The Vespa LXV and GTV

The Vespa LXV and GTV models celebrate 60 years of the most legendary two-wheeler of all time by re-introducing the trademark Vespa styling and features from the 50s and 60s models.

A few years after it was originally launched, Vespa would come to symbolize Europe's post-war reconstruction. Over the decades, it would become an icon of youth culture and an emblem of Italian style and design worldwide. Now, 60 years on, the Vespa continues to be an innovative product and an example of industrial design par excellence in terms of styling and production technology.

Cleverly re-interpreting some of the traditional design and technical elements of vintage Vespas, particularly 1950s and 1960s models, the Vespa GTV and Vespa LXV pay homage to this iconic product, the result of pure Italian creativity and industrial culture
Developed on the base of, respectively, the Vespa GTS and LX, the Vespa GTV and LXV have a distinct vintage look, but include automatic transmissions and eco-friendly, modern engines. The GTV utilizes a powerful 250cc four-valve, liquid-cooled engine with electronic injection, a double rear shock absorber and 12" wheels stopped by two disk brakes. The LXV is built around the LX engine, a 150cc four-stroke engine. Both models feature a single steel chassis, as all Vespas have since their inception.
Developed on the base of the GTS, the GTV features several distinctive stylistic details, namely the headlamp which has been positioned on the front mudguard, as it was on the very first Vespa prototype. The headlamp moved up by the handlebars on mid 50s models, and is back on the mudguard for this special vintage model. Additional features evoke the original Vespa as well, such as the 'naked' handlebar (the prototype had a simple, metal tube) and the dual-seat saddle which is made of genuine leather and houses storage space suitable for your helmet. The round analog speedometer has relatively retro graphics, plus a digital ride information display, further emphasizing the combination of historical elements and modern technology on this unique vehicle.
Developed on the base of the 2005 Vespa LX, the LXV was designed as a tribute to the 1960s Vespas. The updates to the LXV are on the accessory parts to the metal body, such as the headlamp and handlebars. The headlamp remains in its original position on the handlebar, like the 1960s scooters from which the Vespa LXV is derived, but in a slimmer, more minimalist version to emphasise the 'naked' handlebar and to give the front of the vehicle a more lightweight look. The analog instrumentation is placed in a chrome-plated frame while the unique graphics resemble those in vogue in the 1960s. Real leather is used on the saddle, which is designed with a separate passenger seat just as on the early Vespa models, underneath which is a storage compartment.

VESPA GTS 250

Fifty years ago, Piaggio shook up the scooter world with its Vespa GS (Gran Sport), at the time the fastest Vespa, the first to reach speeds of more than 60 mph and the first Vespa model with 10-inch wheels. Today, Vespa makes history again by renewing the GS blend of speed and style in the Vespa GTS 250, an uncompromising fusion of breathtaking performance, technical superiority and classic Vespa design, to become the most exciting model to date.
With a powerful 250cc, four-stroke, four-valve engine, the GTS has the largest displacement in the Vespa range. Advanced technology, including a liquid-cooled engine and electronic injection system with three-way catalytic converter, allows for reduced emissions and fuel consumption as well as progressive acceleration and responsive handling. Redesigned machinery, such as the exhaust, cylinder and piston, provide a smoother and quieter ride that suits the stylishly racy GTS without affecting performance.

Like every other Vespa, the GTS has the trademark single shell steel structure which provides rigidity for optimal comfort and strength to control road vibration. The frame is supported with excellent parts including 12" wheels, dual-disc braking system, a front suspension with hydraulic shock absorber, and an adjustable rear suspension that provides ideal support and riding comfort for driver and passenger alike.

A few design changes have been made to add fluidity and dynamism to the look of the GTS, combining the Vespa's classic, exclusive look and maneuverability with the performance and technological prowess of big touring scooters. From the front, the Vespa GTS is instantly recognizable by the position of the headlight placed midway down the shield next to the horn, reminiscent of 1950s Vespas, which had a small lamp on the mudguard. The impeccably finished, double-stitched saddle adds a racy touch while improving the comfort of the ride.

The GTS also features a combination digital/analog dashboard-simple and stylish, the LCD display includes a fuel gauge, a rev counter bar, full and partial mileage, a digital clock with the date, an outside air temperature gauge and a coolant temperature gauge. Analog instruments include a speedometer and a comprehensive set of warning lights: turn signals, position and high beam lights, oil pressure, fuel reserve, the immobilizer LED light and the injection control LED light.

While its natural riding position and ergonomics have always made the Vespa comfortable, the seat on the GTS has a new shape and material for an even better ride. Carrying some bags? A rear luggage rack comes standard, and the underseat storage opens with the press of a button, making those spontaneous trips out of town convenient and hard to resist.

Driving for Fun: Children's Motor Scooters

In recent years the interest in motor sports has trickled down to younger generations who have now fueled the growth of children motor scooter drivers. Kids younger than 10-years-old have become enthusiasts of riding scooters. Scooters have long been a popular toy for kids and the introduction of motor scooters boosted the demand for children's scooters even more.

To appease the growing demand for kid's motor scooters, manufacturers have released all varieties of designs that are tailored for the comfort and safety of children. The diverse selection of motor scooters designs has and continues to increase the popularity of the product among young kids. With each new kid motor scooter model a manufacturer comes out with, the features and accommodations made just for kids become more specific and specialized to better serve the fun and safety of the drivers. For the first time child scooterist there are several starter scooters, with or without a motor, that have the same design as the original t-stand scooters, except a second rear wheel is in place. The two rear wheels act in the same manner as training wheels on a bicycle to help with balance. Beyond a basic starter scooter for kids, the motor scooter designs become more creative and sometimes elaborate. There are several inexpensive types of children's motor scooters with designs mocking full sized vehicles. Because children will not be driving their motor scooters as legal vehicles on the road with automobiles, the scooter designs do not have to meet any requirements to make them street legal. Safety measures are still taken but this factor allows more leeway on the creative designs. These scooters not being street ready also lets the manufacturers make smaller designs, which are more appropriate for young kids. New motor scooter favorites of many young kids are those with a chopper motorcycle design. These scooters are fairly compact like the t-stand styles but the seat, handle bars and wheels have changed position to make a miniature mock of a chopper.

Exterior plastic covers are in place to further complete the chopper look. Other creative motor scooter designs completely change the stereotypical designs of scooters by setting them lower and on four wheels. These designs are created to imitate luxury vehicles and classic cars. For the most part the exterior casing is what makes the design what it is. The engine and other functioning parts are very similar or identical to other scooters.

Children are not going to drive their motor scooters on streets as a regular vehicle, but safety equipment laws are in place, similar to those set for commuter scooters. The laws and regulations will vary in each state, but in most areas a mandatory helmet law has been set, usually for children under 14-years-old. To enforce the importance that children wear proper safety equipment, some areas issue $50 tickets or fines to violators of the rule. Laws working this way will most likely allow the fine to be dropped if a parent or guardian can prove a helmet has been purchased for the child after receiving the ticket.

About the Author

What Pocket Bikes Are Not

• Pocketbikes aren’t a lawn toy for your small child.
  Get them a battery powered Fischer Price toy instead.
  

• Pocketbikes aren’t a street motorcycle - they are highly specialized, miniature GP Racing motorcycles…very fast, very sophisticated 2-stroke racing machines – a virtual ground-based missile. Pocketbikes have hair-trigger acceleration, and can hurt you very easily if you lack the fine motor skills required for very precise throttle control. WEAR A HELMET AND FULL PROTECTIVE GEAR WHEN RIDING.
  

• Pocketbikes aren’t a "putt-putt minibike". The more powerful ones aren’t made just for adult or more experienced riders, but are in fact built for adult racers, and only for the younger racer who possesses a high degree of training, skill, and dexterity. While they may look entirely physically proportional sitting on them, younger children may not be able to safely operate the full-sized hand controls.
  
  Some kids as young as 4 years old* have successfully learned to ride the less powerful models in restricted form - but racing is certainly not for everyone, and certainly pocketbike racing is not for every child. Pocketbike racing on the restricted or lower horsepower models, compares quite favorably to Pee-Wee Motocross racing, in terms of safety…but some individuals may not posses sufficient motor-skills at any age to safely engage in motorsports racing. This is a risk assessment decision that has to be made by an adult parent or guardian based on the particular capabilities of THEIR child.
  
  *As with Pee-Wee MX, the youngest of pocketbike racing classes begin at age 7
  

• Pocketbikes aren’t to be underestimated. 6.2 hp pocketbikes can and have tossed even experienced road racers like a garden salad. Starting out with a 9.5 hp or 12+ hp model is surely ill-advised, especially if you have no prior road racing experience. Pocketbikes have an incredible power-to-weight ratio, and will wheelie quite easily if provoked. More power is on tap than can be safely used in all situations. Precise throttle control isn't just crucial, it's essential.
  

• Pocketbikes aren’t a mass-produced product of infinite availability, stacked on shelves 100 high, 20 deep, and 1000 wide in a huge warehouse somewhere. They are hand-made, limited production racing motorcycles built in the finest Italian racing tradition*.
  
  East Coast Minimoto's Pocketbikes are made by a small number of skilled craftsmen in small batches, in the case of the Polini brand (the closest to what you could even call a "production" racing bike) while others, such as ATM, Pasini, and ZPF, are made entirely by hand, essentially one-by-one, by some of Italy’s finest custom machine artisans.
  *Some pocketbikes are mass-produced in the Czech Republic, and are not hand-crafted in Italy!
  

• Pocketbikes aren’t a "consumer" product.
  They are a racing product: something entirely different.They don’t come with a warranty, and they are not returnable. They don’t come with an instructional video, or a detailed shop manual (and neither do racing cars, or full-size racing motorcycles either, for that matter). They don’t have consumer grade "guards" "protectors" or "shields" installed to protect you from yourself, and your own stupidity. They are made for racing…and in motorsports racing, stupid hurts.
  
  Pocketbikes don’t come out of a bubble pack, ready to use – this is not a toaster oven, or a George Foreman grill. While they do come relatively complete, they may still require some adjustment, and fine tuning, before being race-ready. You need to have mechanical knowledge to safely operate a racing product. If all you know how to do is ride, then find a friend who knows how to wrench.
  
  Example: If you can’t properly identify an expansion-style snap-ring pliers, this sport may be beyond your ken.
  

• Pocketbikes aren’t really all that different from full-size motorcycles…they’re only smaller. Motorcycles are normally sold through dealerships, and are usually dealer-prepped. If you purchase your bike directly from us (the importers), via mail-order, instead of buying from a local dealer, you will save a considerable amount of money…BUT, your bike will arrive in a crate - IT HAS NOT BEEN DEALER PREPPED.
  
  The money you save by buying your miniature pocket racing motorcycle via mail-order, directly from the importer (AND BYPASSING A DEALER) dictates that your bike will arrive in the condition that a dealer would normally encounter the bike in, when he uncrates it at the dealership.
  
  Before a dealer would sell that motorcycle to a customer he would have set it up, adjusted everything, corrected any problems that might have occurred during shipment (such as fasteners that may have worked loose), and checked the product over carefully for any unsafe conditions. These are just some of the BASIC steps involved in the dealer prep of any STREET BIKE…and you must remember: Pocketbikes aren’t street bikes – they are RACING BIKES.
  
  Many racers will completely disassemble their bikes, and then inspect, threadlock, zip-tie, safety wire, and otherwise carefully detail their bike rather extensively to get them ready for racing. Of course, not everyone is quite this serious about racing…but some level of care and preparation will certainly be required to get your bike safe and ready for riding. A simple set of metric wrenches, and Allen keys will be required to tighten the handlebars & hand controls, and attach the footpegs.
  
  PLEASE DO NOT CONFUSE BUYING A LIMITED PRODUCTION RACING MOTORCYCLE DIRECT VIA MAIL-ORDER IN A CRATE WITH BUYING A CONSUMER BIKE, DEALER-PREPPED, READY-TO-RIDE OFF THE SHOWROOM FLOOR.
  
  

• Pocketbikes aren’t difficult to work on, and are in fact some of the most user-friendly racing products made – but if you don’t have ANY mechanical skills, starting out in pocketbike racing (or any kind of racing) may not be the smartest thing to do. It’s still racing, and in racing, you must have a basic understanding of simple mechanical concepts to be competitive, and to maintain a safe bike in proper working order.
  
  We are importers, and although we have a keen mechanical understanding of these bikes and what makes them work, we are not psychic nor telekinetic, and cannot teach you how to build and repair motorcycles over the telephone. We can offer you the best tech support in the industry – but if you are completely mechanically inept, please get yourself some Lego’s, an Erector Set, or a set of Time-Life books instead....

Derbi Atlantis

Battery: With maintenance 12V.4Ah.
Bore x stroke: 41 x 37,4 mm.
Brakes front/rear: Front: 190 mm diameter hydraulic disk Rear: 120 mm diameter drum
Carburetor: Dell'Orto 14 mm diameter
Clutch: Automatic centrifugal metal-to-metal
Cooling: Air-cooled
Compression ratio: 11,5 : 1
Cylinder Capacity: 49 c.c. with aluminum cylinder-Ni-Si liner
Distance between axles: 1.265 mm.
Engine: Two stroke single cylinder
Front suspension: Conventional telehydraulic fork
Fuel: Super or lead free
Fuel tank: 7,2 l.
Ignition: Electronic Flywheel 12V.70W
Lubing system: Oil mix by pump
Maximum power: 6,5 CV to 8000 r.p.m.
Oil tank: 1,3 l.
Overall length: 1.740 mm.
Rear suspension: Swinging engine-hydraulic shock absorbers
Sparkplug: NGK B8 HS, CHAMPION L78C
Start: Electric/Kick starter
Tires: Front: 120 x 70 x 12"
Rear: 120 x 70 x 12"
Total height: 1.085 mm.
Total width: 665 mm.
Transmission: By vee-belt with automatic speed selector

DERBI Bullet

Battery: With maintenance 12V.4Ah.
Bore x stroke: 41 x 37,4 mm.
Brakes front/rear: Front: 190 mm diameter hydraulic disk
Rear: 120 mm diameter drum
Carburetor: 14 mm diameter
Clutch: Automatic centrifugal metal-to-metal
Cooling: Air-cooled; Compression ratio: 11,5 : 1
Cylinder Capacity: 49 c.c. with aluminum cylinder
with Ni-Si liner; Distance between axles: 1.265 mm.
Engine: Two stroke single cylinder
Front suspension: Conventional telehydraulic fork
Fuel: Super or lead free; Fuel tank: 7,2 l.
Ignition: Electronic Magnetic Flywheel 12V. 80W
Lubing system: Oil mix by pump
Maximum power: 7 CV to 8000 r.p.m.
Oil tank: 1,2 l.; Overall length: 1.810 mm.
Rear suspension: Swinging engine and hydraulic shock absorbers
Sparkplug: NGK B9 ES, CHAMPION N2C
Start: Electric/Kick starter
Tires: Front: 120 x 70 x 12" Rear: 120 x 70 x 12"
Total height: 1.115 mm.
Total width: 710 mm.
Transmission: By vee-belt with automatic speed selector

DERBI GP1

Battery: 12V. 4Ah.
Bore x stroke: 40 x 39,3 mm.
Brakes front/rear: Disk ø 190 mm.
Carburetor: Dell'Orto 17,5 mm diameter
Clutch: Automatic centrifugal metal-to-metal
Cooling: Liquid
Compression ratio: 11,3-12,8: 1
Cylinder Capacity: 49,38 cc.
Distance between axles:
Engine: Two stroke single cylinder
Front suspension: Conventional telehydraulic fork
Fuel: Super with lead and lead free
Fuel tank: 7,2 l.
Ignition: Electronic Flywheel
Lubing system: Automatic oil mix by MIKUNI pump
Maximum power: 3,9 CV to 7500 r.p.m.
Oil tank: 1,2 l.; Overall length: 1.760 mm.
Rear suspension: Swinging engine and hydraulic shock absorbers; Start: Electric/ kick starter
Tires: Front: 120 x 70 x 13" Rear: 130 x 60 x 13"
Total height: 1.160 mm.; Total width: 725 mm.
Transmission: By vee-belt with automatic speed selector

BLACK WIDOW Scooters

Engine Starting: Pull Starter with Protective Cover
Engine Cutoff: Handle bar kill switch
Transmission: Fully Automatic!
Max Speed: 25 mph (weight dependent)
Dimensions: 47", 16", 20" (when folded)
Wheel Type: All-Terrain Tires 10 x 4
Brakes: Front and Rear Improved Disc Brakes
Folding: Easy to Store, Folds Down!
Range on Full Tank: 28 Miles
Includes: Billet Deck! Disc brakes! Performance Air Filter Cone,
Full Suspension for off-road riding! and much more
Seat Included: YES! Comes complete with removable seat
New Features: New Dual X-Treme © Front Suspension

Yamaha TMAX

EVOLUTION OF A REVOLUTION When Yamaha’s original TMAX hit the road in 2001 it was a revolution, changing the scooter world overnight.

The 2008 TMAX takes that concept to the next level: it’s lighter and sleeker in design, with top performance from its known deluxe heart, the hi-tech 499cc twin-cylinder engine, improved in ride quality, agility and comfort, plus enhanced everyday convenience and upgraded environmental friendliness.

The everyday TMAX scenario takes us from work in the city, out onto the open roads and far into the countryside, always crossing boundaries and changing horizons, always with power, handling and comfort to spare.

Wherever you’re going in life, TMAX will take you there with a smile on your face

YAMAHA X-City 125

Go high in the city

Yamaha’s brand-new, high-wheeled X-City 125 makes urban riding a real pleasure. This is a scooter born for the big city!

The X-City 125 takes urban 125cc scooter riding to a new level, with large-diameter wheels for the smoothest ride and a fuel-injected four-stroke engine for the best performance. Designed and engineered to combine sporty performance and practicality, X-City 125 features a 16inch front / 15inch rear wheel combination with chunky tyres to make a smooth ride out of rough city streets.

The stylish new X-City ensures the ‘commuter experience’ is both comfortable and fun.

Yamaha Vity 125

Accessible action

Yamaha's new Vity 125 is an honest machine offering honest abilities, honest value and a hard-to-beat mix of weather protection, convenience and mobility.

10Inch wheels, a compact 1250mm wheelbase, low weight and simple mechanicals are all blueprint elements for a rewarding, affordable scooter experience. The 125cc four-stroke engine is built for reliability and strength. Vity is a straightforward scooter, but that doesn’t mean it has no practical touches: an under seat compartment big enough to take a full-face helmet, a handy storage box inside the legshield, a sturdy luggage rack, and an analogue instrument panel.