Hardly Rideable Rat Yambretta
Matt black and modified machines are yet another legacy of the scooterboy years of the ’80s. These two feature hooligan engines too…
Matt black and modified machines are yet another legacy of the scooterboy years of the ’80s. This pair features hooligan engines too!
At one end of the custom spectrum were full-blown metal flake, vreeble and other paint combinations, with intricately airbrushed mmurals adorning any available bodywork. AAll manner of items were electroplated in cchrome, copper, brass and gold, often aafter extensive engraving work had been ccarried out. At the other end of the scale, mmatt black, usually rattle canned on home ddone cutdowns and chops, were just as ppopular with those doing their scootering (including the national rallies) on a tight bbudget. ‘Rat’ scooters were adapted and aadopted from rat (motor) bikes, which had bbeen around for decades. One contributory ffactor to the rise of rat scoots was the aadvent of scooterboys, drawing from ddifferent youth subcultures, united by a love of scooters along with an anti-Mod sstance. Nothing screamed anti-Mod much mmore than a scooter cut by hacksaw and ggrinder then painted in matt black, except tto clueless newspaper journalists of the ttime. Another element that came to the fore during the scooterboy years was another style of machine inspired by bikers, who had been creating hybrid rides since the late ’50s cafe racer era by fitting an engine from a different model machine into a frame from an unrelated marque. Motorcycle engine powered scooters are nothing particularly new, however, the popularity of these strange-brews has been growing again in recent times, which brings us to Neil Dymond and ‘his’ two Yambrettas. Neil was, and still is, a biker as well as a scooterist, owning and riding scooters as well as motorcycles. He discovered the scooter scene in the mid-’80s via psychobilly music and scene; many of his contemporaries at the time were rally-going scooterists. Neil joined them, his first scooter being a PX125 and his first rally was Isle of White ’87.
Paint it Black
The Yambretta 250 was some eight years ago, a GP150 in bits. Over time, almost everything has changed. To say that it doesn’t appeal to everyone’s taste is
something of an understatement. That said, all but the most linear-viewed should appreciate the engineering know-how that has been lavished on this particular Yambretta. Certainly, it was appreciated by the judging panel at Mersea Island 2018, where it won Best Engineered on its first shakedown, as well as the show judges at Oddballs rally 2019, where against very stiff competition, it won Best Oddity. “When I first bought the GP it was basically a pile of rubbish, it evolved into exactly how I wanted it over seven years.
More or less everything except the 1976 air-cooled RD250 Yamaha engine has been changed as the scoot evolved. Handling is great, it's a better and more comfortable riding position than that of a cut-down Lammy, probably helped no end by the PM monster forks and 13-inch wheels. I had the engine tuned to a fast road use spec, it's always performed well since the tune. But the actual power delivery was quite shocking, the first exhausts were made by the tuner. I decided to change them, so I went to Performance Fabrications in Sunbury-onThames for a handmade one-off exhaust system to suit. We agreed on a price, though I was told I'd have to wait as they had a lot of work waiting to be done first. Which was fair enough, except the wait was a lot longer than anticipated. I was more or less ready to go and collect my scooter and look at other options, but after a phone call, slightly irate at that, the handmade exhaust was created in a very quick time. The handmade system completely transformed the power delivery. Keep it in the power band and it's seriously good fun to ride. Gary Hancox had a hand in many bespoke parts over the past few years, hydraulic clutch and fuel tank being just two of his creations. It puts out over 40hp, it's geared to pull 98mph at 9000rpm. A lot of blood, sweat and tears went into the 250 Yambretta over seven years, getting it exactly how I wanted it.”
Black Is Black
Along with the judges at Oddballs rally custom show last year, we were equally impressed with the engineering intelligence that had been afforded to creating Neil's Yambretta. The initial plan was to feature it in February 2020 issue, which, with other hybrid motorcycle engined scooters, was something of a special edition, specifically spotlighting machines with muscle motors shoehorned into Italian shopping moped frames. As is sometimes the case, best-laid plans and all that came into play. Neil was due to collect his latest project, another Yamaha engined Lammy fairly soon, and the decision was taken to postpone the photoshoot accordingly to accommodate the imminent arrival. “When I was a youngster a YPVS 350 was the machine all self-respecting tearaways aspired to, it was simply the ride of choice, the (wet) dream machine of the early to mid-80s, it was described as the closest road legal motorcycle you could get to a road racer. I'm always swapping and buying my scooters and motorbikes – no exception how this one came about, my DRZ400 powered Lammy went in part-exchange for a GP150 last June (2019). I like riding hard and fast, whether on a scooter or a 'bike and for quite some time I wanted a YPVS 350 Lambretta. After starting work on the GP frame and bodywork, I decided instead of investing a lot of time and effort in repairing parts like the forks and legshields that it would be more efficient to replace them. I went for a simple, easy to touch up, satin black spray job. Off went the engine and frame to Gary Hancox, who, as always, turned my ideas into reality; on my Yambretta YPVS he turned it round in just four months. He's both a top bloke and a bloody good engineer too.”
Back To Black
Having taken delivery of his Yambretta 350 YPVS very recently, what's Neil's first impressions and are there any imminent tweak or changes being planned? “It puts out over 50bhp, but as I've not had it for very long I've not clocked up many miles
as yet. Early impressions are good, it has constant power right through the gears. Once the roads are a bit drier than they have been I’ll be able to find out what top end speed it delivers. I’m happy with it how it is, apart from wanting to put some serious miles on. I may change the seat, and will probably have a handmade exhaust created as the one I had made for my old Yambretta RD250 really did improve and transform the power delivery. The handling is really good, though I’m still fine-tuning the suspension settings adjustments. I’m toying with adjusting the carb blades as it’s running a little lean mid-range as well as a touch rich at top end.”
Swap shop
Neil being owner and rider of two Yambrettas lasted for a mere few days. Fellow member of Hardly Rideables SC, Andy McLaren, is a builder by trade. Neil commissioned Andy to build him a patio, which took six weeks to complete. In Andy’s words, it was ‘six weeks of bloody hard graft’. It came to settling time as the job was completed, and Andy had already clocked the RD Yambretta. Neil suggested he had a go on it, so he took it for a quick blast; instead of cash, it was deal done, with Nick exchanging his Yambretta RD250 for his newly built patio. What are Andy’s fifirst impressions of his acquisition? “It goes well, handles really well, and Neil has sorted one minor issue he kept encountering, which was the back light had a tendency to fall off every so often, fixed by replacing with a rear light unit that’s more solidly attached. I’ve only got one change or addition planned, that’s adding an additional fuel tank – I’m deciding between either a Mustang or bobber tank.”
Location for the shoot was decided on by Neil – a village green, complete with duck pond, not too far from where he’s based. A classically English rural setting unspoilt for eons, which contrasts well with a brace of satin black, modified ‘bike-engined scooter beasts’.
Sarge