Vintage Scooters and Mopeds - Pune Mirror

Back with a bang!, News - Nation - Pune Mirror,Pune Mirror

Make way for the Lambrettas, Vespas, Javas, Yezdis, Aerials and Nortons.

These vintage bikes and scooters are back in demand in Bangalore following a huge demand for them in the West. Such two-wheelers, which until recently only had scrap value, are now being sold for anything from Rs 40,000 to Rs 75,000. Ads for these vehicles are flooding the internet.

Sudhakar, a 32-year-old resident of Ulsoor and a collector of these vintage bikes, explains that the demand for these vintage two-wheelers is something new and exciting for Bangaloreans.

Now, with some of these vehicles being valued close to Rs 1 lakh, Sudhakar’s excitement is quite understandable. His fascination for these vehicles dates back to his college days. He used to get these old scooters painted attractively and turn heads in college to counter the rich guys who would ride the latest bikes.

 After buying a Lambretta scooter for Rs 30,000, Sudhakar spent close to Rs 15,000 for painting and spares. He now plans to sell it for Rs 60,000. Except for tyres, nothing is Indian in his scooter. “Though it is bulky to push and pull, once you kick off, it is almost like flying in the air,” he adds. He says the company has reopened in the West and is buying all the models. Sudhakar plans to sell his 1972 Lambretta Roller, made in England.

Sudhakar is not the only one. Nazeer Ahmed is also among those Bangaloreans cashing in on this new-found love for vintage bikes and scooters. This resident of Kodandaramanagar near Pulikeshinagar (Frazer Town) recently sold his Norton 500 cc to a German automobile showroom. He is now ready to sell his 40-year-old 48 cc Italian made Lambretta Moped. “I bought it (moped) for Rs 2,000 nearly 28 years ago. The first bike I got was when I was 12 years old. As we ran our own workshop and iron fabrication industry, my inclination towards these bikes was natural. A few months ago, I was told that there has been a great demand in Germany for these mopeds, which were so widely used during World War II.

Some showroom owners bought it and today they have displayed it in their showroom. Nobody but me touched that bike,” claims Nazeer. He uses his single-seater 1960 Lambretta Moped occasionally. Even today, its mileage is 45-50 km per litre and it can reach a top speed of 70 kmph. It can be compared to the present day Hero Puch. Unlike Puch, it does not have a kick start but can be started by pedalling.

Michael Jackson vs Mr. Bean

Micheal Jackson -versus- Mr. Bean on a Vespa

Scooters for girls - Harriet Ridley

Scooters for girls

-  Harriet Ridley - From the perthshireadvertiser.co.uk

While there are plenty of Vespas built for anyone who wants to ride one, man or woman (the Vespa GTS 125 and 300 Super caught my eye in Milan), the Vespa Rosa introduced to the UK last Spring, to name just one of them, is clearly designed for girls with its very pink colour scheme. A man would, as I wrote, have to be seriously in touch with his feminine side to ride one of these. Not that there's anything wrong with that!

But apparently, I'm propagating a sexist myth here in the UK that all scooters, and Vespas in particular, are girls' bikes. I don't believe that for a second. Open any scooter brochure and it's still mostly male models riding the bikes, Vespas included - although perhaps not the Rosa. And overall in the UK, there are still far fewer women than men riding scooters.

However, the best thing about scooters is the lack of male-domination that still pervades the motorcycling world. In fact the UK's scooter boom that kicked off around 1997 has been responsible for a huge surge in girls getting on two wheels.

Scooters are so unisex that manufacturers are going as far as bringing out 'his and her' colour schemes of the same model, as the array of new bikes at this year's EICMA Milan show demonstrates.

Kymco for instance displayed the Many 50 and 100 in two colour schemes: white and incrusted with (no doubt fake) diamonds for her, and a sportier red paintjob for him.

Meanwhile on one of its models, Motom brought out the Lambretta 'Rubacuori' (that's Italian for heartbreaker) complete with pink paintjob littered in hearts and a cupid with bow and arrow for her, while a manlier pirate-style paintjob features on the 'Black' for him. Both versions are available as 50cc, 125cc or 150cc.

I guess it's unfair for the boys that the girls can ride, for instance, the red Many without attracting attention for all the wrong reasons. Meanwhile, blokes risk getting laughed at by their beered-up mates should they venture down the pub on the sparkly girly version.

But that's life. Girls wear trousers all the time; blokes only wear skirts if they're Scottish or David Beckham. Or seriously in touch with their feminine side.

There are also the less in-your-face, more tasteful colour schemes still obviously targeted to women. For instance Suzuki's white Sixteen 150 with its stylish flowery detailing. Or the Suzuki Burgman 200 with its soft curves and pearlescent colour scheme (oh I'm sorry, is this not meant to be girly?).

Don't get me wrong. Not all girls want to ride a sickly sweet pink scooter with hearts, diamonds or even the more subtle flowery detailing. Give me a sporty job such as the Aprilia Sport City, Gilera Runner or even better, the GP800 any day. Or even a cushty Suzuki Burgman 650 - have you seen the 2010 version? It looks unbelievably comfortable with its heated armchair-style seat and grips.

Even the new Burgman 400 with its fancy ABS is commuter heaven enough for me. But there's nothing wrong with women flouting their girliness should they wish to. And the option for them to do so is there.

However, the manufacturers say many of the overtly girly colour options, for instance the Piaggio Liberty Elle with its matching pink and flowery open-faced helmet and top box, won't be imported to the UK because there isn't enough demand.

I reckon this has more to do with us British girls having good taste in scooters than there not being enough of us. Still, no matter how dreadful some of these colour schemes truly are - the Scarabeo's bubble-gum pink paintjob is not really my thing (who am I kidding, I love it!) - it's encouraging to see manufacturers sit up and take note of us girls on bikes.

MERRY CHRISTMAS !!

The Bajaj Chetak Nostalgia - Pune Mirror,Pune Mirror

It’s interesting that all this nostalgia is spilling now, a few years after the Chetak was discontinued, simply because Rajiv Bajaj chose to make a big deal about the demise of the uninspired Kristal. It almost seems like the whole brouhaha was calculated to spite his father. No one will really miss the Kristal, but the decision is important on a symbolic level, and it seems strange to absolutely rule out future scooter production. Which makes me even more positive that a retro Chetak is imminent, ha. Then again, LML has that market pretty well covered now. - 2strokebuzz

Son rise , News - Latest - Pune Mirror,Pune Mirror

Finally, the generation gap has caught up with Rahul Bajaj! The two-wheeler giant Bajaj Auto will now stop making scooters, and the old man is not happy with his son and Managing Director Rajiv Bajaj’s decision to exit production of scooters.

It is the end of an era and the demise of a philosophy: that two-wheelers were meant to move from point A to B. Today, it is the age of the fast bikes. And our inhouse expert agrees with the company’s new ideology.

Group chairman and Rajiv’s father, Rahul Bajaj has made his feelings clear about the scooters’ forthcoming demise. “I feel bad, I feel hurt.

I can’t say harm the company and its shareholders by doing something you should not do... But I am still not convinced. He [Rajiv] has tried to explain it to me,” were his exact words.

However, the young MD rebuffed the emotional outburst by saying: “I care less for the solution from emotions, I believe more in the magic of logic.

Brands that are more sharply positioned are brands that are more profitable... It [scooter] is not a really profitable market.”

For an expert’s opinion on this situation, Pune Mirror talked to Adil Jal Darukhanawala, editor of zigwheels. com. He said: “Rajiv Bajaj’s decision to stop production of scooters is a sound businessman’s move.

The type of scooters Bajaj used to make have become a relic of the old times; one hardly sees them on the road anyway.

Motorcycles are the hot wheels of today and the future.” He added, “"Nostalgia is one thing and the hard reality is something else.

Agreed, the company was formed to manufacture scooters. Its first scooter model Chetak was launched in 1972 and remained its flagship model right until the mid-90s.

Bajaj stopped manufacturing Chetak four years ago. The 100-cc gearless Kristal will be phased out by the current fiscal. But all said and done, a company has to focus on the global trends and move with the times.”

“The Pulsar was conceived to offer a much-needed sporty alternative and that did the trick for Bajaj both from a motorcycle point of view as well as a financial stand point,” Darukhanawala said.

He added, “India is the second largest 2-wheeler market with about 7 million bikes being produced annually, with China topping the list with an output of 12 million.

Out of India's 7-million annual output of two-wheelers, 5.5 million comprises motorbikes and the rest of the 1.5 million is made up of scooters, scooterettes and mopeds.

So, it only makes some solid sense to look at the bigger game rather than being a petty hunter. The way the company is structuring its business by having the largest, most robust R&D in the country, says a lot about the direction it’s taking," Darukhanawala signed off.

All that is best summed up in Rajiv Bajaj’s words, “Bharat has changed, Buland has changed, Bajaj has changed.”

Bajaj Scooters - The End of a Era.....

End of the road for Bajaj scooters - Times of India

For Bajaj Auto, it’s a case of looking to the future rather than the past. But consumers who remember India before liberalization will probably feel pangs of nostalgia at the announcement that Bajaj Auto is set to stop making scooters. ( Watch Video )

Many can still recall the days when waiting lists for Bajaj scooters stretched into years, with people willing to pay a premium equal to the original cost to get hold of one. The sturdy vehicles were much sought after as wedding gifts; strings were often pulled and quotas invoked to speed up the allotment. Once the world’s biggest player in scooters, selling over a lakh units monthly in its heyday, Bajaj’s long-running advertising campaign described ‘hamara Bajaj’ as the symbol of a resurgent India.

But rather than look into the rearview mirror, Bajaj Auto is focusing on the road ahead. Bajaj Auto managing director Rajiv Bajaj announced on Wednesday that the company was all set to bid adieu to the segment as it concentrates on motorcycles, in line with its ambitions of emerging as the world’s biggest bikemaker ahead of Honda. ‘‘We have an opportunity to shoot for something... to be the largest motorcycle maker in the world,’’ Bajaj said as he announced growth plans for the motorcycle segment.

While the greater potential in the motorcycle segment may be one of the reasons prompting Bajaj to exit the scooter market, the company’s listless performance in scooters would certainly be among the other compelling reasons behind the withdrawal, expected by the end of this fiscal.

Bajaj has seen its scooter volumes drop to barely a couple of hundreds per month. The company, which dominated the scooter market with geared brands like Chetak and Super, suffered in the 1990s with the coming of motorcycles in the market that were not only more stylish and appealing but they also offered greater mileage.

“We want to become a motorcycle specialist and do not want to distract ourselves by scooters and mopeds... we cannot get greedy and try to do everything,” Bajaj said. “We are not developing scooters. We have no scooter on the drawing board.” 

Bajaj Auto to stop production of Scooters....

The iconic Bajaj scooter will soon be history with the company deciding to stop its production to focus exclusively on the motorcycle market. The two-wheeler giant will exit the scooter segment by the end of 2009-10 financial year, Managing Director Rajiv Bajaj said in New Delhi on Wednesday.

According to Rajiv Bajaj the company is aiming to become a "motorcycle specialist" and cannot make scooters. He made the announcement and launching a new motorcycle - Pulsar 135 LS. The company currently produces three million motorcycles per annum as against just about 12,000 scooters per year, most of which is exported. ''The scooters did not sell according to our expectations...Now our focus is on motorcycles,'' he said.

The company, at present, sells just one scooter that is the 100-cc gearless Crystal.

Source - IBN Live

LML Slideshop at Fortgreene.ning

Photos at http://fortgreene.ning.com/photo/album/show?id=2241535:Album:2406&xg_source=activity

Find more photos like this on Greene Hill

Everything Moped !!

Moped News:: Everything Moped

What began on April 1, 2003 with a humble shop in Kalamazoo, Michigan has turned into something greater than anyone had ever anticipated. Now all of our shops across the country reflect the unique qualities of the city you find them in – Kalamazoo, Chicago, Seattle, and San Francisco. There have been many moped enthusiasts who have made all these stores what they are today. We’ve grown because we love mopeds, you love mopeds, and as we all know, it’s rather contagious.

Within each retail location, as well as our online store, you can find mopeds, parts and accessories. Our retail stores offer service on vintage and new mopeds. We can work with you to build custom bikes from the ground up, and are always available for consultations. Everyone employed with our company owns a moped and has a great deal of experience on the road as well as on the shop floor.

1977 Mopedssf
San Francisco, California

Packing up their house and dogs, Kastner headed to San Francisco with his wife, leaving Turner to hold down the Midwest shops. Starting out with a warehouse for the online store, plans for a retail location quickly developed. The youngest of all the retail locations, 1977mopedsf opened July of 2008. Nestled in the heart of the Mission District of San Francisco, this location truly highlights how moped culture has grown and transformed throughout the resurgence of these 2-stroke vehicles we all love. The steep hills of SF can’t slow us down!

1977 Mopeds

Kalamazoo, Michigan

Once you ride a moped, you quickly find yourself obsessed. After riding a moped for the first time, Dan Kastner’s life quickly became engulfed with mopeds. After founding the Moped Army and the local branch The Decepticons with Simon King and Brennan Sang, there quickly became a need to get a hold of more mopeds and more parts. 1977mopeds, the flagship store opened in 2003, still holds it down in the small town of Kalamazoo, Michigan. Being quite the optimist, Dan opened this shop in an old building with four guys living in the back of the shop in a two-bedroom apartment. Things could only go up from here! In 2005 it was a huge leap to move to the current location on the Downtown Walking Mall in Kalamazoo. It was here where the online store was also launched. We consider this shop the roots of what is now the flourishing ‘77 family.

Seattle Mopeds

Seattle, Washington

With dreams to venture the company westward, Seattle Mopeds was a perfect fit for the Kalamazoo and Chicago retail locations. Opened in 2006 by Kevin Barrans, founder of the Mosquito Fleet branch of the Moped Army, Seattle Mopeds joined the ‘77 team in 2007. Residing in the Wallingford neighborhood of the Emerald City, Seattle Mopeds is a perfect and cheerful breath of fresh air in this city by the sea.

Warbux Mopeds

Chicago, Illinois

In 2005 Patrick Turner, a Kalamazoo native who moved to Chicago in 1998, became co-owner of 1977mopeds. Joining forces with Kastner, they together crafted big plans for a retail location in the Windy City. Turner already had such feats under his belt such as co-founding Peddy Cash, the Chicago branch of the Moped Army, and single-handedly inventing the Magnum Rigid. Creating the perfect shop for Chicago was the natural “next step” for Turner. You will find Milwaukee Avenue buzzing with custom, vintage, and new mopeds.

Moped Army

The Moped Army is the organizational end result of an outcropping of moped enthusiasts throughout the nation. Seeing it as more than just an easy and inexpensive way to get around town, members uphold the moped as a way of life. Although the advantages as a mode of transportation are many, a similar mind set is what brings us together. We see the moped as more than a means of travel, and truly believe in the lifestyle that accompanies riding one.

It’s all about the moped’s aesthetic, its marginalized status in our society, the friendly traveling, easy stop communication, and our ability to enjoy the trip, as well as the destination.

2-Stroke Power. Swarm and Destroy.

Category:Vespa/Kinetic

This is the category for all things Vespa and Kinetic. However, it should be noted that Vespa and Kinetic are two different companies with completely different mopeds. Kinetic mopeds are powered by Vespa moped "clone" motors, meaning they are different, but based off the same design. Many Vespa parts, performance and otherwise, will work fine on your Kinetic moped.

Kinetic Images Gallery

Source - Moped Army












Avanti Images Gallery
Hero Majestic- Images Gallery

The answer to the rapidly escalating fuel prices in the country came in the form of the Hero Majestic range of mopeds in the year 1978. Within a few years, Hero Majestic was a household name in the country, and by 1983, Majestic Auto Limited was the country's leading manufacturer of mopeds. Hero Majestic Mopeds have found great acceptance in the overseas markets, including countries in Africa, North & South America, Europe and the far & middle East and are homologated in Europe & USA.

To the existing range of five different mopeds viz. Hero Panther,Hero Panther 4S,Hero Gizmo,Hero Stallion 4S and Hero Ankur, Majestic Auto Limited is continuously working to upgrade their performances and to make them absolute environment friendly.

Hero Puch Gallery
TVS 50 XL Image

LML Star 4 Stroke is being launched in Europe...

Source - Motoblog

LML Italia presenta in anteprima la Star 4T che verrà svelata al prossimo Eicma 2009 -Salone Internazionale del Motociclo di Milano la settimana prossima. Due le versioni per la STAR 4 Tempi, lo scooter che rivoluziona il mondo delle due ruote coniugando innovazione e tradizione, un 125 cc ed un 150 cc.

Il nuovo 4 Tempi, che affianca alla STAR 2 Tempi, si posiziona tra i veicoli più ecologici al mondo grazie alle basse emissioni inquinanti e ai ridotti consumi. STAR 4 Tempi percosse fino a 60 km con un litro di benzina.

Oltre al nuovo motore, LML Star 4 Tempi ha una nuova scocca/telaio che migliora la sicurezza ed il comfort consentendo di affrontare il traffico cittadino in modo più disinvolto e fluido. Lo stile retrò inconfondibile in contrapposizione alla modernità della sua nuova struttura, fa di STAR un veicolo unico e un oggetto di desiderio.

E’ stata infatti ideata un’inedita struttura in tubi di acciaio elettrosaldati che va a rafforzare la preesistente configurazione monoscocca, con miglioramento delle rigidità (700 volte superiore ad un classico telaio monoscocca), possibilità di alloggiare il motore in posizione più centrale, uso di un supporto motore dotato di silent-block come collegamento telaio/motore, potenza freno maggiorata e nuova taratura delle sospensioni.

Motore
La STAR ha un rivoluzionario motore 4 tempi monocilindrico orizzontale monoalbero con due valvole, un sistema di raffreddamento ad aria forzata ed un cambio manuale a 4 marce con avviamento elettronico e a pedale. Importanti le prestazioni due nuovi motori con una potenza massima di 6.75 Kw a 6250 giri per la variante 150cc e 5.84 Kw a 6000 giri per la variante 125. Entrambi sono Euro 3 a bassa emissione di CO2.

LML ha voluto dedicare una particolare attenzione all’eco-compatibilità. Con la nuova STAR 4 tempi, LML ha ridotto emissioni (STAR 125cc, CO = 1.66 gms/km – HC = 0.21 gms/km) e consumi con dati record (con un solo litro di benzina percorre fino 60 Km).

Stile
Da sempre LML dedica grande attenzione nella cura dei dettagli: la STAR 4 tempi è arricchita da un inedito mozzo anteriore a 5 razze, una presa d’aria ricavata nella scocca destra, una ruota di scorta, nuova strumentazione in doppia scala (Km e Mph) e una nuova sella rinnovata nello stile e nel comfort.

Colori
Ampia e variegata la nuova gamma colori per la versione 4 tempi; 3 le linee proposte che soddisfano i gusti e le personalità della propria clientela.

Prezzi
Fino al 31 Dicembre 2009, in Italia il prezzo lancio della STAR 4 tempi è: STAR 125cc - € 2.660,00 ( € 2.290,00 per il resto d’Europa, tasse escluse) F.C; STAR 150cc - € 2.860,00 ( € 2.380,00 per il resto d’Europa, tasse escluse) F.C. Inclusi due anni di garanzia e un anno di soccorso stradale.

Mumbai Holiday on a Vespa - Reuters Blogs

Think Vespa, and images of Audrey Hepburn and rides down cobble-stoned streets immediately come to mind. How about families of four riding precariously on the choked streets of Mumbai or Delhi?

Piaggio, the Italian vehicle maker that has made the Vespa since just after World War II, has made a big success of its three-wheeler auto rickshaws and commercial vehicles in India, and intends to relaunch the iconic brand here soon.

Why now, when vehicle sales are sluggish, at best? Why now, when the two-wheeler market has moved pretty much decisively to motorbikes? Why now, when a certain low-cost car is close to actually rolling into homes of a lucky 100,000?

But not so long ago, which middle-class Indian family didn’t aspire for — and wait months for — a Bajaj Chetak?

Now, despite gravity-defying motorbikes endorsed by the likes of Hrithik Roshan and Mahendra Singh Dhoni, scooter sales are slowly but surely ticking up.

Sure, many of these are the gentle, gearless variety so popular with the ladies. And yes, they cannot hope to match the numbers of their more macho cousins.

But scooters are also enjoying a bit of a comeback in the west, particularly among college goers, celebs and eco-warriors, because of high fuel prices and the downturn, and a nostalgia that has revived such icons as Volkswagen’s Beetle or Fiat’s Cinquecento.

In India too, scooter sales are ticking up as Honda, Bajaj and TVS explore new, stylish and more fuel-efficient options.

Vespa — Italian for wasp, and named some say because of the high-pitched noise of its two-stroke engine or because of its shape — is no stranger to the Indian market: it was made by Piaggio and then LML in past years.

Now, Piaggio’s wholly owned subsidiary will undertake the task of wooing the Indian masses with the Italian classic.

All we need perhaps, is a scene, a la Roman Holiday or La Dolce Vita, in one of our Bollywood flicks, featuring the new Vespa, to kickstart a new generation of Vespa-lovers in India.

Who would be our own Hepburn and Peck?

Source - Reuters

Jet Scooter

Nostalgia Jet Scooter

This wonderful (and very curvaceous) concept model evokes all sorts of vintage retro-future daydreams... and simply demands some French beauty (like Brigitte Bardot) take it out for a spin. (from here)

jetscooter by ~peanuts23 on deviantART

Armed Military Scooter

A scooter armed with a 75mm cannon....

After World War II, there was little money for defense spending while the nations of Europe rebuilt their industry and society. When there was some cash to spend, one had to be creative to stretch it as far as possible. The French probably accomplished the most astounding example of that with the ACMA Troupes Aeról Portées Mle. 56. Deployed with their airborne forces, this was essentially a militarized Vespa scooter outfitted with a 75mm recoilless rifle. Five parachutes would carry the two-man gun crew, weapon, ammunition, and two scooters safely to earth, and the men would load the weapon on one scooter and the ammo on the other, then ride away. More impressively, the recoilless rifle could be fired effectively on the move by the best of the gun crews. Total cost? About $500 for the scooter and the recoilless rifle was war surplus. Were they successful military machines? Well, the French Army deployed about 800 armed scooters in wars conducted in both Algeria and Indochina."

Source

LML Revival

Geared scooters are back in business, and first off the line in this revival is LML's NV 4-Stroke which was recently introduced in Delhi and Faridabad.

Rewind twenty years, to a scene on a typical Indian street. The eighties are roaring, and the new liberated mantra for personal mobility is reverse engineered Italian style-icons, known to the world as scooters. In all likelihood, seven out of ten vehicles you would have encountered would have been puttering two-stroke scooters. Of course, the age of Japanese 4-stroke motorcycles rang the death knell for the 2-strokers in India, but their charm and real world practicality has seen them thrive internationally.

LML has been one of the major players in the erstwhile scooter-happy market, and the company now has plans of reviving the trend of convenient geared scooters in the country. The scooter manufacturer has been in business exporting its products offshore, but has recently returned to its roots by launching its first product in India after many years in the form of the LML NV 4-Stroke.

Source - Zigwheels

LML Star Scooter

The LML Star is a vintage-style scooter imported by AK International (I&E) Ltd. This scooter is based on the design of the legendary Vespa PX range, which ceased production in October 2007. Prices have gone up dramatically for a used Vespa PX but now you can purchase a new, nearly identical scooter for only £1800.

Star is manufactured by the LML company located in Kanpur, India, originally in collaboration with Vespa Piaggio Italy which produced the range previously. The LML Star DeLuxe is a classically styled steel-bodied scooter with twist-shift 4-speed manual transmission and a 125cc two-stroke reed valve engine. Euro III Approved. Retails for around £1800.

Source - ScooteringUsa

LML launches new 150cc LML NV 4-stroke scooter

LML launches new 150cc LML NV 4-stroke scooter

Lohia Motors India Limited, the company whose identity was almost forgotten by Indians although it had some good product to its credit including LML Vespa resurfaced in the domestic market with re-engineered scooters in the scooter segment with new LML NV 150cc.

There is an increasing demand of scooters in the Indian market and LML rightfully wanted to cash in on the demand and consolidate its position yet again in the scooter segment, but this time in collaboration with a Korean company Daelim in select markets of Ghaziabad and Delhi. The scooters from the anvils of LML are known for speed, stability, power and pickup, let us review if this will be the same with the new 150CC LML NV.

Looks wise the new LML 150cc scooter comes with excellent body graphics, cushioned backrest for better ergonomics and a big taillight for attractive appeal. The new handle bar design reflects new style, and there is improved speedometer with utility box. The seat saddle is spacious providing satisfying riding experience.

LML NV 150cc scooter will be available in two models, the base model and the upgraded deluxe variant. The new LML 4-stroke scooter runs on air-cooled single cylinder engine, displacing 150cc and will generate maximum power output of 8bhp@5500 rpm with a three-port technology.

The best part of the new LML 150cc scooter is how the engine produces so much power, making riding experience smooth and also fun filled. The engine of LML NV is comes with electronic ignition system. And, there is a 4-speed gearbox which is a compact unit, and it uses two cables. The clutch system is smooth but the new LML NV 150 cc scooter lacks the auto lubrication system which is almost a norm in today's 4-stroke scooters. The LML NV comes with drum brakes both front and rear and the wheelbase larger at 1235mm provide greater stability to the rider. The fuel tank capacity is about 8 liters and thats huge.

LML claims that both the variants of scooters deliver fuel efficiency of 55km/litre. The base version is expected to be available at ex-showroom price of Rs. 39,897 in Delhi for the base model and the other upgraded variant will be available Rs.40,800-00.

Currently, LML has limited presence in the Indian market, but with its new product launch it is expected to expand its market share in eastern India.

Those who thought that LML is dead, wake up, because the desi scooter maker and India’s largest scooter exporter, is now back with a bang and consumers will have more choice for the geared scooters.

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NEW 4 Stroke Stella Revealed by 2SB

The New 4 Stroke Stella will still be manual shift, 4 Stroke, and California emissions legal. For all the rest including more photos head over to 2StrokeBuzz.com.

Source - Chicago Scooter Club

Michael Jackson Scooter Ad

Logan’s Run a scooter tour of Logan Square

Logan’s Run a scooter tour of Logan Square

Chicago Scooter Club celebrates its Anniversary today and tommorrow (8th and 9th of August 2009),and will Tour Logan Square tommorrow at 4 pm from

Black Rock Pub & Kitchen

North Center

3614 N Damen Ave

(between Addison St & Patterson Ave)

Chicago, IL 60618

(773) 348-4044

www.blackrockbar.com

Tour Map -
View Proposed logan's run leg in a larger map

LML STAR for Europe

April 29th, 2009 - 2Strokebuzz reported yesterday that the new LML Star (known as the Genuine Stella in the USA) was finally announced to European markets. One could only assume that a US version isn't very far behind. Most interesting about the Star are its specs. Emissions requirements seemed to have taken quite a toll on the modernized engine as its only able to put out 7.7bhp. Many Chinese 150s put out at least this most power. While 7.7bhp isn't a bad starting point, the new motor is going to be much harder and more expensive to extract extra power out of the bike.
TECHNICAL SPECS Star Deluxe 150 3
Length 69 inches
Width 26 inches
Wheelbase 46 inches
Seat height 31 inches
Weight 229 lbs

Engine
Engineering two-stroke configuration, Euro 3, air-cooled
Displacement 150 cc
Bore 57.8 mm
9:1 compression
Maximum power 5.8 kW (7.7 bhp) at 5500 rpm
Injection system cdi
Starting Electric and Mechanical
Catalyzed muffler
Fuel tank capacity 2.5 gallons including 1.06 quart reserve
1.06 quart oil tank
Manual Gearbox 4-speed transmission

Chassis
Steel shell configuration
A front suspension swinging arm, coil spring and hydraulic shock double
Carter engine rear suspension according to the oscillating hydraulic shock double

Brakes
Configuring Front: disc in stainless steel 200 mm - Rear: 150 mm drum
Tires 3.50 - 10
Beacon lamp 12 volt - 35/35 watt
Arrows lamp 12 volt - 5 volt watt/12 - 10 watts
12 volt battery - 9 Ah
Fuse 8 amp
Top speed 85 + / -5 in fourth gear

Source - http://www.scooter-news.com/index.php/en/component/content/266?task=view

Motor Scooter Burns LPG (Dec, 1955)

Motor Scooter Burns LPG (Dec, 1955)

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Piaggio to make a come-back with its Iconic Scooters

Scooters, which almost disappeared into the dark alleys of nostalgia, are making a grand comeback. Piaggio Group, which has recently inaugurated its first manufacturing facility in Vietnam, where it will produce 125cc and 150cc Vespa LX scooters, has said that it will also be rolling out scooters in India in due course of time.

Italian auto company Piaggio, manufacturer of the iconic Vespa scooter, is to start production in India as part of plans to expand its operations. Piaggio has roughly 40% of the Indian market share for three wheelers, whereas it lags behind giant Tata Motors (TTM) with a 6% share in four-wheel light commercial vehicles market.

Piaggio Group now operates manufacturing facilities in Italy, Spain, India, China and Vietnam. In India, after calling off its joint venture with the Kanpur-based LML, Piaggio has restricted its operations in the country to light commercial vehicles. However, the Italian group is said to be considering re-launching Vespa scooters in India by 2011-12. The group said it planned to increase its turnover by 20 per cent by 2012.

Piaggio Vehicles Private Ltd. (PVPL)- is headquartered at Pune and has a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility at Baramati, Maharashtra, where three-wheelers are currently being made. Though the company has not announced it officially, industry sources reckon that its proposed scooters would be manufactured in the premises of its existing plant.

Piaggio has already established its numero-uno position in India's 3 wheeler market in cargo as well as passenger segments. Right from the time of its launch in 1999, Piaggio has consistently delivered exceptional standards and commitment to its customers across India. The service orientation of the company has resulted in Piaggio garnering a customer base of over 700,000 satisfied customers across India.

Source - http://www.vicky.in/straightfrmtheheart/piaggio-targets-indian-scooter-market/

LML - Back in Business ??

Found this Attachment in Team BHP Forum, posted by a TeamBHP Member....

LML News - Latest !!

I, as a avid Vespa Fan, have been following this news line from a long time.... So this is the 

Latest - 16 May 2009 - 

The struggling two wheeler company, LML, unveils its second geared scooter in the domestic market, on the sidelines of a current market situation where there is increasing demand for scooters. LML has introduced a 4-stroke version of its NV brand of scooters in select market of Delhi and Ghaziabad. The new launch would be available in two variants and LML claims the 150 cc scooter will deliver a fuel efficiency of 55 km/liter. It is available at an ex-showroom price of Rs. 39,897 for the base version and Rs 40,800 for the deluxe variant in Delhi.

Source - http://news.infibeam.com/blog/news/2009/05/16/lml_announces_latest_version_of_nv_brand_scooter.html
Another Link - http://www.jimandaz.com/13/lml_introduces_new_version_nv_brand_scooters.htm

And Another - http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News-By-Industry/Auto/Two-wheelers/LML-launches-new-version-of-NV-brand-scooter/articleshow/4535388.cms