Go Hard or Go Home
Belladonna Black 07 This Belladonna scooter has been in the wars and was purchased because of its pedigree and I liked the rough and ready look of it. Also the location was handy when planning scooter trips up north. The original 150 engine in it had been modified and the […]
Read moreWe have been to Whanganui twice now for the vintage weekend and scootering with friends. We have stayed at the Grand and enjoyed our time there and out and about exploring Whanganui. It is well priced and clean with a good selection of room types available. The Grand Hotel was […]
Read moreThe Grand Tour Come and hang with scooter geeks, have a decent length ride out, then hang with scooter geeks again. It’s not a scooter rally. Don’t expect a participation certificate or concours d’elegance waffle-fest because there won’t be one. The idea is all staying at a nice old school […]
Read moreDouglas Vespa Wideframe project 2 This Douglas Wideframe scooter came from a local man in Invercargill. It might be worth “doing up” or just reassembling it and getting it going or maybe even selling it as is. Good Points: Body in good condition and complete with little surface rust. Less good but […]
Read more1958 Douglas 92L2 update 5 Recently I discovered how the Douglas scooters were numbered. I had been told the scooter was a 42L2 but after some internet searching and comparing serial numbers with known scooters, I was able to figure out a rough guide as to the dating […]
Read more1979 Honda XL500S – Tyres The original tyres that came on the CBR600 rims, I have used for this project, were in poor condition. Once the bike was up and running enough to get a basic tune done, the old tyres were going to be replaced anyway. The rear tyre […]
Read moreCanscoot March Hare run There aren’t many of us Scooter riders in the deep south, so when the opportunity to mix with other like minded individuals arises, we tend to go and have a look. The Otago Vespa Club and the Canscoot Club from Canterbury were interested in […]
Read more1979 Honda XL500S – Front Guard As the project has evolved, the stripped down look is fine but a little impractical, when living in an area, where inclement weather can happen at anytime. I have seen a lot of other similar projects without mudguards and have always wondered what they […]
Read moreVespa SS180 stator replacement I upgraded the original points ignition system on the SS180 quite some time ago but havn’t made too many changes to it since then. The lighting has been great and other than a pickup failing, the rest has worked very well. It was one of the […]
Read moreThe Grand Tour Jan 17 at 6 PM – Jan 19 The Grand Hotel Wanganui 99a Guyton Street, Wanganui, New Zealand 4500 36th Vincent County Rally Friday 31st January to Sunday 2nd February 2020 211 Fisher Lane, Galloway – Alexandra Gates Open 12pm Friday Online entries here – https://bronzotago.ecwid.com/36th-VINCENT-COUNTY-RALLY-p121526995 […]
Read more1979 Honda XL500S – Exhaust baffle Now that the bike has a running engine I have been concentrating on tuning it and riding it around to see how it handles. The first issue is that it is loud – very loud. Personally, I think it sounds awesome in a 500cc […]
Read more1979 Honda XL500S – Hard to Start Checking the wiring has been straight forward but without a running engine this project has taken a little longer than expected. I did manage to get it started once but since then it’s only been good exercise for my right leg. The first […]
Read more1979 Honda XL500S – LED lighting The Honda has had quite a lot done to it over the last 10 months and the wiring has changed a little bit along with a few other things. Because it is kickstart only and doesn’t have a battery this has been a bit […]
Read moreVespa Stretch Most of the scooter enthusiasts that I know, enjoy their vintage scooters for what they are – classically styled forms of transport that require some maintenance and a lot of patience to be safe and fun to ride. Many are just collectors and store their treasures away while […]
Read moreBullseye the Vespa SS90 So I got a ring from a guy that was selling a Vespa SS90. He was looking for a good home for his scooter and after talking to him for a bit and some emails back and forth I realised that he was actually a serious […]
Read moreMotoretta Tourist Trophy 2019 The Moto TT for 2019 was a bust for me personally but again was well organised with some awesome roads and destinations. Accomodation was outstanding with 2 nights at the Brackenridge Country Retreat & Spa in Martinborough and 2 nights at DeBretts in Taupo as part […]
Read moreReachies Belladonna Scooter Recently a Belladonna scooter was advertised for sale in Auckland Black Bella 2003 – 172 QUATTRINI M1X MilleMiglia plus 60mm Mazzucchelli full circle Crankshaft. More or less 182cc – All engine work undertaken by professional technicians. – Quality bearings and seals – Mikuni TM32 flat slide carburettor […]
Read moreThe best motor racing event in New Zealand. 7th – 10th February https://www.burtmunrochallenge.co.nz/home The best scooter endurance event in New Zealand. 21st April – 25th April http://www.motoretta.co.nz/ The coldest motor racing event in New Zealand. Queens Birthday Weekend – 2nd June /3rd June http://www.brassmonkeyrally.org.nz/
Read more1979 Honda XL500S – 12 Volt lighting The wiring for this project has always been a bit of a concern and mainly because it’s not something I have done much of, on a motorcycle. Vespa scooter wiring, while fiddly, is pretty basic and you either have a battery or you […]
Read moreBajaj scooter – Moto 2019 Things have been a bit slow on the scooter front over the last year with one thing and another. The MotoTT 2019 is fast approaching and the Bajaj is getting some much needed love for the event. The last time out, on this event in […]
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