Scootering February 2020

Welcome to Scootering 2020, I’ve kicked off this new decade with a brief nod to a few motorcycle engine conversions we’ve happened upon over the past few months, and compiled them into one issue. Each has its own unique twist and flavour, no single scooter standing out as being better in every way than another, each revelling in its own USP. One thing they all had in common though, which is something we often see in this game, is the passion and commitment from the relevant owners in their pursuit of their ‘dream machine’. The thought, planning, blood, sweat, tears and effort that goes into these machines is outstanding… let alone the specifics of the engineering, and trying to shoehorn these big lumps into tiny old chassis. Now I know…

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. Christian Giarrizzo From Italy to Australia, this man gets the miles…

The SIP road 2.0 box exhaust has been revered by many Vespa owners for a while now, and regarded as the ‘go to’ item for those seeking increased performance while being keen to retain original looks. Well, it seems that the people at SIP are never content to rest on their laurels, and have engineered the all-new SIP Road 3.0 exhaust… and it’s not just a superficial upgrade either! Among other upgrades, the manufacture and design of the header pipe has been significantly revised, and this contributes to a sizable power increase of (depending on application) up to 25% over the SIP road 2.0, according to the manufacturer. Looking at the two graphs provided by SIP, one featuring a Malossi MHR kit and the other a Quattrini M244, both appear to…

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 by a car driver and injured as a result. The police tell me that the car driver was uninsured. Can I still make a claim? A. Sorry to hear that and hope you are okay. The good news is that yes, you can, as the Motor Insurers’ Bureau…

Owners of 2019 model Vespa GTS/ GTV 300s and early HPE 300s are currently being contacted by Piaggio. Product monitoring has revealed that brake lines on some of these machines may have been incorrectly galvanised, potentially allowing hydrogen into the brake fluid. This can reduce braking efficiency and the machines are being recalled as a precaution. Piaggio dealers will check affected machines, replace parts as necessary and perform a complete brake system flush, free of charge. The recall began in mid-November 2019 and all owners of affected machines should have been notified by late January 2020. If in doubt owners are advised to contact their local dealer quoting recall number PP2ZZQ1904_GTS.…

Scooters and Smallbrook Stadium near Ryde have gone together like petrol and two-stroke for years but 2020 sees that relationship end. It’s been an open secret for some time that community groups have been seeking funding to redevelop the Smallbrook site for years and they’ve finally been successful. Good news for locals but bad news for the organisers of what’s become the world’s largest scooter rally. As Tori Stevens of VFM explained to Scootering: “VFM are pleased to announce that the Isle of Wight Scooter Rally will take place at a brand new venue in 2020. Having lost access to 50% of the Smallbrook site, VFM have been working hard to secure a new site that will take us into 2020 and beyond. The new site will be at Sandown Airport,…