Scootering November 2019

Just when you think nothing new is on the horizon, someone only goes and pulls a 488cc ‘Twin Engine’ Vespa out of the bag, and it all goes crackers again. This Vespa is like no other I’ve ever seen, I love it. And I don’t just like the fact that it has a BIG cc engine, or that it kicks out 56hp, or that it’s africkin Vespa-twin, or that the whole conversion is largely reversible (though I really DO like that). It’s the whole level of engineering behind it. One man, a lot of knowledge, and clearly a serious amount of access to some stunning engineering trickery! From the hidden master cylinder, to the stand dampers and beyond, it just rocks. The engineering is on a whole different level. Yet…

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, founder of the notorious Scooterboy World 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 LCGB ‘life member’, 100mph Lambretta Club owner and scooter restoration expert to boot. Scooter rider, rally-goer, restorer and author. Reaches the parts other scooter journalists just can’t reach. Dave Oakley Riding and building scooters since 1983, Dave has been…

A service on Stan’s GP coincided with the arrival of Quattrini compatible Clubmans. It would have been rude of him not to test them… Pitting any Clubman against an expansion chamber is only going to have one result – the expansion chamber will win. That’s not to say Clubmans are bad exhausts. For those wanting a standard look and less noise they’re an obvious choice, it’s simply a question of priorities. Regular readers will know that I’m running a long-term test of a Quattrini motor built by Chiselspeed in Leeds. When I dropped it in for service, Martin asked if he could use it to compare sample Clubmans from BGM and Ron Moss. I agreed, as long as I got to ride them. In fairness to both BGM and Ron Moss, it’s worth…

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 over 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. My solicitor wants to take 25% of any money I get from my accident compensation. Is that allowed? It doesn’t seem fair. A. Yes, it is. Since 2013, solicitors have been allowed to take a ‘success fee’ from winning cases as they now get less from the Defendant’s insurers towards their costs. This is capped…

With the latest edition to their range of seats, Scooter Centre Koln promise owners of large frame Vespas the perfect combination of style and comfort. Built on a powder coated metal frame, the seat has a supportive foam filling that’s wedge shaped, allowing taller riders to sit further back, whilst shorter riders benefit from a slightly lower front profile. The cover has a slip-resistant, embossed quilted surface and waffled sides with grey piping. Unlike cheaper seats, the cover is not only glued, but also hooked into metal ‘noses’ in the frame. The seat fits all Vespa large frame models from VBA to PX, including LML two-strokes and models with ‘tall tanks’, such as the Rally and SS180. RRP: £203.81 www.scooter-center.com…

The Tactical Hoodie is the newest addition to the Bull-it jacket range. Building upon previous versions, the Tactical Hoodie comes packed with new features. They’ve boosted abrasive performance throughout the product, and additional key areas have been reinforced with Webtech abrasion protection. Tested to the new CE standard (17092), the Tactical Hoodie delivers high-end performance, lightweight design and AA protection. CE level 2 shoulder, elbow and back protectors are fitted as standard. In addition to high protective performance, the new Tactical Hoodie comes with taped zips and seams throughout, increasing protection from the elements. A zip-in, zip-out thermal liner has been installed for added comfort and year-round use. Belt loops and wrist restrains have been added to ensure maximum safety while riding. To finish, the outer shell has a shower-repellent coating. Available…