Fresh shots of the Lambretta LN… in the wild

Ln125z

Well, maybe not the wild. Belgium. But you know what I mean. I know the jury’s still out on this one, and I’ve got stick in some quarters for defending it in the past, but I think the design at least hangs together. Until, of course you get to the shot of the LN next to an original 150 Special, and it just looks fugly and bloated. But then again, stick a Vespa GS 160 next to PX… you get my point. And some of the detailing is pretty good, lovin’ the Lambretta branded grips. Lots of detail, and comment on the two sites I’ve “borrowed” the images from, in French, but that’s what Google Translate is for (even better, use Google Chrome, and it automatically translates it for you). From Scooter Station and Scooter Infos, via 2StrokeBuzz

 

Lambretta-ln-125-poigneeLambretta-ln-125-rouerArton1513Lambretta-ln-125-compteurrScreen_shot_2011-07-14_at_100screen_shot_2011-07-14_at_10Lambretta-ln-125-11screen_shot_2011-07-14_at_10Screen_shot_2011-07-14_at_10Lambretta-ln-125-2

UPDATE: If you are in the Bolton area, I’m reliably informed you can get hold of the new Lambretta at MotoCentre. Website here.

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Before there was SatNav

Gps_7-118328
LONG before GPS actually… Motorcyclist riding long distances either for work, leisure or (originally) military purposes used a system called a “Road Book”  which allowed you to ride without continually stopping to check maps. Basically a long scroll of paper that is manually, (or in the more sophisticated versions, mechanically – connected to the odometer) wound to show the distances between established reference points, I reckon this would be a pretty useful, if not a completely accurate/reliable tool. I like the wrist worn version too.

Any old sporting scooterists out there seen anything similar mounted to a scoot?
From French site LeBlogMoto via RideTheMachine.

Gps_5-118340Gps-118310Gps_4-118346

Scooter techniques running maintenance DVD

Dvdlambrettamaintenance
Bought one of these online the other day, and it’s just arrived.
I’ll review it when I’ve watched it. If you don’t want to wait for the review you can probably pick one up from your local scooter shop, or online here.

Dick Smart and his SuperVespa


Came across this recently via Ride the machine.
Now I know this is a Lambretta blog, and I have been less than complimentary about our Vespa riding brethren (only in jest, honestly),
but that’s because I’d never seen this movie before. Dick, or should that be Signor Smart, is a Vespa riding, latino James Bond type.
I won’t spoil it for you (you really got to see it to believe it) but the words Little Nelly sprang to mind. 007 afficionados will know what I’m on about.
Fantastic cheesy soundrack too.

To wave or not to wave

That is the question.
Being a friendly sort of chap I always give a cheery little wave to riders of other classic scoots, even V•spas. (Only joking. Vespas are my second, or possibly third favourite scooter).
If I can’t remove a hand from the handlebar for some particular reason, I give a little nod of the old bash hat.
Scooteritsts, being friendly sorts of chaps, and chapesses, on the whole, wave or nod back.
Unless they are riding the newer types of Vespa (ironically, these riders could be called the “new wave” of scooterists).
They seem totally dumfounded that anyone would wave to them.
PX riders? Fine. Anything after that, probably not.
There’s a guy I see fairly regularly on my way home with a modern Vespa, front rack, extra mirrors, mod roundels etc. I’m now on nodding terms with him.
But it took a while. First time I waved he nearly fell off. Now I’m not THAT scary!
When I used to have an old moggy minor, we always waved at each other. MG owners do it. VW bus and bug owners do it. Bus drivers and even the old bill do it. I’ve seen ’em.
So when a scooterist gives you a little nod or a wave, be nice. Wave back. It’s not hard.