2012's last scooter rideout

Me, myself and I, the town hall in the background.

A happy new year to all! Felice anno nuovo! Gott nytt år!

On this last day of 2012 there was a rideout in Stockholm. 14 scooterists showed up on this warm ( yes, +5 C) New Years eve. Most of the snow and ice had melted from the main streets. I took my Vespa PK 50 XL from my home to the meeting point at Nytorget, about 15 km's. Then the rideout inside the city with stops on Skeppsholmen and Riddarholmen. Much to the amusement of the tourists present.

Then a stop for coffe at bar in the Old Town of Stockholm. Then the Vespas and Lambrettas went home.

What a pleasant way to end 2012!

Welcome 2013!

Two of the oldest Vespas's, 1951 and 1953 with sidecar.

Mod-ish PX 200. 

14 scooters were participating, Vespas and Lambrettas.

My PK 50 XL next to a 150 Li...

...without a mudguard!

The tourists in the Old Town were busy with their cameras.

The scooters parked outside a café in the old town.

Happy scooter Christmas!

The forks tells it all.

Just sending Christmas greetings to all of you!
With some pictures, new and old.

The funny thing is that I discovered recently that I took som pictures of an original Vespa PK 50 XL on our holiday in Cortona summer 2011. Or the "new" town below Cortona, Camucia that is. Little did I know that I would own a XL a year later.

The pic of the couple on the faro basso is from Vespa World Days 2011 in Norway.

The Lammy racer sits at Vittorio Tessera's museum in Rodano, Milano.

Happy holidays! 

A Swedish back yard...

A Vespa 50 at a classical car dealer btw Imola and Bologna.

A Faro Basso in Norway



Vespa PK 50 XL caught in Camucia, Italy.

The same PK 50 XL, with te correct saddle.

 

Lambretta 125 C at Museo Scooter & Lambretta.



The Vespa PK 50 XL is back!

I think the white rims goes well with the snow.

The Vespa PK 50 XL is back on the road, nah, on the snow!
I broke the handlebar cover a couple of weeks ago when the Vespa fell over. A new cover arrived from Germany and I painted it with the colour that was defined by a spectrometer. And it's a 97-98 percent match. You'll notice the difference if you watch closely, but don't...
So, all ready for the New Years rideout here in Stockholm. I think I wish for less snow before I go!

The rim around the speedo needs paint.

Very X-masy!

I like this photo, you can almost see the sun behind the trees.

Some news about the PK 50

Well, if you count some snow on the abandoned Vespa PK 50 S the headline is accurate.

Cats on 8-inch wheels

I wonder why the cat is walking the dogs? And why the other cats are riding bicycles, a motorcycle and a Vespa?
A quite accurate Vespa drawing, some sort of Bachetta (rod) or Roman Vacanzes (Roman Holiday). Well, both the head lamp and the engine cowl are a bit strange. And the speedometer as well.
From a postcard, more details later. Maybe...

Save up for the Vespa 946!

According to some italian websites the retailing price for the new Vespa 946 will be in the region of 8 000 euro. A hefty sum if they're right, start filling the piggy bank!
125 cc for the Italian market, and 150 cc for USA is stated. I hope Sweden is included for the slightly bigger version.
If I understand the sites correctly there will also be a limited pre-series in, yes you guessed right, 946 copies.
That might be even more expensive!
I'm still not quite sure about that saddle. I'm predicting som smaller after market ones!
But I guess you have to see it in real life before making a final judgement.
The rear indicators are cleverly hidden, and the tail light is also cool.
Handlebar? A bit bulky, but then I'm an old school guy!
And remember that I really loathed the Cosa when it arrived. About 25 years later I think it's really nice!

Giro del mondo in Vespa

  

I just discovered that my board game "Tour de monde en Vespa" was incomplete. The picture above shows that you besides the Vespas has an indian, an asian, an african and a kangaroo as checkers.

The pictures is from the italian version "Giro del mondo in Vespa" which has a square box, or is it a later version?

Fat chance of finding the missing checkers? Don't think so...



Tour du monde en Vespa!

I have bought another Vespa collectible, the french cardboard game "Tour de monde en Vespa", World tour on Vespa or Giro Mondiale in Vespa (not quite sure about that translation to italian).
A friend bought in France this autumn and then when was kind enough to pass it on to me. Luckily he is not a Vespa freak, although he owns a 60's Ciao in mint condition.
The game is from about the mid-fifties, lots of fun and beautiful stuff to get around the world. As a player you belong to a Vespa Club and get a marker in the form of a Vespa in, maybe, pewter. Then you have dices and a peg-top (?) to spin in order to stop or help you.
My 37 year old school french isn't very useful when I'm trying to read the rules and regulations (i.e. how to play).
Maybe I'll try to play it anyhow with the family during Christmas!

Spin it and you know what to do.

The stuff that makes the game go forward.

The players on their Faro bassos.

You travel in North & South America.

As you can see we live in igloos in northern Sweden.

The faro basso looks awfully big...

My Vespa from Bandai!

Yes! I have acquired a tin toy Vespa from Bandai. It arrived with the post today.
According to the book "Vespa Forever" by Robin Davy it's from about 1957. The colours where silver, red, white and - green!
Mine has been played with, one hubcap is missing and there is some surface rust. The steering column has only one tab instead of three fixating it to the front wheel and fender. The handlebar is a little bit broken. But I don't care, I'm still happy over it!

Bad news - and good ones



A mishap occured when my Vespa PK 50 XL was about to get a new wheel bearing at the front. When I moved it in my car, it fell on the side (shoddy fastening on my part). The plastic handle bar cover went to pieces, as part of the head lamp. The changing of the bearing went well, but now it's not really drivable, at least in trafic.

Well, the handle bar cover and a head lamp is available through SIP. About to place an order!

Then I have to paint it. Did a test at a paint shop with a spectrometer and came up with similar colour. Since its not an original colour there is no colour number available. I hope it will match.

Mods in sub-culture film

There was a stunt for Fred Perry here in Stockholm yesterday. Celebrating the brands 60th birthday. Main feature, according to me, was the screening of the movie on British subcultures by Don Letts. Originally a series of six short documentaries on Channel 4, now in one go.

From teddy boys, rockers, mods, skinheads, rudeboys to disco, soulboys, rave and britpop. Funny how the subcultures in the beginning influenced each other. Good footage and music, I enjoyed! And of course some Vespa- and Lambretta-spotting.

An Avon Spartan Scooter-tyre

I found an Avon Spartan Scooter tyre at a dealer, size 3.00 X 10. The pattern is okay since it is unused. The rubber, is, a bit hard. Won't try it on any of my scooters. I got it for free, so no loss on my part.
And I'm pretty sure I won't get 23% more grip. I wonder of CLING is different from Spartan?
Avon started 1904 in England but are now owned by the american company Cooper.
I also have updated my post "The Abandoned Vespa PK S" with a new picture!
 

Vespa 946 at EICMA 2012

The EICMA 2012 show opens in Milan on the 15th of November. The new Vespa 946 (called just 46 or Quarantsei last year) will hit the stands. Piaggio will obviously build it then. The design echoes of the Vespa prototype MP6, the 98 and a hint of Utlitaria (if you´re asking me).
The engine will be a 125 cc, fourstroke, 3-valve, electronic injection and producing a  healthy 11,7 hp at 8 250 rpm. Additions to last years concept model is the mirrors and the turn signals. According to Piaggio they start selling it in July 2013.
I'm still doubtful of the saddle though. Maybe it looks better "in the flesh".

Holiday in the Veneto-region

The first Vespa, in a small square in Treviso. A 50R?

The schools here in Sweden has a week long autumn vacation. The family (five persons) decided to go to Venezia (Venice). We found a cheap hotel outside Treviso, a 25 minute long train ride to the station Venezia Santa Lucia where the water begins. Venezia is very nice, and strange. Not really for a scooter freak.
I did found an adress to Vespa Club Venezia, right in the middle of the houses, alleys and canals. I wounder where they're riding...seriously, they ride over the bank to the mainland I guess. Or maybe the scooters are garaged somewhere in the town of Mestre.
I also found out that the Vespa Club Treviso meet on bar near the Piaggio-dealer. I actually went in to the "Due Ruote Center" and asked for some stuff. But, they had mostly newer parts and accessories.
Then I managed to take som pics of "stray" Vespas along our way. Remember, it was a family holiday. Not search for Vespa and Lambretta spares...
Nicest find? Maybe the Vespa T5 in Treviso. Really nice.

Also Treviso, a rather modern PX with side cowl accessories.

An older Vespa 50, no holes in the wheel rims.

Me outside the Piaggio dealer in Treviso and...

...I think the Vespa Club Treviso have their meetings nearby.

Yeah! A Vespa T5 for two. In the town of Treviso.

An Ape in Belluno, late 60's early 70's? Not me, that is...