Feature Scooter: Valkyrie... Saviours of the slain
Jan Slosmanis had always wanted to build a second Lambretta chopper, but when he decided to make a start on the project it wasn’t going to be all plain sailing…
Jan Slosmanis always wanted to build a second Lambretta chopper, but when he made a start on the project it wasn't going to be all plain sailing…
Chopper projects are probably one of the most complex types of scooter builds, and with the objectives Jan set himself this wasn’t going to be any exception. The build initially started in mid-2017 from a cutdown Li Lambretta frame. “Unfortunately at the start of the project some issues with the frame fabrication work developed. I had to take matters into my own hands, and I was eventually pointed in the direction of Gary Simpson.” Due to the issues that had developed, a lot of time hadh been wasted. However, Jan met with Gary and they discussed the develop me development of the project in detail. Getting the fabrication fabric a of the frame absolutely perfect wawas a critical element to the success of the build. Not only did Jan want to include unique elements into the project but he’s a big guy and he needed the frame to be cut and stretched to suit his size and dimensions. The required fabrications weren’t going to be easy, but having got everything clearly organised with Gary, Jan entrusted him with the responsibility of the work. With the brief in mind, Gary extended the frame tube by eight inches to fit Jan’s dimensions, the neck was rotated and modified to accommodate the springer forks, a bar for the fuel tank was added and the seat pan was built up.
Stripping
The engine is one Jan had previously been using in a different scooter. “It needed a refurb so to get things moving I stripped it down, and then sent it off with the forks and the other items to be powder-coated at CJ’s in Grimsby.” When the engine came back from the powder-coaters it was then handed over to Lambretta Upgrades for the rebuild. “I wanted to be 100% sure that the engine was going to be built to a high standard. I could probably have done it myself, but I have a bit of history with ‘over-torqueing’ various bits and I didn’t want to leave anything to chance!” Jan smiled. In the meantime, Gary Simpson continued with the final elements of the frame fabrications. When they were complete the moment of truth arrived; the dry build. Fortunately everything fitted perfectly, so the frame and all the other parts to be painted were then sent off to Colin Fitzgerald at Garage Artwerks for the work to be done.
In terms of the paintwork, Colin’s deep copper bronze base coat has a shimmer, which is delivered through a smattering of copper flake. On the top of the fuel tank in pride of place is beautifully detailed Valkyrie artwork and overall everything syncs together effortlessly into the cool, smooth style of the scooter.
Chassis...
Handling is a complex topic to manage, particularly in chopper builds. So if the scooter’s going to be a road-going success it’s of paramount importance to get all the elements right in the first place. When Jan was in consultation with Gary he’d already made sure that he’d got the dimensions of the frame correct. So with this in mind he also needed to make sure that the suspension choices he made were going to be spot on. In order to achieve this, the engine sits on a set of Corse solid engine mounts and the rear shocker is a Protech item. The front suspension gives the chopper a real feeling of presence and is made up of a stunning set of springer forks with a Piaggio Zip 50 front hub and hydraulic caliper. However, the forks did bring along their own set of challenges. “They’re taking a bit of getting used to; it has to be said it has the turning circle of an oil tanker, and it’s a bit cumbersome to manoeuvre in tight spaces!” Jan laughed.
Performance
Not only does the scooter look fantastic, it runs well too. Power is developed from a TS1 kit, which is supported by a race 60/110 crank and fuel is fed in by a 30mm PHBH with V Force 4 reeds. The JL Curly exhaust looks amazing and works perfectly with the overall engine set-up. Transmission is organised through a standard GP200 gearbox and an AF Road Cassette clutch manages the delivery of power.
As to be expected with such a complex build, there are still a few
fine-grain detail matters to be finalised. “Jetting is still undergoing a bit of tweaking, but having ridden the scooter initial impressions are that it pulls well through the gears and has a snappy power-band. Previously the engine used to top out at 85mph; but that was when it was in a full-framed GP without the recent upgrades. I’ve not had the opportunity or the nerve yet to wind it right back to establish a top speed, but it should cruise comfortably at 70 all day long.”
Mission
Jan set off on a mission with this build to create a modern-day chop which would include trick bits and be uniquely designed to suit his body shape. During the process he encountered some problems with the frame fabrication, but these were soon resolved with the introduction of Gary Simpson. It’s clear to see that Jan’s attention to detail and the use of the right specialists has paid off. Having got everything organised, for him the most difficult part of the project was putting everything together without damaging it. “I always believe that if you want to succeed with a project, no matter how complex it is, you must make sure that you get the right people involved and have a clear idea of what you want. This scooter wasn’t built to be a show bike; in my opinion it’s just a nice-looking scoot and one that’s been built to be ridden,” Jan smiled.
Words: Stu Smith Photos: Gary Chapman