A bit of something for Everyone in Koln
Dean Orton of Rimini Lambretta Centre was at the Annual Scooter Center Custom Show in Koln on Saturday 6th May. Here’s what he had to say about it…
This is the 10th year that the SCK crew have been holding their show and the second year running that we have attended. Their ‘rapid’ method of holding a show on the Saturday, with a midday start and a 5pm closure, means that it’s very intense and the sheer number of public attending means the exhibition halls are always pretty much packed.
European diversity
The German custom scooter scene covers modern automatics alongside classic Vespa and Lambretta machines, so the public is as diverse as the machines they’ve come to look at. Most of the important German dealers were present and we at Rimini Lambretta Centre also set up a stand with all the latest offerings and new parts from both the Casa Lambretta and Casa Performance stables.
The Show was set out over two large halls with food, drink and bars to keep the masses happy. Unlike last year where the automatic and classic scooters had separate halls, this year all the scooters were mixed together, which also meant that the different crowds mixed and mingled as well – a deft move allowing the followers of each kulture to admire the others handiwork. The German scene is well known for their mental engineering and that is where they really excel but the chrome n’ bling side of things is also very much alive and kicking. A restored white SX200 will get you admiring glances but engraving and gold plate really pulls the punters.
Young blood
As with most European scooter scenes, the German one also has a lack of new blood and the average age is probably 40+. The automatic crowd on the other hand are very much younger and this pulls the average age down to a sensible level.
Scooter Clubs as well as bikes well represented….
BGM Demonstrators – stunning paint by Marcus Pfeil
BGM 225 demonstrators
The SCK organisation machine is very slick with everyone knowing their place and ensuring the event went as smooth as silk. It was great to see Phil Monforts – who for most people is ‘the most known face’ of Scooter Center – turning up on his crutches after his recent accident. Despite the obvious discomfort he was in, he was all smiles and busy chatting with everyone present during the day. Scooter Center themselves had a stand with all the BGM products on show and it was nice to see the batch of new Clubman exhausts had arrived as well. RLC had been commissioned to build a couple of BGM 225cc demonstrator scooters, based around a couple of turning mudguard type Indian GP’s. These were built in the two weeks leading up to the show and their ‘same, but different’ Markus Pfeil paint schemes went down well with the public.
Other machines present included some fantastic highly-tuned PX Vespas, 80’s style custom Lambrettas, all manner of visually OTT automatic machines, lots of funky Vespa GTS’, some classic restored machines, a superb mod-styled Zundapp 50cc and a few road-warrior long distance scooters. There really was something for everyone.
By 5pm Oliver and Ulf, the owners of SCK, were up on stage giving out the prizes to rounds of cheering and applause. I’d say that the show was once again a storming success and this edition confirms why this is one of the most important events for mainland European scooterists each year.
Words and photos: Dean Orton – Rimini Lambretta Centre
Main photos: Julia Spitznas
Express yourself!
Custom Show Rallery
Dean Orton of Rimini Lambretta Centre was at the Annual Scooter Center Custom Show in Koln on Saturday 6th May. Here’s what he had to say about it…
This is the 10th year that the SCK crew have been holding their show and the second year running that we have attended. Their ‘rapid’ method of holding a show on the Saturday, with a midday start and a 5pm closure, means that it’s very intense and the sheer number of public attending means the exhibition halls are always pretty much packed.
European diversity
The German custom scooter scene covers modern automatics alongside classic Vespa and Lambretta machines, so the public is as diverse as the machines they’ve come to look at. Most of the important German dealers were present and we at Rimini Lambretta Centre also set up a stand with all the latest offerings and new parts from both the Casa Lambretta and Casa Performance stables.
The Show was set out over two large halls with food, drink and bars to keep the masses happy. Unlike last year where the automatic and classic scooters had separate halls, this year all the scooters were mixed together, which also meant that the different crowds mixed and mingled as well – a deft move allowing the followers of each kulture to admire the others handiwork. The German scene is well known for their mental engineering and that is where they really excel but the chrome n’ bling side of things is also very much alive and kicking. A restored white SX200 will get you admiring glances but engraving and gold plate really pulls the punters.
Young blood
As with most European scooter scenes, the German one also has a lack of new blood and the average age is probably 40+. The automatic crowd on the other hand are very much younger and this pulls the average age down to a sensible level.
BGM 225 demonstrators
The SCK organisation machine is very slick with everyone knowing their place and ensuring the event went as smooth as silk. It was great to see Phil Monforts – who for most people is ‘the most known face’ of Scooter Center – turning up on his crutches after his recent accident. Despite the obvious discomfort he was in, he was all smiles and busy chatting with everyone present during the day. Scooter Center themselves had a stand with all the BGM products on show and it was nice to see the batch of new Clubman exhausts had arrived as well. RLC had been commissioned to build a couple of BGM 225cc demonstrator scooters, based around a couple of turning mudguard type Indian GP’s. These were built in the two weeks leading up to the show and their ‘same, but different’ Markus Pfeil paint schemes went down well with the public.
Other machines present included some fantastic highly-tuned PX Vespas, 80’s style custom Lambrettas, all manner of visually OTT automatic machines, lots of funky Vespa GTS’, some classic restored machines, a superb mod-styled Zundapp 50cc and a few road-warrior long distance scooters. There really was something for everyone.
By 5pm Oliver and Ulf, the owners of SCK, were up on stage giving out the prizes to rounds of cheering and applause. I’d say that the show was once again a storming success and this edition confirms why this is one of the most important events for mainland European scooterists each year.
Words and photos: Dean Orton – Rimini Lambretta Centre
Main photos: Julia Spitznas
Custom Show Rallery
How is Phillip?
He’s in the photos and was at the show but not back at work yet we believe. Get well soon Philipp!
yep, get well soon Phillip !!!
poorly there are no pics of the winning custom scooters, 2nd “Brown Suger” a lovely Vespa PX
and 1st. “Violator” a 80´s style custom Lambretta DL200