Tag Archives: Lambretta

Moonstomp Riders SC… Bogota!

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I find it amazing how countries around the world have adopted the scooter scene ethic… often with the same music and fashions as those originally found in the UK. I know the scooters are Italian, and the music is Jamaican, but the culture is pure British. Except it’s not. It’s GLOBAL. As this video from Bogota (that’s in Colombia, South America for all you geography dunderheeds). And I think it’s pure brilliant.

BTW, As well as Colombia, this blog has readers in Venezuela, Brazil, Peru, Chile, Uruguay and Argentina. Most of South America in fact. So if you own, ride, or are just interested in Lambrettas and you live in Guyana, Surinam, French Guiana, Bolivia or Paraguay… please get in touch, send some pics, let me know what’s happening in your neck of the woods. There are a few places around the world untouched by the “Lambretta virus” but, as I’m finding out… not many!

Wiggo, again.

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Bradley Wiggins Fred Perry shotsBit late posting this, as it appear in the Mail at the end of June, but with Mr Wiggins back at work in the Tour of Poland, I thought I’d take the opportunity to follow up my post on Britain’s favourite cyclist, olympic hero, mod and Lambrettista.

In what later turned out to be some publicity shots for his new range of clobber for Fred Perry, Wiggo was seen “speeding around on his moped” (the Daily Mail’s words not mine) on Southport pier. Apparently, the gold and white SX200 scooter, is a gift from the clothing range after Mr Wiggins worked with the label to create a cycling inspired collection of apparel, footwear and accessories.

wig2 wig4If you follow the link to the Daily Mail article, you’ll find a couple of pics of him scooting down the pier. I’d post them here, but they’re copyright. (I’m sure Fred Perry won’t mind me posting there pics, especially as I’ve linked to their website) But the fact that it was all a bit of a set up for a photoshoot will explain his lack of a crash hat… as he’s been quite outspoken (and rightly so) about wearing a helmet on your bike.

Here’s the original article: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2350032/Bradley-Wiggins-spotted-cruising-Southport-SCOOTER.html#ixzz2aRT0rX5C

And here’s the Fred Perry Modern British Hero collection: http://www.fredperry.com/men/bradley-wiggins

And Bradley… if you read the blog, let me know mate. I’d love a celebrity endorsement!

Hindhead Tunnel Run

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There’s not a lot to say about this. Stick it on full screen, turn your speakers up to 11, and enjoy. It’s a Lambretta thing. I particularly like the ratty S2 that gives the GP’s a run for their money… must surprise a few people that scoot!

Rare 1970 Lambretta GP200 Electronic on eBay

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Lambretta GP 200 Electronic“rare” is a word that is much overused in eBay listings relating to scooters… But those of you who know your Lambrettas will know this is something a bit special. Nobody knows how many original Electronics there are left, but there’s only going to be a few. “Rare as a Spitfire” is the line used in the description… that’ll give you some perspective. With machines like this, provenance is everything. This scooter is documented way back, and has a certificate from the LCGB. But, if you are thinking of putting a bid in, please do your own homework and satisfy yourself that it’s the genuine article. After all, your probably end up paying at least a £5k premium for that coveted ‘Electronic’ tag.

The seller bought the bike on eBay in May this year, (how did I not see that!), in bits, and although it’s only July, it looks like he’s done an excellent resto on it. All the parts and processes are listed on eBay, along with the cost of everything, and the history of the bike. Now, I don’t know the guy, but everything seems pretty open, up front and honest. But as the saying goes, caveat emptor. Go and have a look. It’s in Sidcup, Kent.

Here’s the link.

Lambretta GP 200 Electronic

Lambretta GP 200 Electronic

$T2eC16N,!yUE9s6NDMWdBR3F(3OSjQ~~60_57 $T2eC16d,!ysE9sy0jK3nBR3F(8(LLw~~60_57 $(KGrHqR,!oQFG)JjhMZFBR3FYDQTvg~~60_57 $(KGrHqJ,!qgFHJY60(7)BR3FYH4q-w~~60_57

1963 Lambretta TV200

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I was going to do another post on those modern Lambretta type thingies… but I need a proper Lammie on here first. And you don’t get much more proper than a ’63 TV Series 3. Lovely scoot… and clearly the inspiration behind the modern LN’s. But face it boys, no matter how hard anybody tries to recapture the essence of Lambretta, no modern machine will EVER look as gorgeous as this classic. Love the music too. Nobody, by The Human Beinz.

Lambretta LN ‘Pure Smithy’ Dealer Special

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I haven’t posted anything about the LN or it’s sibling modern Lambrettas* recently, as they’re not really my bag… and there hasn’t been anything new to report. I don’t know how they are selling, and I certainly haven’t seen one on the road, but I wish them well. If the marketing department at Motom* had any imagination, they’d sign up a Lambretta blogger, and let him (or her) have one for an extended test drive. Say six months. By the way… on the last count The Lambrettista blog is read in more than 70 countries. Just saying.

Lambretta LN Pure Smithy media-2 media-3 media media-4Anyway… at  but I thought this was quite interesting. Had to look twice at this LN on eBay. I thought it was an official Paul Smith licensed product, but it’s clearly a fairly clever knock off. I wouldn’t be totally surprised if Mr Smith had been involved, as he was allegedly a mod as a young man, and his work retains a certain ‘mod aesthetic’… but if he had it would have been all over the papers. Another marketing opportunity missed? There I go, off on a tangent again. Back to the original point of this post, which was, that the LN is now starting to appear in different incarnations, customised, much as dealers would customise ‘proper’ Lambrettas back in the day… I’ve no particular opinion on whether this is a good, or bad thing… it’s just interesting. Mildly. Well, I thought so. If it floats your boat, and you’ve got a spare £3k knocking around, you can get one here. And they’ll give you a fiver change. It’s being sold by the Pure Group, in Harrogate if you don’t do eBay.

Lambretta LN Union Flag $T2eC16F,!yME9s5qE+8bBRwI(Z6J+g~~_12 $(KGrHqNHJFYFG99q-4lfBRwI(,VRi!~~_12And if the Paul Smith look isn’t up your strasse… there’s a distressed union jack version. A bit ‘comedy mod’ for me, that one, I’m afraid.

*Motom Electronics Group are one of the claimants of the Lambretta name. There’s a trademark/license document here that explains it all in legalese. My thoughts can be found on this site if you stick Lambretta LN into the “handy searchbar” (that’s one for the “stuffyoushouldknow” podcast listeners).

Nicely shot Series 1 Vid…

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Don’t know much about this video, other than it was shot by Yashasvi Juyal, and (I think) he’s from Northern India. Give us a shout Yashasvi, and fill in the blanks!

 

Automatic selection

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Another couple of nice scoots on eBay at the moment… if you like auto’s that is. Ok… they are not everybody’s cup of tea… especially the purists… but were a broad church here at Lambrettista, and I don’t mind them.

After all… where does ‘tuning’ stop. And if you can get “Lammie looks with automatic reliability” which is often the way these things are sold… well… why not.

Anyway. on to the machines. Bike one is the more classic Lambretta looking scoot… Classic SX good looks with a very smart Abarth paint job and a Typhoon 125 power unit. A nice touch is the bar end indicators. Neatly done. It’s had a few bids, but if your desperate to get your hands on it, the buy it now price is £4000. Here’s the link.

Lambretta Abarth Auto

Lambretta Abarth Auto – Front view

$T2eC16Z,!)QE9s3HFhhmBR0y,2TDb!~~60_12Bar end indicators

The second bike is a bit more radical… and there’s a bit of an issue with the photo’s on eBay, so maybe you can see them here and then stick your bid in if your interested. Built on a Lambretta Innovations frame, it runs on 13″ wheels. The power is provided by a Gilera lump with a Mallosi 172 top end. It will (allegedly) “sit at 80mph all day long” and has all round disc brakes to bring you to a swift halt if the need arises. If Kawasaki Green and a swift ride is your thing, you might want to get a bid in on this scoot. Here it is on eBay. Even if you’re not interested, and you’ve got five minutes, check it out because it’s written in a thoroughly engaging style. I like what he’s done with the shed, too.

GP Gilera Auto $T2eC16h,!yUE9s6NGYqzBR2R(3HwEQ~~60_12 $(KGrHqNHJDkFG)SOV-ppBR2RT,Zv4Q~~60_12 $T2eC16V,!zoE9s5nf!FGBR2RVLE3)g~~60_12

My only caveat about autos is, being a hybrid, when things go wrong… where do you take it? A Lambretta specialist? A Gilera (or whoever has made the engine) specialist? Hopefully back to the place that built it. But the permutations of things that could go wrong rise rapidly. Saying that, if you’re even thinking about it, your probably a little handy with the spanners yourself, and a little tinkering may not worry you. If that’s the case, go for it.

SX… Perfection?

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My last post featured a cracking “Rat Racer” Series one… and I thought it was just about perfect. Something I’d love to own. There would be a few little tweaks I’d make… and that’s the way it is with most of the scoots I find. Nearly perfect, but with a couple of tweaks… a bit of chrome there… an accessory added, or removed… but that’s the joy of Lambretta’s. The machines rolled out of the factory, close to perfection… but somehow owners (and dealers) managed to improve them.

But, I think I’ve found a machine where I wouldn’t change a thing. And it’s this stunning SX. Well, an SX 150 S-Type GT 186 to be precise. Everything from the paint colour, to the Ancillotti exhaust screams perfection for me. The raydots at the Smith chrono all add to the package. It’s a classic look, and I don’t think it’s been bettered, to be honest. Perfect.

Lambretta SX 150 S-Type GT 186 Screen shot 2013-07-06 at 07.33.41 Screen shot 2013-07-06 at 07.34.10 Screen shot 2013-07-06 at 07.34.26 Screen shot 2013-07-06 at 07.34.58 Screen shot 2013-07-06 at 07.35.23 Screen shot 2013-07-06 at 07.35.58 Screen shot 2013-07-06 at 07.36.51

This lovely scoot was shot by Christian Gentilini, and you can see more of his photography, here, on flickr. He’s a member of the Lambretta Club Teste Cromate S.C.
The pics are copyright (Christian was kind enough to allow me to use them here) so please respect that.

Oh. I’ve spotted it. The tweak I’d make to this scooter. The crankcase side panel has something missing… it needs “Owned and run by Crocodile Jock” discretely signwritten on it. Small in the bottom right corner. And maybe a small enamel union flag badge under the sprint rack. There you go… proved… Lambrettisti just can’t help tinkering with perfection!

One for the road. And another one.

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$T2eC16V,!ykE9s7tw3RVBRzF4QYbiQ~~60_12 $T2eC16VHJI!E9qSO8)WfBR0VEjhCQw~~60_12Browsing eBay, as I do, just on the off chance my lottery numbers come up, I came across a couple of rather nice Series 1’s… each with a completely different look and feel. First up is this restored example in turquoise and white… 175 AF Rayspeed kit and a Clubman exhaust… it’s got a fixed “Buy it now” price of £3,150. Very tidy, very nice. If it’s your cup of tea, here’s the link: Lambretta Series One on eBay.

$(KGrHqFHJE!FGvm0HOzNBR0VEz5vNg~~60_12 $(KGrHqNHJEIFGv3URz74BR0VEsZUug~~60_12

But I think I actually prefer this one… “The Swiss Shitter” Based on a Swiss model* Series One, and also dating from ’59… this ‘rat look racer’ has a lovely patina about her… love the “stickerbomb” look and the chrome horncast. It’s got a Rapido 225 lump, GP 200 Gearbox and the carb and exhaust (a Fresco) to go with it. Currently sitting at £2,250 but with four days to go, and this one will go higher. Here’s the link.

$T2eC16R,!w0E9szNYhFVBRzF4rgFfQ~~60_12 $(KGrHqR,!qwFG66qp0G,BRzF4iecy!~~60_12$(KGrHqN,!rkFG9sdFYFPBRzF4pOUl!~~60_12 $(KGrHqF,!lMFG7gyrHKYBRzF5Mp87w~~60_12

*Swiss model? No, I didn’t know they made one either. I can feel a bit of research and a blog post coming on! From the eBay listing, there was hand pinstriping as standard, as well as side panel and front mudguard embellishers, and running board protectors.