Just back from a flying visit to the spiritual home of the Lambretta – Milano – and to be honest – I’m pretty zonked. So my full post on the event – which was magnificent – will have to be saved for another day. But I wanted to post some pics and information of the new machines from Lambretta that were unveiled yesterday. This is just a quick snapshot – with full details – and lots more images – of the scooters coming soon.
The G350 Special
First previewed back in 2019 at EICMA, The G350 (then designated the G325) was intended to sit at the top of the range, which then was just the 3 V Specials – in V50, V125 and V200 configurations. The G325 was originally due to be on the market by now – but then we had “the spanner in the works” that was Covid. It now looks like Lambretta will reach full production of the machine – now upgraded to a 350cc power unit by the end of this year. Long term readers of the blog might rember I predicted the 350 capacity back in July last year… just saying. Though clearly a modern machine, designed for today, there are clear styling cues in common with classic Lambretta models… full details will follow soon.
The X300
So, we’d had the the G350 previewed… but the real suprise in Milan yestereday was a completley new model, the X300. This is the start of a completely new model line for Lambretta. Another high-end, steel monocoque machine – but with even more radical styling than the G350. Now, voices of dissent are going to come from the radical traditionalist voices of the Lambretta community – but we are living in 2022 – not 1963! Again, a full report, with my full impressions of the machine to follow – but my first impressions are overwhelmingly positive. A stunning machine, which looks great from lots of different angles… and the quality of the fit and finish is immediately obvious.
Lots more coming soon. Stay tuned.
We all love our 2-strokes – but they’re not the most environmentally friendly of machines. Many people think the future of transportation is electric. With the likes of VW, BMW and even Jaguar joining Tesla in bringing electric vehicles to market, is the writing on the wall for fossil fuels? After all – when even Milan – the home of the Lambretta – bans classic scooters – you have to start taking these things seriously.
Retrospective will be offering the conversion as a DIY kit, with prices starting at £2,485. They will fit it for you for around £500. You can even add it as an option if you’re having a scooter restored. You’ll also have to factor in the cost of the batteries – not included in the kit price, and they run to £850. You can choose to have just the one battery, or improve your range by adding another one or more.
The future is bright. The future is retro.
Lights; LED lights feature all round, including the indicators.
Brakes; The V50 has a front disk brake, and a rear drum. The V125 disks front and rear with a combined braking system (CBS), and the V200 disks front and Rear with a Bosch ABS System.
Metal, NOT Plastic. The chassis is STEEL bodywork, on a tubular frame. The side-panels are double-layered, with a 1.2mm steel middle beam that stretches to the sides in a ‘airplane profile architecture’. Make no mistake, this is a solid, premium METAL scooter.
Attention to detail. The new Lambretta appears to have been finished to a very high standard. This is not a cheap and nasty scooter. Take the detailing on the seat, for example.
Just some (more) pics for the moment of the first, new, official model Lambretta since the 1970’s. (remember where you saw the first ‘unofficial’ pic folks!) I’m sure there are going to be lots of thoughts and opinions on this one… My initial reactions are that it’s obviously a modern scooter, not a slavish reproduction of a classic lambretta, but, like the reinventions of the Mini, and the Beetle for the 21st century, it includes enough ‘nods’ to the past to be clearly a Lambretta.
I don’t often cover ‘The Wasp’ on here, but there is big news today out of Milan. At EICAMA (the Milan Motorcycle Show) today The Piaggio Group announced what the future may look like for Vespa… and it looks pretty much like the Vespas of the last 70 years (which is a good thing!). But it’s electric. Which, I also think is a good thing.
The first one is a Spanish Rat Rod with a Vespa ET4 lump in it;
Came across this tidy Scomadi in Staines, sorry Staines-upon-Thames, the other day.
Word has reached Lambrettista Towers that the first 100 Limited Edition FP (First Production) TL200 Scooters have arrived at Scomadi HQ. The are being hand finished before being rolled out to the Scomadi dealer network over the next couple of weeks. If you fancy one though, I’m afraid you’re out of luck… this batch are all reserved for those that made a pledge via the Scomadi Crowd Funding Campaign. I’m sure more will follow shortly though!
lambrettista.net 