A scooter feature on SLUK?
It’s been a long time since we’ve carried any custom scooter features on SLUK. In the eyes of many custom builders there’s a prestige to paper – particularly a magazine cover – that can’t be rivalled and I understand that.
Equally, there are scooters that offer a lot more detail under the skin than photos alone can reveal. If the owner is comfortable spilling the beans, why not let them talk about their bike on a SLUK video?
Martin Leech from Colchester District Vespa and Lambretta Club (DVLC) is a well-known figure on the scooter scene. Not only is he from the club behind the ever-popular Mersea Island scooter rally, but he’s also a regular scribe for the LCGB club magazine Jetset. He writes under the nickname ‘Knowledge’ and with one watch of the video you’ll know why they call him that…
283cc Lambretta!
We caught up with Martin at Diablo Moto where he’d taken his GP for a jetting check. While the carburetion was very close the clutch was fried and slipped so it’s not fair to show a graph.
The motor is one of Harry Barlow’s – of Pro Porting fame – conversions which is like an oversized TS1 cylinder with a larger spigot and different stud positions. This runs onto a 150 casing, thanks to a massive aluminium base plate that Harry welds on.
Martin chose this conversion as it was much cheaper than many of the other exotic engine conversions and he could build it himself. His objective was never to compete on peak power, but more to have an engine that rode nicely at low revs with tall gearing.
Instead, Martin has concentrated on features that he thought important on a machine built to cover long-distance events in the UK and beyond. As you’ll see from the video, he’s left few stones unturned.
Self-made parts
Martin is an inventive character. He’s the first person I knew to create a complete one-piece fibreglass Lambretta rear end.
For this scooter, he’s produced many parts himself including a custom headset top; a special fuel tank with room for an air filter, as well as an anti-dive brake and even his own luggage system.
Lab rating: 8
Reader rating:
Feedback
If you like this style of video-based SLUK feature then please do us a favour. ‘Like’ the video and Subscribe to our YouTube channel. Also let us know how we could improve it via the comments section below.
We make all our content free to view with the support of advertisers and the SLUK Shop. If you like what SLUK makes then you can support us for free simply by sharing our articles on social media.
Video, photos and text: Sticky
A scooter feature on SLUK?
It’s been a long time since we’ve carried any custom scooter features on SLUK. In the eyes of many custom builders there’s a prestige to paper – particularly a magazine cover – that can’t be rivalled and I understand that.
Equally, there are scooters that offer a lot more detail under the skin than photos alone can reveal. If the owner is comfortable spilling the beans, why not let them talk about their bike on a SLUK video?
Martin Leech from Colchester District Vespa and Lambretta Club (DVLC) is a well-known figure on the scooter scene. Not only is he from the club behind the ever-popular Mersea Island scooter rally, but he’s also a regular scribe for the LCGB club magazine Jetset. He writes under the nickname ‘Knowledge’ and with one watch of the video you’ll know why they call him that…
283cc Lambretta!
We caught up with Martin at Diablo Moto where he’d taken his GP for a jetting check. While the carburetion was very close the clutch was fried and slipped so it’s not fair to show a graph.
The motor is one of Harry Barlow’s – of Pro Porting fame – conversions which is like an oversized TS1 cylinder with a larger spigot and different stud positions. This runs onto a 150 casing, thanks to a massive aluminium base plate that Harry welds on.
Martin chose this conversion as it was much cheaper than many of the other exotic engine conversions and he could build it himself. His objective was never to compete on peak power, but more to have an engine that rode nicely at low revs with tall gearing.
Instead, Martin has concentrated on features that he thought important on a machine built to cover long-distance events in the UK and beyond. As you’ll see from the video, he’s left few stones unturned.
Self-made parts
Martin is an inventive character. He’s the first person I knew to create a complete one-piece fibreglass Lambretta rear end.
For this scooter, he’s produced many parts himself including a custom headset top; a special fuel tank with room for an air filter, as well as an anti-dive brake and even his own luggage system.
Lab rating: 8
Reader rating:
Feedback
If you like this style of video-based SLUK feature then please do us a favour. ‘Like’ the video and Subscribe to our YouTube channel. Also let us know how we could improve it via the comments section below.
We make all our content free to view with the support of advertisers and the SLUK Shop. If you like what SLUK makes then you can support us for free simply by sharing our articles on social media.
Video, photos and text: Sticky
Now that is a touring machine, like it a lot
Some really clever and initiative ideas that could be put into production for the general public. Any chance you could persuade him to get a vespa and see what he could come up with lol
I have done an SS90 (copy) for my son with some trick bits on it. Disc brake, DC lighting and a 136cc Polossi engine.
Good article and thinking out of the box regarding article and the subtle additions on the GP .
Excellent piece of work, some nice ideas.
All this and a Derby and District T- Shirt to boot. Don’t think articles get any better than this Mr Leech !
To be fair Dave, it is not a D&DS T shirt, but a Derbyshire 150 shirt. I remain grateful to D&DS for the work that goes into that excellent event. Martin
A very interesting and easy to understand article, some nice trick bits . Great photos Sticky
Great video – I’m looking forward to discussing the minutiae with Martin
Yup, I look forward to that Ian
Feel the Grunt
What make is that vacuum fuel tap?
I think it is the Yamaha FZR 600 tap. It can be tightened so the choke can be “left-on”. This is useful if you pick up some bad petrol and you can run it rich until you can make enough space in your tank for some more fresh fuel.
It just screws in beneath the gear change.
Great video and fantastic scooter. If that scooter was on general sale I would buy one tomorrow.
Thanks for you feedback. When I ride the scooter, I often think that THIS is the engine that Innocenti would be building today if they wanted to compete with modern Vespas. However, Innocenti would not be building two-strokes. It is so easy to ride and never delivers power so suddenly that you feel out of control.
How does this sit with traditional purist Lambretta enthusiasts.? For me using an old Lambretta as a blank canvass prompts other thoughts.
Firstly ,a deep appreciation of the engineering challenges overcome to arrive at a machine that now holds its own with contemporary motorcycle performance ,safety ,comfort and facilities whilst retaining the style.,sound and some character of its former self. This represents engineering genius.
Secondly,considering this scooter now stands on par with a modern retro counterpart ,albeit remaining two-stroke powered, what was or is the costing compared to a new retro scooter that incorporates most of the features as standard.?
Thirdly ,If Mr Knowlege’s engineering excellence inadvertently now blurs the distinction of upgraded scooter, to Retro scooter I salute him on this different level.
Thanks for you comments Solostax.
The plan was to make a Lambretta fit for the 21st century, but retaining much of the original machine (therefore no four stroke engine and motorcycle style forks). With the risk of being ejected from that LCGB, this scooter is not as comfortable to ride as my Gilera Nexus 500, but then not one’s head turns when I ride the Gilera.
It probably cost as much as a brand new Vespa 300, perhaps a bit more, but it is a bespoke build and I don’t put a price on the cost of the enjoyment of building it.
I love it when a few guys are standing around the scooter and one of them notices something they haven’t seen before, and the others all join in, spotting something else. And then I take the panels off…..