View Full Version : I'm revolting! I have a Lambretta. Opinions required and questions
Hello mighty organs.
I admit it. For the last ten years or so I've been harbouring a secret. I have a classic scooter.
It was bought on a whim when I was young and even more stupid than I am now (I think). Since then it sat in my parents garden for a couple of years until they moved and it was then moved into my garage where it's sat maturing. The only riding I did on it was round and round the garden. It's actually what got me into riding bikes but I won't go into that.
I've been toying with the idea of selling it but have decided that I might regret never having used it so I'm going to at least get it on the road and see what happens. If I do then it's a keeper but if not I should get a couple of hundred quid extra for it being on the road if I flog it.
I reckon that with my limited knowledge of spannering and a book or two I can get it back on the road and plan on doing all the mechanical stuff myself. I was going to leave the old bits looking old as they were when the bike was imported and replace only what needs replacing. The bodywork however is a slightly different story. The people I bought it off done a smashing job (NOT!) of hand painting it in Chelsea colours, not that I've got anything against Chelsea but I don't like rubbish paint jobs, especially on lovely classics. I don't know what it was painted with and it hasn't got brush strokes, but it isn't pretty. It's pretty similar to Specialone's (now gone) Lammy (http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=147118&highlight=lambretta)but is MUCH quicker with about another whole horsepower more!
My plan with the paintwork is to hopefully remove the rubbish to show off the lovely light metallic blue (and probably some light brown) beneath and this is where I ask questions!
How can I get the bodged paint off without removing the original colour?
The only way I can think of is to manually rub it down until I see the colour I want.
If that is the only way would I just need tons of elbow grease and wet and dry?
I've read that the top coats won't be as hardcore as the original paint as it probably wasn't baked in an oven. Could that provide me with a method?
Your mighty organ opinions are welcomed but keep the slagging to a minimum. I am 99% biker, I just like to try new thing.
P.S. Specialone I hope you don't mind me linking to your thread.
the_lone_wolf
19-10-10, 10:57 PM
http://www.forumspile.com/Gay-Dont_Tell_Anyone.jpg
Specialone
19-10-10, 11:00 PM
I only got rid of my Li150 back in feb this year, i love lambys.
No shame, ill post a pic of mine in a bit.
Probably should have read your whole thread first ;)
Specialone
19-10-10, 11:11 PM
Respray it mate, by the time you have unsuccessfully tried to remove the bad paint it wont be worth it.
Only thing that stopped mine being a minter the paintwork.
If you havent got 12v electronic on it, fit it, cos they start crap without it.
http://www.forumspile.com/Gay-Dont_Tell_Anyone.jpg
I like you! (But that's because you're very effeminate ;))
Respray it mate, by the time you have unsuccessfully tried to remove the bad paint it wont be worth it.
Only thing that stopped mine being a minter the paintwork.
If you havent got 12v electronic on it, fit it, cos they start crap without it.
Thanks. I actually quite like the look of old scooters looking their age, arts and all, which is why I'd like to do it this way. As far as I know and can tell everything else is pretty much how it was when it was built. I love the fact that there is loads of information out there about old scooters.
I've heard about the wonders of electronic ignition but am going to try it out as it is first. I didn't seem to have any trouble starting it all those years ago although if I were to ride it at night I'd have to stick those push bike flashing lights all over it!
Did you have the Complete Spanners Manual Specialone and if so is it really as good as I've heard? My very first job is to have a look inside the engine casings to check it all out. I was told that a gasket was leaking between the gearbox and engine when I bought the scooter but so far haven't been able to identify which or where.
Oh yeah it's an Li125 Special with a whopping... hold on to your hats ladies... 7.12 hp!
THIS is like mine (http://www.lambretta.co.uk/scooter/895/index.html)(in a slightly better condition though)
mister c
20-10-10, 09:07 AM
Nowt wrong with scooters though I wouldn't own one myself. Used to ride a few when I was a CBT Instructor & they arent that bad.
Watched some scooter racing at 3 Sisters a few weeks ago & I am very tempted to sell my FZR & buy a scoot, they looked great fun on track.
Get her done up & have a play :)
the_lone_wolf
20-10-10, 09:19 AM
I like you! (But that's because you're very effeminate ;))
Daaaaaaaahling
I'm not effeminate, I'm FABULOUS!!!:smt008
;):p
dizzyblonde
20-10-10, 09:29 AM
Thats soooo ghey....ringadingdingding!
Mind you saying that, theres one parked up in town*, so many mirrors on it, you can't see the front end. Its a lovely example. :-)
*outside the florists, seriously, belongs to a very gay fella, who owns the shop!
minimorecambe
20-10-10, 09:33 AM
About ten went past me the other day and one of them was covered in mirrors at the front!
get it road worthy then head down to the Isle of Wight for the scooter rally
http://www.iwight.com/home/latest_news/SCOOTER_RALLY/default.asp
LoneOne might not drive past you on one wheel laughing all the way...
the_lone_wolf
20-10-10, 09:38 AM
LoneOne might not drive past you on one wheel laughing all the way...
They're a feckin pain, takes forever to chisel the stragglers out of the big manly treads on the KTM's tyres afterwards;)
Had one last year manage to SMIDSY a car while pulling out of the biggest biker meet car park
HERR DERRRR
:smt104
Specialone
20-10-10, 09:40 AM
Couple of things to mention, that 7.12 hp its alleged to have will be more like 5hp, mine was allegedly a 150 cc but still slow, could get 55mph at a push.
The 186cc kits are meant to get around 11.5hp which would be pretty good, when I get another one that's what I will do.
I got the 'stickys' manual which was pretty good, you could have had mine except my cat threw up on it :(.
I personally like the old English White with pale blue horn casing etc.
Finally, they are not gay !!!:smt019
They're a feckin pain, takes forever to chisel the stragglers out of the big manly treads on the KTM's tyres afterwards;)
Had one last year manage to SMIDSY a car while pulling out of the biggest biker meet car park
HERR DERRRR
:smt104
i know your pain, took the GS500 i had down there once, had to wait for 10 minutes on the ferry for all the scoots to get started before i could get off and go in the opposite direction to them whilst heading to my grand parents in rookley.
Yarmouth to Rookley via Calbourne on a GS500...
the_lone_wolf
20-10-10, 09:43 AM
Finally, they are not gay !!!:smt019
Just masculinely challenged??
The prosecution submits evidence item A:
http://thejournalistachronicle.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/scooter.jpg
;)
the_lone_wolf
20-10-10, 09:45 AM
i know your pain, took the GS500 i had down there once, had to wait for 10 minutes on the ferry for all the scoots to get started before i could get off and go in the opposite direction to them whilst heading to my grand parents in rookley.
Yarmouth to Rookley via Calbourne on a GS500...
This year I left the Island and went down to Minehead for the weekend
The roads ALL the way there were littered with broken down scoots in varying states of undress with people standing around looking confused
I swear, no word of a lie, I must have seen thirty or so in the space of a few hours:mrgreen:
dizzyblonde
20-10-10, 09:45 AM
Just masculinely challenged??
The prosecution submits evidence item A:
http://thejournalistachronicle.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/scooter.jpg
;)
Check out the matching orange tan on that guy!!!
the_lone_wolf
20-10-10, 09:49 AM
specialone at last year's IOW rally:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1348/675610961_1d61d8a047.jpg
Is he the rider or pillion I hear you ask? Well, let's preserve the air of mystery....
;)
Specialone
20-10-10, 10:36 AM
Just to clarify, them are not scoots they are peds, gays ride peds, men ride lambrettas ;)
TLW...bolox btw :)
the_lone_wolf
20-10-10, 10:44 AM
TLW...bolox btw :)
Neither confirm nor deny then?
:-k
;)
There is a scooter place, or at lest there was, in The Cut near Waterloo station.
There are also a couple of Lambrettas that i try to catch in the morning. One wheelies off the lights and looks pretty much std, aprat from some sort of filter hanging out under the body work. There is anotehr which is not so subtle, but that has 'yes its a 50' on the plate and that also goes like a scalded cat
Lambrettas? Doing wheelies?
You sure?
the_lone_wolf
20-10-10, 12:05 PM
Lambrettas? Doing wheelies?
You sure?
Sounds odd to me too
Are you sure they weren't simply breaking down Ian?
;)
Lambrettas? Doing wheelies?
You sure?100%. The 1st one, ok admitedly, it was only little ones but the wheel defintly coming off the gorund. The second, had the rear end cut away, both were definitly lambys.
Specialone
20-10-10, 01:29 PM
Viney has not seen things, they will lift the front albeit not very high, the 225cc tuned ones will lift the front no problem.
Even mine would if you revved the nuts off it then dumped the clutch.
Bluepete
20-10-10, 01:43 PM
Just masculinely challenged??
The prosecution submits evidence item A:
http://thejournalistachronicle.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/scooter.jpg
;)
The defence rebuttal;
http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk24/conker51/ktm-pink.jpg
How cool is it that I can use the word "rebuttal" in this instance!
I would love an old, classic scoot.
Pete ;)
dizzyblonde
20-10-10, 02:06 PM
The defence rebuttal;
http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk24/conker51/ktm-pink.jpg
How cool is it that I can use the word "rebuttal" in this instance!
I would love an old, classic scoot.
Pete ;)
what....TLW in disguise I here you say?
rictus01
20-10-10, 04:04 PM
any excuse.......;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mM22jEfcm1Y
Id love an olde skool skoot, have to be something pretty quick so's to leave the chav'ers behind in there 1.2 corsa 'cossies'.
local ped shop race tunes lambrettas and vespas and think they race them and flog some on, they've got some pretty nice examples of them down at psn scooters (or at least they did have).
whats anyones opinion on vespa's, not quite as cool as the lamby's but still up there
the_lone_wolf
20-10-10, 04:08 PM
The defence rebuttal;
http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk24/conker51/ktm-pink.jpg
How cool is it that I can use the word "rebuttal" in this instance!
I would love an old, classic scoot.
Pete ;)
Move to strike your honour
The evidence submitted shows a SA dealer who lost a bet, not normal scooter riders engaging in normal scooter rider behaviour such as skin tight leather pants and attending pride parades...;)
JediGoat
20-10-10, 04:13 PM
In case you need any bits and bobs, I've heard lots of good reports about these guys over the past few years - http://www.retrospectivescooters.co.uk/contact.html.
They're just behind Ally Pally, and I've seen a few scooters they've either restored, or done a few jobs on, and everyone I've spoken to who have used them spoke very highly of them.
Jo
Specialone
20-10-10, 04:28 PM
In regards to vespa's, they are for people who cant get a lambretta for whatever reason, pretty much like a curvy and pointy thing.
so the vespas a poor mans lambretta then... so that would make the curvy a poor mans pointy :p
Specialone
20-10-10, 04:40 PM
so the vespas a poor mans lambretta then... so that would make the curvy a poor mans pointy :p
Yep, thats about the size of it :)
*awaits abuse*
davepreston
20-10-10, 04:45 PM
poormans pointy ,you sir will pay for such blastfamey
do you mean like the 650 is a poor mans thou ;)
Errr... somthing along those lines.. err maybe :)
Specialone
20-10-10, 04:56 PM
poormans pointy ,you sir will pay for such blastfamey
do you mean like the 650 is a poor mans thou ;)
Yep again, i will have a thou one day :cool:
I like to think of SV650s as a slim man's thou.
Thanks for that Jedi, I'll add them to my favourites. There are LOADS of suppliers for scooter parts out there with varying qualities.
Specialone
20-10-10, 05:26 PM
I got most of my parts from cambridge, they have been going years and the parts I had were decent.
Bluefish
20-10-10, 05:35 PM
do you mean like the 650 is a poor mans thou ;)
Just like the thou is a poor mans 1050, ;)
davepreston
20-10-10, 06:59 PM
I like to think of SV650s as a slim man's thou.
are you having a laugh, you have met me right
Specialone
20-10-10, 07:17 PM
Just like the thou is a poor mans 1050, ;)
+1 lol
hindle8907
20-10-10, 09:22 PM
scooters = gay
are you having a laugh, you have met me right
Yeah but you're special.
scooters = gay
I don't know where you went to school but your maths is rubbish.
Where I or any other organ put their dinkle or ladygarden, shouldn't have any bearing at all in this thread nor most others.
http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:yG6viwaTVgM2dM:http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y299/thriteenthmonkey/AwesomeSmileySmall.png&t=1
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