The Lambretta was a line of motor scooters manufactured in Milano (Milan), Italy. The name Lambretta comes from the name of a small river (Lambro) in Milan, near the factory.
I first learn of Lambretta from the Motorcycle Philippines. Impressed by their excitment, I dug further.
Here is a summary from Wikipedia.
The Innocenti company started producing Lambretta scooter after World War II in 1947 and production ceased in 1971. Lambrettas were also manufactured under licence in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, India and Spain, sometimes under other names but always with a recognizable design (e.g. Siambretta in South America and Serveta in Spain).
The Indian government bought the factory after the company went into financial difficulties in 1972. Scooters India Ltd. , a state-run enterprise, produced scooters up till 1998. Now the company produces a 3-wheeler pick-up truck powered by the Lambretta engine.
Like Vespas, Lambrettas have 3 or 4 gears and two stroke motors with capacities ranging from 49cc to 198cc.
Today Vespa and Lambrettas attracted an ecclectic following of “revival” mods, collectors and scooterists. Many owners customize these scooters with elaborate customizations and paintwork.
More of the Lambretta history from the Cambridge Lambretta Workshops.
First of all, let me say I have nothing for or against women riders. It is just it.
To me, the reason women riders are identify is simply because motorcycling is so predominantly a man’s activity so lady riders draw attention.
There are a few women riders in Motorcycle Blogger International and they had done amazing things. Read their blogs to find out.
Did I miss anyone else?
Are you into motorcycle racing and Superbike? You might want to check out Tim Kreitz’s The Superbike Blog.
It is a pity that here in China, blogspot.com is blocked. Yes, I cannot access any site on blogspot, normally. Of course there are ways around and so I’m able to visit some good motorcycles blog there and learn a thing or two.
Tim is a Kawasaki nut and know his bike stuff especially when it comes to superbikes. Read his review of RV1000 from Roehr Motorcycles, a company I had not heard before.
He is also a riding instructor ,so you get insight from his accident and have him shaking his head at neophyte riders onoutrageously powerful machines.
If you are a new superbike riders, you will also find his tips useful.
Till we ride again.
As I was looking around at motorcycle websites, I realised that a number of well-known motorcycle brands are from Italy.
We just met Ducati in the last post and also Moto Guzzi. You must have also heard of Aprilia, Cagiva, Paiggio and Vespa.
I not sure about other part of the world, from where I came from the typical stereotype of different motorcycle makers are as follows.
The Italian bikes are known for their heart stopping design and pricy price. Japanese bikes for their cost and fuel efficiency. BMW for technology and Harley for the bad boy, rebel image.
Will take a look at them soon.
Take a look at Wheels of Italy
How serendipitous is the web?
I just did a post on Triumph and Norton. Two days later I was introduced to Geoff’s Return of the Cafe Racers which focuses on such bike as the Norton Commando 961 and the Triumph Thruxton 900.
It is also the first time I had heard of the term cafe racers. What exactly is a cafe racer?
Hint: It is a type of motorcycle as well as a type of motorcyclist. Find out more from Wikipedia.
What do you do when you like motorcycle but cannot ride it?
Visit motorcycle websites, join motorcycle forums, look at motorcycle photos, watch motorcycle movies.
The Motorcycle Diaries is a story of Che Guevara, the Cuban revolutionary. If you have not heard of him, you may have seen the picture on the left. That’s him.
The namesake motorcycle (reputed to be a Norton 500) only appears for first half the movie.
Of course the movie is not about motorcycle but how the trip around South America changed the life of young Ernesto Guevara.
“Restlessness and the love of the open road.” That’s how it all started. That’s how many of us started with motorcycle isn’t it?
A good movie worth the watching.
Want more motorcycle movies? Here is a list of motorcycle movies.
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