Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2025 i Scootering

Ey up everyone, it’s been a while, hasn’t it? To be honest I thought I’d done my last bit of work, and that the editor bloke had forgotten he’d sent me off down to the shed a couple of years back. But oh no. I should have known better…. So, there I was, wondering why this infernal internal combustion engine wasn’t playing again when there was a knock on the shed door. I wasn’t expecting any parts to be delivered, so who could it be? I opened the door and bounce my shocks, it’s only the editor himself, Stan, come down from the lofty towers of Scootering Hall. He was struggling under the weight of a cardboard box and was balancing a couple of cans of supermarket bitter on the…

British-based Roadskin is proud to announce the launch of its Roadskin summer gloves, manufactured from high-quality goat leather, renowned for its superior abrasion resistance and supple feel. The gloves feature a perforated design to maximise airflow, keeping hands cool and comfortable even on the hottest summer rides. Integrated knuckle and scaphoid protection ensure robust safety while maintaining flexibility and a sleek design that riders will adore. Understanding the needs of today’s riders, Roadskin has designed these gloves to be touchscreen compatible. Riders can efficiently operate their navigation systems, adjust recording devices, or stay connected without the hassle of removing their gloves. Available in sizes XS to 4XL, Roadskin summer motorcycle gloves have two colour options, classic black and vintage brown, while a snug, comfortable fit ensures these gloves feel as…

This month we’ve a postcard from the past as we take a look through Mark Sargeant’s scrapbook. For more information on his astounding scooterist career, see our feature starting on page 8.…

This masochism might have started in the revival years, when we were dragging scooters that hadn’t turned a wheel in a decade or more from a neighbour’s shed and expecting them to travel a couple of hundred miles to a rally and back without so much as cleaning the spark plug! That feeling of accomplishment obviously appealed, and as desirable models became increasingly expensive, people naturally looked for the next most affordable option in the model lineup. We’ve now reached a point where 1950s three-speed machines can be found tearing up and down the country. These often standard-looking scooters hide their clever modifications well. Companies now make mild to wild uprating options for cylinders, clutches, gearboxes, cranks and in fact anything you might need to beef up the internals of…

Every month you ask our resident tyre expert, Rhodz, sales manager at Cambrian Tyres (the UK’s largest motorcycle tyre distributor) and dedicated PX rider for his recommendations. This month we talk about Mitas scooter tyres. Q: Hi Rhodz, I keep hearing reviews on Mitas tyres, particularly the track ones. What are they like? I have seen people rave about the MC20 Monsum as a wet weather tyre, but I thought they were track oriented? Kind regardsBen A: Hi Ben, Great news here, I have personally been unloading a container of Mitas recently (a change from sitting at the desk; we have a hands-on approach when it comes to new products). After hearing about the brand for years we took the plunge and were asked to become a distributor including the…

We had plenty of good components that we could have reused if this were a standard ‘factory’ rebuild, but as we are going for something a little better, we opted to box up a bunch of the standard factory items in favour of a BGM shopping spree. The shopping list included a new BGM195 kit, crank, ignition, layshaft, exhaust and bearing kit, which all turned up in boxes recently and meant that we could finally get going with the engine rebuild. There are any number of ways that we can work through this process, but I always like to start with cleaning up the cases, running a tap through all the relevant threads, and then warming the cases up to temperature so that they can safely accept the engine bearings…

When such a momentous anniversary comes along I cannot help but feel nostalgic. If it was a wedding anniversary it would be a ruby and a ruby signifies passion, love and devotion. Which I think is quite apt! I vividly remember the first edition. In those early to mid-1980s there were other fanzine-type publications, Scooter and Scooterist for example. Typed on a typewriter and photocopied, sent in the post after a cheque had been sent to Mr Kerr. I even remember when that went upmarket with a coloured paper cover and bold graphics. There was also (I think) a single edition of a full colour glossy magazine called Scooter World.I bought a copy at a run, I seem to recall, and still have it in the attic somewhere! But when…

Where to start, as there are so many beginnings to choose from. Okay… I’ll start with a tragic fact. Steven Myatt, the Myatt half of Myatt McFarlane Publishing PLC (as was), died in March this year, and on a whole host of levels he will be remembered, revered and very sadly missed. I first got to know Steve via the written word around 10 years before the internet was even a thing and some 20 years before home computers were the widespread norm. Steve was a confirmed lifelong petrolhead whose introduction to scooters was his beloved Lambretta as a Manchester teenage Mod in the late 1960s. By the turn of that decade however, and following influences from the film Easy Rider, Steve had become obsessed with the ‘then’ trend of…

As part of our 40th anniversary celebrations, we’ve teamed up with the organisers of Britain’s finest autojumble to make a special scooter area at the venue. With traders, club displays, custom scooters, DJ and of course the Scootering team on hand, it promises to be a very special day. Entries are still being accepted; go on, you know it makes sense! ■ www.kemptonautojumble.co.uk…

In Japan, during the 1990s, Mod became a major movement among young people. Encouraged by this, vintage scooter shops began opening up one after another in major cities across the country, all selling Vespas and Lambrettas. This interest inevitably became the launchpad for several scooter magazines, with Vespa Style Handbook and Vespa File focusing on both the Vespa and Lambretta marques. Every issue became a must-read for enthusiasts as they were full of information on a wide range of topics including the scooters themselves, their history, maintenance topics, reports on scooter events around the country, introductions to the Mod scene and, not forgetting, advertisements for private scooter sales. It was seen as a moment of pride for Vespa and Lambretta owners to have both themselves and their scooters featured in…

WIN a smart Scootering T-shirt with your photo For your chance to win a stylish Scootering magazine T-shirt, email us your HI-RES pics to: suys@scootering.com and the least crap snap wins! For full terms and conditions, visit: www.scootering.com/comptc DATA: Protection of your personal data is important to Mortons. Your data will be stored securely and only be used for the purpose of processing the competition and notifying the winners. Data will then be destroyed. Blast from the past While sorting out our archive we found this random selection of images in a box. If you know more than the brief captions written on the back of them, or recognise yourself, please let us know. Least crap snap A beautifully balanced shot from Tony Price. The pair of S2s are…

Even if they’ve never set foot in the showroom, few readers will need any introduction to the Midland Scooter Centre. Founded in the 1980s by Dave Webster and Norrie Kerr, today’s business is still in the Webster family’s care, with Dave’s wife Roz and their son Andrew managing day-to-day operations. Based in Stapleford, on the outskirts of Nottingham, the showroom has been MSC’s home since 1998. Although the company’s days of specialist tuning are long gone, it remains one of the country’s leading Vespa dealers. In reflection of Piaggio’s move towards multiplex dealerships, MSC now stands for Motorcycle and Scooter Centre and the company offers the full Piaggio range including Moto Guzzi and Aprilia, although Royal Alloys also make their presence felt on the showroom floor. Second generation Although Roz…

For me, working on scooters has always been about problem-solving. Whether it was fixing a minor issue or undertaking a full engine rebuild, I’ve always enjoyed getting my hands dirty. But in my early days, my toolkit was pretty basic; just a handful of standard spanners, sockets and screwdrivers, plus the odd scooter-specific tool that felt like a real treat when it arrived in the post. When I first started restoring Lambrettas, I quickly realised that a generic toolkit only got me so far. Lambrettas are full of quirks, some charming, some frustrating, and if you want to work on them properly, you need the right tools. Whether it’s removing a stubborn flywheel, tackling the clutch or setting up the gearbox correctly, having Lambretta-specific tools is essential. Last month I…

The HPE iteration of the GTS300 is a scooter with great performance straight off the dealership forecourt but, as ever, there’s always room for improvement. Especially if you want to unlock that extra bit of punch off the line, maintain power through longer climbs and overtakes, or just want more mph at the top end. We’ve already fitted the Kubler speed ring, which gave a 10% (7mph) increase in top speed, and then last month we fitted, dynoed and road-tested the BGM variator kit. If I were on a budget and looking at bang for buck, I’d probably leave the engine performance mods alone after only the speed ring was fitted but, as all scooterists know, tuning and customisation are addictive and so yes, I want to take things as…

Based in Jersey, Liam Font is a passionate and enthusiastic young scooterist who’s been brought up surrounded by scooters and the scene. He’s recently developed his own website that mixes new technology with classic machinery. We asked Stu Smith to find out more... Stu: Tell me how you got into scooters and what was your first scooter? Liam: My dad was involved in the Mod revival, and I’ve been surrounded by scooters, the music, fashion and scene since I was born. I had my first ride on my dad’s Vespa Rally 180 when I was three years old and after that I was hooked. From the age of five I was allowed to go with my dad on his scooter and at the age of nine I started going to…

By the mid-1980s, every city and town nationwide had well-established scooter clubs, as the scene surrounding them was at its peak. Depending on where you lived, information could be very insular and was often only spread by word of mouth. The problem with that was that the message could become easily hyped or exaggerated. Depending on who passed the message, or how many hands it had been through, it could be an unreliable source, but how could that be changed so that we could all access the real story? There was, of course, Scootermania, the A5 publication run by Martin Dixon. He was central to what was going on with the organisation of the rallies and the scene in general; therefore, we relied on every word he wrote. On the…

Motorcyclists from all regions are called to unite and raise their voices in opposition to the continued threat of a government ban on the sale of new conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) motorcycles. This weekend of action is in direct response to growing anger within the motorcycling community. The Government’s continued dismissal of riders’ concerns, and especially its plans to phase out the sale of petrol-powered bikes, has sparked widespread frustration. MAG is organising regional demonstrations throughout the UK to give riders a powerful opportunity to take a stand. The key grievance driving this movement is the Government’s proposal to end the sale of new conventional ICE motorcycles, which has been a major concern for riders who believe this move will severely damage the motorcycling culture, economy and industry. MAG…

Every May, scooter riders from near and far get on the move, often organised at meeting points in Munich, Augsburg, Ingolstadt etc and roll up to the SIP Scootershop for a big Vespa and Lambretta rally to Upper Bavaria! We expect a large number of guests from Germany and abroad to join us and enjoy the food, parts market, guided tours of the building, live DJs, festival atmosphere and perhaps a beer or two! More information can be found on the SIP Scootershop Facebook page. ■ www.sip-scootershop.com…

All the right notes… It’s always nice to see a scooter being progressed by the owner, as they glean information on their engine from each visit to the dyno. The first time I saw the engine in question was at the end of last year when the owner turned up with his newly built Casa SS200 that had a JL pipe fitted. At that point, the curve was flat as a fart and had just 3bhp up to around 5100rpm, which is less than a factory 125cc scooter, before it then launched into a frenzied wall of power from 5100-8500rpm, peaking at just under 24bhp. It was gutless below 5100rpm and then almost unrideable above 5100rpm. Essentially, the scooter had a lot of good components, Casa SS200 kit, JL pipe,…

I’ve got to say, even I’m curious as to how this latest Vespa tech project is going to turn out. There’s an opportunity to do things slightly differently and that could lend itself to an interesting learning curve. There are usually two ways we make performance increases on a Vespa PX200; the first one is to simply buy a bunch of performance parts and then just bolt it all on; cylinder kit, carb, crank, pipe etc. That will give us a big bump in power, happy days. The second way is to make a bunch of changes to the standard set-up; port the cylinder, skim the head, cut the crank, tune the carb etc, and we will still get a bump in power. Again, happy days. But that’s where this…

Ever since the two-wheeled machine was invented, it’s had one underlying problem. Whether it’s a push bike, motorcycle or scooter, the issue of carrying things on board has been a constant source of displeasure. That is why man invented the car; a huge, mobile, moving mass you could shove full of crap and still have space to travel in. A scooter had more luggage space than a motorcycle, but on a Lambretta it was dedicated to carrying a few spanners, a couple of spark plugs and a vast array of nuts and bolts. Let’s face it, the six-inch by six-inch small, square toolbox wouldn’t accommodate much else, and certainly not the kit required for a weekend away. That’s why companies in the 1960s produced a vast array of racks that…