Is it time for acceptance?
The motor scooter has gone through many changes but it seems that accepting such evolution isn’t always easy
At last scooter rallies and events are back – and with them comes an alien invasion that threatens the very fabric of what is accepted as a scooter. Don’t worry, it’s not something from another galaxy threatening mankind, even though by some comments you might think it was. No, it’s modern-day auto scooters that are once again creating controversy, but much as I love my two-strokes I think it’s impossible to live in the past.
It’s a fact of life that change happens and although most scooterists have embraced the march of technology in the form of mobile phones, sat navs, computers and social media, when it comes to scooters, we can’t come to terms with it. Rather than complain all the time, perhaps it’s better to look at the reasons why the changes have occurred. Let’s start by looking at scooters that everyone can agree on; there may be good-natured arguments about their merits but both Lambretta and Vespa scooters have universal acceptance among scooterists. Yet even within those marques there’s disagreement as to what constitutes a ‘proper’ scooter.
Although Piaggio earned its reputation building geared two-stroke scooters, the move to autos wasn’t entirely their decision. They were driven (or ridden) towards four-stroke autos by outside influences. Emissions regulations have effectively killed the mass production of two-stroke engines, and Piaggio is unmistakably a mass producer. Development money went into four-stroke technology and with many other manufacturers developing easy-to-use auto scooters, Piaggio had to follow suit or get left behind. Likewise, with the general trend of vehicles becoming larger in size, it was inevitable that plastics would be used to reduce weight. While scooterists prefer a traditional look, the majority of customers want to ride a modern-looking scooter and there was no way that Piaggio would halt the wheels of progress for a group of customers who, in reality, only represent a small percentage of their global market.
The Lambretta, on the other hand, has been resurrected countless times and in various guises but all of them have been automatics. Why? Because they all require the modern four-stroke engine to meet emissions. Even the retro scooters from manufacturers such as AJS, Lexmoto, Royal Alloy and Scomadi are four-stroke autos; we all know the names behind that movement and if they could have made it work with two-strokes I’m pretty sure they would have done.
Other factors in this argument have to be taken into consideration and one of them is age. The scooter population is not as young as it once was and many who have ailments find it much easier riding an auto than a traditional geared scooter. Even when we were young they were hard work, certainly when riding across the length and breadth of the country to rallies. Should someone who can no longer cope with the physical demands of long-distance riding on an old Lambretta stop altogether? No, they shouldn’t. If the only way for them to continue is by riding a modern equivalent then so be it; they shouldn’t be excluded.
There is also the problem of cost, as the classic market is pricing itself out of many people’s pockets. The recent price explosion in Lambrettas has made it difficult for many to afford the cost of purchasing one and there’s also the fear of something happening to it as they have become a target for thieves. Autos are much more expendable in the same situation and easier to sort out regarding insurance.
One of the biggest problems with the scene is attracting new blood and for years it’s always been difficult to do so. The younger generation will always take the less expensive option and we must remember that they weren’t around years ago – the classic rallies we remember are history to many of them.
The scene will never return to the size it was in the past and as we age it will only contract. It’s okay looking back at how scooters used to be, but things have changed considerably and autos are now part of our collective lifestyle. Maybe it’s time for us all to accept the fact that there’s no reason why classic and auto scooters can’t live side by side. For those who can’t come to terms with the idea I’d suggest they be careful what they wish for. Excluding autos could lead to the early extinction of the entire scene.
There was no way that Piaggio would halt the wheels of progress for a group of customers who, in reality, only represent a small percentage of their global market