Innehållsförteckning för January 2026 från Scootering

Welcome to the January edition of Scootering, I always find this an unusual editorial to write… we work on the magazine up until the beginning of December, it goes on sale at the end of December, and we call it the January edition. So, with that in mind, I will wish all our readers and advertisers both a Merry Christmas (which I didn’t do in the December edition, as it went out in November), and I’ll also say Happy New Year - to cover both bases! Before I wrote these words of welcome, the last article I edited was Part 1 of our new Scooter & Service Custom Build series (see pages 27-32). The playground of my mind was immediately transported to a theoretical Christmas, in which Santa could deliver…

The Wasps of London Scooter Club held their annual Ride of Remembrance on Sunday, gathering riders at Eel Brook Common, Fulham, before heading to the Royal Artillery Memorial at Hyde Park Corner in support of the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal. By 10am, the park was already full. Classic and modern scooters lined the railings, club banners were strapped to headset mounts, and riders picked up patches and badges, with all proceeds going to the Legion. The mood was social, but the reason for being there wasn’t forgotten. At 11am, the two-minute silence was observed, and at 11.30, the group formed up and set off through Fulham and Chelsea… hundreds of scooters moving in one convoy. At Hyde Park Corner, the atmosphere changed. Riders parked up and gathered around the…

It’s a common desire; wishing to build a custom scooter. But, when it comes to doing it, that process can take a huge amount of time to complete. A lot of that is down to how far it is taken, and processes such as airbrushing or engraving, for example, can take months on their own to complete. Even a build that is less complicated isn’t always straightforward, and certainly not when outsourcing some of the more specialised parts of it. So, what if you have the capability to do everything yourself and have assembled all the parts? How quickly can it be done? One owner took on the challenge of building it in just four weeks. The Goatman We often presume that the ageing population of the traditional scooterist means…

Who would have thought that building a Lambretta for a speed record attempt would create huge controversy and be shrouded in myths and legends? The problem is that it wasn’t well-documented at the time as to what actually happened, and some of the press reports were hyped up, to say the least. This has led to them becoming even more exaggerated over time, and no one can pinpoint the truth. Additionally, it was sixty years ago, and almost all those involved are now deceased. Like several others, Scootering Magazine conducted extensive research on the story and, several years ago, attempted to piece it together. The problem was that there were no more avenues to explore regarding the investigation, that is, until a new lead came about by chance. While it…

How to use the guide We’ve divided the market first by capacity, and then alphabetically within each category. We can’t possibly give values for every classic scooter, there are far too many variables for that but we have included data for three of the most common machines; a Vespa small frame, Vespa PX and Lambretta GP 200. These should allow comparisons between ‘then and now’ and help anyone switching from classics to modern scooters, or vice-versa. We’ve started with models from the usual suspects but over time we’ll be adding more models to widen the range of information available to you. The data Most of the data is taken from manufacturer’s websites, this can vary between manufacturers depending on what methods are used to test their machines. For example the…

A road-going Vespa, yes, but with the heart of a racing special: variator, clutch, bell, shock absorbers, and brake pads, everything is by Polini Motori. This isn’t about extreme tuning but about reliable upgrades aimed at improving performance and riding pleasure. Professional assembly The assembly of this demonstrator begins under the watchful eyes of Polini’s technicians. The first part installed is the Maxi Hi-Speed Evolution variator. The new rollers (20g) are calibrated to offer quicker throttle response and higher top speed. The pulley is designed to improve heat dissipation and deliver smoother power. Next comes the Maxi 3G race clutch, featuring three centrifugal shoes. This clutch is adjustable without disassembly, and it can be fine-tuned for optimal performance. A solution developed and tested in competition, but also practical for touring…

We often have dreams of building a custom classic scooter, and there are usually two main choices: Lambretta or Vespa. Although many techniques involved apply to both, there are significant differences due to the individual makeup and distinct characteristics of the two. We are focusing solely on the Vespa and will be utilising expert guidance from Scooter & Service along the way. The series will follow the build from the planning stage all the way through to the finish, covering every aspect in fine detail. Build your dreams So, where do you start? The answer lies in the inspiration or dream you have of the perfect machine. What will it look like in terms of its style, and how will it perform in other words, the engine that will be…

Building on the response to last year›s initial scooter event, this year promises to be bigger and better with a fantastic and varying selection of skilfully engineered custom scooters, sitting alongside graceful, more traditional-looking machines. Scooter dealers will also be invited to attend, tempting scooterists with a range of clothing, accessories and get-you-home parts. What’s on in 2026? In the past, Scooter World has played a major part in the popular ‹Blast from the Past› fire-up sessions, and this will continue. All clubs and individuals who enter scooters at the show will automatically be entered into the custom show, giving them the opportunity to win one of the many trophies on offer; new for this year will be the addition of cash prizes, which will go to various individual trophy…

The opening act, the scooter run, was organised by a long-established scooter team from Osaka, who escorted a total of about 30 participating scooters to the event venue. When we arrived at the venue, Mod scooters customised by their owners for the occasion were lined up in front of us, transforming the surroundings into a Little London. Among the scooters, there was one Mod scooter that stood out… a Feridax-style fly screen was faithfully reproduced based on the original from the 1960s. The lower part is painted black and has the familiar “G” and “S” symbol stickers attached, while the upper transparent acrylic plate is smoked and has a UK number sticker and a “Gran Sport” badge attached. The fly screen alone is packed with must-see ideas that have never…

I can hardly believe that Colchester DVLC’s Mersea Island rally has been running for well over three decades! Over that time, some of my favourite scooter-related memories have taken place on the Essex backwater site. However, this year the run-up to the event was marred by the loss of two of the club’s stalwarts, Rene ‘Frank’ Spindler and Kim Dunne. So before anything else, I personally would like to express my love, sadness and thanks to both of them and thoughts to their families - God bless and RIP. So, as usual, my trip started early Friday to reach the site spot on the opening time of midday, early bird, and all that! Once parked and pitched up with the usual suspects, it was time to familiarise myself with the…

When the film Quadrophenia hit the UK cinemas in 1979, it didn’t just launch a cultural revival; it rekindled a lifestyle. For John Walsh, as a teenager growing up in Baildon, West Yorkshire, it wasn’t only a coming-of-age film set to a fantastic soundtrack, it was a reflection of everything that had been with him since childhood: soul music, youth culture, identity and scooters. Now, several decades later, John’s first full-custom scooter, Brighton Beach, is a shimmering metal-flake masterpiece that not only pays tribute to the movie that sparked it all off but also to the 80s custom scooter scene that shaped his life. Built with precision, creativity and deep emotion, this Vespa PX is a tribute to a lifestyle and a story on wheels. Influences John’s roots in the…

The SX200 was marketed as the world’s finest scooter, but even though that was only a quote, the public believed it actually was. It was the first 200cc Lambretta available for the Italian market, even though it didn’t sell in large numbers, most likely due to its higher price tag. It had also been exported to America, but like most other models sent there, it failed to deliver. Undoubtedly, it was the British who had the most affection for it, most likely because they had fallen in love with its predecessor, the TV200. By 1968, work was underway for the next upgrade in the series, and it needed to be something special to guarantee success. Curve appeal Towards the end of the 1960s, two-wheeled sales were in decline, and only…

Our Rosie, my long-suffering wife, is highly supportive of my rather unhealthy obsession with classic Vespa and Lambretta transportation. She is a happy soul and enjoys the social side of the scene, the places where my scootering passion has taken us, and the people we have met and become good friends with over the years. I am fortunate in that respect, so to be fair, I always let her decide where we are going on our official holiday. Now, I can’t confirm whether this is intentional, but she does pick destinations that are less likely to have anything scooter-related. But somehow, I always end up finding something interesting on our travels, no matter where we are; in fact, she has often said that I could find a scooter on the…

PG: So, at the end of last year, when we spoke, you were not going to be racing – what changed to make it happen? JM: So basically, I was starting a new business, and I had another addition to the family, so racing wasn’t really going to be feasible money-wise. In February, Darren Scott of DSC gave me a call regarding a production engine, and he offered me an engine to use. It was Graham Tatton’s old engine, which was nice of him, because obviously, I was competing against him here before. They offered me the engine to put in my existing chassis, and I managed to pick up a bit of sponsorship from all suppliers and people that I know for entries, which made it possible for me…