SCOOTER DETAILS

Name of scooter & reason: Ginger Stepchild. I bought The Ginger Stepchild from my mate Bones in Bawtry near Doncaster. The local inhabitants were fond of lights and mirrors and other similar atrocities. The locals knew of its existence, but they never ever talked about ‘the ginger stepchild’. Scooter model: 1981 Jet 200. Date purchased and cost: 2009. Cost was £190 I think for frame, forks, Vega legshields, ace bars and various sets of hydraulic levers and the all important V5. Inspiration for project: Old Skool Lambrettas Facebook page. And my girlfriend many moons ago, in reference to my mate Nobby’s Supertune SX, said: “Why don’t you ever build a nice shiny one?” Time to build: Just the last three years been on it fully. Frame modifications: Frame was already cut at the back and the steering column shortened, but not all the way down to top of Vega legshields. About 2in removed from steering column and forks. Rear end needed the cut tidying up, welded a couple of short legshield support struts on. Steering lock stop welded onto frame. Holes cut and contoured to suit entry and exits for cables and wires through the frame. Any specialised parts: Engine case side stand, cut and shut PX Mk1 toolbox, frame toolbox converted to house the electrics, access via a plate at the rear due to Frenched toolbox door, rear mudguard and number plate holder. Engine spec: Kit: 71mm iron barrel, Kawasaki H2 Wossner piston with 196’ Power porting. 9mm packer. Crank: 62 Stroke 115 Rod 98.5mm webs Darrell Taylor supplied. Carb: 34mm Amal Mk II. Exhaust: Scoot RS DJ copy. Clutch: AF six-plate Road Cassette. Gearbox: Li 125 with 18/47 sprockets. Reed Valve: 225 barrel and LTH manifold off eBay. Porting work by: Myself. Tidied up ports, matched manifolds, cases and barrel to an Avanti base gasket. Is there any chrome: Lots. Overall cost: £4k-ish including spraying equipment, paint and flake. What was the hardest part of the project: The paint! Do you have any advice or tech tips for anyone starting a project: Go for it. Do as much as you can, teach yourself. Is there anything still to add to the scoot: Mileage and a handmade seat. Is there anyone you wish to thank: 60s/70s/80s Lambrettas FB page, Alastair Fiddler, Nobby and Smurf, Adam Winstone, Darrell Taylor, Del at Custom Paint Shop in Barnard Castle, Jon Betts at JB Fabrication, Bones, my girlfriend and kids, and my dad, whose ashes were en route to be scattered on Wearside in 2009, when I bought the frame.