Scooter marques Vespa and Lambretta have been virtually tied together for over a half a century and so has the marketing rivalry between two iconic Italian scooters, and playing on this rivalry is this latest commercial that an ad agency for Lambretta has come up with and it will put a smile on your face, unless of course you’re a super fan of the Vespa scooter.

Enjoy.

Source | motorbiker.org

Quarantasei means ‘46′ in Italian, but Valentino Rossi has nothing to do with it. Vespa Quarantasei is named after the year 1946, when the first ever prototype of the world-famous Italian scooter - called MP6 - was made. Just to prove that the style and design of that very first model are simply timeless, Vespa pays homage with this one-off that looks old school and futuristic at the same time. It is certainly one of the most interesting exercises in style at the EICMA this year.

It comes with either a 125cc or a 150cc single-cylinder 3-valves air cooled engine with electronic fuel injection. The former produces 11.7 hp at 8,250 rpm with peak torque of 10.3 Nm at 7.000 rpm, whereas the latter has an output of 13 hp at 8,000 rpm and 12.6 Nm from 6.500 rpm.

View the full Vespa Quarantasei photo gallery

Wet, cold and windy and this was the weather this morning at the Ricardo Tormo circuit at Valencia for MotoGP’s warm-up practice and the surprise of the morning was that AMA Superbike champion Josh Hayes who is riding for injured Colin Edwards, topped the timesheets with a best lap of 1.40.469 taking the lead after mounting slick tires in the finale of the session.

Hiroshi Aoyama was second and he grabbed his spot also on slick tires. Casey Stoner lead most of the session ended up third and more than 3 seconds off pace, but he did the entire practice as most of the riders did on rain tires and on the damp track he hammered out fast laps, taking off almost a second every time he went around the track and leaving the rest of the field playing catch-up, but unable to get even close to him.

Andrea Dovizioso who suffered a dislocated left thumb in yesterday’s qualifying session was fourth, followed by Nicky Hayden and Loris Capirossi with his new leathers and career tribute helmet were fifth and sixth.

Ben Spies finished ahead of Valentino Rossi with Randy de Puniet in ninth and struggling slightly and Cal Crutchlow closed out the top ten.

MotoGP Valencia Warm-up practice results:

01- Josh Hayes – Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – Yamaha YZR M1 – 1’40.469
02- Hiroshi Aoyama – San Carlo Honda Gresini – Honda RC212V – + 1.627
03- Casey Stoner – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC212V – + 3.301
04- Andrea Dovizioso – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC212V – + 4.360
05- Nicky Hayden – Ducati Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP11.1 – + 4.652
06- Loris Capirossi – Pramac Racing Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – + 5.027
07- Ben Spies – Yamaha Factory Racing – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 5.090
08- Valentino Rossi – Ducati Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP11.1 – + 5.212
09- Randy De Puniet – Pramac Racing Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – + 5.283
10- Cal Crutchlow – Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 5.326
11- Alvaro Bautista – Rizla Suzuki MotoGP – Suzuki GSV-R – + 5.459
12- Karel Abraham – Cardion AB Motoracing – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – + 5.689
13- Toni Elias – LCR Honda MotoGP – Honda RC212V – + 5.815
14- Hector Barbera – Mapfre Aspar Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – + 7.278
15- Dani Pedrosa – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC212V – + 7.288
16- Katsuyuki Nakasuga – Yamaha Factory Racing – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 7.556

What do you get when you cross a Roman chariot with a Vespa? This Vespa chariot livery. Up close this funny motorcycle pic looks more like a Roman-medieval mix but the only thing missing for us is a little extra equipment. Anyone for jousting?

Send your funny, bizarre or surprising pics to us and we’ll post them, with your name. We’d love to share what you guys find in the world of motorcycling! Send to: pics@twowheelsblog.com.

Source | Motoblog.it

Want a vintage Vespa look without all the time and money spent trying to find and restore an old Vespa GS? The guys at Vivo Scooters have the solution for you with their Vivo Body Kit which takes a Vespa PX or LML Star and fits it up with accessories to make it look like a GS.

Vivo Scooters are in fact restorers of vintage Italian scooters, but have design the bodykit to create the look without spending the money. The curvy GS look can be achieved through fitting various mudguards, indicators, body panels, front suspension and even a glove box to create the vintage look. Vivo Scooters says:

Our experience in classic scooter restoration has lead us to develop a complete bodykit taking design from the 1960’s iconic Vespa GS160 MK2. Months of work and we are finally able to release for sale our Vivo GS BodyKits for the Vespa PX and LML Star scooters. We wanted our kit to be simple to retro fit, no drilling, no cutting no fibreglass or gelcoat panels, offering a like for like quality ! All our items are available to buy individually or as a complete kit, supplied primer or painted and ready to fit.

The unfinished kit costs about €750, or if you want the full painted job, it’s about €1,100. We think it’s still more satisfying to restore your own model, but if you don’t have the resources, and want the vintage look, this is an option. Check out the Vivo Scooters website for more info.

Source | MotorPasionMoto

The 2011 Vespa World Days event will take place north of Oslo, at Gjøvik, in about a week’s time and it seems like this meet only gets bigger every year. With registration still open, so far we can expect thousands of “Vespisti” from 120 Vespa clubs, representing 20 countries around the world.

The Vespa Trophy race will take place again this year, which is a clever business initiative whereby Vespa owners must try to collect as many photos and stamps from European Vespa dealerships as possible. The Trophy was inaugurated last year and after being highly successful, it was decided to repeat the event this year.

The Vespa Trophy involves 2,000 Vespa dealerships across Europe. Any Vespa Club member can participate with the goal for each club being to arrive at Gjøvik on May 19 with the most “Piaggio Check Points” completed. The Vespa World Days program is as follows:

May 19 is the opening of the event with a welcome reception at the Vespa Village. The afternoon of May 20 sees an excursion to Lillehammer - an enchanting small city on the banks of lake Mjøsa that is famous for its coloured wooden homes. Each evening hosts bars and stalls with live music and entertainment.

Saturday May 21 hosts the Vespa parade with the thousands of models parading over 30 km to Kapp. An aerobatic show with Vespas will take place in the evening, after the gala dinner. You can see the program of events on the Vespa World Days site, and if you’re interested in a race around the Vespa dealerships of Europe, see the Vespa Trophy site.

The new Vespa PX is one hot little scooter which will bring back old-style scootering to those purists who still want to do stuff like change gears themselves. The immortal PX seen in these live pics from EICMA, will revive the classic two-stroke 125 and 150cc engines which might not sound like much to a modern luddite but this is about as romantic and nostalgic as you can get on nowadays scooters.

It’s the third time the Vespa PX will have appeared on the market and it will come with a four-speed gearbox with shift on the handle bar and will be available in Sport, Touring and ‘Via della moda’ options. The nifty thing is though, that despite it being a two-stroke, it still conforms to Euro 3 thanks to its new muffler.

For those looking for a fun scooter with all the style and status a Vespa gives, the PX is designed with you in mind. It’s lost on fancy technology to gain on traditional scootering fun. We get the feeling that anyone riding this will feel like they’re once again participating in a cool niche which harks back to 1960’s Dolce Vita style.

The Sport fit-out of the Vespa PX is what it suggests - a sporty style recognisable by its front spring in red and matte black wheels. The Touring PX obviously gets the usual boxes and storage compartments but with a neat, chrome finish, dark brown seat and additional special colour in Perseo Bronze. The ‘Via della moda’ or ‘fashion street’ version is the top-of-the-range model which has plum colour, twin seat in red eco-leather and five-spoke chrome wheels.

Below are all the details from the Piaggio press release of the new Vespa PX as well as technical specs and the official gallery.

Vespa PX

The Vespa in its most original form, once again takes its place of timeless legend.
Forming the link between the history of the world’s most famous scooter and its future, the Vespa PX is back with a choice of its most classic engine sizes.

Incomparable style, an engine which respects the most severe emissions standards and the classic four gear transmission make Vespa PX unmistakable and unique.

There has only ever been one Vespa.

The seventeen million examples of the Vespa sold across the globe since 1946 have brought together people of different languages and cultures, and have turned the dreams and desire for freedom of entire generations of young people into reality.
The Vespa has been an integral part of our history and a unique phenomenon in the history of popular culture: it was the vehicle that brought personal mobility to Europe in the post-war Europe. It saw younger generations take different sides with their Vespas and Lambrettas, or as Mods and Rockers. It embodied music, rebellion, romanticism and escapism. It represented the promise of freedom for all. It is the symbol of the era of the “Dolce Vita”. It played a leading role in the ‘revolution of thought’ brought to fruition by the young generations of the 1960s and ’70s. It welcomed the arrival of Rock’n Roll in Europe and was still here to see the advent of the MTV generation and digital music. And it will continue to go on.

Thirty-three years on the world’s roads.

2010 is the thirty-third anniversary of the launch of the Vespa PX, a milestone that very few vehicles - let alone a two wheeler - can claim to have achieved.

Making this achievement all the more extraordinary is the sheer popularity of this classic: with over 3,000,000 examples sold in every continent.

The majority of the examples built and sold are still running in countries all over the world - a testimony not only to the proverbial robustness and reliability of the scooter, but also to the deep affection that binds every Vespa and its owner.
In the current Vespa range, the PX is the only model which offers the four gear transmission on the handlebar: a true “must” for enthusiasts, together with an unmistakable design which goes beyond all fashion.

The legend lives on: revised technical content and style.

Essential lines, elegantly minimalist: Vespa PX maintains all of the classic strong points which determined its success for more than three decades: unmistakable style, functionality and user-friendliness, the legendary sturdiness of a steel bodyshell, the reliability of a simple and indestructible engine and the possibility (whether as a functional feature or just because you like it) of fitting a spare wheel.

Without indulging in retro style for its own sake, the design of the instrument panel of the Vespa PX is instantly recognisable as timeless, with its immediately clear instrumentation. The speedometer, with dual Km/h and mph scales, and the fuel gauge are lit with a neutral coloured light that is in perfect harmony with the purity of the design. The array of indicator and warning lights includes indicators for the lights, full beam, turn signals and fuel reserve.

A new saddle for the Vespa PX: with all-new design and upholstery. The proverbial comfort and space that have always distinguished the Vespa PX as the touring scooter par excellence have actually been improved. Ideal for two-up riding, the saddle accommodates riders of all statures, offering unparalleled comfort and vehicle control.
The headlight, with a state of the art complex surface reflector and halogen bulb, creates a powerful beam for ideal visibility and constitutes a vital contribution in terms of active safety.

The taillight has always been a signature feature of each and every Vespa model. From the small, round taillight of the legendary 1946 98cc to the headlight in two distinct elements and chrome parts which embellished the 1962 125cc, to the Primavera ET3’s boxy design which was so typically “70’s”. Vespa PX rediscovers soft lines for the taillight which combine with a classic and elegant chrome edge. The component, with a red lens, also includes the brake light and license plate light.

The turn indicators on the Vespa PX feature an orange bulb behind a clear plastic outer lens. A combination which recalls the elegance of the numerous chrome details, enhancing the purity of the Vespa lines.
The new hand grips in black rubber are elegantly branded with the Vespa logo and complemented by the chrome taillight.
The classic Vespa logo also enhances the new central tunnel cover, now refined by an elegant edge in glazed material.

The new grille cites the style of some of the greatest classics in Vespa history.

The Vespa has always been distinguished by a unibody construction - an exclusive feature that has always set the Vespa apart from any other scooter. The PX remains true to this construction solution which, in addition to giving the scooter a classic flavour, also ensures superior stiffness and precision.

The link arm front suspension - a technical solution that is an intrinsic part of the Vespa character - works in conjunction with a coil spring and a dual action hydraulic shock absorber.

At the rear, the suspension components are linked to the engine-transmission case, which also does duty as the swingarm. The 10″ wheels are shod with 3.50” tyres.

The 200 mm stainless steel front disc brake is complemented by a powerful and reliable 150 mm drum brake at the rear for perfect modulability.

The 125 and 150 cc single-cylinder, two-stroke engines with forced air cooling feature CDI electronic injection and both electric and kick starters. After all, how can anyone think of the most classic of the Vespa models without the fantastic kick start pedal crank?
Thanks to the use of a new catalytic converter designed to lower polluting emissions, both of the Vespa PX models comply with the most severe and modern Euro3 standards.

The PX comes with a four speed manual gearbox: choosing the PX means choosing total riding pleasure.

Vespa PX 125/150: Technical specifications

Engine 2-stroke single cylinder
Engine capacity PX 125: 123 cc
PX 150: 150 cc
Bore PX 125: 52.5 mm
PX 150: 57.8 mm
Stroke 57 mm
Fuel Unleaded petrol, min 95 RON
Induction Rotary valve induction in crankcase
Ignition CDI electronic ignition
Starter Electrical and kick starter
Lubrication Automatic mixer
Cooling system Forced air
Gearbox Four speed manual
Load bearing structure Steel body
Front suspension Link arm with coil spring and dual action hydraulic shock absorber
Rear suspension Engine-transmission case serving as swingarm, dual action shock absorber
Front brake 200 mm stainless steel disc
Rear brake 150 mm drum
Front wheel rim 2.10 - 10”
Rear wheel rim 2.10 – 10”
Front tyre 3.50” - 10”
Rear tyre 3.50” - 10”
Length 1,810 mm
Width 740 mm
Wheelbase 1,260 mm
Seat height 810 mm
Dry weight 97 kg
Fuel tank capacity 8 litres
Emissions compliance Euro 3

The Piaggio Group will be bringing some new models to the 2010 EICMA although unfortunately we don’t expect anything that will knock our socks off quite like the Moto Guzzi concepts last year. In any case, we’ll get to see the Aprilia Tuono V4R on the floor which could steal the show from the Ducati Streetfighter. So far, we’ve got this 3/4 pic to show you and we think it will only be nastier in the flesh.

The Moto Guzzi Stelvio 8v gets a restyling with new sides, tank and front cover and a brand new set of wheels. It also gets a new colour scheme but at this stage we don’t know if there will be any changes regarding the engine and electronics. Meanwhile the RS125 will become the RS4 125 thanks to a new look taken from the current four-cylinder world champion.

For the 2010 EICMA Piaggio will present its new MP3 Yourban - a compact version of the world’s three-wheeler. It will continue the urban commuting philosophy but has a new, smaller front and is less powerful at the front wheels, designed for easier and lighter riding. Vespa will show off its GTV, S Sport and GTS Touring models, along with its new PX to compete with the success of the LML Star. More details to come from the show.

2011 Piaggio Group at 2010 EICMA

Tuono and Stelvio pics from IlSole24Ore

The Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour finished last Saturday in Rome and the Italians pulled Nicola Campobbasso out of their bag of tricks for the day. Nicola is also known as the ‘impennatore’ or ‘wheeler’ in the sense of one-wheel stunts, and is particularly famous for the kind of Vespa stunts he can pull off on his bike. The photo above is definitely worth a photo of the day status.

Nicola was out to entertain the crowds with a few wheelies and some stunts with both wheels on the ground, but as it seems he’s capable of more, he let his imagination do the rest. After the jump is a video of the highlights of the final round of the world freestyle championships. We don’t actually get to see Nicola but for the rest…. did we mention the words show ponies?

Source | Motoblog.it

We’ve already seen a Swarovski blinged out Kymco scooter and a Harley Davidson Sportster and now we have this unique 1961 Vespa VVB 150 covered in the shiny crystals.

The work was done by German company Stonerichworld who took four years to develop a technique so that they could apply the crystals without destroying the underlining original paint and six months of hard work placing 150.000 Swarovski glass crystals for a cost of € 249,000, to turn this fully functional vintage Vespa into a sculpture which is rented out for promotional events.

Source | omnimoto.it

This lovely little Vespa with Louis Vuitton paint job and finishings was photographed at the 2010 ‘Vespata’ in Bologna. Apparently the seat is made from leather (so we’re not talking those cheap knock-offs you find sold on street corners) with the famous Vuitton design and the paint has been changed to brown to match. The pics come from the guys at Motoblog.it and Faster96.com.

Send your funny, bizarre or surprising pics to us and we’ll post them, with your name. We’d love to share what you guys find in the world of motorcycling! Send to: pics@twowheelsblog.com.

It seems Piaggio operations and client service is further under fire in the North American motorcycle market, after the Italian company recently had to pledge to improve its Canadian dealer network and customer relations. Piaggio moved its Canadian distribution to the US last year, but apparently is still known for lack of customer service and dealership support.

According to A&R Piaggio sold just 1,100 bikes in North America in Q1 this year, compared to 6,400 in Q1 last year and with brands like Piaggio, Vespa, Aprilia and Moto Guzzi in its portfolio, it’s hardly lacking in products to sell. Comments though, indicate that a brand like Aprilia is just as good at replacement parts as any other brand on the market, and that overall customers would like better service from other Italian brands like Ducati and MV Agusta as well as the Japanese companies.

Whatever the case, it would be nice to see Piaggio set the benchmark rather than content itself with the middling standards of the rest of the market. We can only imagine that the company is in need of a good PR campaign and the service to then back it up. Piaggio worldwide CEO Paolo Timoni says: “About 50% of our dealers have stayed with us [since the move offices to the US] and the plan is to have 50 to 55 dealers total across Canada by the end of 2010.”

That statement doesn’t exactly admit there’s a problem beyond just dealership numbers, but it does indicate some plans are in place to address complaints. I’m not a salesperson, but I am a customer, and so I know that sales aren’t going to just come wandering in because they think Aprilia’s a great brand. It’s only ever going to be as good as the dealership and sales support network that gets you your bike.