Lambretta Scooters
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Lambretta Scooter
Vespa is a line of motor scooters that was first manufactured in Pontedera, Italy in 1946 by Piaggio & Co, S.p.A. Piaggio continues to manufacture the Vespa today, although the Vespa was much more widely used in the 1950s and 60s when it became the adopted vehicle of choice for the UK youth-culture known as Mods, and later Skinheads.
The classic Vespas had unibody chassis pressed from sheets of steel, with bodywork covering the legs for protection from rain and mud. The engine was covered completely by a steel cowling to appeal to a broader market of people, often turned off by the dirty, greasy stereotype often applied to motorcycles. Piaggio revolutionized the two-wheel industry with the Vespa and provided a model on which nearly every other scooter made since has been based.
Most older Vespas have manual transmissions that are controlled by twisting the left handgrip while pulling the clutch lever and selecting between the 3 or 4 gears. That contrasts with the modern "Twist and Go" fully automatic transmissions of most scooters today. Most scooter models sold today are twist and go.
Vespas also had two-stroke engines, requiring a mixture of oil with the gasoline in order to lubricate the piston and cylinder. The mixture of oil in the fuel produced high amounts of smoke. Increasing environmental restrictions compelled Piaggio to pull out of the US market in 1985. Because of the latest EPA requirements, you'll mainly only be able to buy a four-stroke scooter.
Vespa returned to the US market in 2001 with a new, more modern style, and offers several models that have automatic transmissions and using both four stroke and cleaner two stroke engines. First came the ET2 (50 cc) and ET4 (50-124cc). Next came the larger 200cc Granturismo 200. In 2004 they reintroduced a modernized PX 150. In 2005 a LX model that comes in both 50 and 125cc versions in the UK and 50 and 150cc version in the US. Most Vespas feature either a rear pillion for a passenger, or a storage compartment, just behind the driver's seat.
The Vespa is recognized as the epitome of Italian design and with its elegant lines and classic aesthetics, there is a dramatic increase in the number of urban commuters who have purchased new or restored Vespas. The difficulty of parking cars and the Vespa's low running costs are two reasons for this upswing in Vespa (and other scooter) popularity.
Vespas acquired popularity beyond Europe and North America. In India, Piaggio transferred Vespa technology to Bajaj Auto, which continues to make scooters derived from Vespas of the 1960's. Bajaj used to sell in North America in the early 1980's but later withdrew from the market, owing both to the aforementioned environmental constraints, and patent infringement accusations from Piaggio.
Bajaj scooters are back in the North American market, though most of the Vespa pedigree has been engineered away (other than the body shape). Another Vespa clone producer in India is LML Motors, which manufactures the Stella range of Vespa clones that are sold in the USA.
