The Svalan Scooter flies again

More work getting the wheel off, compared to a Vespa.

Yes, time to overhaul my Swedish 1954 Svalan Scooter. Last time I rode it was in February this year, on a absoluteley freezing day, minus 22 degrees Celsius. Of course there was a flat tire, due to rubbish rubber? Modern inner tubes seems to have more plastic than rubber in them.
The reason for the fixing of the Svalan is a competition. Who has the fastest 128 cc? I will compete against a 1950 Maraton and 1950 Speed, both Swedish motorcycles with the same two-geared engine as my Svalan Scooter.
Changing a tyre on a Vespa is as you know easy-peasy. This was trickier; chain, chain-adjuster, back fork, and you cant split the rim in half!
Halfway I considered just taking a old wheel with original tyre and tube from the fifties, of the Swedish Värnamo Gummifabrik's make. The company started 1927 and was terminated 2000.
But I managed to fit the new inner tube in the end.
Then I discovered some severe wear where the body and the frame of the scooter is assembled. My friend Jim had to weld it together.
So, I and my scooter is ready for battle!

The new inner tube, of the Pirelli brand!

A spare wheel to a Svalan Scooter.

With an old Swedish tyre of the Värnamo brand.

Here is where welding was necessary.

The Svalan Scooter 1954, ready for a fight!

Vespa U sulla strada

Il mio amico Patrik con il suo figlio Dogge e il mio figlio Arvid in la Vespa Utilitaria 1953 con sidecar!

Mods & others

Wednesday is scooter day in Stockholm, even during the summer. Vespisti and Lambrettisti get together at a cafe' in the district of Södermalm. Coffee, cakes and chat before a rideout in the Swedish capital. This evening Stockholm Mod Scooter club was dominant.

Passers-by sometimes show an interest for our scooters, Lambretta or Vespa. The geeezer above is an englishman living in Stockholm. At the end of the 60's he was a mod back in England, and also racing his Lambretta GP. Now he feels the urge to become a scooterist again!

A German Vespa GS, with a very thick headlamp rim.

The aerial squad is off!

Lovely roads for Vespa

Mia, il presidente of the Visby Vespa Club.

 Here is some more pictures from the Visby Vespa Club's event the last weekend of July. These are taken with a "real" camera, the others were by my Iphone.

The rideout started in the small village of Ljugarn and ended 30 km's later in the harbour of Herrvik. This was also the place for the gymkhana. I like the italian spelling "gimcana".

Very nice roads, mostly asphalt but also gravel, in sunny weather. Thanx to our guide Max with Nina as pillion. Thanx also to Chrille and Tobbe responsible for the gymkhana, although we from the mainland lost big time...

Spetan on his Vespa PX 125.

Linda on Vespa Touring 1963, Stickan on Bajaj Chetak and a stalker (?).

Chrille organized the event, here on his PX 200.

Nina has jumped off Max's Vespa Touring 1960.

Hugo on his 1963 Vespa with Oscar on a PX 200.

Tin toy Vespa from Japan

This is the famous tin toy Vespa GS from the japanese firm "Bandai". From the 50's and very collectable. Just for sale at an internet auction here in Sweden.
It's about 22 cm long, or 9 inch.
By the photos it seems to be genuine. Nowadays there are some suspicious looking items that are new but has been given a "patina treatment" to look old. Some people has no doubts of making fake toys. I haven't yet seen a fake Bandai Vespa GS, but wherever the demand is bigger than the supply, there is a risk of villains trying to make an extra dollar.

Gymkhana on Vespa

The hard core bit of Visby Vespa Club's event is the gymkhana with slow race. Last year the team "Mainland" beat "Gotland". This year it was the other way around. I think team Gotland had the five or six top places. Tobbe from Gotland won the slow race.
Sun and good roads made this an super event.
Back next year? Of course!

Mr "Spetan" was on the Mainland team, here on his PX 125.

Linda from Gotland on her 1963 Vespa Touring. She was second overall.
Below; Jonas borrowed my Vespa GS 150.

From the slow race, Hampus takes a beating by the Tobbe, the final winner.

Nina och Max awaiting the standing.

Rideout at Östergarnslandet

Visby Vespa Club's run and party is in full swing. 12 scooters were at start in Ljugarn at a café.
No "faro basso" this year, except on participant Stickan's arm in the form of a tatto...
The goal for the rideout was lunch at a restaurant in Herrvik.

A stop on the way:

At the small harbour in Herrvik: