It’s fair to say that things haven’t been all plain sailing at Scomadi over the past three years, you can read our earlier Scomadi articles by clicking this link. Things should be looking rosier for the company in 2020 though as they look forward to a fresh start.
New Thai factory
During their wilderness years, whilst battling legal problems, Scomadi has been completely restructured. They now have the security offered by wealthy Thai investors and are in the process of moving to a new purpose-built factory. Current and future models will be built there using the latest components and methods, including robot welding of frames. The new factory is in the “Free zone” near Pattaya, with people like Harley Davidson as neighbours and a deep sea port close by. Its location will make customs clearance and shipment more straightforward.
In-house
The new factory will house the R&D department and all models will be designed, prototyped and built from there in the future. It’s fair to say quality has been an issue on some Scomadi components but with the backing of Marin Engineering a whole new supplier network has been established for component parts, whilst new tooling has been developed for OEM manufactured parts like frames, forks, metal body parts, ABS parts, wheels and braking systems. In essence, they’ve produced a brand new scooter to Euro 4 specs in a very short space of time.
Moving forwards
Although many Scooterists are still waiting to see the Scomadi 400 the factory hasn’t been standing around whilst waiting to get things up to E4 spec and finish fighting legal battles. It’s given them time to improve the original designs and listen to customer feedback. They’ve slimmed the bodywork down and lowered seat heights to make them comfier and more accessible for shorter riders. They’ve also improved key components – like the front suspension, electrics and lighting system (now being produced by a company who supplies many household names in the automotive world. Cooling systems have also been upgraded to cope with extremes of heat and cold. The original Scomadi models were designed with European climates in mind but the growing world market for retro scooters dictated otherwise. The cooling systems are now being produced by specialist firm, Radicon a supplier to the likes of Ducati, Triumph, BMW, Ferrari, Aston Martin…
New models?
As you can see from the images, Scomadi aren’t planning to stick with the Turismo Technica and current TL range, they’re also planning a Series 1 style Retro model. This will no doubt infuriate many purists but the fact it is capable of accommodating the fabled 400cc engine will also excite others (if and when it happens).
When will the Retro model and other promised designs and developments arrive? That remains to be seen but the current Thai factory will continue to run until the new unit is complete and ready to go, so production shouldn’t be affected. Scomadi has promised more news on the 2020 line up very soon so watch this space.
The future of Scomadi
Royal Alloy Tiagra Grande
If images of the new key fob for the new RA Tiagra Grande are anything to go by we’ll also be seeing a Series 1/2 style machine at EICMA from Royal Alloy. Keep your eye on SLUK next week for updates on all the retro-styled machines revealed in Milan.
Get your winter kit, trackers, exhausts, plastics and other goodies from the SLUK Shop
It’s fair to say that things haven’t been all plain sailing at Scomadi over the past three years, you can read our earlier Scomadi articles by clicking this link. Things should be looking rosier for the company in 2020 though as they look forward to a fresh start.
The new factory ready for fitting out
New Thai factory
During their wilderness years, whilst battling legal problems, Scomadi has been completely restructured. They now have the security offered by wealthy Thai investors and are in the process of moving to a new purpose-built factory. Current and future models will be built there using the latest components and methods, including robot welding of frames. The new factory is in the “Free zone” near Pattaya, with people like Harley Davidson as neighbours and a deep sea port close by. Its location will make customs clearance and shipment more straightforward.
Hand-drawn design for new ‘Retro’ model…
In-house
The new factory will house the R&D department and all models will be designed, prototyped and built from there in the future. It’s fair to say quality has been an issue on some Scomadi components but with the backing of Marin Engineering a whole new supplier network has been established for component parts, whilst new tooling has been developed for OEM manufactured parts like frames, forks, metal body parts, ABS parts, wheels and braking systems. In essence, they’ve produced a brand new scooter to Euro 4 specs in a very short space of time.
Artists impression…
Moving forwards
Although many Scooterists are still waiting to see the Scomadi 400 the factory hasn’t been standing around whilst waiting to get things up to E4 spec and finish fighting legal battles. It’s given them time to improve the original designs and listen to customer feedback. They’ve slimmed the bodywork down and lowered seat heights to make them comfier and more accessible for shorter riders. They’ve also improved key components – like the front suspension, electrics and lighting system (now being produced by a company who supplies many household names in the automotive world. Cooling systems have also been upgraded to cope with extremes of heat and cold. The original Scomadi models were designed with European climates in mind but the growing world market for retro scooters dictated otherwise. The cooling systems are now being produced by specialist firm, Radicon a supplier to the likes of Ducati, Triumph, BMW, Ferrari, Aston Martin…
Getting much closer to a prototype
New models?
As you can see from the images, Scomadi aren’t planning to stick with the Turismo Technica and current TL range, they’re also planning a Series 1 style Retro model. This will no doubt infuriate many purists but the fact it is capable of accommodating the fabled 400cc engine will also excite others (if and when it happens).
When will the Retro model and other promised designs and developments arrive? That remains to be seen but the current Thai factory will continue to run until the new unit is complete and ready to go, so production shouldn’t be affected. Scomadi has promised more news on the 2020 line up very soon so watch this space.
The future of Scomadi
Royal Alloy Tiagra Grande
If images of the new key fob for the new RA Tiagra Grande are anything to go by we’ll also be seeing a Series 1/2 style machine at EICMA from Royal Alloy. Keep your eye on SLUK next week for updates on all the retro-styled machines revealed in Milan.
Get your winter kit, trackers, exhausts, plastics and other goodies from the SLUK Shop
-
ScooterNova 2020 Calendar
£9.99 -
Vespa GTS screen brackets
£41.00 -
Vespa GTS SLUK Sports screen
£63.95 – £95.00 -
Readspeed Red Seal stator plate – Lambretta
£75.00 -
Vespa GTS SLUK rear spoiler with LED stop/tail light
£40.00 – £43.00 -
Vespa PX rear bumper with ultra-bright LED stop/tail light
£62.95
Great news. I was worried that the Hoy Palloy and the hoy palloy buying them had dealt Scomadi the off. Good luck for 2020 chaps!
The Series 1 styling with a 400cc capacity is a great addition that would have me trade in my Vespa GTV Sei Giorni for one. Traditionalists be damned. If Innocenti were still going today they would be producing similar machines in order to remain competitive in the “retro” market.
As a motorcyclist, I am spoiled for choice of over a dozen quality, powerful retro inspired bikes from more than half a dozen marques but as a scooterist who wants old timer looks with a bit of ooomph, there is only the Hoy Palloy 300 or Vespa’s now paradoxically higher powered but non-motorway capable GTS 300 HPE. No thanks on both counts.
To buy a Hoy Palloy I would need to lower my Union Flag and raise the Red Star of the People’s Republic of China, laughing in the face of British industry and intellectual property rights and to buy Piaggio now means being stuck behind that lorry spraying shit at you on a wet day on the big bad roads, because they made their latest, highest powered Vespa ever SLOWER than the last less powerful model. Huh??? WTF!