Retro Features Archives

Francesco Gaetani of Vespaio Gaetani working a piece of sheet steel to make a Vespa 98 front mudguard.

Vespa bodywork, books and burnouts in Italy | FEATURE

One of the things I love about the scooter scene is how much it varies from country to country. Italian culture is generally far more social than the colder northern European equivalent, and their scooter scene reflects that. Mediterranean scooter events often focus around eating together, drinking together and simply…

iggy-grainger25 February 2025

A John Spurgeon sprayed, full custom, Harry Potter themed Lambretta Series 2 at Burton Brewers custom show 2025.

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Burton Brewers Custom Show 2025 | RALLERY

Those Burton Brewers know how to pick a good date for their annual Custom Show. They sandwiched it in between two very wet and windy February days and treated us to a real taste of spring. With perfect blue skies and temperatures hovering around 10 degrees, it was an ideal…

iggy-grainger24 February 2025

Picture of a big English Bull Terrier stood on its back legs looking over the counter of a shop.

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AF Rayspeed – A behind the scenes look at new products & development | FEATURE

AF Rayspeed is legendary amongst Lambretta riders. It's a family-owned and run shop, born from Arthur Francis' old shop in Watford. Ray Kemp worked there until Arthur sold the business to him many years ago, and he moved his family north to begin a new chapter with AF Rayspeed. VIDEO|…

iggy-grainger18 February 2025

Estoica Motor electric Vespa PX engine in situ.

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Spanish firm Estoica Motor’s novel PX electric conversion | FEATURE

The latest company to join in with the electrification of classic scooters is Estoica Motor. They’re a Spanish start-up business with a novel reverse-engineered approach. Luis Miguel Sánchez is the man behind the concept. He’s an engineer with a master’s degree in design. As a Vespa rider from Seville, he’s…

iggy-grainger21 January 2025

The Scooter World hall at the Newark Winter Warmer show.

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Newark Winter Classic Show | RALLERY

Newark's Classic Bike Guide Winter Classic was held last weekend in bitterly cold weather, but crowds still flocked to the Newark Showground. This show is a huge affair with lots of traders and parts sellers outside the various halls, selling everything and anything related to two wheels. Those outdoor traders…

iggy-grainger14 January 2025

Ratio Zero gear driven CVT system being held.

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Is gear-driven CVT coming to scooters? | TECH

Ratio Zero gear-driven CVT prototype (Credit: Driving 4 Answers YouTube). At the moment most scooters have one of three sorts of transmission: Classic scooters have manual gears and a manual clutch Modern automatic scooters have belt-drive CVT (Continually Variable Transmission) Many electric scooters have direct drive without any form of…

iggy-grainger9 December 2024

Ben Readings leading a group of riders at the BSSO season finale at Lydden Hill.

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Ben Readings #65 The Lydden Hill BSSO finale | SPORT

The final round of our BSSO Championship. The morning alarm rings over a very grey and fairly miserable Lydden Hill. The Forecast isn't looking too great but just four more races of this year's championship, two for Production and two for Group 6. Just four more chances for me to…

iggy-grainger2 December 2024

Scooterists gather outside the caravans at Ladram Bay scooter rally.

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SWSC season finale – Ladram Bay | RALLERY

It's Friday morning and it's rally time again (isn't it always?). I'm meeting up for breakfast before the off. Five of us are riding up to Ladram Bay, all on 2 strokes, what could possibly go wrong? Once we're off the M27 the ride through the New Forest into Dorset…

iggy-grainger27 November 2024

George Fielder on his Vespa at Lydden Hill.

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SLUK BSSO Rookie George Fielder finishes on a high | SPORT

After trashing his usual race bike at Cadwell, George raided the piggy bank (dad's shop) and built himself a new one... Arriving late on Friday there wasn’t much to do, so we just took a chilled-out afternoon, talking to a couple of people before heading off to bed for an…

iggy-grainger20 November 2024

A green custom Lambretta Series One parked with the sea in the background. Llandudno October 2024.

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Llandudno National Scooter Rally – 2024 Finale | RALLERY

It only seemed like yesterday that we were heading to Llandudno for the final rally of 2023. This year seems to have flown by with rallies coming thick and fast (a bit like me riding my scooters). A different view It also seems like yesterday that I started a rally…

iggy-grainger19 November 2024