2011 seemed to be the year of the maxi scooter at EICMA with the world premiere of BMW’s C range of maxi scooters. We saw the prototype at Milan last year and although many of the high tech features didn’t make it through to production, the two models that were unveiled could well give the competition a run for their money. Also at the show Yamaha’s popular TMAX had been given a revamp and looked particularly impressive with the new more aggressive styling and a new 530cc fuel injected engine. Meanwhile Honda presented a new maxi – the SW-T600 and Piaggio gave us the X10 to name but a few of the notable models on display this year at Milan.

BMW C600 Sport / C650GT

BMW Motorrad’s General Director Hendrik von Kuenheim gave the opening speech at the world premiere of the C series. It was revealed that both scooters are powered by a 650cc two cylinder in-line engine giving a max power output of 60hp transmitted to the rear wheel by means of a CVT gearbox. The suspension on the two machines consists of an upside down fork at the front and, for the first time in this class, a single swing arm at the rear. What separates the two is primarily the seating position, the Sport version is slightly higher than the GT which has a softer seat. Two helmets can be stored on both scooters, the C600 Sport also features a patented BMW FlexCase. Both machines have generously sized ABS brake systems as standard. A daytime running light, to enhance safety, is also available as an option. In addition to low fuel consumption, both scooters already fulfil Euro-4 emissions standards.

2012 Yamaha TMAX

Yamaha’s revamped TMAX now has a new 530 cc DOHC in-line two cylinder fuel injected engine which we’re led to believe provides improved acceleration with plenty of torque in the low to mid range. The double chain transmission has been replaced with a new drive belt. Stopping power has been upgraded with two 267 mm brake discs at the front and a larger 282 mm disc at the rear. Overall aesthetics have changed quite dramatically. Sporting new R1 inspired headlights, a new dashboard and redesigned bodywork throughout, the TMAX now looks decidedly more aggressive and assertive. With a new die cast aluminum swing arm and new transmission the TMAX is also 4 kg lighter bringing the overall weight down to 200 kg.

Piaggio X10 – Luxury and comfort seem to be the approach with Piaggio X10 which boasts electrically regulated rear suspension, a dual ABS and ASR system, a handbrake, an on-board computer with a widescreen LCD display, backlit controls, triple glove box and a spacious luggage compartment. The X10 will be available in three variants – 125 cc (15 hp), 330 cc (33.3 hp) and 492cc (40hp).

Aprilia SRV 850

Aprilia made the move towards more powerful larger capacity scooters with the SRV 850 equipped with the first 850cc two cylinder 90° V 4 valve electronic injection scooter engine. The 850 power plant is capable of reaching max power of 74.9 hp (55.9 kW) at 7750 rpm and a max torque of 76.5 Nm (7.8 kgm) at 6000 rpm. The SRV 850 follows on from the Gilera GP 800 which was introduced in 2007 as the most powerful scooter in the world. The styling is clearly Aprilia with the superbike aesthetics which, coupled with the power and performance of the bike, could well convince motorcyclists to make that switch to maxi scooters.

Honda SW-T600 – Honda’s offering into the maxi scooter world at EICMA was the SW-T600 superscooter which made its debut at Milan. The SW-T600 is being marketed as offering car-like luxury while offering fuel efficiency from it’s 582cc engine as well as low maintenance. It features generous underseat storage to accommodate two full-face helmets, a 16 litre fuel tank, CVT transmission, a kerb weight of 247 kg and the option of an ABS package.

Peugeot Metropolis Project – 2011 wasn’t the first time Peugeot have exhibited a three-wheeled scooter at EICMA, back in 2009 we saw their ‘Hybrid 3 Evolution’ 300 cc electric concept on show. Peugeot’s offering this time round is the ‘Metropolis Project’ and it’s apparently almost ready for production. Sporting led headlights and styling inspired by the SR1 concept car, it’s easy to spot that this is a Peugeot especially with the bulky Satelis style rear end. The Metropolis Project boasts a number of electronic features including a ‘keyless’ starter system, a digital display that gives tyre pressure readings and an electrically adjustable windshield. Performance-wise it’s powered by a 400 cc liquid cooled fuel injected engine capable of delivering 35 hp and speeds of up to 93mph (150 km/h). Three brake discs (two 200 mm discs at the front, one 240 mm at the rear) takes care of the stopping power by way of a brake pedal that actuates the integral braking.

On the subject of three wheelers, elsewhere at the show we’d heard reports of a Chinese Piaggio MP3 clone being seized by Italian authorities. The three wheeler was Yiben branded and on display at the Kaitong Motor stand, the Italian police seized the vehicle made in China on grounds of patent infringement and counterfeiting.

Piaggio Vespa 46 Quarantasei

With design cues derived from the 1945 MP6 prototype that gave rise to one of Italy’s most iconic scooters, the Vespa 46 is a sublime mix of retro and modern. Powered by an air cooled four-stroke three valve fuel injection system there are two versions, a 125 (11.6 hp) and 150 (13 hp). The Vespa Quarantasei features some slick styling features and finishing touches like the ergonomic grips in hand-stitched leather, wing shaped LED indicators and a unique seat design. The minimalist, sculpted lines and styling of the concept brings the vintage styling cues of this Vespa right into the 21st century. Aside to the engine, what makes it into the final production remains to be seen but Piaggio tell us the Quarantesei is due for launch by the end of 2012 in the European market, start saving now…

Piaggio Beverly SportTouring – The Beverly high-wheeler has evolved with a new 350 engine, a 150/70 rear tyre and a new look that now brings the Beverly into the sport sector. It’s also the first scooter with ABS/ASR and the first Piaggio model to feature a brand new engine with a max power of more than 33 hp designed to be on a par with a 400 cc scooter minus the weight.

Piaggio Fly – Like many other scooters at Milan, the Piaggio Fly has undergone an update with a styling revamp and features that wouldn’t look out of place on a larger capacity scooter. Designed primarily for urban use, the Fly will initially be available as a 50 cc (four-stroke) to be joined by a 125 and 150 cc model later.

Italjet Dragster

With something of a cult following the Italjet Dragster was ressurected at Milan with a styling update but possessing key features of the original Dragster such as a reworked trellis frame and SIS (independent steering system) suspension. The prototype we saw featured a four-stroke 50cc engine, the engine in the final model, assuming it reaches production, is yet to be confirmed although there was talk of a Piaggio engine whilst at the show and larger capacity engines and an electric version. The body styling is distinctly angular compared to the flowing curves of the previous model but just as aggressive. A new dashboard featuring a new clock and LCD display, new lights and indicators, new seats and a petrol cap situated in the middle of the scooter are some of the notable features of the prototype. Over the years we’ve heard of dealings with Kinetic in India, we’ve seen a 250cc Dragster prototype so will this Dragster ever reach production? We can only hope it does. There’s no doubt that fans of the machine are behind Italjet in making a comeback.

Lambretta LN 125/LN 151

After almost a 40 year long hiatus the legendary brand is back and now marketed worldwide. Currently there are two new Lambrettas – the LN 125 and the LN 151. Powering the Lambretta LN 125 is a four-stroke single cylinder air cooled two-valve 124.66 cc (Euro 3) engine producing a power output of 8.7 hp at 8000rpm. The LN 151 possesses identical features to the LN 125 but it’s for the Italian market and powered by a 151 cc (Euro 3) single cylinder four-stroke engine producing 10.3 hp at 7500rpm. As you would expect the bodywork is steel and features styling that is faithful to the original 60s scooters.

Sit back and watch the highlights from EICMA 2011 in our video:

Words, Photos & Video: Paul Robinson
Additional Photos: Piaggio

Bookmark this page for more news and photos from EICMA 2011.

The TMAX is already considered highly successful but the old design was starting to look a bit jaded and technology has been catching up very quickly among the competing brands. The TMAX now has a new 530 cc DOHC in-line two cylinder fuel injected engine which we’re led to believe provides improved acceleration with plenty of torque in the low to mid range. The double chain transmission has also been replaced with a new drive belt. Stopping power has been upgraded with two 267 mm brake discs at the front and a larger 282 mm disc at the rear. Overall aesthetics have changed quite dramatically, sporting new R1 inspired headlights, a new dashboard and redesigned bodywork throughout. The TMAX now looks decidedly more aggressive and assertive. With a new die cast aluminum swing arm and new transmission the TMAX is also 4 kg lighter bringing the overall weight down to 200 kg. In an increasingly competitive sector of the market, Yamaha look likely to retain their share.

The new Yamaha TMAX is due in 2012. Prices TBC.

BMW Motorrad’s General Director Hendrik von Kuenheim gave the opening speech which took place at the World Premiere in Milan on Monday. It was revealed that both scooters are powered by a 650cc two cylinder in-line engine giving a max power output of 60hp transmitted to the rear wheel by means of a CVT gearbox. The suspension on the two machines comprises of an upside down fork at the front and, for the first time in this class, a single swing arm at the rear. What separates the two is primarily the seating position, the Sport version is slightly higher than the GT which has a softer seat. Two helmets can be stored on both scooters, the C600 Sport also features a patented BMW FlexCase. Both machines have generously sized ABS brake systems as standard. A daytime running light, to enhance safety, is also available as an option. In addition to low fuel consumption, both scooters already fulfil Euro-4 emissions standards. Prices TBC.

BMW’s maxi scooters will also be on display at this year’s NEC Motorcycle Live.

Engine-wise, the prototype has been fitted with a two stroke Minarelli copy with a concept exhaust that appears to resemble a four stroke pipe. Reactions from punters at the show have been positive so far with great interest also being shown from the online community. The actual engines, assuming the Dragster reaches production, haven’t been confirmed as yet but “made in Italy” seems to be the intention.

The frame on the prototype is new with wider tubes and apparently only a few 100g heavier than the existing trellis frame on the 50cc model. A larger 12 inch front wheel to accommodate a larger or dual brake caliper has been discussed as a possibility. Visible changes include new lighting, a fuel tank moved to the center of the bike where the battery would normally reside. The redesigned seat would imply less under seat storage space but the design appears to be uncompromising given the modern sports bike looks. The dashboard retains the original shape but now has a new clock and the addition of a digital display. The original S.I.S. independent steering system has also been retained although this could change if a larger front wheel becomes a reality.

Over the years we’ve heard of dealings with Kinetic in India, we’ve seen a 250cc Dragster prototype so will this Dragster ever reach production? We can only hope it does. In the meantime, sit back and enjoy our slideshow of photos of the new Dragster taken at the show:

Bookmark this page for more news about the Italjet Dragster.

With Wipe2-esque styling cues, these concept images present an angular, more aggressive looking Dragster with razor sharp styling. It’s not a million miles away from its more smoother looking predecessor, it still has a trellis frame, it wouldn’t be a Dragster without one. The S.I.S. (independent steering system) front suspension still appears the same too. It has the same wheels and even the same Michelin Bopper’s the old Dragster had. The dashboard and controls still resemble the old configuration but the pictures show a new clock and the addition of an LCD display. The lighting has been redesigned and the rear end looks completely different to the old Dragster. A larger shock absorber is visible at the rear and not centrally mounted as per the old Dragster 50. Engine-wise, the facts and figures are yet to be confirmed but for now we’re aware of a 50cc two-stroke, 125cc four-stroke plus a larger capacity four-stroke.

Dragster afficionados have been taunted with news of a new model for years, as much as the old Dragster has been loved (for all its faults) let’s hope Italjet’s engineers have addressed the build quality issues and made some real improvements to withstand any chance of survival in today’s competitive and unforgiving market. But above all, let’s hope this time the Dragster finally makes a return to the showrooms and indeed our roads.

Want to share your thoughts about the new Dragster? Join in the discussion on our forum. Or for all things Dragster related visit www.italjetdragster.com

To say this seemed to be quite a serious affair (“who’s got the fastest scooter”) the Adrenalin crew were quite laid back about the whole thing. The Zips had already been prepped which left little to do except queue up for some quarter mile runs once the bikes had passed scrutineering. Elvington appeared to be a hive activity and was bustling with a wide selection of scooters ranging from classic Vespas and Lambrettas to the latest maxi scoots, meanwhile the weather looked changeable. Thankfully the rain held off and riders were able to get plenty of runs up the strip. Adrenalin’s steeds consisted of two pumped up Piaggio Zips kitted out with the latest tuning goodies from Polini Motori. Pedstop’s Chris Halliday could be found sporting Persil white and orange leathers aboard a Polini powered 94cc Big Evolution Zip. Chris’s Zip had already been put to full use on circuits during track days, now it was time to see how it faired over the quarter mile.

Fellow Pedstop Race Team member Sam Schofield could also be found riding a 77cc Piaggio Zip in 2011 racing season colours (Aqua Green). Sam’s Zip had already seen some action at BSSO race meetings hence a few battle scars on both bike and rider. As it transpired both Zips clocked up some respectable times in the 15 second bracket with terminal speeds around the 85mph mark. As most of us know when it comes to scooter sprinting, it’s all about the old power-to-weight ratio – put a lighter rider on the bike with some launching ability and an immediate improvement in quarter mile times will be seen. Chris and Sam both admit they could lose a stone or two but the Barnsley massive prefer pies not stuff you feed to rabbits.

It’s not as if the power isn’t there though, both of Pedstop’s machines are perfectly capable on the circuit. In order to achieve that perfect power curve a dyno session had been carried out back at Pedstop HQ prior to the meeting, Chris had opted for a bigger Keihin 33mm carb and played it safe on the fuel side of things in order to prevent the engine from self-destructing half way down the strip, which is always a wise move.

With the change in atmospheric pressure from morning to afternoon, a change in jetting could have been made but this was very much a test session for Pedstop. Bigger and better things look to be on the cards for next year and who knows, a more serious take on sprinting, watch this space.

Elsewhere at Elvington there was plenty for the punters with trade stalls, dyno testing, moto gymkhana plus other attractions. At the time of writing it’s looking like the event could be on again next year – a promising sign that sprinting is gaining in popularity once again in the UK.

Words, Photos & Video: Paul Robinson

Conditions were far from arid at the previous round at Three Sisters so it seemed like quite a while since I got some real track time in. My results at Three Sisters meant that for all three races on the Saturday I started in pole position. Little did I know things weren’t going to go to plan…

We set off at 2am Saturday morning and arrived at Lydden Hill at around 7am with practically no sleep. After scrutineering and signing on it was time for the practice session. I’d never been to Lydden before so I was eager to get out there and see how it was. Two laps into practice and a Lambretta had come off mid-corner which left me running over the top of him and going over the front. Not in the best of moods this left me with no experience on the track knowing that other riders have either raced here before or done a full practice session.

Lining up in the assembly area ready for race one seemed like an eternity. When they finally let us out for the sighting lap I managed about half a lap and the piston let go leaving me pushing the Zip back to the paddock. Out of action I got the chance to spectate, it was a good race with a few people falling off or breaking down. The win went to Josh Brown who had some close racing with Damon Tunnicliffe who at one point got the lead on Josh.

Feeling tired and fed up I had a limited amount of time to swap the engine over to the spare before race two. With some help from Ian and Josh the work was done in no time and this allowed me to relax and get a bite to eat. Race two was just after lunch and with the spare engine in place I felt a little more confident but still concerned about my lack of experience at Lydden. The lights went out and everyone went steaming off into the first corner. I had the speed on the straights but after being overtaken on two or so corners by quite a few people this put me in a negative mood. Knowing I couldn’t or wouldn’t carry the speed into the corner at the bottom of the hill I just kept my sights on Mark Shirley and crossed the line pretty much at the side of him. Finishing in seventh I was extremely disappointed and knew I’d need to step it up by quite a lot if I wanted to get a decent position.

During the afternoon the atmosphere in the paddock felt good. Everyone was sat about chatting and enjoying the sun. With no changes to the bike it was a case of waiting for the final race to arrive then we could enjoy some well-earned rest. With race three underway I really tried to pick up my pace. It seemed like everyone else around me had picked up the pace too so I finished in the same position as race two right down in seventh place. Although finishing seventh I didn’t feel like I could have gone that much faster if at all with the back end twitching around. The race was stopped on lap nine due to an incident involving a Lambretta, a Vespa and a Gilera DNA which resulted in the red flag been waved.

We soon got the van packed back up with all our gear and headed off down the road to Tesco for some much needed supplies. When we returned we made sure the tents were still securely held down with the screwdrivers we’d used due to leaving the tent pegs back at home. One of the sponsors was providing free beer and a BBQ so Josh and I decided to go and check it out. Most of the older classic riders were pretty drunk racing up and down on space hoppers and generally acting the fool. As 12pm approached I couldn’t stay awake any longer so we headed back to the tents for some much needed kip.

Waking up at half past ten to find Ian had set everything up was a nice change. Due to the track being near a church this meant racing couldn’t start until 12:30 because of the noise – we didn’t want any angry bible bashers chasing us around now did we? Race one came around pretty quick and the weather was scorching which meant the track was nice and sticky too. Again I felt like I was pushing relatively hard but couldn’t make up those 1.5 seconds that the frontrunners had on each lap. However I managed to get Mark Shirley on the last lap finishing just 0.08 seconds in front of him across the line. Although I didn’t get a good result I still enjoyed the race.

We packed up our stuff so we could head for home straight after the last race. I’d got it into my head that I’d have to get my lap times down by a second or so. A few laps into the race and Runner rider Keith Terry was mixing it with the Zips. Although the Runners have straight line speed they can’t really go round corners that well so they end up over doing it braking right into the corner thus slowing other riders down. After a close call between Mark Shirley and Keith I decided to carry some more speed into the right-hander at the bottom of the hill. On exiting the corner the back end went which left me on my back with the Zip bouncing through the dirt at the edge of the track. Luckily I was okay. With a pair of torn gloves and a wrecked Zip I got a lift back to the paddock. Josh went on to win the race leaving Craig Bewey in third.

Apart from the odd few who were taken to hospital after some pretty bad crashes I think it was a good weekend for most. Despite having a breakdown and a couple of crashes I still enjoyed the weekend, although I didn’t enjoy the circuit that much. Everyone seemed to be really on the ball and pushing for good positions. Feeling disappointed with my results I really need to be ready for the next round at Mallory Park.

Words: Sam Schofield @ Adrenalin Pedstop
Photos: Lee Hollick
Video: Mickey Dee

This year’s North Run organised by Adrenalin Pedstop saw a shift in the number of modified machines at the event (compared to 2009-10) ranging from 70cc kitted Piaggio Zips and NRGs to fully customised 183cc Gilera Runners, Aprilia SRs and Italjet Dragsters with bespoke parts and modified frames – nothing quite as radical as what you might find in parts of Europe but if the North Run (currently one of the largest dedicated auto events in the UK) is anything to go by then there are positive signs that scooter customising could be on the increase in the UK despite the current economic downturn.

If you’re thinking about starting a custom project then now is the time. It’s currently a buyer’s market when it comes to purchasing a secondhand machine that would make a good starting point. At the 50cc end of the spectrum there’s an abundance of aftermarket tuning and styling products to choose from for popular Piaggio or Minarelli powered scooters such as the Piaggio Zip, Piaggio NRG, Yamaha Aerox and MBK Nitro and plenty of used models available. If you fancy something a bit bigger, a four stroke 125cc Runner may look like a solid option but at over £3K for a brand new machine you’d be better off looking for one a few years old past its warranty especially if you intend on modifying it. If maxi scooters are more your thing, a 500cc Gilera Nexus on 2004/5 plates has been seen for £2k so if you look hard enough there are some bargains out there.

If you’re new to scooters and thinking about starting a custom project then here’s a brief overview of the sorts of things you can upgrade/modify/tweak till your heart’s content:

Visuals: If fabricating your own fiberglass bodywork is a little bit out of your league then worry not as there’s a great selection of pre-painted aftermarket body kits available for transforming the overall look of your scooter quickly and easily. Evo body kits for scooters like the Gilera Runner are a popular choice and with manufacturers like Doppler and BCD producing some trick styling products ranging from downhill MTB handlebars and stems, Audi inspired LED tail lamps and inspired bodywork to bring your scooter right into the 21st century there are some great options to suit all budgets. Other than bolt-on parts think about chroming, engraving, anodising, air brushing, powdercoating, cutting and stripping down, lightening, lowering, extending. The only limit is your own imagination (and perhaps your own wallet).

The need for speed: Beauty is only skin deep (a few millimeters of plastic or aluminium in this case), it’s what’s underneath that counts right? Bolstering the performance of the engine comes first on every boy racer’s shopping list. Tuning usually begins with a bolt-on exhaust system upgrade that offers a power increase across the rev range. A few tweaks to the transmission in terms of swapping rollers and a change in jetting are the usual recommendations after a change in exhaust especially if you’re fitting a sports style air filter at the same time. The key components for obtaining more power though are cylinder kits, crankshafts and bigger carbs. Consult a reputable dealer who will be able to recommend parts to fit your particular scooter. Once you’ve gone down the tuning route, get your scoot dyno tested. Better still get on the drag strip and get the quarter mile times for bragging rights.

Here at PETROL we’re on the look out for custom scooters to feature here on our website, so if you own a scooter that you’re proud of and think it’s worthy of a showcase then send us some details along with a few pics. You never know we might just feature it…

Waking up at 6:45am to make sure I arrived at Pedstop HQ nice and early, I was shocked to see twenty or so people already waiting eagerly outside the front gate. As it got nearer 9am I went outside to give a quick showing of the 94cc Zip and from the reaction everyone gave I knew it was going to be a somewhat interesting weekend. Just as Chris was speaking through the megaphone telling everyone we will set off in five minutes, engines were started and people disappeared from the industrial estate. A quick look at Paul’s face confirmed he was thinking the same as me “what the f***?” Runner rider James Bentley came back to inform us that the group were waiting round the corner. This was a relief; we thought we’d been left behind on our own run!

As usual the first leg of the run, which in this case was to Doncaster, is often the craziest. Wheelies, undertaking and stoppies were just some of the rules of the road that were instantly abused. In my case the first leg was the least enjoyable with my Zip temperature rising and rising unhealthily on the 30mph roads. Nevertheless I soon found myself joining in with the rest of the pack having a bit of fun. A quick stop on the borders of Doncaster to regroup and what do we get? PC Plod and their companion straight in to interfere with the fun. As Craig was trying to explain to the plump police lady about how the run was going to work, she instantly stung him with a sixty pound fine. Now that’s a lesson for anybody who thinks it’s clever to ride without an MOT! Don’t stop and talk to police just ride off as fast as you can!

As everyone was leaving Danum Retail Park multiple sets of traffic lights split everyone up. This left me and Danni the joiner (thanks for the quick turnaround with the stage build) on his 660 Raptor quad a fair way behind. This didn’t really bother us that much as for weeks beforehand we’d been discussing which would win, the 77cc scooter designed for 30mph or the purpose built 660cc Yamaha quad? We soon became aware that the little Zip had the edge on the Raptor and was a lot more nimble through traffic. A good five minutes of fun was over and we’d caught up with the rest of the group. We arrived at Xscape in Castleford and went for a KFC just across the road. A phone call to Chris from Paul made us look out of the window to see a very bold bobby on a Polaris quad attempting to control / round up the wolf pack. It soon became clear that we were not welcome here and made our tracks heading to Leeds. Unfortunately for me this meant the rest of my journey would be sat in the van, you see racing Zips get very shy around the Police and have to be hidden away in dark places until it’s safe to go back out to play.

The view from the van was somewhat relaxing but had the benefit of a radio and backrest. Although we had a sat nav in the van Richard and I soon got split up from the group and possibly a little bit lost. With no more stops until the camp site at Ackworth due to the unnecessary interruption from the fuzz, we decided to get on the motorway and meet everyone there. With us not being due at the campsite until 3pm nothing was actually set up, so everyone took it upon themselves to start tear arsing up and down the field. After the different scooter awards were presented to the lucky winners everyone got chance to go on the bucking bronco and wrecking ball. The music was pumping and the sun still shining so we can’t really complain now can we?

As it began to get dark the virgins (cough) I mean teenagers were eagerly lining up to watch the pole dancers in action. With the sky nice and dark it meant there were more atmospheres with the lights etc bouncing around the tent. One lad in particular wearing a green mankini (as featured on Borat) was dancing on the pole whilst groping one of the pole dancers while her boyfriend stood and videoed with tears in his eyes.

The night really got going with people dancing around the stage perving, sorry I mean watching interestingly. I think from here on the night was pretty much a blur for most of the Pedstop staff although we do recall banners going missing and people burning tyres? I think chaotic, out of control and downright manic is a good way to describe the night time events with people riding round non-stop wearing bear suits and some completely naked sat on their mates lap?? Chris Morrall, we always thought you were a ***** boy! All in all it was a good day out although very unpredictable for us and most likely everyone else.

Check out all the pics from this year’s North Run:

The North Run 2011 Photo Gallery I
The North Run 2011 Photo Gallery II
The North Run 2011 Photo Gallery III

** Keep a look out for the Scooter Shootout event at Elvington drag strip in a couple of month’s time (2nd October) with a possible rideout… **

Words: Sam Schofield @ Adrenalin Pedstop
Photos & Videos: Paul Robinson / Dabsy Bennett

THE NORTH RUN 2011 AWARDS:

Best Piaggio
Ashley Bradshaw – Piaggio NRG
Runner Up: Ben Peacock – Piaggio Zip

Best Aprilia
Tom Cooper – ‘Flubber’ Aprilia SR
Runner Up: Binny – Aprilia Sonic

Best Gilera
Josh O’Keefe – ‘Carbon Footprint’ Gilera Runner
Runner Up: Alex Wilson – Gilera Runner

Best Peugeot
Stuart Cowell – ‘Monster’ Peugeot Speedfight
Runner Up: Brad Allen – Peugeot Speedfight

Best Yamaha
Jordan Dean – Yamaha Aerox

Best Import
Jack Harding – ‘Kaiser Chiefs’ Italjet Dragster
Runner Up: Dale Gregory – Generic XOR 125

BEST BURNOUT
Darren Goodfella

RUFF SCOOTER AWARD
Daniel Brewer – ‘Zippy’ Piaggio Zip

BEST CUSTOM SCOOTER OVERALL
James Bentley – Gilera Runner

After a 6am start, I set off with a few mates to Wigan. The clouds in the sky soon told us that it was more than likely going to be a wet race. After a few wrong turns (despite using a sat nav) and a twenty minute break at McDonalds for sausage and egg McMuffins, we arrived at Three Sisters at around 8am.

The track was wet and it was spitting slightly so I opted for PMT wets to give optimum grip during these conditions. After my bike hade been scrutineered and described as “perfect”, we then found out we were going to be the last ones out to practice. It started to rain lightly while some of the superbikes were out and pools of water had begun to appear in various places on the track. Our turn for practice came round pretty quickly, I felt a little wobbly at first but this was due to nobody really keeping up a pace that allowed each corner to flow. I started to pick up the pace to see what sort of grip I had and soon felt pretty confident for the race ahead. During practice Keith Terry lost the front end mid-corner which meant I had to either swerve off the track or attempt to bunny hop his Gilera Runner. The latter wasn’t really going to happen was it? Suffice to say I ended up going off the track.

After practice we found out we were due to go out in race eleven, this meant a long wait until we could get up to race pace and show the mocking superbike riders that on a kart track, they have no advantage. During our wait the rain really started to come down. Attempts were made in between races to sweep water off the track but that didn’t really help matters much. We’d set up our gazebo just across the path from Josh Brown who was with a new bike. His Mk.1 Piaggio Zip was built within a week, it wasn’t quite finished in terms of looks but the engine sounded very strong. The rain continued to pour and a strong cross wind didn’t make it any more enjoyable either. Everyone waited warm and dry either in the van or in the cafe watching MotoGP whilst enjoying some more fast food.

Our race finally arrived and everyone proceeded to the track already soaking wet from just sitting in the assembly area. I was starting thirteenth on the grid out of fifteen scooters due to my race entry apparently being late, this is a story for another time but I should have been starting around the second row, instead I started at the back. Not to worry though, as soon as the lights went out everyone got off the line pretty quick. I managed to get round the outside of most on the long sweeping right-hander at the top of the hill and this put me in around sixth on the first lap. I pressed on, each time attempting to overtake, I found that the outside line on two corners of the track were a good place for this. I was right on the back of Tim Wilson and just as I was about to overtake his back end came out but he managed to stay on. This made me a little cautious of going round the outside of him without being thrown off. I overtook him on the second lap I believe.

My sights were now on championship leader Craig Bewey who’d started in pole position. I was gaining on him fast, unfortunately for him he fell off, but on the positive side this put me in second place. With no sign of Chris Cook I concentrated on staying second and finishing the race. On the S bends the track had now flooded quite badly and I couldn’t see out of my visor enough to spot the deep parts. A quick glance over my shoulder on the second to last lap and I could see my old team mate Josh starting to gain on me. After falling off during the last lap of the last race at Donington I really wanted the points in this one so I kept my pace, meanwhile Josh quickened. On the last lap I caught a glimpse of his front wheel on my inside however I managed to pull a tiny gap through the S bends where it was flooded which meant I was able to finish second. Well done to Josh, my former team mate on his new bike, who finished just seven hundredths of a second behind me in third. Due to the amount of water that my leathers and boots had absorbed during the race I was now about two stone heavier.

We watched the next race to see another former team mate out on the track – Joe Ravenscroft who was racing his Kawasaki ER6 650cc. He looked really composed and finished in the top three if I remember rightly. As conditions looked like they weren’t going to improve a rider briefing was called. The majority of riders weren’t so keen on riding in the extreme weather conditions so the day’s racing was now off. We packed everything away and despite the conditions I enjoyed the race and picked up some valuable championship points while gaining some wet weather experience in the process. This rather expensive one race meeting has now left me feeling more confident for the next round at Lydden Hill.

Words: Sam Schofield @ Adrenalin Pedstop
Photos: Lee Hollick

ROUND 7 RESULTS:

17 July – Three Sisters (0.932 miles)

Race 1:

1. Christopher Cook (61), Piaggio Zip 77, Class 6A
Laps: 5 / Time: 6:35.290 / Best Lap: 1:17.245 (Lap 3)

2. Sam Schofield (14), Piaggio Zip 77, Class 6A
Laps: 5 / Time: 6:54.904 / Best Lap: 1:21.473 (Lap 3)

3. Josh Brown (65), Piaggio Zip 77, Class 6A
Laps: 5 / Time: 6:55.592 / Best Lap: 1:20.909 (Lap 5)

4. Tim Wilson (37), Piaggio Zip 77, Class 6A
Laps: 5 / Time: 7:09.790 / Best Lap: 1:25.176 (Lap 3)

5. Mark Shirley (19), Piaggio Zip 77, Class 6A
Laps: 5 / Time: 7:15.470 / Best Lap: 1:24.146 (Lap 2)

6. Joe Hardy (27), Piaggio Zip 77, Class 6A
Laps: 5 / Time: 7:34.757 / Best Lap: 1:27.358 (Lap 3)

7. Mark Hardy (25), Piaggio Zip 77, Class 6A
Laps: 5 / Time: 7:36.125 / Best Lap: 1:27.736 (Lap 5)

8. Chris Blofeld (72), Piaggio Zip 77, Class 6A
Laps:5 / Time: 7:40.164 / Best Lap: 1:30.380 (Lap 3)

9. Roland Davis (35), Piaggio Zip 80, Class 6A
Laps: 5 / Time: 7:47.506 / Best Lap: 1:30.402 (Lap 3)

10. Scott Chapman (66), Gilera Runner 172, Class 10
Laps: 5 / Time: 7:59.960 / Best Lap: 1:30.551 (Lap 3)

11. Alex Van Dyke (22), Piaggio Zip 70, Class 6A
Laps: 5 / Time: 8:11.877 / Best Lap: 1:35.357 (Lap 2)

12. Adam Collier (90), Gilera Runner 180, Class 10
Laps: 4 / Time: 6:50.304 / Best Lap: 1:41.414 (Lap 2)

DNF: Keith Terry (11), Gilera Runner 172, Class 10
Laps: 3 / Time: 4:34.972 / Best Lap: 1:28.582 (Lap 3)

DNF: Craig Bewey (5), Piaggio Zip SP 80, Class 6A
Laps: 1 / Time: 1:23.035 / Best Lap: 1:23.035 (Lap 1)

These new regulations were introduced on the 20th June 2011 and are known as Continuous Insurance Enforcement (CIE). The aim of CIE is to reduce the number of uninsured motorists on the roads, which is believed to be costing the insurance industry £500 million each year.

We will therefore look at the impact of the new CIE regulations on scooter owners, the reason why it has been introduced and the possible ramifications following non-compliance:

Continuous Insurance Enforcement: From the 20th June 2011 it became illegal to own any kind of road going vehicle which is not covered by a relevant insurance policy. Although much of the publicity surrounding this new regulation has centred around its impact on car owners, it will also affect scooter, bike, van and truck owners.

CIE is very similar to the current road tax regulations, in that it is now a legal requirement for vehicles to be covered at all times. This has become possible thanks to a partnership between the DVLA and the Motor Insurers Bureau, with the latter providing the DVLA with access to its Motor Insurance Database.

The Motor Insurance Database contains the registration plate number of every road legal vehicle which is covered by an insurance policy in Britain. Police will be able to use cameras similar to those used to enforce road tax regulations, which will compare individual vehicle registration plate numbers against those held in the Motor Insurance Database.

Punishments: If it is found that a scooter is not featured on the database, then the owner will be liable to a £100 on the spot fine. The owner will also be given a notice period by police, within which he must arrange for a scooter insurance policy.

Failure to comply with this requirement will result in an additional £1,000 fine and a possible court appearance. It is also possible that the scooter will be confiscated by the authorities, with the owner potentially having their licence suspended.

Exemptions: All types of scooter are covered by the CIE regulations, with the only exemption being scooters that have been declared off the road to the DVLA by a SORN (Statutory off Road Notification).

The SORN can be completed online, over the phone or by post using a form which can be obtained from any post office. For contact details and more information visit direct.gov.uk.

The Reason for CIE: CIE has been introduced by the government in an attempt to address the country’s problem of uninsured motorists, which is believed to be one of the worst in Europe. This is supported by research by moneysupermarket.com, which revealed that one in six motorists in the UK are on the roads without any insurance cover.

The Motor Insurance Bureau reports that this costs the insurance industry £500 million each year, with this calculation based on potential lost income and the fact that insurers are being forced to cover the costs of the uninsured motorists whenever they’re involved in an accident. This additional £500 expense is being passed on to law abiding motorists in the form of higher basic premiums, with approximately £35 being added to each policy.

CIE should therefore be welcomed by all law abiding scooter owners, as it could bring with it insurance cost savings in the long run.

Disaster? Not really when you come to think about it, our own rider Sam Schofield continues to improve at each meeting out riding some of the experienced boys in the corners only to be caught out on the straights by some very strong engines. Rumour has it that 44mm long stroke cranks are being used by some that should know better (he’s a lovely bloke, mind). Maybe it’s time to get those engines checked to keep things in order?

All in all things were pretty tight when it came to preparation for this meeting, with the crazy Donington track out of the way we were left with engines to rebuild inside a week that was already full of deliveries and the normal dispatch. It was horrible, definitely one that we didn’t enjoy. With 3am finishes and Sam’s engine blowing up the night before during a dyno run, what else could go wrong? Well lots actually!

So with a 3am finish the night before and a 4.45am wake up you can imagine where our minds were, our beds where calling us. In Sam’s case it was a little different as he still had some unfinished business with an old copy of a Fiesta men’s mag and an old sock!

Arriving at Cadwell filled us with some hope; the track was wet which meant this could be more down to rider skill rather than overall pace which we were definitely going to struggle with. After an okay-ish practice and a quickly drying track who knows what could happen? What happened was the shit hit the fan and continued to spread over everything we seemed to do! For the first time ever Josh didn’t make it out for race one. With scoot 65 ticking over one minute and then dead the next it continues to amaze us that after spending so much time checking things and correcting issues always at the last minute, a frenzy occurs after finding something that has fallen off or just isn’t quite right.

Luckily Sam made it out. Thanks to the use of bike 65’s spare engine which we installed the night before, this in itself may have been the spark that started a bonfire on day two. Read on as it becomes more like an episode of Shameless. With no chance of Josh making it and no sign of some of the other team members it was time to call an end to the panic and watch Sam start his first race of the day. Being a Cadwell virgin this was bound to be interesting. As expected he got a good start from fifth and quickly moved up to third. There’s something about riding on a wet track, you either love it or loathe it and Sam clearly enjoyed it. With good race pace Sam was in good stead for another good finish well inside the top four only he ran out of fuel – “Ehh?! WHO’S IN CHARGE OF THE FUEL?!!” Well nobody it seemed, obviously. It must have all leaked out whilst going around the track, unlikely and untrue but at least it didn’t seize.

After a gruelling drive home, only because we were so knackered, we still had bikes to check and rebuild if necessary. Unload, fix and load up. Unload and fix. Did we mention we needed to load up and unload? For anybody taking up racing in whatever class or type and for all those guys that have been doing this for years, it can be tiring stuff especially when things don’t go to plan. Good advice is to enjoy what you’re doing and have a laugh. As soon as it gets too serious it definitely becomes more like hard work.

With two engines stripped and rebuilt, we packed up and went home. 5am came too soon and a quick dash back to Cadwell was on the cards – “Sam, I need to stop the van, I can’t drive any further”. My stomach was on fire, I needed to go and no toilets were in sight. Yes you guessed it and sorry for even writing this but it happened, being caught in the woods leaves you no options. By the way, thanks for the t-shirt Sam, Puma shirts make a great alternative to Andrex.

With no bike checks needed it was a simple unload and set up. “Hang on, where is everyone?” It was just me and Sam again. The clouds were coming even though it was going to be a scorching day. With awkwardness apparent in the paddock I’m glad to say both Sam and Josh made it to the first race on day two. Although we were clearly struggling on top speed both Josh and Sam made the best of it having a great fight to the end. And then the storm hit. It had to happen. With disagreements on who does what and when they should do it, if at all, the paddock were privileged to see an intense argument within the team.

With everything verbally unleashed this could only mean one thing… It was time to pull the plug on bike 65. Teams can only work if everyone works together. It’s that simple. If you guys want to see bike 65 take a trip to our shop where it rests. With all this said both Sam and Josh made it to race two on the second day. With some tweaks to gain more power on bike 65 it could only lead to one thing… Now I don’t want to say “I told you so” but what happened put the icing on the cake – Sam on scoot 14 had a great battle only to leave Josh behind during the first lap after nipping the ring:

We’ve had some great times racing with Josh and he clearly has some formidable talent. We’re disappointed that it has been necessary to cut the season short especially after committing so much time and effort. But on the flip side we can get back to what we do best – supplying great products at great prices, fast. We’ll obviously continue to follow our rookie Sam who, even though it’s his first attempt at racing, will take a win before the year is out, hopefully…

Words: Chris Halliday @ Adrenalin Pedstop
Photos & Video: Mickey Dee

This additional round in this year’s BSSO series took place at Donington Park in conjunction with the International Superstars Italian V8 touring car series. Prior to the event most riders seemed pretty excited, but in the back of our minds we were thinking about bike setup and possible reliability issues on Donington’s mammoth 2.5 mile course. Come Sunday morning after the usual last minute preparations we loaded up the vans and headed down in convoy to Donington while most of the nation was presumably still tucked up in bed. With only geared and auto scooters present this wasn’t like our usual club meetings which are usually shared with various other two-wheeled machines. Instead, we were mixing it with Ford racing pickup trucks, touring cars and single seated racing cars. All three bikes passed scrutineering with no issues – maybe the shiny new team colour scheme blinded their eyes?!

PRACTICE: By 9:15am we went out for a 15 minute practice session. To be honest everyone was pretty steady when they got out there, we reckon this was due to reliability being in the back of everyone’s minds. A huge track like Donington’s isn’t ideal for scooters revving themselves apart at 14000 rpm. Unfortunately for Pedstop team member Joe Ravenscroft his engine seized after just a few laps – a complete new build with all-new parts was literally trashed. The look on Pete’s face (Joe’s Dad) back in the paddock said it all as he now had the task of swapping over to the spare engine. The thought of how much time and money had been wasted was enough let along having to swap the engine, which for Pete was rubbing salt in the wound. Josh wasn’t entirely happy with the performance of his bike so Chris made the decision to down jet. Sam, on the other hand, was fairly content with his Zip and the circuit at Donington – “it’s got a little bit of everything with some really fast flowing corners where you have to pick your line just right” he said after practice. “There’s some pretty tight hairpins too, the straights are fairly long and boring but I’m pretty confident I’ll do okay in the race”.

RACE 1: The first race began at 11.30am. After the sighting lap everyone went to line up on the grid but the numbers didn’t correspond to what we were given. There was a lot of shuffling around with a few riders trying to jump positions much to the amusement of the commentators. Eventually the race got underway to the tremendous roar of 36 two-stroke scooters screaming off the line. Into the first corner they all went and, although it was a fairly long and quick corner, it was busy with riders getting cut up left, right and centre. Unfortunately again for Joe he managed only two laps before his spare engine also seized. Josh also had a seizure in the fifth lap so this now left Sam, the only Pedstop rider still in the race. Luckily after getting a little bit of a break in front of the middle pack he managed to finish second.

We had quite a long wait before race two which gave Chris and Ian some time to get the spare engine into bike number 65 for Josh. This engine wasn’t quite complete and had been sat since last year so there was a lot of crossed fingers going on. Luckily after some fiddling with the set-up it was running okay just in time for the second race. Joe, after having two seized engines in the space of three hours, could no longer continue. Pete decided to quit from this year’s series there and then. It’s a really sad situation as Joe is a really gifted rider. But having suffered too many breakdowns that have already cost a small fortune at this early stage in the series, the decision had to be made. With Joe being just 14 years old there’s still plenty of opportunities for him to race in the future.

RACE 2: Race two went ahead mid-afternoon and a lot of bikes were missing on the grid due to the number of breakdowns. Long circuits and small scooter engines revving their nuts off mile after mile don’t mix – it’s hardly surprising why so many of them seize. It makes us wonder though why the BSSO choose such long circuits for scooters when most privateers can’t afford a full rebuild after each race meeting. We’re not having a go at the BSSO as it’s great to get the sport noticed, but for some people it’s costing them the earth, so much so that they simply can’t continue.

When the lights changed everyone was off again for another exhilarating race. Unfortunately the race didn’t last the full eight laps due to Dick Van Dyke coming off at Craner Curves. Van Dyke sat motionless on the track with his bike on its side. The marshals assumed there was a serious problem. The injured rider was taken away via a stretcher complete with neck brace – all very dramatic for what amounted to a bruised toe. This meant that the red flags were waved and the fun stopped, we’re unsure on specific positions on race two at the present time.

So it was back to the pits for all of us and time for a few modifications. A change in roller weights were in order to get bike 65 up to its peak rpm again. Sam gave his scoot a quick once over but made no changes throughout the day. By 4:15pm an impromptu presentation took place in the paddock where a few awards were dished out and some champagne got wasted. Within the Auto Class Chiselspeed rider Chris Cook received a trophy for coming third, Pedstop Sam clinched the second place trophy. And a delighted looking creature known as Craig Bewey received the trophy for coming first along with some Champers to spray over the oldies in the Geared Class who looked like they needed a wash.

RACE 3: Race three was the last race of the day and everyone was hyped ready to get it done and dusted. Sam got a decent start for once as he normally tends to hang back on the first corner, this gave him the space to push a little harder. Unfortunately half way round the last lap he came off at Mclean’s and ended up in the gravel. Luckily he wasn’t injured but the bike took a beating and is currently being rebuilt in time for the next race meeting. Josh finished first after another close run against the surprisingly quick Craig Bewey – Josh crossed the finish line first by a mere 1000th of a second thus taking the win.

All in all the day at Donington was a mixed bag. Josh picked up a first and a second to add to his points in the championship. Joe unfortunately received three DNFs and his Dad made the heartbreaking decision to quit from racing with the BSSO this year meant that for Joe things couldn’t get any worse. Sam, despite falling off, really enjoyed the weekend and got to grips with his bike in terms of finding its limits, or not as the case may be. Donington was a costly event for many but it was a good day out. The next round is at Cadwell which, at the time of writing, is only a matter of days away. The clock is ticking to get that rebuild finished…

Words: Adrenalin Pedstop
Photos & Video: Paul Robinson

TEST DAY: We set off at 1am Friday morning to attend the test day as we’d made a few changes to the Zips. Although rain had been forecast we only had one fairly heavy downpour which we all took advantage of to get some testing done in the wet. The bikes were running very strong and having all day to practice we had a steady day. Besides, we didn’t want to take too much life out of the engines. By the end of the day we were literally falling asleep so we packed up and headed back to the Pembrey Inn where we were staying for the weekend. The steak and chips went down well followed by a few games of pool.

DAY 1 (ROUND 2): Saturday morning we were up at 7am in time for a full English breakfast. We arrived at the track and set up next to the Ravenscrofts and their camper van. Josh and Joe’s bikes flew through scrutineering however they were a bit picky on Sam’s claiming a steering stop issue, we’re sure every Zip in the competition has the same problem. A few persuasive words from Ian Brown and it was passed ready to race. The morning practice went well for all three Pedstop riders and the entire team was excited for some good results. Shortly after practice the first race for us was on the way. The sun was shining although it was still fairly cold and windy, with it being the first for everyone in our class most riders got off to a very good start. Into the first corner, which is an extremely tight hairpin, everyone gets very grouped and it’s a battle to see who comes out the quickest. Sam was slowly gaining on Craig Bewey and Tim Wilson but on the start of lap four his front brake pads went entering the hairpin which slowed him down a little but he still managed to hold his position finishing in a respectable fifth which isn’t bad going for his second ever race meeting. Joe finished second and Josh came first setting a new lap record of 1 minute 15.67 seconds. Who knows, it could have quite easily been a Pedstop 1,2,3 if it wasn’t for Sam’s front brake pads failing.

We had a few hours to wait until race two, so time was spent checking the bikes over and getting them ready for the next session. About 15 minutes before the race was due to start the rain really started to come down. Joe and Josh got their tyres swapped just in time for wets, Sam on the other hand got his front changed then due to an awkward exhaust bracket didn’t have time so went out on the Dunlop dry tyre at the rear. All the riders were sat in the assembly area for quite a while getting cold and wet which isn’t good right before a race. Eventually the race got underway and everyone was very steady into the first corner and round the first lap until they got some heat into their tyres. Joe and Josh were up at the front with Damon Tunnicliffe who ended up taking the win, Joe was just over one and a half seconds behind Damon in second place while Josh was eight and a bit seconds down due to not being able to see through his black visor. Sam admitted that with it being his first race in the wet he didn’t have full trust in his tyres and therefore came in sixth.

The third race of the day was mixed with the geared classic scooters so there were a lot of scooters on the grid. The weather was still wet and windy so everyone opted for the wet tyres. The lights went out and the race started. There was a bit more action in this race due to the mix of scooter types on the track. The Zips are very quick through the tight corners but the front three or four Lambrettas were very fast on the straights. Another win for Josh who achieved the fastest lap of the race, Joe close behind in second and Sam in sixth who had some slight contact with a Lambretta up on the hairpin.

All in all it was a good day for everyone despite the erratic weather and it was time to get packed up for the night. It was back to the hotel for Josh, Ian, Chris and Sam where it was the local karaoke night which we didn’t hang around too much for. We headed back up to the track to find Joe and the rest of the Ravenscrofts in their camper. Thinking they were all tucked away in bed we called for a drink in the bar and just before heading home we bumped into Joe and Tom who revealed Pete and Joanne Ravenscroft were at another camper having a bit of a party. So we headed back to the hotel for a few games of pool before bed.

DAY 2 (ROUND 3): Another early start to find the weather was even windier but the sky was pretty clear. On arriving at the track it was still wet but we knew it would dry out as the day went on providing the skies kept clear. A last minute decision for the riders meant changing the rear tyres back to the dries to avoid chewing up the wets if they got too hot as there were plenty of dry patches on the track.

Race 1: Josh pulled a good gap on Damon Tunnicliffe and came in first with Damon seven seconds behind in second place. Sam had a great race battling for fifth with Mark Shirley pretty much right through the race. He managed to take fifth place and said it was the best race he’s had so far. Joe came in seventh due to his Zip having his spare engine in that didn’t fair too well with the strong headwinds bringing his bike off the power. He had to swap over to his spare engine because on the last race of day one his casings split clean in half and were holding together just by the kick start casing.

We had a relaxing day on day two and a bit of a wait for the final race of the weekend. The sun was shining although it was still extremely windy which made everyones bike drop off in RPM a little bit, so lap times were a little slower than the previous races. Everyone was back onto dry tyres and eager to get the last race finished.

Race 2: All the scooters lined up for one last time and away they went tearing into the first corner. Josh went on to take yet another win for the weekend with Joe in fourth and Sam in sixth. We didn’t stick around long after our final race and was soon packed up ready for the long four hour journey back to Yorkshire. All in all it was a great weekend. Josh got quite a few wins and set another lap record, Sam managed to get a proper feel for his Zip after using different front tyres and Joe, despite having a few technical difficulties, picked up some all important championship points.

Words: Adrenalin Pedstop
Photos & Videos: Mickey Dee
Racing shots: Lee Hollick

ATHENA’s Power Valve System exploits exhaust gas pressure by way of a guillotine valve. At low RPM, when exhaust gas pressure is low, the Power Valve is kept closed by a spring inside the pneumatic system. When RPM increases the pressure of the exhaust gas raises causing the pneumatic system to move the guillotine valve upwards.

The kit also comes with a specially designed aluminum Cast Lite piston with Molycote flat head to eliminate frictions. Two versions have been developed: 50cc and 80cc.

Available soon from UK ATHENA importer, Adrenalin Pedstop.

The brains behind Wipe2 is visionary designer Olivier Murro and since his NAJA concept he’s gone on to create numerous aftermarket products for the likes of BCD and other well known brands like ACSUD, TNT and MBK. Olivier can also put his name to a number of fresh and innovative scooter, moped and ATV designs for Chinese manufacturers some of which will be available in stores soon. At 30 years of age he’s come a long way since graduating from the Creapole-ESDI design school in Paris back in 2002. From Wipe2’s offices near Paris their expertise enables them to handle everything from concept creation – drawing, modeling and prototyping through to fabrication. “We can manage a project from A to Z” says Olivier, “and being surrounded by professionals and reliable partners we can bring technical solutions and a different point-of-view to the table. As a result, our products are innovative and have mass appeal”. Olivier’s recent claim to fame is a concept scooter for Stage6 to add to an already impressive portfolio.

Wipe2 Stage6 prototype (2011): Apart from being fitted with a Piaggio engine, everything in the Stage6 prototype is new – the frame, the bodywork, the headlight and a long list of parts from the Stage6 catalogue – forks, handlebar and numerous other goodies… Don’t build your hopes up too much though, by all accounts there are no plans to put it into production, not at the moment anyway.

I discussed the design of modern scooters with Olivier and he seemed to be in agreement that, apart from technological advances, the current wave of machines appear somewhat bland visually and lacking in inspiration – “Scooter design is really crap these days” he says putting it bluntly, “when I look at the Typhoon 2 or the Speedfight 3, I just think they’re ugly. Looking back, the Aprilia Area 51 is a legend, but it was too expensive and too heavy. The Italjet Dragster is crazy, but that was also too heavy and expensive. I’d love to re-design the Dragster but it would have to be simple, light and cheap”. There lies the design challenge and if anyone can come up with a solution I’m sure Olivier can who is already suggesting design ideas like stamped aluminium frames. Blue Energy went for a similar reductionist approach of ditching body panels with their Naked Dragster concept back in 2004. Alas, nothing ever came of it.

Scooters seem to be in Olivier’s heart and that’s where it all began. For Olivier it started with a Piaggio Typhoon – “it had a full Malossi MHR engine, I saturated the engine with parts. But I got kinda bored then I started working on the body, like doing some fiberglass work to remove the turn lights, change the headlight, some little stuff”. The first scooter that Olivier designed from scratch he describes as “a weird one” – the M-ZEO (ZEO for Zero One), the first of a long series… “It was a Minarelli engine set on a frame, I designed something like a drag scoot but with a body on it, the frame was a trellis one, with ugly welding that I did myself. That was really weird but, I was 17 years old (1997) and that was my first one”.

Wipe2 Gilera Runner R3 body kit (2005): This amazing body kit was originally designed for ACSUD back in 2005 and it still looks stunning now. The otherwise smooth front end of the old style Runner is radically transformed into something much more stylish and modern. Sadly the panels were never produced. Olivier agrees that this is a pity too, they’d sell like hot cakes in the UK.

If you’ve bought aftermarket styling parts for your scooter, depending on the machine there’s a possibility they might have been designed by Olivier. Previously he worked at BCD for two years – “my colleague worked there for five years and between us we designed almost 70% of their catalogue. I designed many many products for BCD – stuff for Typhoon, Stunt, Stalker, Nitro etc”.

After working freelance for ACSUD, TNT and MBK Olivier has worked in China designing scooters. At the time of writing he’s still busy completing projects over there. A selection of the products Wipe2 have designed or are still working on include:

Trixx (2006)
(FeiYing / FYM) (China)
Olivier: “The idea was to design a tough scooter similar to a dirt bike aimed at teenagers who like stunts and tricks. Although motocross in its style – footrest on the side, low handlebar, this scooter is designed for the city – small, compact and tight and can easily get through traffic jams.”

XTC 125 (2006)
(SACHS / FeiYing / FYM) (China)
Olivier: “The styling of the SACHS XTC 125 is aimed at men and women who desire a sophisticated racing bike. It was designed in collaboration with their own modeler and a German engineer for the headlight.”

Kimera (2006)
(FeiYing / FYM) (China)
Olivier: “The Kimera is a 125cc moped aimed at the African market mainly designed to carry heavy loads that’s why it has high fenders and a loading platform. The Kimera hasn’t been produced yet and probably never will be.”
 

Vespuccino (2007)
(Aleutian Mobility / Kacpo / Mattracks) (China / USA)
Olivier: “An electric toy scooter for kids under 10 years old designed to get them used to scooters from an early age. This product is as well equipped as a full size scooter – large storage under the seat, some protection on the side and a real headlight.”

Moda (2008)
(Aleutian Mobility / Kacpo) (China)
Olivier: “Designed as a fashion accessory for men and women above twenty years old. Moda is intended for city use with 16″ wheels for more stability, large under-seat storage and removable and customisable panels on the side.”
 

Wipe2 I CUBE ATV concept (2008)
Olivier: “This 125cc ATV is designed for kids around 10 years old. The frame was designed to reduce welding, then with this main section we can attach different bodies (Instinct design or Rumble) and therefore have different styles.”
 

Wipe2 e bike ELEMENT prototype (2010)
Olivier: “The e bike is an electric bike designed in the same way as the I CUBE ATV with stamped parts welded in the middle. It features a high-tech design with an ipod link, weighs less than 28 kilos and has a range of up to 90km depending on the type of battery used.”
 
 
 

Given that Olivier admires the work of people like British designer Adrian Morton, the designer of the Benelli Tornado, the apparent similarities with motorcycle design in some of Olivier’s designs seems logical. Once could argue that scooter owners are aspiring bikers or it could just be that modern motorcycle design looks cool. But the bottom line is Olivier seems to have a unique and distinctive style in his work which sets it apart making it possible to spot a Wipe2 designed product. The future surely looks bright but Olivier seems a bit pessimistic – ”To be honest I don’t have any objective, I’m just following my present path!” The truth of the matter is that with talented designers out there like Olivier and his colleagues at Wipe2 who have the ability to think outside the box, scooters need never be boring. Let’s hope the manufacturers take note.

Words: Paul Robinson

Things feel very different for us this year with us having two new riders, one being Joe Ravenscroft who raced last year and is very experienced on the track. And the other rider being Sam Schofield whose had no real racing experience. Last year’s winner Josh Brown is back for a chance to win the title for possibly the third year running. With these three riders in place we didn’t know what to expect at Mallory. As per usual everything was very last minute with getting the Zips ready and the new colour scheme panels not arriving meant two of the bikes were looking a little on the tatty side.

Scrutineering was due to begin at 8am so the early morning drive to Leicestershire was a bit of a killer for everyone. All three bikes and riders passed with no issues which meant it was time for a practice run. Josh and Joe were, as expected, the two fastest Zips out there. Sam on the other hand was a bit uneasy due to the number of riders on the track all fighting for the perfect line, however it was his first meeting so he can only get more confident in traffic.

Race 1: The sighting lap took place then everyone was sat on the grid waiting anxiously, the lights went out and away 16 auto scooters screamed off the line. Before they reached the end of the first lap out came the red flag due to Phil Bevis having an unfortunate off which resulted in a broken collarbone and head injuries. A fifteen minute wait or so took place before the race was back in progress. Up at the front Josh and Joe were battling it out for first place which was a bit nerve-wracking to watch as the last thing we wanted was our team mates wiping each other out on the first race of the season. Luckily this didn’t happen and it was Josh who took first with the fastest lap of 1 minute 09.07 seconds, Joe came second with a fastest lap of 1 minute 10.79 seconds. Sam finished in eighth position which isn’t the best but for his first race he was extremely nervous and a little too polite within traffic.

After the intermission for dinner Joe realised he had some sort of fuelling or possibly ignition problems as the bike was hesitating on the throttle then bogging. After swapping the carb and having no luck his dad Pete decided to do an engine change. This was completed just in time for the second race. Josh’s bike had the usual checks and a fresh belt was all that was needed.

Race 2: Everyone got a good start off the line in race two with the odd rider maybe jumping the gun a little bit. Josh and Joe were again the front runners along with a surprisingly quick Craig Bewey. Joe and Josh were battling it out from the start with some extremely close racing and in lap four Josh set a new lap record of 1 minute 08.43 seconds (top speed of 73.13 mph). The frantic pace continued and in lap five Joe pushed it a little bit too much resulting in an off at Shaw’s Hairpin. Josh crashed into Joe’s bike but luckily managed to stay on. This gave Craig the lead that he needed and he went on to win the race leaving Josh in second. Sam was a lot more confident in race two and came a respectable fifth due to holding his line during traffic and generally being more confident among other riders.

All in all it was an interesting start to the 2011 Championship. It gave us all an insight into what we should expect to see: Josh and Joe constantly pushing each other will make for some very interesting lap times and seeing Sam progress in confidence through the year to hopefully being somewhere near the front.

Words: Adrenalin Pedstop
Photos & Videos: Paul Robinson

As usual we were up late at Pedstop HQ the night before making last minute preparations. After a quick look at the weather forecast on the Met Office website we decided to arrive on dry tyres and see how we faired. We were due to be on the track in Middlesbrough by 9am so this meant alarms were set for 5am to get the vans loaded up and be on our way. The journey down in the morning was a little hairy due to the gale force winds blowing lorries and vans across each lane. Oh and before I forget, a big thanks to the t**t that works in the Total garage on the A1 north who let us buy three jerry cans at £7.13 each but wouldn’t let us fill them up!

Right, shall we get down to the nitty gritty then! Well there were three of us riding, one being Josh Brown who you all know rode for us last year and took the title on the Polini 70cc Big Evolution Zip, Chris who was riding the new 94cc Zip and myself on a Malossi 77cc Zip. Brownie (Josh’s dad) also brought along a Kawasaki ZX6R track bike for Josh to test as he’s thinking about jumping up to supersport next season. As you would expect he took to the ZX6R like a duck to water and within a few laps was knee down going up the inside of some of the more experienced riders on 1000cc bikes (although it was strictly a test day and no racing took place).

The track itself was new to me and Chris but after the first few laps we soon got familiar with it. It had a variety of corners as some were pretty long and fast while one particular section of the track was extremely tight. Josh made it look effortless to begin with due to his smooth riding style, I found it easier as time went on and Chris seemed to go backwards the more laps he did, he says he was suffering from old man’s testicle disease, swollen ball syndrome “don’t ask”!

Although the gale force winds were holding us all back a little bit on some areas of the track we still managed to get some consistent times in. 10am came pretty fast and along with it a big black cloud full of rain to soak the track. This wasn’t much of an issue for us as one of the main aims of the day was to get some testing done on a variety of tyres. Josh had two falls, one pretty much straight after the other due to a new yet old Sava tyre causing his front end to wash out. The track dried out literally within 20 minutes once the clouds disappeared, this meant another tyre change, however we were all well into the swing of things by this point and putting in some reasonable laps. Chris managed to stay on his Zip for the first time on a track yet! Deep down we all know this is because he didn’t want to scratch his shiny new orange panels. I got well into the swing of things which was a great confidence booster ready for this year’s BSSO series. No mechanical issues were found on any of the bikes and suspension settings on all three seem ready to race with. All in all it was a good day despite the wind and Josh got to do some testing on the 600, Chris got to try out the new Polini 94cc on the track and I got the opportunity to get some all important practice in ready for next month.

Thanks to Ian Brown and Paul for support on the day.

Words: Sam Schofield

It’s shaping up to be a big event and given The North Run’s increasing popularity (especially among the younger scooter fraternity) coupled with all the logistical problems to contend with, The North Run needed room to expand so the plan is a little bit different for 2011. This year’s North Run will see riders head out on a whistle stop tour of South and West Yorkshire starting at the usual meeting place – Adrenalin Pedstop in Carlton, Barnsley. A real North Run in every sense, proposed stop-off points include Barnsley, Rotherham, Sheffield, Doncaster, Pontefract, Castleford, Leeds and Wakefield before heading out to Ackworth near Pontefract where riders can relax and unwind in the open countryside. Proposed attractions include trophies for best custom scoots, a grass track kickstart style competition, a bucking bronco (so you can laugh at your mates), a DJ and a ‘surprise spectacle’ to liven things up a bit…

Participants of the rideout can join The North Run at different meeting points. It’s free to attend and riders of all ages are welcome. This year’s destination is: Castle Syke Hill, Ackworth, Wakefield WF7. Bring a tent and some beers!

The North Run 2011 starts at 9am on Saturday 23 July at Adrenalin Pedstop, Unit 1, Longfields Court, Middlewoods Way, Wharncliffe Business Park, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S71 3HR

For more info, email sales@adrenalin-pedstop.com or call 01226 630020

Check out the photos from last year’s North Run in our gallery.