Ever-so diligent  Lambretta voyager extraordinaire Nick Prince skipped two islands (regular readers will know he lives on the Isle Of Man), to attend the EuroLambretta rally in Adria. Two-up with the long suffering Mrs P, he understandably experienced a few issues on his standard Series 2 Li 150 and tells us how he got around them. Ingenuity,  utter bodgery, or a bit of both? Who cares, he made it there and back and that’s what really counts.

 

Lee

Bin dipping in a German shed
Bin dipping in a German shed

 

Maximum points

 

Back from a jaunt across to the Euro Lambretta rally and a few handy tips I learnt along the way which came in useful.

 

When it comes to electrics they are a funny thing and need a bit of care, having decided to head off with a completely original engine and the electrics being “points”. Whilst in the UK the scooter ran fine, however, once it was on its holidays and the temperature was rising and cities like, Milan, Verona etc, being slightly congested, every other set of traffic lights it would burn out a spark plug!

 

I eventually made it to Adria but only after getting through 15 spark plugs!

 

Varitronic

 

I thought it best to fit a Varitronic kit for the return journey as Mrs P’s pockets could only hold so many plugs!

 

Plastic bags are the fruits of a bin-plunderer's labours.
Plastic bags are the fruits of a bin-plunderer’s labours.

 

Hotel timing change

 

The Varitronic was duly fitted in the hotel car park (where else)? It solved the problem straight away and even gave me a bit more power, putting my cruising speed up to 48mph; proper road racer speed!

 

We did, however, hit a torrential downpour in Germany, the scooter started to pop and banging , now I have experience of this and on other kits it tends to blow the stator. The Varitronic kit seemed to be a bit tougher. After a lucky find of a shed in the German woods , we rooted about in the bins and found some plastic bags, so with a bit of electrical tape we wrapped up the CDI, regulator and top of the mag housing to make them “waterproof” after a fashion. It looks untidy but it worked.

 

Muscle tape and more power to your Sat Nav
Muscle tape and more power to your Sat Nav

 

Sat Nav battery back up

 

On a long run the battery on the Sat Nav only holds out so long, so we topped up with rechargeable battery packs. The best thing we have found to hold the battery pack is something from the first aid kit called muscle tape. The tape is adhesive enough and does not leave sticky residue. It  can also be reused time and time again, as well as coming in handy if you get an injury whilst racing to the bar!

 

Handy spare plug holder courtesy of Dave
Handy spare plug holder courtesy of Dave

 

Hello Dave

 

I saw my mate Dave, whose scooter was starting first time every time even in the heat. Typically, however,  when he came to demonstrate this, it would not start so we popped the panel off and I noticed his handy spark plug holder which he made himself out of a block, suitably drilled to hold two plugs and drilled again to secure it to the rear footboard outrigger. What a great idea! Fortunately, his Lammy didn’t misbehave for long and a gentle push in full riding gear and 30+ degree heat got him going again.

 

Can't be frost on the screen it's 32 degrees outside
Can’t be frost on the screen it’s 32 degrees outside
Get the map out
Get the map out

 

Backup map

 

I did find having back-up map really handy as I had a little “accident” with my Sat Nav. Always best to have contingencies, particularly if your covering many miles through different countries on the Continent.

 

Nick's easy reading bin crapping antics were becoming tiresome
Nick’s easy reading bin crapping antics were becoming tiresome

 

Until next time

 

Hope you’ve found this feature handy. Just goes to show the tenacity of scooterists particularly those in the face of adversity. I’m sure our roaming reporter Nick will be back with us soon with more useful tips!

 

 

Words: Nick Prince / Lee. Pics: Nick Prince

 

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