Feature Scooter: Where Were You In ‘62?

When Innocenti launched their Series 2 model, it came with the promise of Lambrettability.

Peter Sylvester built his stunning custom street sleeper around a 1962 Li150 Series 2. With its bronze, black and silver pin-striped livery, and RT195 kitted long-stroke motor, it's a real head-turner.

Peter Sylvester built his stunning custom street sleeper around a 1962 Li150 Series 2. With its bronze, black and silver pin-striped livery and RT195 kitted long-stroke motor, it’s a real head-turner. Despite being far from a bog-standard Series 2 example, it retains a pleasing profusion of that 62-year-old Innocenti Lambrettability!

Scooterboy to scooterist

Following his brother’s lead, Peter became an 80s scooterboy. Hardly surprising as his brother owned, at one point, an absolute wealth of Lambrettas and Vespas, and would often strip one down, repaint it, then rebuild it, having it running again overnight. Since obtaining his first scooter in ’82, a bright yellow Vespa 90 in pristine condition, he’s always owned at least one scooter. After relocating to Guernsey from Devon, Peter formed Imperial Scooter Club, Guernsey, which although it exists today, in name, it fizzled out due to inter-club politics. He currently owns a total of eight scooters and both his sons have also been riding scooters since they were aged 14, which is the legal age to ride a 50cc scooter on Guernsey. “I moved here some 20 years ago, one of the reasons was it was a much safer place to bring up my kids. Both my boys have been riding (scooters) since they were 14. We all rode to the Isle of Wight scooter rally together, when they were youngsters. Now my boys are 30 and 27. I swapped the Series 2 for a Spanish MotoVespa, with one of my sons. Other scooters I own and ride are a custom TS1 GP with a Beatles theme, a Turquoise GP which is kitted and has been tuned by Jez Mann, my Series 2 makes it three Lammys. Vespa-wise I have a Rally 200 that I’ve owned for many years, a Primavera with an LC 80’s engine, plus a couple of P-ranges, a P200 and a PX125 both standard. Now I’ve finished a winter refurb of the Series 2 engine, my P200 will be treated to a new floor.”

Black and tan

When embarking on his Series 2 project, one of the first decisions Peter needed to make was settling on a colour combination that would accentuate the curvaceousness of his classic Lambretta’s body and panel work. Trawling the internet for ideas and inspiration he happened upon a motorcycle petrol tank with a combination of metallic bronze/brown with black, separated by silver pin-striping. “I think it may well have been Pinterest, of all places, that I noticed the tank with silver striping on bronze and black. I thought more or less straight away that with a bit of tailoring to suit it would work well on the Series 2. The bronze is a BMW colour, I think it is from the 70s. I had the paintwork carried out to my layout by a good mate, and fellow scooterist here on the island, Crackers. On my Series 2, quite a lot of the panel and bodywork are fibreglass. Only the handlebar base frame and frame loop and horncast are metal, both side panels, front mudguard, legshields and headset top, modified to accommodate a copy of a period Smiths type speedometer), all being fibreglass make it a lot lighter and much more nimble to ride than an all-metal, stock, Series 2 Lammy.”

Name of scooter & reason: ‘The Series 2'… because it's a Series 2, or The Avenger because it's 1962 and that's when the Avengers was on TV. Scooter model: Lambretta Italian Li150. Engine spec Kit: RT 195. Crank: 60mm race. Carb: BGM PWK 30mm. Exhaust: MB Development pro Clubman. Clutch: Surflex B standard five-plate.

Gearbox: Li150.

What brand of oil do you run: Rock Oil semi synthetic at a bit less than 50:1

CHASSIS SPEC: Tyres: Weatherman. Rims: SIP tubeless. Suspension: BGM adjustable front and rear. Speedo: Smiths copy. Cable brand: Nylon lined BGM. Seat: Copy of a Pegasus style seat. Fuel tank & tap: Stainless steel standard tank with fast-flow tap.

Brakes: Front disc with anti-dive.

Describe engine performance and scooter handling: It's piston ported, runs really well and the engine has a nice bit of torque with the long-stroke crank but I didn't want anything too fast. The suspension helps make it handle well and because most of the bodywork is fibreglass it's light and nimble. Some don't like the antidive but I like the tightness of the front end with it fitted, handles really well.

Overall cost of work and components: £650 for the paint and say £200 for bits ‘n' bobs, everything else was there in boxes.

In hindsight, is there anything you would have done differently: Not really but I'm going to strip and rebuild the engine over the winter as not 100% happy with the gearbox.

Thanks to: Jez Mann for answering odd questions as always and Crackers for painting it.

Evolution

Ever since he first got into the scooter scene back in the 80s, Peter has been tinkering with the scooters he's had over the years and his Series 2 is no exception. It almost goes without saying that it's fitted with a bit of a trick engine, otherwise this particular Series 2 wouldn't qualify for being categorised as a street sleeper. To go with the additional power output Peter has also ensured the stopping capabilities and damping have been given equal attention.

“I've fitted BMG adjustable shocks front and rear, along with an outboard front disc brake and an anti-dive kit. I know anti-dive kits are a bit like Marmite, some don't like them, others, including myself, do. I like the tightness it gives, combined with the suspension it handles really well. I've not long finished stripping the engine down, checking everything, replacing one or two bits and pieces that needed changing, then rebuilt and refitted it with a few minor tweaks. It goes even better than it did before. The intention wasn't to build anything too fast, the top speed limit here on the island being 35mph, but let's just say when it does go, it doesn't hang around, the long-stroke crank helps with the delivery of lots of torque.”

I’ve fitted BMG adjustable shocks front and rear, along with an outboard front disc brake and an anti-dive kit.

Name that scoot

Bestowing a name on a scooter can be subjective; it's not something Peter has opted for with most of his machines. On a whim he decided on a name for his custom creation, partly inspired by a popular TV series of the time.

“I'm not normally one to give my scooters a name; for a while, to me, it was referred to as The Series 2, simply because it is a Series 2. I don't really know why I decided on giving the Series 2 a name, but name it I did... The Avenger, as the scooter is 1962 registered and The Avengers were into their second series – Series 2 – on TV in '62.” The main character in The Avengers was the suave, bowler-hatted, brolly toting John Steed, played by Patrick Macnee. Steed had a number of sidekicks during the eight-year run of 60s series The Avengers. During the second series his main assistant was Cathy Gale, as played by Honor Blackman, who left the series to become Bond girl Pussy Galore. Peter concludes: “Cathy Gale was my favourite Avengers girl, and Bond girl too, and what red-blooded male wouldn't like a bit of Pussy Galore?”

Words: Sarge

Photographs: Dennis Le Provost