Scootering - October 2020 - Preview

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS? TG300 Test Ride

BACK ON TRACK!

Racing at Cadwell Park

DIABLO DENTRO

XS A tribute to INX

NO.411 OCTOBER 2020

£4.40

Jaguar F1 inspired Vespa

The rally that time forgot 90 2 Euro ’9

Part

New kid on the block TS1 vs Quattrini 210 ■ BSSO Scooter Racing is back! ■ SX600 Lammy Beast ■ Classic Scooterist magazine ■ Show Us Your Scooters ■ Mailbox ■ Music ■ News ■ Product Reviews and more…

Editor: Dan Clare Email: dan@scootering.com Publisher: Tim Hartley Publishing Director: Dan Savage Art Editor: Kelvin Clements Designer: Charlotte Fairman Production Editor: Pauline Hawkins General queries and back issues: Tel: 01507 529529 24hr answerphone Lines open Mon-Fri 8.30am-5pm 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 28 for offer): (12 months 12 issues, inc post and packing) – UK £49.20. Export rates are also available – see page 28 for more details. UK subscriptions are zero-rated for the purposes of Value Added Tax. Sales and Distribution Manager: Carl Smith Marketing Manager: Charlotte Park Commercial Director: Nigel Hole ADVERTISING Emma Buxton-Rockley – ebuxton-rockley@mortons.co.uk Tel (01507) 529410 Divisional Advertising Manager: Tom Lee – tlee@mortons.co.uk Tel (01507) 529412 Group Advertising Manager: Sue Keily ADVERTISING DEADLINES The advertising deadline for the next issue of Scootering (November 2020) is October 1, 2020 On sale in newsagents October 22, 2020 SCOOTERING (USPS:020-245) is published monthly

by Mortons Media Group Ltd, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6LZ USA subscriptions are $60 per year from Motorsport Publications LLC, 7164 Cty Rd N #441, Bancroft WI 54921. Periodical Postage is paid at Bancroft, WI and additional entries.

Postmaster: Send address changes to SCOOTERING, c/o Motorsport Publications LLC, 7164 Cty Rd N #441, Bancroft WI 54921. 715-572-4595. chris@ classicbikebooks.com SCOOTERING is published by: Mortons Scooter Media, a division of Mortons Media Group Ltd © 2020 All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any way without the written permission of the publisher. ISSN 0268 7194.

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The Professional Publishers Association Member

Videos coming soon:

Don’t call it a comeback…

T

he peaks and troughs of Covid have been a cruel mistress to us all. Lives have been lost, the globe is in turmoil, the scooter rally scene is decimated and companies across the world have suffered.

Like so many other businesses, Mortons Media, owner of Scootering magazine, has had to make some tough decisions over the last six months. Our print division was affected, while the shows division became almost defunct overnight as event after event had to be cancelled... and these are only just starting again now.

That has affected us all here, and those cutbacks also meant a tightening of the belt in the publishing division too… but among all this, there has been a glimmer of hope; it has been the publishing (magazine) division which remained buoyant. As people were put in lockdown and we all wanted to remain entertained, I’m told our subscriber base jumped by 20% overnight.

We thought advertisers would suffer, but as more scooterists took on home builds and lockdown projects, the scooter parts scene flourished! In fact, advertisers tell us the only problem they have had is keeping up with the workload and getting parts in from overseas quickly enough. Our own cutbacks meant that Classic Scooterist magazine merged with us, but from the feedback we have received, it seems 99% of people have really enjoyed the opportunity to get to grips with both titles,

having perhaps previously favoured one over the other. I see that as a win-win situation – more content, happier readers.

At the beginning of lockdown we dropped the extra supplements and cut pages from the mag in order to reduce costs and get through the crisis, but as we fought back month by month, we steadily regained that old ground and have this month been able to add pages back in! Yes, the magazine did ‘pucker up’ its rear end, but we have come through it bigger and better than even we had hoped. So we have a new eight-page section added in this month, we have the FREE wall planner coming soon – just like we do every year – along with the FREE Scootering calendar as usual too! Reader numbers are up, subscriber numbers are up, pagination is rising and advertisers are flourishing. We all still have a TOUGH winter ahead of us; in terms of the worldwide Covid disaster… as well as the scooter scene in general. But if the past six months are anything to go by, and the resilience I have seen displayed by scooterists and the UK public alike, then I know without a shadow of a doubt that we will get through this and look back at this tremulous year almost in disbelief. So don’t call it a comeback, we’ve been here for years.

Anyway that’s enough of my ramblings, it’s another belter this month… stay safe and enjoy the issue.

Dan

Scootering on YouTube

Editor Dan has kept himself busy during lockdown providing the digital audience with helpful scooter-related videos. If you would like to keep up with the latest items, just use your camera phone to scan the QR code and it will take you straight to the page. Alternatively, just visit: www.youtube.com/TheScooter Factory and click the ‘Subscribe’ button on the channel... it’s free, and will keep you updated with all the latest videos as they arrive.

SX200 BGM225 engine build ■ Crankshaft truing advice ■ UNI casing overview ■ TS1 240cc engine spec discussion ■ Scooter ramp and workbench advice ■ More to follow…

CONTENTS Welcome letter 03from the editor

A warm welcome to the October edition of Scootering.

06Kickstart

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

Scooter: 18Feature The Jaguar PX

Formula 1 cars are always bright and vivid, their bodywork engulfed in sponsors’ logos. Choosing the right one for a custom scooter theme isn’t easy, but if you get it right, the results can be outstanding.

25Mailbox

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

26Show us your scoots!

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

28

Subscriptions

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

Scooter: Casual 30Feature Sole

When Mark Graham decided to combine two of his greatest passions into his latest custom scooter the outcome was always going to be, as Adidas might say, something Spezial…

Reader’s Ride – 50War of the Worlds

Created 34 years ago, custom Vespa War of the Worlds was the front cover scooter of Scootering issue number 15… we revisit this classic.

rally that time forgot: 55The Part 2 Returning to the place where you had some of your finest memories can sometimes bring a tear to your eye…

60Reader’s Ride: SX600

With the emphasis these days on bigger capacity conversions for the Lambretta why not take it to the extreme.

Shall we say… 600cc?

72A Vespa Story

Christian Giarrizzo walks us through a stunning Vespa smallframe engine in the unique way that only he can.

Tech Torque: Vespa and 79 Lambretta service guide: Part 1 – the engine

Regular servicing of your Vespa or Lambretta is essential to maintain reliability. Making sure everything is working correctly will prevent unnecessary breakdowns and costs.

Ride: BEAST – The 90Reader’s scoot with two names…

While not mandatory, often, out of choice, owners of custom scooters decide to bestow a name on their creation. This scooter, a 230 hybrid, has two!

Ride: TG300 – Best of Eastern Cup – 37Test Both Worlds?

96BSSO Cadwell Park Royal Alloy’s TG300 has been the most eagerly anticipated scooter in years. Stan took one for a test ride and headed for the hills!

43Home-brew 261 Vespa

Street sleeper scooters can, by their very nature, appear visually to be a very similar animal to a bog-standard production machine. The sting in the tail, of course, is that tucked away, under the side panels, sits a highly tuned power unit that packs a seriously heavyweight punch!

When BSSO Scooter Racing left Lydden Hill last October absolutely no one would have believed that it would be 10 months of world change before we were back on track and racing again…

103Classic Scooterist

Mau Spencer presents the legend that is… Classic Scooterist magazine.

in France: TS1 vs 46Lost M210

For decades the TS1 has been the preferred kit of rally-going scooterists but how does it compare to the new kid on the block from Quattrini? Stan and Brad braved travel restrictions to find out.

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Never miss from only £20 an issue

Subscribe today on page 28

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KICKSTART LAST EVER LML P-RANGE FRAME SETS! The nice people at Scooter Center have secured the last ever LML P-range frame sets, which are available in six different colours and with a choice of LML T5 headsets or

P-range headsets for brake or hydraulic disc. The quality is far away from a custom paint shop, but perfect to build a daily driver as they are, or put some TLC into the paint

and bodywork and get the LML factory finish. The prices range from €799-€899 (incl.

VAT). Shipping costs to most European destinations are between €49-€99 depending

on location. These painted frame sets won’t last long, so grab yourself a bargain now, while stocks last.

More info: www.scootercenter.com

CLASSIC ELECTRIC CONVERSION N Whether you like it or not, the time has come to consider alternative methods of powering our vintage scooters in modern urban environments.

Smeets Classics, a firm from the Netherlands, took on providing a solution in the form of electric replacement motors, suitable for vintage Vespa, Lambretta and certain automatic scooter models.

These kits were conceived with the aim of providing an economic solution when converting your scooter to electric power. This also means that it’s a very simply designed entry-level model. This setup makes it possible to ride with the flow of urban traffic’s

30mph (50kph), with a range capable of reaching your commute. The conversion will require a little mechanical know-how and skill, as some fixings require adaptation and fabricating to fit your particular model of scooter. This is due to the fact that these motors are designed to be easily modifiable to fit a wider range of scooters. The installation itself is relatively straightforward, involving just a few simple steps. A bitter pill this may be for scooter traditionalists, but it offers a viable and necessary solution enabling the continuation of vintage scooter riding in modern urban environments.

TECH-SPEC: Battery: Li-Ion 60v/20Ah Range: 50 kilometres Maximum speed: 55kph

Battery charging period: 4-5 hours 0-100% Motor: Bosch 1000W with 60v

 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 

Aluminium swing-arm Throttle grip with integrated battery charge indicator RRP: €1990

More info: www.sip-scootershop.com

LEGAL Q&A 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 at a roundabout by a car that cut across my lane. I didn’t get his number plate. I presume I can’t make a claim?

A. Wrong, you can and should make a claim. The claim will be against the Motor Insurers Bureau. They handle claims against drivers who either can’t be traced or have no insurance. All the insurance companies pay a

contribution to the MIB to ensure it has funds to do this. It can be a tricky procedure but all being well, you should be able to recover compensation for your injuries and the damage to your scooter so it is well worth doing.

If you need advice on a scooter-related legal question, email stephen@ wildwoodlegal.co.uk The best Q & A will be published in Scootering magazine in confidence.

NEW CASALAMBRETTA X1/S KIT! The new CasaLambretta X1/S kit provides more displacement, more power, more fun. This kit, still for the small-block engine, is derived directly from the well-known X1 (Casa 185) kit, universally recognised for its great qualities of reliability, excellent performance and low fuel consumption. This new model is dedicated to the more

sporty Lambretta riders who want more power, speed and performance. The new kit uses a 66.4mm Meteor racing piston, with high-performance 1mm NPR rings from Japan, which provides a 200cc capacity with a standard 58mm stroke. The cylinder has been redesigned with a special profile at the

exhaust, a world exclusive from Gilardoni, which significantly improves the output of exhaust gases. The enlarged intake port and the fifth transfer give this kit better performance. The cylinder head combustion cham h ber profile haas been d designed to improve

torque at low revs, and make better use of the Lambretta engine’s four-speed gearbox, and of course the thread on the exhaust studs has been reinforced with steel inserts.

Ask your local CasaLambretta distributor for more details.

VESPA SMALLFRAME CRANKCASES These cases are available from VE right now. Both the transfer and inlet ports share their internal dimensions with the originals, with lots of potential for reshaping and enlarging. The material surrounding these areas has been increased to facilitate ‘out of the box’ port enlargement work, without the need for any extra material to be added by expensive welding. The openings for the casing bolts on its lower

half have been relocated nt, externally to allow enlargemen which in turn facilitates the usse of crankshafts with larger webs and/or increased stroke.

Fits everything from 1966 smallframe - V50/V90/V100/ V125, Primavera, and also fitss PK 50/80/100/125. Also available is a crankcase with a three-stud inlet for the same fitments.

More info: www.ve-uk.com

WWW.SCOOTERIN N G.COM | 

KICKSTART THREE’S A CROWD The FIM ACU Straightliners top speed record event will be held at Elvington airfield on September 26. Eric Cope and Keith Terry have recently been the big names in this arena, but now they will be battling against a new contender, Russ Shea. Russ is no stranger to this discipline and has already achieved a top speed of 115mph at similar events. Chalky White of Replay Scooters is supplying the power for this attempt, the engine based around Misano

cases, a Super Monza cylinder, a 64mm crank, and fitted with the latest RLC five-speed gearbox kindly loaned by Nick Reeves.

With a capacity of 246cc, it falls within the class limit of 250cc, and Chalky estimates 43bhp, so with its aerodynamic fairing it should be capable of 120+mph in the right conditions.

Scootering wishes Russ, Chalky and all others the best of luck.

Anyone wishing to compete can find more info here: https:// straightliners.events

Russ Shea in action – image courtesy of DR Photography.

TSI BESPOKE SEAT COVERING SERVICE TSI Shoes, a company famous for the Urban Rider boot which many scooterists know and love, has now diversified and is excited to announce that it is now also offering a bespoke seat covering service as well.

After.

Before...

For more info: www.tsishoes.com

NEW FROM SUPERTUNE Supertune has been busy lately working on several new products, the first of which is for the Targa Twin. Replacing the traditional carbon fibre fan cowl is one made from aluminium. Not only is it long-lasting and more durable, but it also has great heat dispersal properties. Another clever addition is the way it bolts on the mag flange, making removal much easier.

Machined from a billet of aluminium means it will retail at £350. Even so, it’s a good upgrade for this fastdeveloping engine.

Another item also aimed at the Targa Twin is an electric

start system similar to the one they championed on the traditional Lambretta engine.

However, it has an added bonus thanks to an alteration of the mag flange.

Doing away with the needle roller bearing that sits on the end of the crankshaft, it now incorporates a much sturdier roller bearing instead. This is lubricated by the oil mixture via a scavenger port similar to how it was done on the Series 1 engine. The cost of the full electric start system is £1295, which is not much more than their standard Lambretta system. However, any Targa owner who just wants to

 | SCOOTERING | OCTOBER 

change to the new mag flange with the roller bearing can do so as that is available separately at £495.

The final offering is a fuel gauge for any style of Lambretta petrol tank. Its design is based on the old tube-style system that came out decades ago and is built into the filler cap.

Using a float attached to a sensor as the float rises it registers on the gauge. Only requiring a DC electrical supply it’s simple enough to power and fit. Retail will be £99. Images shown are of the pre-production stages.

More info: www.supertune.org

KICKSTART Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls!

Lifelong fan of world famous Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls, Darren Wood, has created the ultimate ‘sweet ride’ in honour of the iconic treats.

Darren grew up with the fantastic smell of mint ball production, which drifted into his classroom when he was a pupil at Deanery High School, Wigan, just a few hundred yards from the local factory. Now he has created a lasting tribute to his favourite sweets by painting his Lambretta scooter in the famous Uncle Joe’s logo and colours. Darren said: “When I was at school there was always the fantastic smell of Uncle Joe’s, especially on a Wednesday, which must have been the day when they brought them up from the mint ball mines down below! When I saw the scooter I just fell in love with it and decided to turn it into a bit of a tribute. It already had the basic colours and the word Rumpshaker down the side, so I thought, ‘let’s make it an Uncle Joe’s Rumpshaker’.”

Joint managing director of Wigan-based Uncle Joe’s, John Winnard MBE, said: “Lots of people have fond childhood memories of the sweet smell of mint ball production but for Darren to turn his scooter into a mobile tribute to his favourite sweets is fantastic. We invited him down to the factory for a complimentary jar of sweets to say thank you and look forward to seeing him riding around town on his Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls scooter.”

Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls are produced by William Santus and Co Ltd, a privately owned traditional sweet company that was established in 1898. The ownership has been passed down through the family generations.

More info: www.uncle-joes.com

MELBOURNE IS BACK ON TRACK After a three-year absence, Melbourne Raceway is finally back with a bang. After falling into disrepair the track, located a few miles south-east of York, closed its doors in

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2017. Trevor Duckworth and his Straightliners team, along with many loyal supporters, have managed to gain a 10-year lease for its use. That was the easy part as they then

required £100,000 to get the surface relaid and facilities rebuilt. A huge appeal was undertaken and the money soon flowed in, allowing the building work to commence.

Finally, all the effort has paid off with the track reopening in August.

Many different machines – both two and four wheels – graced the new velvet-like surface as sprinting resumed there after its long sabbatical. Scooters played a major part in the inaugural meeting and it’s hoped many more riders will follow suit. The track is only being used over the eighth-of-a-mile distance at the moment but hopefully will be extended to the full quarter-mile in due course. Topping the timesheets at the meeting was in-form Lambretta sprinter Eric Cope, who commented that it was one of the best surfaces he had raced on over the last few years.

More info on events: https://straightliners. events Photo credit: DR Photography

KICKSTART NISHUA ENDURO CARBON REVIEW

Okay, I’ll go strraight i ht iin att th the d deep end on this onee… when I first saw this helmet I loved the styling, but when was very disappointed I tried it on, I w with the fit. That, however, changed on the lid, as I put some miles m writes editor Daan.

So, the lookss and styling were rigght up my street, sharp angular chin lines, carbon materiaals, … looks optional peak… med weight seemed good! The claim interesting, thee little sticker on the back denoting 1040g without the visor, or 1150gg with. I weighed the lid on my digital scales, in both states of (un)dress, and each ‘sticker suggested d around 100g light… figure’ seemed but no matter, it is still a very light bit of kit, make noo mistake. So it looks good, it’s light (which means less neck fatigue for a fanny like me over long distances) – wh hat’s not to like? Well, medium in helmet the fit. I am a m size, absolutelyy, right in the middle, dead-cert… medium. I popped this lid on and immediately felt an of trying to fit overwhelming sense s a pint into a haalf pint pot. By that, he usual ‘snug new I don’t mean th helmet’ feelingg. I used to sell helmets for a living, so no… not that. The whole shell just felt very snug around my noggin, to most other lids it was a stark contrast c i that th t I gott I’ve worn… butt the th good d news is used to it, and very quickly at that. Once I was over my little drama, I rather enjoyed the simplicity of the helmet. It came with an optional peak, which I immediately fitted and learned that the simple twist on/off side clips which hold on the visor are possibly the simplest I’ve encountered on any helmet. None of this, line up x with y, turn the screw half way, then clip out sideways malarkey. I liked it. I also appreciated the included Pinlock anti-fog visor which I slotted straight in. Out on the road, wind noise was acceptable and on a

par with my current Shark Explore-R, so I was i ht att h hI right home th there, th though did miss simple features… like an option to close the front chin vent which remains constantly open, and a quickrelease latch on the strap, rather than the double-D-ring system. But what did become immediately apparent was the epic field of vision. This lid has the largest allround field of vision of any full-face helmet I’ve worn. That really added a feeling of additional ‘alertness’ to my senses, in regard to what was going on around me on the road. As I clocked up the miles, the padding predictably bedded in, and the

SSC VIP! Saigon Scooter Centre would like to thank all their customers for their continued support at this time with the launch of an all-new VIP loyalty card, and it’s free! Just email SSC and they will get back to you with a limited numbered personalised card. The more orders made, the bigger the discounts. At the time of ordering, the card number must be quoted to

get the allocated discounts.

Benefits include: first order 5% discount, second order 10% and third order 15%. More than 10 orders results in a ‘Gold’ card offering 20% discount off all future orders, also a pre-order mailshot of upcoming promotions in advance of release.

Email for more info: info@ saigonscootercentre.com

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‘close fit’ of the overall shell became less problematic as I became used to the ‘new normal’. After a long ride, I got home and popped on my Shark lid to compare, and couldn’t help but feel like the Shark had a better build quality and felt somehow more ‘substantial’ (the B tl as opposed d to t th i ?)

Bentley the M Morgan, sir?).

But, of course, the Shark was nearly twice the price new. So the net result on the Nishua lid is that it looks good, functions well on the road, has a fabulous field of vision, is simple to fit visor/peak to… though the snug fit can take a bit of getting used to, and the D-ring fastener feels a bit old school. On the whole, it grew on me, and I liked it… to the extent that I’m now setting it up as my ‘go to’ MotoVlog lid.

RRP: £232 (current trending price – circa £163) For more info: www.louis-moto.co.uk

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