A scootering renaissance
New year, new models, new mindset?
The new year is here, and as we start progressing into the 2018 scooter season there is much positive talk within the industry of a ‘scooter renaissance’ with an ever-increasing amount of interest in scooters in general and in the various different interpretations of the Lambretta marque in particular. On the one hand we have the ‘new’ Lambretta branded machine, coordinated by Walter Scheffrahn, designed by KISKA (with help from Casa Lambretta), and produced in the SYM factory. While many purists hate this new machine, it actually has many merits and enough design touches to please the Lambretta enthusiast. On the other hand there are machines like the Scomadi and the similar Royal Alloy models, now being marketed, which also take strong design and styling cues from the traditional machines, and have created their own little world of controversy.
Meanwhile, plodding on in the background, there are a host of businesses making new engine casings and many different components to develop a modern and significantly more powerful power unit for Lambretta-derived scooters. Pinasco has made similar strides with its new Vespa casings and kits too, while Malossi continues to revamp and renew its range too. So yes… I’d agree, renaissance is indeed a suitable word to describe how things are currently developing. Thankfully, this ‘renaissance’ feels like something that the whole scooter scene is going to benefit from too. The previous few decades have seen a trail of scooters which have initially been unpopular or controversial but which have become accepted over time and are now established in the scooter world. Indeed, some of the initially unpopular machines have even become collectable as time goes on. I remember some people hating the Vespa T5 flat back end, but I saw an immaculately restored one last year that had a real crowd around it. I have written before about being amazed at the amount of investment that is still being put into developing classic scooters or constructing brand new scooters that are designed to mimic the classic styling but with modern components. Long may it continue to keep the scooter world healthy.
So it’s going to be interesting to see how quickly the new ‘Lambretta’ finds its place in both the current scooter scene as well as the wider two-wheel market both here in the UK, and indeed globally. So I’m looking forward to seeing the new machines in the flesh, on our roads, and indeed riding one… to see how they feel and handle. The new Scomadis are machines that I equally look forward to riding, and with the variety of new machines available and around the corner there will be some real choices available to riders.
I hear talk of 400cc units, and even 280cc Targa Twin lumps being installed in these modern chassis… sounds like fun to me! There will even be enough of these
I hear talk of 400cc units, and even 280cc Targa Twin lumps being installed in these modern chassis… sounds like fun to me!
different machines for us to run direct comparison road tests, which will be the first time in years that this has really been an option – who knows, we may even see a road test special Scootering issue? But in any case, to make the most of this scootering renaissance the community needs to have an open mind, to welcome and give the newcomers a chance, which we all know won’t be happening any time soon for some people!
An increasing part of our scene is owners who have several scooters, be they classic, modern, Lambretta, Vespa, geared, automatic, two-stroke or fourstroke. I can see many people riding the new machines as a reliable alternative for longer distances rather than risking a valuable classic, but another exciting part of the new era is the potential for new people to be attracted to the world of scooters by these convenient and reliable machines simply offering an economical way of getting around. So, at the risk of being controversial, let’s welcome these new entrants and give them a chance when you see them, have an open mind and accept that they are still scooters and will gradually establish themselves into our world.