Dealer Focus: Current Situation
It’s two years since Retrospective Scooters launched a kit capable of turning almost any classic scooter into an electric powered eco-weapon. Stan dropped in to see how the concept has grown.
It's two years since Retrospective Scooters launched a kit capable of turning almost any classic scooter into an electric powered eco-weapon. Stan dropped in to see how the concept has grown.
There are two kinds of business, those which stagnate and those which move with the times. Definitely falling into the latter category is Walthamstow-based Retrospective Scooters. Its owner, Niall McCart, has impeccable scooterist credentials. I certainly can’t name another of the ’80s generation who cured their wanderlust by giving up everything, erything, catching a plane to India and buying g a Bajaj on which he toured the sub-continent. nt. Since his return to the UK he’s built a business famed for high-quality restorations s and an ability to hunt down rare and unusual al machines.
Spark of an idea
Although his reputation has s been built working on classic two-strokes, kes, Niall isn’t afraid to embrace new w technology. Not only was Retrospective one of the first UK dealers to embrace race the Royal Alloy brand, it also so supplies Niu and Super Soco co electric scooters. At the time of my visit the team was registering a fleet of Nius destined to be used by local traffic wardens. As a nation we’ve been slow to embrace electric power but some London boroughs are determined to lead the way by example. Although Niall remains passionate about the classic scooters that pass through Retrospective’s hands, he’s an ardent convert to the world of electric power. It’s also nice to learn that the conversion kit’s origins were fuelled by that traditional source of inspiration, alcohol… “I was at a friend’s stag do and got talking to a guy called John Chubb,” said Niall. “Somehow the topic got on to scooters and I explained that I had this idea about converting classic machines to electric power. A few days later he rang me at the shop and asked if I was serious. Of all the people I could have spoken to I’d chosen an engineer who was looking for a new project!” After a fact-finding mission to the 2017 Milan Motorcycle Show, the pair agreed some basic principles
and development started in earnest. “From the start we realised that energy management is key,” Niall explained. “Any chain, belt or transmission saps power which reduces speed and range. For that reason we decided to employ a hub motor, which directly drives the rear wheel. Any conversion also had to be fully reversible and involve no welding or cutting.”
Prototype to production
For their prototype the duo selected a rather neglected Vespa 50 Special. “A smallframe was always going to offer the least space to work with,” said Niall. “I knew that if we could succeed with a smallframe, scaling things up would be easy.” By the time of Vespa World Days in Belfast the 50 Special had been replaced by a more presentable Primavera and the conversion’s basic layout had been finalised. “The main component is a swinging arm that holds the hub motor in place and crucially utilises all the existing suspension points. Its battery is housed under the seat and is removable. We did consider making the battery a permanent fixture but on balance felt that a removable battery offered more flexibility.”
The original plan was to supply and fit the kit at Retrospective’s Walthamstow base but, as Niall explained, this idea was quickly shelved. “I’d expected interest from London commuters but enquiries came from across the world. It was obviously impractical for a Californian buyer to send their scooter to us for fitting so we revised the kit to make it suitable for home installation.”