If the rumours and teasers are true, it looks like Scomadi may well be landing on our shores again in the near future – with an importer we’d never have imagined possible. All’s fair in love and war (and business)…
Yes, former Royal Alloy importer MotoGB are hinting that they’ll be supplying Scomadi. The company have been posting reels (see screenshot above) for “British modern classic. Scomadi” on their social media over the past week.
A spokesman for Chorley-based MotoGB had this to say when we asked if the rumours are true: “I can neither confirm nor deny the arrival of a brand that sounds a bit like Tom Hardy…”
Mmmm, interesting. However, SLUK can’t see much difference between iconic and ironic.
Acrimonious
MotoGB currently has quite a lot of RA stock that they’ve been selling off at discounted prices and also have control of most of the UK RA social media accounts, which is no doubt confusing to customers.
Reading between the lines (and some catty social media posts), the split with the brand wasn’t as acrimonious as it seemed in the statement they released in December. Could the Scomadi teasers be a way of getting back at RA Chief Executive Officer Steve Oliver and the new importer, Lukas Distribution?
BSA distributor Lukas, is preparing to further the Royal Alloy invasion. New models due to arrive feature the latest 310 engine and there is also a new Series 1 style RA in development.
Scomadi history
If you’re familiar with the history of Scomadi, you’ll know that it was a brand conceived by Frank Sanderson and Paul Melici. After building Lambretta auto conversions for many years, Frank and Paul got together and built a series of 10 carbon fibre Scomadi specials featuring an early carb-fed Piaggio 250 engine.
That short run of specials led to a run of plastic-bodied Scomadis. That, in turn, became a full-on production model made in China by Hanway from 2015-2017. Scomadi were doing really well… until they fell out with Hanway. The Chinese factory claimed some of the intellectual property rights to the production version of Scomadi and they continued to make them.
Enter MotoGB and Royal Alloy
To cut a long story short, MotoGB started bringing in the Scomadi TL (still built by Hanway) but badged as a new brand, “Royal Alloy.” A long, messy court case followed, and Scomadi ended up leaving the UK market altogether, setting up production in Thailand and concentrating on the Far East.
Video: Iggy checked out the Scomadi SSS in Thailand Feb 2020
Thailand
Scomadi set up a manufacturing plant in Thailand, which we visited just before Covid closed the world down in February 2020. Promises of a return to the UK market never materialised fully (although a container load came in to RetroTech Racing in 2021). The lack of spare parts for existing Scomadi scooters left many of their owners disgruntled.
Scomadi have done well in Thailand and other parts of the Far East, with the brand gaining a cult-like following.
Royal Alloy sales
Meanwhile, with help from Steve Oliver (RA UK CEO), Royal Alloy has continued to develop their scooters and have really gained a foothold with retro scooter riders. Their GP and Tigara Grande models can be seen at scooter rallies, events and ride-outs across the UK. Over 1200 Royal Alloys were registered in the UK last year; that’s more than all Piaggio brands put together.
MotoGB still has Lambretta amongst its stable of brands…
MotoGB split
Back in December, we brought you the news that Royal Alloy and MotoGB had split. This was a major blow to MotoGB, who had already lost the UK distribution of Royal Enfield from their collection of brands, as well as Italjet. Royal Alloy are now being imported by Lukas Distributon under the leadership of former MotoGB director Steve Oliver (the first batch of scooters are due to land in the next few weeks).
Having lost their two leading brands (as well as the iconic Italjet), MotoGB seem to be turning to their former adversary, Scomadi to make up those lost sales.
Scomadi Euro 5+?
When we visited Scomadi Thailand in 2020, they hadn’t gone through Euro 4 regulations. The pandemic slowed down the distribution of parts (especially electronics like ABS sensors), which at the time meant they couldn’t get scooters approved for the latest regulations. As far as we know, they’ve not gained Euro 5 or Euro 5+ status, although of course, that is still possible if they do intend to return to the EU market.
As we publish this, we’re waiting for Frank Sanderson to comment, but we’ll update this when he does.
Let us know what you think
Do you think Scomadi have missed the boat in the UK? In their absence, Royal Alloy has certainly made massive waves with the retro scooter-buying public. You can leave a comment at the bottom of this page.
Back in Thailand, Scomadi are still building versions of their original TL/TT model, which is essentially a Lambretta GP look-a-like. Royal Alloy have diversified and are producing various models and styles, including the new GT range (pictured above) and have more models planned for later this year.
Whatever happens, it’s going to be interesting if you like either of these brands. We’ll update you when we know more.
Iggy
I’d be happy to see scomadi return to the UK. The original idea by Paul and Frank was a stroke of genius .Shame on hanway for derailing that dream .
If I was to buy a scomadi it would have to be one of the originals built in the uk .
Mark
Good luck to Scomadi and Frank. The RAs look lovely but I would have them cleaned and burned and sent back to the CCP, who violate intellectual property rights all over the globe and get away with it. It makes me gag to see so called “patriotic” scooterists adorning the RAs with Union Flags, RAF roundels and St. George Cross motifs. The irony (to those with the wits to understand irony) is rich!
I am waiting for the day that Scomadi relaunch in the UK. I try and avoid buying Chinese due to the issues regarding copyright. I do hope this comes to fruition and am impressed by the images I have seen from Thailand of the new Scomadi Adventure Series. Well done Frank I look forward to seeing the new scooters on the streets in the UK hopefully sooner rather than later.