Tag Archives: scooter

Hot Shots! Part Deux – Topper Harley

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This films been around since 1991, and I’ve only just noticed that the main character, Topper Harley is probably a scooter reference. Duh! Now, I was sure I’d written a Harley Topper before, but I was probably thinking about the other indigenous US Scooter, the Cushman (post here… worth checking out… oh, and this one).  Anyway. I hadn’t.

Topper Harley

Topper Harley

Harley Topper

Harley Topper

The Topper was the only scooter Harley Davidson every produced. Made between 1961 and 1965, and despite it’s squarish, “50’s American Refrigerator” lines, it’s certainly not a bad looking scooter. (That last sentence just shows how much my aesthetics have changed over the years… I remember when I first saw a picture of a Topper I thought it unbelievably fugly!). Let’s just say it’s “of its time”.

There’s an owners club, with a ‘virtual website’ (a tautology surely? perhaps an ironic one) here.

In a postmodern twist, Topper himself has his own Facebook page, here.

Anyway. Back to Hot Shots, and my favourite line:

Topper Harley: You’re the only one that knows how to get to the ‘copter pad. If I’m not there in 15 minutes, you know what to do…
Colonel Walters: Yeah, get the hell out of here!
Topper Harley: No! Wait another 15 minutes!

Mystery marque… can YOU id it?

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Screen shot 2013-09-23 at 17.52.53I mentioned this pic in my Capri post… and Dave, who shot it, asked me if I could ID it. Easy I thought. It’ll be one of those lesser known marques, like a Zundapp Bella, or a Durkopp Dianna. Maybe one of those gallant british failures like a Triumph Tigress or a BSA Sunbeam. Virtually all the major motorcycle manufacturers tried to get in on to the scooter boom in the late 50’s / early 60’s. Marques like Puch, Ducati and even Harley Davidson all jumped onto the scooter bandwagon. So, If it’s not something I recognise straight away, I’ll be able to find it online, or in one of my scooter books.

Well. I was half right. In so much as it’s like a Zundapp Bella. Like being the operative word. The front end anyway. The back end got more of a Zundapp R50 look about it, or even Lambretta J-range. It’s definitely NOT either of these thought!

So… can you identify this mystery scoot? Let me know!

As before, the pic is from davepcv’s flickr, here.

Well done Seb, for identifying it as the Austrian KTM Ponny II Super IVKTM Scooter. 01

Pic from Classic-Motorbikes.net

 

Capri Sun!

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Agrati CapriRemember that shot I posted of an Agrati Capri and a London Doubledecker? Yeah, you do… this one. Well, Dave, who shot it got in touch (ages ago, actually… but I’ve been busy!) to let me know he had another shot of the same scoot. As I alluded to earlier… a lovely little scooter the Capri, beautiful lines, and you can often pick them up for peanuts (well peanuts compared to what you’d pay for a Lambretta) on eBay. Parts are obviously not as easy to get hold of as a Lammie, but the internet has made that a bit easier too…

Anyway, thanks Dave… check out more of his pics on Flickr here. Check out the “Abandoned scooter, two cats and a barbecue” shot!

The Scooter Diaries

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The Scooter Diaries

The Scooter Diaries

Great pic isn’t it?

It’s not the SLS (Special Lambretta Service)… It’s Ron Bowman, and his mate, about to set off on the journey of a lifetime.

In November of 1959, Ron Bowman quit his job as a newspaper reporter, sold his car and bought a 150cc Lambretta scooter. He intended to ride it from his hometown of Thorold, Ontario, Canada all the way to South America. As far as he knew, no one had ever made such a journey, but he was gong to try. Along the way, he proposed to his girlfriend of three weeks, and married her. This is the story of Ron and Tove Bowman and their epic adventure romance through Latin America on a motor scooter, during a time when such a journey was virtually unheard of. No crew. No support vehicles. Just two crazy Canadians in love on a Lambretta, discovering the world, discovering each other, and having the greatest adventure of their lives.

Their son, Gordon, recently found his dad’s manuscript and knew he wanted to share it with the world. He’s written a book and is planning to get it published through Kickstarter to crowd-fund it’s printing. He’s got a website with all the details, here and you can follow his progress on Facebook too. The Kickstarter page doesn’t appear to be up yet, but I’ll post a direct link to that too, when it is.

UPDATE:The Kickstarter page is now live, you can help make this book a reality HERE.

I’ve already added it to my Christmas reading list!

Stunning TV2 For Sale

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Stunning S2 TVThere are lots of Lammies out there for sale, and a fair few TV’s, but not many like this stunner. A show-winning, magazine “cover girl” this scoot has the ‘top mod’ look down to a tee. Bedecked in just the right amount of bona fide original accessories, including the rare and lovely Carello half moons… If you know your Lambretta accessories you’ll know this is all top end, ultra rare stuff. A 190cc Harry Barlow Stage 5 tuned engine makes sure it goes as good as it looks… but if you like to keep things authentic, the original top end is included too.

Stunning S2 TV $(KGrHqVHJEgFH8rkFlvTBR+2(3NNsg~~60_57 $T2eC16NHJGYFFkvsIle3BR+2YB!2tQ~~60_57 $T2eC16FHJGgFFm5oBM53BR+2YDSSWg~~60_57 $(KGrHqRHJ!4FH)G37kuDBR+2(mDV,w~~60_57 $T2eC16ZHJGEFFm5rRt4NBR+2(LSMjQ~~60_57A beautiful, fast scoot that will turn heads wherever you go. It’s not cheap… it’s got a classified price of £8.5k… but it wouldn’t be; would it! The full story and spec are on eBay here.

BTW, this is the 300th post on Lambrettista… so if it’s not your thing, have a scroll through the other 299… I’m sure there’s something you’ll like.

Lambretta and a London Bus…

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Scooter and A Red Lodon Bus

Well, that’s what I thought when I first saw this pic… but that’s not a Lammie… too skinny a derriere for a Series 2… My guess would be an Agrati Capri… One of the few Lambretta & V*spa competitors that could hold a candle to them in the industrial design stakes.

Anyway, whatever the scooter, it’s a wonderful image, shot by davekpcv on Flickr.

Luna Roadtest

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No… I don’t speak Swedish (I’m thinking it’s Swedish, but I’m probably wrong), but I still found this little Luna roadtest rather watchable. Now, the Luna range doesn’t get much of a look in on this blog, which is a shame, because I really rather like them. They were a real back to basics scooter from Lambretta, back to the open frame principles of the original models A to D (I know there was a E and an F, but they pretty much petered out after the D). With this pared down, lightweight ethos and a space-age design from Bertone, where could they go wrong? Well, perhaps the Luna was just a bit too radical… ahead of it’s time, certainly a visual shock for aficionados of the clean curves of traditional Lambretta. But if you look at most modern small scooters, they’re a bit more Luna than GP. A superb design, a beautiful Bertone classic… born too soon?

Rockers. For Mods.

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Lambretta RockerSo the headline was a bit obvious, and as Lambrettisti, we sometimes get a bit wary of all being tagged as mods… Anyway, on with the post. I’ve seen this sort of thing before… but as a much more generic type scooter. This is identifiably a Lammie. Made to order, to your spec, colour and model for a mere £140, this isn’t some piece of plastic tat… It’s an opportunity to indoctrinate your offspring (or niece, nephew, grandchild, godchild… whatever) in the way of the Lambrettista.

UPDATE: Gordon Robinson, who makes these has been in touch, there are some more pics, this time of an SX. Made to order, they take about a week to ten days from deposit to delivery. Lambretta SX Rocker 59627_386789491401968_1844803806_n 547044_386759164738334_1553254771_n

On eBay here, or phone Gordon on 07411986016 for more information.

Rock on!

Kölner Nachtfahrt

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So… From Colombia to Cologne… A Nachtfahrt translates as “Night Crossing” …think I prefer Nachtfahrt! Another nice rideout vid, anyways. So, read Lambrettista, and you get to see the world, and some scoots, from the comfort of your armchair! Nice to hear that extended cut of Move On Up again too.

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.