Headless and handsome…

Posted on July 28, 2021 by crocodilejock

You know a scooter model has “arrived” when custom shops start modifying it! Almost sInce day one of the Lambretta – people have been customising them – this latest – and I’ve got to say totally fantastic looking – custom comes out of K-Speed – a custom bike shop in Bangkok Thailand – taking the aggressive lines and stance of V-Special as it’s base – and running with it. Excellent work chaps!

It will be interesting to see what K-Speed (and others) make of the G-Special when launched – see my previous post for the latest rumours on that bad boy.

Seen a V-Special custom as good as this one? Send me some pics and I’ll feature it on the blog.

Link to the K-Speed website…https://www.k-speed.net/th

Thanks to user Adventurous_Pea_3240 on Reddit for flagging this up to me.

Uncle Joe’s Rumpshaker

Posted on July 29, 2020 by crocodilejock

Every now and then, a Lambretta comes along and blows my socks off. This post is about one that has done just that. But first, some context. The ‘rusto-rat’ look has been around for a while, and spawned some great looking scooters. I wrote about it here – back in 2013 – so the look has been around for a while! I think the looks originates with the Hot Rod scene – where distressed and patina-ed bodywork is paired with handwritten signwriting – often coupled with a very powerful engine. The first Lambretta I recall having this look – a real gamechanger – was a Series 2 called Janie Jones, and features heavily that post.

So, this signwritten rusto-rat look has become a staple of the custom Lambretta scene now – and there are many very cool examples of it around. The signwriting lends itself to classic curves of the Lambretta – and the retro typography is and clearly handwritten and crafted style is just matches perfectly with the machine.

Styles changes, and every style evolves. That’s what keeps things fresh. I think the rusto-rat scene has reached it’s apex in this scooter. I love everything about it. The theme is original. The way the graphics and the type fit the panels is spot on – without looking too contrived. And everywhere you look there are little touches that just make you smile. And it all comes together beautifully.

The scooter – a Serveta – has had a complicated history, involving both Kris Green and Harry Barlow (of H-Bomb Scooters fame) in it’s creation – and is now owned by Darren Wood from Wigan. The signwriting and faux-patina work was all carried out by Phil at The Monster Forge – a visit to their facebook page reveals more more of Phil’s fantastic work – on scooters, trucks and more. If this style floats your boat – and it does mine – Phil is the master of it. There’s some fantastic Alice of Wonderland murals on some Series 2 side-panels if you scroll down a bit! I hope to feature a blog post on Monster Forge in the not too distant future – stay tuned for updates.

If you’ve got a custom Lambretta that you’d like featured on the blog, or if you run a business, and there’s something special you’ve worked on that you’d like featured, get in touch.

Skelly style

Posted on April 8, 2019 by crocodilejock

A proper “Skelly” out of Thailand, from the YouTube channel of Motosyndrome Area 755. I don’t know much about the shop, but from this video it looks like they know their Lambrettas, and do quality custom work.

While not to everbody’s taste – when a skelly is done properly, they are a thing of rare beauty, and a real head-turner. With the custom headlight an chopper bars, chopped legshields, sidewinder seat to the twin megaphone exhausts, plus lots of other little touches – this one ticks all the boxes for me. Good job.

Anybody know…

Posted on October 5, 2017 by crocodilejock

Anything about these badboys? Like who built them? I’m not always a fan of the cutdown, but these are stunners. Look like they go a bit too!

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Leave your answers in the comments

Found on scoot.net

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’70s Style Racer…

Posted on July 14, 2017 by crocodilejock

DonsSpeedShopRacer-1
I featured a ’50s style racer a couple of days ago, moving on a couple of decades gets us to this ’70s style, full faired metalflake racer. This one is on eBay, sitting at a mere £2,000 at the moment. The downside, is you’ll have to drop your own engine in, as it doesn’t come with one. But that might be an upside for you 🙂
Here’s the link

Deus Derny

Posted on February 9, 2016 by crocodilejock

Retro Style custom scooter style build
from Deus Ex Machina

LEDERNY_STUDIO-17 I’ve followed the Deus Ex Machina guys for a while, loving their café racer style motorcycle builds. To my knowledge, this is the first time they’ve done a scooter.
Ostensibly as a bike support vehicle, but a pretty cool build in its own right.

It’s based on the retro-styled Peugeot Django, and influenced by the Peugeot’s S57 from the fifties*, and, I would suggest, a large dose of classic Lambretta styling. They’ve (wisely in my opinion) ignored the rather er, ‘functional’ (ok, ugly) front end of the S57 and gone for something more traditionally scooter like. And they’ve come up with something rather wonderful. Read more on the Deus site.

LEDERNY_STUDIO-14 When choosing a scoot, I’d always go for a classic geared Lammie, but as modern scooters go, I think this (and I know is not a fair comparison, a custom build against a production scooter) gives Scomadi a run for it’s money.

*Funnily enough, as these things work out, there’s a Peugeot S57 for sale (it bits) over on eBay at the moment, if you fancy a bit of a challenge. Here's the link.

Sew, now for something completely different.

Posted on February 4, 2016 by crocodilejock

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We all like to tailor our machines to our personal taste, but this had me in stitches…

Lambretta trike for sale

Posted on January 27, 2016 by crocodilejock

Two wheels good, three wheels better?

I featured this funky trike on the blog a while back, when it was Ford Focus Orange… and loved it then. Now she’s had a makeover, and she’s up for sale!

If you’re a rally goer, you’ve probably seen her, as she’s travelled to every major rally, including the IOW, and Kalkar in Germany, picking up over 30 trophies on the way. And she gets a lot of attention wherever she goes. She’s given the owner, and builder Brett has just given the engine a full rebuild (rockers/cam/piston/1mm

The trike’s owner, and builder Brett has just given the engine a full rebuild (rockers/cam/piston/1mm rebore) as she’s given him seven trouble free-years of scootering. He’s also replaced the front forks, wheel, and she’s got a new front tyre and calliper.

Despite all the miles the trike has been kept in tip-top condition, and she’s like new… and not just ‘under the hood’ (or should that be under the panels) the paintwork is in mint condition. After the £20k+ Brett spent building her, he wanted to keep her nice! what are you getting for your money (other than a true one-off of course)? She’s powered by a Honda 200cc TRXD semi-auto with 5 forward gears and reverse.

You could be her next owner

Now Brett wants her to go to a good home. So what are you getting for your money (other than a true one-off of course)? Well, she’s powered by a Honda 200cc TRXD semi-auto with 5 forward gears and reverse. She ‘sounds the bollox’ with double s/s pipes. and you’ll get a load of spare bits for the trike including rear tyres and Italian GP legshields. Brett wants £9,500 which is a deal, a steal, the sale of the century for a once in a lifetime chance to own a unique scoot. If you want any further info email him

Brett wants £9,500 which is a deal, a steal, the sale of the century for a once in a lifetime chance to own a unique scoot. If you want any further info email him here, or text him on 07842 712197.

Rock Oil Special

Posted on December 15, 2014 by crocodilejock

Apparently, this is the only scooter to be endorsed by Rock Oil. A true Mancunian, sold by Horners of Manchester, new, in 1964, and been in the Manchester all it’s life.