Scootering June 2018 preview

C C N D Supplement

Stunning custom

Automatic for the people

light of day

‘big engine’

Latest

finally sees

inside!

Scomadi news #384 June 2018

King Monkwen y!

PLUS

Sorted Ian Bro based scooter: Stellify & F.E.A.R.

Plus: Supersonic

TV175 S2 custom Lambretta

RALLY BY NAME

RALLY BY NATURE

THOUSANDS

BRIDGESTONE TYRE REPORT WHAT’S KEEPING

YOU ON OF MILES THE ROAD? STILL GOING STRONG

Scootering Extra subscriber exclusives ■ CE clothing: new rules ■ MOT exemption update ■ March of the Mods ■ Undercover Festival ■ latest news ■ readers’ rides ■ Scooter Trader ■ Events Guide and much more…

Editor: Dan Clare Email: dan@scootering.com Publisher: Dan Savage Designer: Charlotte Turnbull Picture desk: Paul Fincham, Jonathan Schofield and Angie Sisestean Production editor: Dan Sharp General queries and back issues: Tel: 01507 529529 24hr answerphone Mon-Fri 8.30am-7pm, Sat 8.30am-12.30pm help@classicmagazines.co.uk www.classicmagazines.co.uk Archivist: Jane Skayman 01507 529423 Email: jskayman@mortons.co.uk Subscription: Full subscription rates (but see page 32 for offer): (12 months 12 issues, inc post and packing) – UK £49.20. Export rates are also available – see page 32 for more details. UK subscriptions are zero-rated for the purposes of Value Added Tax. Subscription manager: Paul Deacon Circulation manager: Steven O’Hara Marketing manager: Charlotte Park Commercial director: Nigel Hole TRADE ADVERTISING Gary Thomas – gthomas@mortons.co.uk Tel (01507) 529417 Emma Buxton-Rockley – ebuxton-rockley@mortons.co.uk Tel (01507) 529410 Divisional advertising team leader: Zoe Thurling 01507 529412, zthurling@mortons.co.uk ADVERTISING DEADLINES The advertising deadline for the next issue of Scootering (July 2018) is Thursday, June 7, 2018 On sale in newsagents Thursday, June 28, 2018 SCOOTERING (USPS:020-245) is published monthly

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WELCOME

Welcome to the June edition of Scootering

W

orking on this month’s magazine has been a real pleasure, simply due to the sheer variety of stuff we got to tackle, from Bridgestone tyre reports, and Scomadi ‘big engine’ test rides, through to Skankin’ n Scoots in St Petersburg, and Lui Vega off-road enduro racing! In the feature scooter stakes we have everything from high end paintjobs (Stellify) and a Supersonic TV175, through to Toxic Vespas, racing small frames, and all that falls in between. And the music coverage has been just as wide and varied.

The net result is a diverse yet balanced magazine, which I’m delighted about. The scooter scene is a strange phenomenon, its own complexity is often commented on… providing as much cohesion as it does division. Likewise, trying to produce a monthly journal which is all things to all men is beyond impossible… but that doesn’t stop us trying! But I believe that we’ve managed to put a little bit of something for everyone in

this edition, and the even better news is… we get to do it all again next month!

Aside from diverse (printed) magazine content, we also recently had the opportunity to upload the bookazine collection to the Scootering Extra website. As most of you will know, there is already an archive of Scootering magazines uploaded, stretching back to 2010, which is fully searchable with keywords. And now The Mod Years, The Art of Scooters, The Best of Scootering 1985-89 and 1990-94 bookazines are all available free online to our subscribers also. Looking back through older magazines and bookazines can be a real inspiration, for new scooter projects, as well as editorial features. Have a look yourself, it’s surprising where ‘new’ ideas can come from sometimes. Simply log in at www.scootering.com/extra to read for free.

Perfect digital reading for the impending summer holiday season. Anyway that’s enough of my ramblings, it’s another belter this month… enjoy the issue.

Dan

SCOOTERING is published by: Mortons Scooter Media, a division of Mortons Media Group Ltd © 2018 All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any way without the written permission of the publisher. ISSN 0268 7194 Distribution: Marketforce UK Ltd, 5 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HU. Tel: 0203 787 9001.

Printed by: William Gibbons & Sons, Wolverhampton

The Professional Publishers Association Member

The bookazine collection (above) is now available to read free on Scootering Extra.

S C O O T E R I N G WA S B R O U G H T T O Y O U W I T H T H E H E L P O F. . .

Stu Smith

Vespa & Lambretta owner, scooter obsessive, amateur home mechanic, rally goer, Mod sympathiser, music lover and general all round good egg. He writes your rally reports, be nice to him.

Nik Skeat

Vespa P-range obsessive, well-travelled rally rider since the 80s, and founder of the once notorious Scooterboy World online forum. He’s also a brilliant beer-brewing bearded Scootering feature writer.

Paul Green

Vespa & Lambretta scooter enthusiast, BSSO professional and general good egg. Our Paul has a long history of scootering both on the road and on the track, with the breakdown bills and crash scars to prove it.

Stuart Owen

Life member of the LCGB, 100mph LambrettaClub owner and scooter restoration expert to boot. Scooter rider, rally-goer, racer, restorer and author. Reaches the parts other scooter journalists just can’t reach.

Darrell Taylor Dave Oakley Two-stroke tuning guru, scooter engine building maestro, technical aficionado, and dyno tuning specialist. When it comes to a true understanding of scooter engine top-ends, he is THE man.

Riding and building scooters since 1983, Dave has been a contributor to Scootering since the 90s. His builds include chops, cutdowns, street-racers, autos and the most infamous custom of the 80s!

Big Stan

80s scooterboy turned long distance rider. Be it local, national or international, he’ll ride anywhere in his quest to bring you the tastiest scooters, best roads, trade interviews and hidden gems.

Sarge

With over four decades of riding, rally-going and competing on both Lambretta and Vespa scooters under his belt, this former Freddie Mercury lookalike is still going strong.

He’s a top DJ too, don’tcha know.

CONTENTS letter from 03Welcome the Editor

A warm welcome to the June issue of Scootering.

06Kickstart

The upfront section with all the latest news, views and product reviews!

14

Stellify & F.E.A.R.

Not the first time we have seen a Stone Roses based custom scooter, but this is probably one of the best.

A stunning job.

Report: 24Show GCC Custom Show

The GCC Custom show is now in its fourth year and it’s attracting a great amount of interest. It’s easy to see why...

28

True Blue

Ramie Stewart ‘peacock struts’ this beautiful pair of Vespas – an SS90 and an SS180 – in all their glory.

32Subscriptions

Get your mag delivered to the door, earlier than newsstands, and save money… cool. Plus – gain access to all the benefits of the exclusive NEW ‘Scootering Extra’ subs-club.

61One owner hall of fame

After a previous article about ‘one owner’ scooters we were inundated with similar stories, which spurred us on to put the best of the best together in a hall of fame.

66Supersonic

Legendary lensman Richie Lunt shoots this supercool TV175 S2 custom scooter belonging to Jamie Byrne and tells us the story behind man and machine.

Review – 72Product Bridgestone tyres

It’s dirty job but someone has to do it.

Stan reports from Portugal, where Bridgestone unveiled their latest generation of Battlax scooter tyre.

77March of the Mods

From an idea back in 2012, the annual March of the Mods has exploded to the National series of events that it is today. Sarge reports.

80Club Do’s & Events

Your essential guide to the scene – What, Where & When!

85

Scootering Words & Sounds

Team SC ventures out to see Frank Sanderson at Scomadi HQ and find out the latest news, developments and updates on the Scomadi range.

90

Undercover Festival

38

95

Little Bitch

34

Test Ride: Scomadi Update

Mailbox

Readers’ letters, laughs, feedback and fury – get it off your chest man!

40Show Us Your Scoots

The best of our readers’ rides as sent in by you.

43

Dealer Profile: JB Tuning Classic Scooter Shop

So much more than just fast. Stan finds out what’s behind the moniker update over at JB.

48Toxic 7 by Gatch

The latest radical, diverse, and possibly a new sub-culture to the scootering scene?

55

Fat Boy 3

How will team Fat Boy 3 fare when they try their hand at off-road enduro racing… on a Vega. Sarge finds out.

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72

The best of scootering words and music as reviewed by Nik & Sarge.

Nik spends the weekend in Margate, at the Undercover punk festival.

Not all scooters have an adventurous life, fortunately this ‘Little Bitch’ has more than lived up to Piaggio’s expectations.

119Scooter Trader All the sales and classifieds section.

Nostalgic 128Dave’s Custom Corner

Nostalgia master Dave Oakley pulls out another stunning blast from the past – this month it’s The Fury.

130Reader’s Ride

Our favourite road ridden scooter this month, it’s always something a little bit special.

98BSSO Report

All the action from the seasons #1 scooter race meet at Mallory brought to us

by Paul Green.

Tech Torque: Essential 101 scooter maintenance with Stu Owen Engine mounts, those rather innocuous items can make a world of difference to your ride – Stu explains all.

106Run baby, run…

Is owning a second-hand custom scooter a crime? Some people think so, but not us… we just love cool shit. And this scooter is cool, very.

Never miss from only £20 an issue Subscribe today on page 32

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KICKSTART

BRAVE JOURNEY TO ITALY FOR A GOOD CAUSE

A

ndrew Nickson, a 58-year-old from Suffolk, who suffers from an acute form of arthritis called Ankylosing spondylitis has decided to ride his Aprilia Habana scooter from my home in Suffolk, to the Aprilia factory in Italy, to raise awareness and funds Arthritis Research UK. He told us: “My scooter is a 12-year-old Aprilia Habana 125cc model purchased unseen from eBay for £500. The advertisement said it was in very good condition and red in colour.

However, upon arrival, I found a number of areas held together with cable ties and ‘gaffer’ tape, a badly bandaged exhaust, and a registration document stating it to be an Aprilia Mojito, and that it was blue!”

He originally planned this as a solo trip, but over a few beers in the pub, mentioned the idea to some friends, and to his surprise, pals Stuart Garrard and Charles Harvey volunteered their services to accompany him! Stuart has

agreed to ride shotgun on a bigger bike, and Charles is team support in his Series IIa canvas top Land Rover. So that’s a farrier, IT consultant and an estate manager, so what could possibly go wrong?

Andrew explained: “The route will take us from Wetheringsett to Dover where we cross the Channel into France. As this year is the centenary of the end of the Great War, we will detour slightly north into Belgium to pay our respects at the Great War memorial at Menin Gate in Ypres. We then head back into France, pushing southwest before creeping slowly and quietly into Switzerland up and over the Alps, and finally the downhill run to Italy and Aprilia. The distance of the outward leg is 1193 miles.

If everything holds together and bits don’t fall off, that’s five countries in seven days… how hard can it be?”

Before setting off, Andrew is modifying the scooter by adding handguards (from a Norton Dominator), day running/fog lamps, USB

electric supply to his phone and sat-nav, and a scooter to Land Rover intercom. Other important items being a good service and many (many) spare parts for Charles’s Land Rover!

Expanding on the idea, in a brilliant way, Andrew explained how he sees this hopefully becoming something a bit bigger in the long run. “It’s a long way to Italy, so I thought up another scheme to get the scooter back to the UK. How about this…

Once I have completed the trip, I travel back to Suffolk with Charles in the Land Rover.

“Then, I will offer my scooter for sale on eBay with all proceeds to go to Arthritis UK. The winner can then ride the scooter back from Italy to the UK, raising money for his or her own charity. If Aprilia are in agreement, I would leave the keys with them and forward all documents to the new owner prior to them riding the return leg. The only proviso being, that once they have completed their trip, they agree to auction the scooter for another person to make the same journey and raise even more money. It could

be great to see how many times this little scooter could cross the Alps and more importantly, how much money she could raise for charity. It could be the best £500 I have ever spent!

Consequently, and to get this started, I’m setting up another website called ridingforcharity. org which, once I’ve completed the outward leg, will give tips and advice, route options, where to stay, do’s and don’ts etc. for the new owner.”

For Andrew, though this journey will be exciting, it will be a physically painful experience. But he is really looking forward to the challenge of riding across Europe, to prove that a 58-year-old bloke, with Ankylosing spondylitis, can endure a ride to Italy raising money for Arthritis Research UK, and that a battered, 12-year-old Aprilia red/blue, Habana/Mojito can complete a trouble free journey across a continent (editor’s note – we’ll see about that last point, good luck!). I’ll report back later!

Andrew Nickson www.ridingforarthritis.com

S C O R P I O N F O R WA R D T H I N K I N G Derbyshire-based firm Scorpion exhausts are introducing a range of Euro 3/4 approved silencers and systems. The company has been working with various approval bodies from across the world and gearing up to offer a range of both noise and emissions approved products. Demand for its scooter range is growing so with that in mind Scorpion has had several key models EU approved including: Yamaha TMAX 530/XMAX. Vespa, 125, 200 and 300 models as well as Scomadi TL125 and 200.

For more info: www.scorpion-exhausts.com

6 | SCOOTERING | JUNE 2018

ALL CHANGE AT PONTEDERA It’s an incredible 18 years since the Piaggio museum first opened to the public and since then it’s become a ‘must see’ destination for scooterists worldwide. Not content to rest on its laurels the museum’s been subjected to an extensive winter makeover, emerging as the largest motorcycle museum in Italy. Two new halls have increased the exhibition space from 3000 to 5000 square metres and there are now more than 250 important items on display. The additional space has allowed Piaggio to display its full collection, adding items manufactured by Piaggio, Moto Guzzi, Aprilia, Gilera, Derbi and Ape to the hugely popular Vespa exhibits.

The new space opened on April 21 with an exhibition entitled FuturPiaggio – which analyses the concept of mobility developed by the group over the course of its long history while also exploring what the company’s future may hold. Opening times and further information can be found at the museum’s website. www.museopiaggio.it

END OF THE ROAD FOR LML? The latest chapter in LML’s troubled history was written in Bombay on April 17 this year when the Indian National Company Law Tribunal appointed Arun Gupta to liquidate the company’s assets.

Unfortunately our sources in India believe that the land on which the LML factory was situated appears to be the company’s most valuable asset. As such it’s most likely that the new owner will be more interested in property development than resuming scooter production. Although

the company has struggled for decades to make a profit it’s always managed to struggle through. Unfortunately on this occasion it appears that it’s reached the end of the road.

Fortunately for owners of the marque, several dealers have good stocks of spares, many PX parts can be adapted for two-strokes and Italian enthusiasts are doing great work at identifying compatible parts for four-stroke models.

The company may be gone but there’s plenty of life left in existing machines.

SLUMIT’S

DOWNSIZING Last year Stan used a three-man Slumit tent for his trip across Italy; spacious but hardly lightweight. This year he’s trying their brand new Inca one-man tent. Thanks to Slumit’s ‘Flashframe’ technology the Inca promises the same rapid pitch time as the rest of their range but with a more scooter-friendly 2.5 kilo weight.

He’s a big man, it’s a small tent.

The results should be interesting! www.slumit.co.uk

NEW CE RIDING GEAR LEGISLATION

WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU For many years, manufacturers of motorcycle and scooter clothing have used loopholes in the EU legislation which allowed them to sell clothing as ‘protective’ despite it being nothing of the sort. The law allowed these companies to trade in this manner, as long as the item had a protective component, generally armoured inserts at the elbows, knees, or spine. Although worthwhile in their own way, they are of limited use when the garment disintegrates as you slide down the road! As of now, this anomaly has been removed.

A new European directive requires all riding gear sold as motorcycle clothing to meet strict and standardised testing before it can be allowed to be sold as such, in much the same way as industrial Personal Protective Equipment has to pass certain tests before it can be called that. All clothing that passes this will carry a label marking it as conforming to

either CE2016/425, or EN13595, or prEN17092. The numbers refer to particular standardised tests to ensure safety.

The only exception at the moment is waterproof over-garments which are not advertised as being protective from anything other than rain.

So what does all this mean to the rider? In short, motorcycle and scooter clothing will now meet specific standards to guarantee that the quality of the product will protect you in a spill. Does it make any difference to what you wear? No. There is no legal requirement to wear clothing that is certified, so if you want to ride in a parka or flying jacket, you can.

In short, carry on wearing what you want, but if you buy dedicated riding gear, then you can now guarantee that it will protect you as far as is practically possible.

Nik

WWW.SCOOTERING.COM | 7

KICKSTART

HISTORIC VEHICLE MOT AND TAX EXEMPTION EXPLAINED? On the face of it, incoming new legislation exempting historic vehicles of 40 or more years old from requiring an annual MOT and road tax is welcome. Isn’t it?

I

n the run-up to the implementation of the new exemptions in May 2018, there have already been some notable and significant changes to how historic vehicles exemption is defined.

Until last December the incoming legislation excluded substantially modified vehicles of 40 (or more) years old that didn’t meet requirements of a subjective eight-point list. This had been simplified to limit any modifications to not exceed an additional power to weight ratio of more than 15% above that of the vehicle’s original design specifications.

This is unless the modification was carried out before 1988.

As such that improvements made to the brakes, damping, lighting and ignition systems of 40 or more year old scooters will not now constitute, so far as MOT exemption is concerned, being substantially modified. Amazingly it seems a Government department, namely the Ministry of Transport, has used a bit of good old-fashioned common sense. At least in certain aspects of the new legislation.

After all, no matter how desirable it is for some enthusiasts to own and (occasionally) ride vintage scooters maintained to factory specifications, the odd short sojourn excepted, what was more than adequate many decades ago struggles to cope with road and traffic conditions of today. Therefore modifications, upgrades and improvements to braking, damping, lighting and ignition won’t affect any classic scooter under the substantial modifications exclusion clause.

Any historic vehicle made before January 1, 1978, will be eligible for exemption from paying Vehicle Excise Duty, (VED), formerly known and still referred to by many as Road Tax. However, it’s not an automatically triggered exemption. For each and every pre-1978 vehicle, to qualify for VED exemption, an application for vehicle tax is an absolute requirement, even though no payment is needed.

Part of the process in recent times included both tax and MoT exemption being introduced for pre-1960 vehicles. The incoming legislation will have a rolling timeline, extending exemptions annually for 40-year-old vehicles. It rolls on a daily basis and applies to vehicles first registered 40 years prior to whatever the day in question is. This will be commencing on May 20, 2018.

As with all Government legislation, it goes without saying, there will be exceptions to the VED and MOT exemptions. For starters, any vehicle with a DVLA issued Q plate will not qualify for VED or MoT exemption. Other exceptions include kit cars and rebuilt classic vehicles. The latter of which isn’t very clear as to what does or doesn’t constitute a rebuilt classic vehicle. Currently, there’s no clear guidance on the relevant Government websites.

This neatly leads on to clear definitions for how the all-important insurance companies perceive ‘substantially modified’. Which really aren’t that clear at all.

It has been clarified, marginally, that ‘substantially modified’ refers to a vehicle

Never miss an issue 8 | SCOOTERING | JUNE 2018

that has had more than a 15% increase in its power to weight ratio. Unless any modifications took place prior to 1988.

While applying for VED (road tax) exemption, a declaration is required to be signed legally declaring the vehicle hasn’t been substantially altered or modified since 1988.

The question is, do the major two-wheeled insurance companies have their own individual subjective, perceptions of how they define a vehicle as having been substantially modified?

Or is there a collective two-wheeled motor vehicle insurers’ definition of what is or isn’t substantially modified?

It appears there are no individual or collective definitions, of those twowheeled insurers who bothered to reply to our query, there was an avoidance of any questions, instead, the advice was to visit their (own) website. Which, apart from more or less skimming the surface of the incoming VED and MOT exemptions, gives no real guidance. From this, in inference could be drawn that very subjective, non-specific definitions are likely to be applied, most probably to the benefit of the insurers and to the detriment of riders, in the event of an insurance claim needing to be made.

The cost for an annual MOT test for a classic scooter is under £30.

Thankfully it’s not an excessive amount to spend on a 40 plus-year-old scooter. The incoming new legislation will see an estimated 50,000 classic motorcycles and scooters become eligible for exemption from requiring an

from only

£20

MOT test. In many cases owner riders of classic, motorised two-wheelers tend to keep their machines in exceedingly good condition. Often utilising skills and abilities they have learnt to self-maintain them.

Yet paying under £30 to have an annual, independent, check that everything meets current requirements really isn’t a bad thing, even if your classic ride is MOT exempt.

None of the specialist motorised two-wheeled insurers, (those who replied), would be drawn on whether despite a classic scooter having qualified for VED (tax) and MOT exemption, they would require an annual MOT for insurance cover to be valid.

Again, those who responded advised visiting their website.

None of which addresses questions regarding scooters that have had, for instance, modifications to the body and/ or framework carried out, prior to 1988, of course. If in any doubt whatsoever regarding your classic scooter having been or not been substantially modified, contact your insurance company and persist until you get a definitive answer. Given the modest cost of an MOT it’s probably better to err on the side of caution, even if all requirements for exemption are met. Better to be covered than to find out after the event, due to a spurious interpretation by your insurer, that your insurance is actually invalid. Over time I have a feeling that some, if not all, the grey areas will be cleared up to a level they are understood clearly by the layman. Until then, ride extra safe, and within the law.

Sarge

Subscribe today on page 32

Vespa Club of Britain

official newsfeed

Here’s this month’s news update and club focus, from VCB’s very own Russ Machin…

T

he last month seems to have flown by; I’ve attended meetings at Sandbach in Cheshire, Bangers and Mash Rally, and the ‘Not a Preseason Rally’ in Morecambe. I did a stall at both Sandbach and Morecambe, signed up new members and also sold tickets for The Cheshire 100 at both these events which is always good. Alongside the rallies and regional meetings, there is a strong sense of healthy competition within the VCB. One example is the RRC (Rider’s Regional Competition).

The RRC comprises of 100 landmarks in each of the 15 VCB regions, giving a total of 1500 landmarks for competitors to visit. Landmarks within a competitor’s own region are worth one point, and in other regions they are worth two points. This means there are a grand total of 2900 points on offer. The competition is free to enter and runs from April 1 to October 31.

Entrants are each issued a card with their membership number on, which they display next to their number plate at the landmark, take a photo and upload it to the designated Facebook page.

Many riders have already racked up a lot of points with at least three people having completed their own regions. The aim of the RRC is to get VCB members out riding, even if they don’t treat the competition seriously, it gives them ample opportunity to explore new places around the country.

The competition is organised and co-ordinated by Stuart Mitchell from

10 | SCOOTERING | JUNE 2018

Pontefract who is a member of the VCB events team. Stuart, along with Gary Robertson, the South East regional rep, has put an enormous amount of time and effort into setting up the RRC. They have had the valuable assistance of Daron ‘Titch’ Humphreys also.

VCB member Ian Holmes, from Derbyshire, only joined the VCB in February but entered the RRC and has completed half of the North Midlands region already. He told me how he found the RRC to be a nice change from riding to the same places week in and week out.

He has even altered his rally plans this year to take more scenic routes and score some points along the way. Some of the landmarks Ian has visited, he didn’t even

know existed and he plans to return to them again. A lot of other people have given positive feedback on the competition. It’s always nice for the committee to know they are arranging things that the members enjoy.

Membership of the VCB is growing and the events team have lots of ideas for future events. The VCB is run for the benefit of its members; it is an inclusive club and we welcome enthusiasts of all ages who have an interest Vespas.

For more information on the VCB, email club-sec@vespaclub.uk or go to the official Vespa Club of Britain Facebook page.

That’s it for this month. If you see the VCB stall anywhere, pop over and say hello.

Russ Machin (VCB public relations)

Who is responsible for making

scooters look stylish?

A recent quote claimed that the ‘modernist movement’ was responsible for making scooters look stylish. Is that a true statement?

I

f you look back at the history of scooters, whatever make they happen to be, they have regularly gone through many changes over time; changes that in the majority have been governed by the owners themselves. They are made to fit in with what was seen as fashionable during a specific period. Some have been more popular than others and still have followers to this day but can one trend alone claim to be responsible for making them stylish?

You can’t argue the fact that the scooters in question are either the Lambretta or the Vespa with only a slight exception to the rule here and there. When both manufacturers entered the market back in the 1940s the scooter was seen as nothing more than a vehicle of transportation. It wasn’t until the 1950s that any sort of major personalisation began to appear in any way shape or form.

The majority of this was done by way of fitting accessories as the aftermarket manufacturers began to create more and more bolt-on products. It’s true that the modernist movement and Mods themselves were responsible for significantly altering the appearance and look of both makes. This, as we all know, was by means of fitting chrome work which acted as a platform for attaching the huge amount of mirrors, lights and whatever else they wished to adorn their scooters with.

It was a way of standing out from the crowd and being individual: the ethics of being a Mod. Was it stylish though?

Many scooters owners at the time shied away from carrying out such forms of

customisation to their steed. Most were happy and content with how they looked in the first place.

When the modernist movement died out, scooter ownership did not and soon enough it moved on to the next fashion or phase. With the The Lambretta and Vespa were already stylish designs introduction of the Grand before we as scooterists decided to alter them.

Prix, the emphasis shifted to less-is-more, certainly of the next person. That’s what makes the among Lambretta owners. Now firmly in scooter scene so great – the diversification the grip of tuning, the idea of bolting of the owners and how they perceive a anything extra to the bodywork seemed scooter to look. There is one common view unimaginable. that all scooterists share though: that they It wasn’t too long before owners were are stylish in the first place. So much so taking all the bodywork off as the brief that once you have owned one you will skelly look was all the rage. Fast forward always have an affliction for them. to the 1980s and with the post ’79 revival Going back to the original quote that just about anything and everything was Mods are responsible then, that cannot deemed acceptable when it came to be wholly true. In all honesty, there was scooter styling. Lavish artwork with probably only a two or three year period chroming was soon followed by engraving where the Mod style scooter was popular. as the custom era beckoned. Cut downs However, there is a slight twist to the story appeared in their many forms which led that may make people think differently. If on to the rat and chopper look. Next came you tell anyone who has never owned a the street racer with its flamboyant bright scooter that you do, chances are they will paint designs and equally impressive comment about whether it has mirrors tuned engines. The list is endless and and lights on it. Though the Mod way of continues to this very day. customising cannot be solely responsible All of these were and are a style or way for making scooters stylish it will always of individualising the scooter just as the be the most remembered. That’s probably Mods did back in the 1960s. We could down to the fact that the Mod movement argue or discuss all day long which look was so publicised at the time and was the best and you would have significantly more so than scootering in supporters of all types. Beauty is in the general which in the main has always eye of the beholder and what is liked by been regarded as an underground one person is not always the shared view movement. The public will always refer to Mod look as it’s the most memorable to them. When it comes to the question then of who made the scooter stylish, or certainly the Lambretta and Vespa, the answer is simple. Innocenti and Piaggio did with their timeless designs. All we as scooters owners have done ever since are personalise them in our own individual way.

Though the Mod way of customising cannot be solely responsible for making scooters stylish it will always be the most remembered.

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