Scomadi – Mexican Low Rider
With classic two-strokes being muscled onto the sidelines by new legislation, the four-stroke auto market is booming. From this, a new era of ‘dealer specials’ is being ushered in to run happily alongside the classic originals. This ‘Low Rider’ TL200 is a
Too cool for school, this TL200 from Nite Owl leads the way.
January 1, 2017, marked the implementation of regulations by the UK Department of Transport which effectively saw the end of new two-stroke motorcycles and scooters being offered for sale via dealers and trade. While public response to plastic, automatic, four-stroke scooters has been somewhat mixed, Scomadi is currently at the vanguard regarding new scooters.
Although the TL125 model and its younger, big sister model TL200, have only been commercially
available in the UK since 2015 and 2016 respectively, they have found favour with many long-term classic scooter riders. The recently announced 400cc Scomadi being launched commercially in the not too distant future has added to the favourable buzz surrounding the firm. With new two-stroke scooters having been forced out of showrooms by the Eurocrats, it’s either pay the astronomical asking price for restored classic scooters, or take on a basket case and rebuild it to your own specifications. Both options can be very damaging to the average bank balance.
Alternatively… you can embrace the new fourstroke machines. With Italian-inspired appearance, Chinese built engines and British design by two of the scooter scene’s top innovators, Scomadi could have the same sort of impact on today’s scene that the P-range Vespa had on the 80s scene and beyond. The Invasion of the Scomadi feature ( Scootering June 2016) put a four-way ‘real world’ spotlight on the Scomadi TL125. Among the Scomadi owners giving their opinions was Aaron Watt, owner of Night Owl Scooters in Northampton.
I’m a big bloke weighing in at 18 stone. A Scomadi returning that sort of top speed with me on board isn’t a bad performer...
The ‘public jury’ will continue to be making a definitive decision as to which makes, models and marques of new four-stroke autos are acceptable for a while yet
Since that feature Aaron has parted company with his TL125 Scomadi ‘Illuminati’, upgrading to a TL200. Aaron’s Illuminati had been customised via vinyl wraps on the body panels, but for the TL200 he took a more traditional approach to the artwork. He told us: “I enjoyed having a bit of fun with my TL125, but as soon as the TL200 was readily available I bought one with a view to showing what I, and the shop, can do with scooters. Well, perhaps that should be Scomadis. As far as I know this was the first Scomadi to be custom painted. For the paint job I drew inspiration from Mexican lowrider cars, obviously adapting elements of that onto my Scomadi.
There’s lots of glitter painted details subtly and obviously too, on various parts, all done in-house on the plastic bodywork. We started with a black base coat, followed by a gold wash coat, then jade green and finally lacquered to get the effect. On the front mudguard there’s a touch of metal flake in keeping with the lowrider style glitter painted parts. Wheel rims are a white base with gold glitter paint on top, to give it a bit more lowrider chicano-style bling. Of course there are a few chrome parts as well. I’m happy with the how the paintwork looks so far, though I’ve a few ideas for more airbrush work in the future”.
While Aaron's TL125 Scomadi was more or less standard, once he’d got the wheels in motion to buy a TL200 he was already planning on giving the brand new engine upgrades. “Night Owl Scooters have only been open for just over a year,” he said. “Our first open day a few months ago was an overwhelming success. We’re probably the smallest outlet for Scomadi in the UK and my intention was to use my TL200 as a demonstrator to show the work we can offer. Stock crankshaft and piston have been replaced with Suzuki ones, it’s a PM pipe with a Scorpion end-can. Internals and lighting have been upgraded, including fitting aftermarket PM tuning parts (see spec sheet for details).Basically, anything that was available was put on it, what wasn’t we adapted to fit and work. All the bits we’ve fitted can be bought. All upgrades to the engine and running gear were carried out in house at Night Owl Scooters. I’ve only clocked up about a hundred miles so far, it’s got a top speed of around 85mph (88mph on a good day) and I’m a big bloke weighing in at 18 stone. A Scomadi returning that sort of top speed with me on board isn’t a bad performer, once the engine has bedded in properly with more miles on the clock I believe the top speed should be hitting 90mph plus.”
Although Aaron is now on his second Scomadi he hasn’t totally embraced them to the exclusion of all others. “I got into the scooter scene in the late 70s
early 80s as a soul boy scooterist. I still own and ride geared classic two-stroke scooters. But for distance riding, handling and for comfort Scomadi take some beating. Frank (Sanderson), Paul (Melici) and all at Scomadi UK have got a great product and have built a network of outlets for Scomadi. Despite Night Owl being the smallest outlet, the back-up they provide is second to none.
“Almost everyone who’s been in the shop likes the look of Scomadis, everyone who has had a go on one has been impressed – most have either got one or are getting one. Unlike a lot of other four-stroke twist and go scooters, Scomadi with its Lammy type appearance has a classic look.”
The ‘public jury’ will continue to deliberate on a definitive decision as to which makes, models and marques of new four-stroke autos are acceptable for a while yet. The debate on new versus classic will undoubtedly continue way beyond any jury proclamation however… and Scomadi is leading the pack, for now.
Words & Photographs: Sarge