first took a hacksaw, angle grinder or any cutting tool for that matter to their machines way back…

Sc: What is hydro dipping? Mick: It’s an alternative to painting or vinyl wrapping. Basically the part to be decorated is dipped into water with a film floating on top. The graphic or pattern that’s been printed on to that film sticks to the part perfectly and completely, no matter how complicated its shape may be. Sc: How did you get into hydro dipping? Mick: My hydro dipping journey started some 11 years ago when I was one of the UK’s early adopters of the process. I’d been into scooters my entire life, notably building the Norrie Kerr LC1 replica Vespa, which was featured on the cover of Scootering December 2015. The whole thing started when I was ‘swirl dipping’ guitars for musicians, which is a very messy and random…

For those of you who’ve just joined me on our epic trip, or have other things to worry about than what my wife Yegane and I are up to, here’s a quick recap. I’ve been riding motorcycles all my life and love an adventure. In 2022 Yegane and I rode our Brompton folding cycles from Baku, Azerbaijan through Georgia and Turkey to Cyprus. It was a great trip but Yegane thought that next time we should have something more comfortable. I’d ridden adventure bikes before and that’s what she had in mind. I had other ideas and bought a Vespa GTS300 over the phone. I set off a few weeks later and in my last instalment I’d reached Istanbul, been joined by Yegane and dropped the GTS off at a…

Lizzie’s gone Loco The owner of this gorgeous machine is Lizzie Edmonds, of the glorious city of Lincoln. At first glance it looks like an off the shelf, even straight from the showroom floor, example of a preserved model. But, as is typical with scooterists, between Lizzie and her shy and retiring husband Barry, they’ve made a couple of changes that enhance the original machine without losing its identity. Longed-for Lince The Lince had been on Lizzie’s wanted list for a few years and four years ago she was offered one at the right price and snapped it up. The scooter wore Lince side panels but also sported a few other mysterious features such as the Jet handlebars, spare wheel carrier and vented toolbox lid. These combined with the later…

When Michael Stockwell was 17, his pride and joy was a Nightmare on Elm Street themed Vespa T5. “Despite its horror theme, everyone who saw it loved it. Unfortunately, it also attracted the wrong sort of attention and sadly it was stolen and burnt out. It was written off, but I vowed that one day I’d have another T5 with detailed custom artwork.” A PX replaced the T5 but after a few years, Michael was offered a swap; the PX for two scooters. One was a cut-down Vespa 50 Special that’s still in his garage in bits and will possibly be his next project. The other was a blue and white T5, which hadn’t been on the road for 30 years. It’s taken a few years but that neglected T5’s…

It’s not just organisers of scooter rallies that struggle with how to attract new blood... the entire population of ‘motorcyclists’ is ageing. In a time when social media is king, how do we get a new generation away from their gaming consoles and out on to the road? Judging by Round Two of the Trofei Malossi series held at Maggione in early May, and specifically the Malossi Academy, the answer is to give them something they can relate to. Now in its third year, the Malossi Academy is designed to prepare the next generation of racers by making motorsport accessible. This year the scheme’s being run in conjunction with Italjet and Shoei on the technical side; with additional sponsorship from Gorilla energy drinks and Noberasco snacks. The idea is very…

Recently, the price of buying certain top-of-the-range scooters seems to have gone through the roof. In previous years you’d be looking at between £6000 and £10,000 for a model which comes with a decent provenance; that figure now seems to have almost doubled to around £20,000! I often wonder what the reason for this is? Is it just inflation? Could it be due to the recent trend of selling it through a top flight auction house where the buyer/seller fees can add almost a third to the final hammer price? Or is it just down to the seller expecting their pride and joy to be worth more than it actually is? We also need to look at the dynamics of today’s scooter owner. Back in the day, the average Joe…