Go Hard or Go Home
1958 Douglas 92L2 update 4 Paint All through this project the aim was to just get this back on the road and to retain the character of the scooter as it was when I first purchased it. As time has gone by the floor area has been a bit […]
Read more1958 Douglas 92L2 update 3 The original 8″ wheels on this have now been upgraded to 10″ with the standard PX wheel on the back and a ScootRS, atomic branded, GS150 replica conversion rim on the front. The front wheel has plenty of clearance from the guard and with the […]
Read more1958 Douglas 92L2 update 2 PX engine upgrade The PX motor installation has provided some challenges although I never expected this would be easy. Basically it seems there are 3 brackets available for changing the original Douglas 125 engine for a PX – two specifically for the PX200 and another for […]
Read more1958 Douglas 92L2 update 1 Scooters made in the 1950’s had different frame styles and engines than the more recent scooters. Engine side cowl has a bump that cuts into the frame. There is a small door below the choke and fuel levers which hinges toward the headset. For models with […]
Read moreMotoretta Tourist Trophy 2016. “It is the responsibility of riders to ensure both they and their scooter are road legal. All scooters must be registered and carry a current Warrant of Fitness. Registration plates must belong to that vehicle. If a scooter is found to be in breach, the rider […]
Read moreDouglas Vespa project 1 Scooters made in the 1950’s had different frame styles and engines than the more recent scooters. To differentiate them from 60’s and later era machines they have the following physical attributes: Engine side cowl has a bump that cuts into the frame. There is a small […]
Read more1970 Vespa SS90 project This 1970 Vespa SS 90 scooter came with some other bits and pieces from a local Invercargill man called Rex. He had advertised on Trade Me looking for a cash sale – not an auction, for his cack (that is scooter stuff mum) and had some […]
Read moreNZ Classic Scooter Club Rally 2016 This year’s NZCSC rally at Tatum Park in Manakau, which is up north on SH 1 between Otaki and Levin got off to a bad start for the Black Roughie. Planning to leave early didn’t happen and while wanting to get to Ch-Ch on […]
Read moreBajaj scooter update 16 So its now into a new year and we are a bit closer to the next Moto TT. From the last post I had done some re-cabling and purchased some bits and pieces from SIP for the Bajaj. The checklist from the last post was: Working […]
Read moreIt’s the change of season here in the deep south right now so one day you could be mowing your lawns in relative comfort and the next its howling a gale and wet. Today has been howling and wet, so after a couple of days in the shed, once the jobs […]
Read moreBajaj scooter update 14 Sante has come early in the Southern Scoot workshop with new parts for the Black Roughie and some other projects on the go. Hopefully, the Bajaj will be the next scoot to complete next years MotoTT (which most scooterists still call the Mille) and its time for […]
Read moreSally the Skelly The skeleton (from Greek σκελετός, skeletós “dried up”) is the body part that forms the supporting structure of an organism. Skelly is also a name for a cutdown scooter. A cutdown is a customised scooter (usually an Italian Vespa or Lambretta) with parts of the bodywork removed or cut away. Cutdowns were popular amongst skinheads and scooterboys during […]
Read moreMrs JC’s Super update 2 The last time I rode the super it went well but near the end of the ride it was right down on power and just didn’t want to run. It would start and idle fine but would just die in top gear and I eventually […]
Read moreBajaj scooter update 13 The Bajaj has had quite a few additions as it has evolved from Barry the Bajaj into The Black Roughie. In effect the Bajaj has become the test bed for all things scooter and will continue to be “adjusted” as time permits. It has been a great learning tool […]
Read moreMotoretta Tourist Trophy 2015. This was the first of the event previously known as the Mille Miglia Scooter Challenge. Christiaan from Retroscooter and his hard working team outdid themselves this year with a sublime event. With around 70 scooters taking part this year the scene was set for some serious competition and […]
Read moreAfrica Vespa tour 2015 Safaris Recently we were fortunate enough to be able to travel to South Africa and to go on two Safari’s. The two Lodges – Hoyo Hoyo in the Kruger national park in South Africa and Muchenje in the Chobe national park in Botswana were just awesome. […]
Read moreBajaj scooter update 12 Its funny the things you learn as you pull your scooter to pieces and then put it back together again. I am not a vespa expert by any means but have acquired a pretty good knowledge about scooter engines, wiring, exhausts, tyres, forks, wheels, carburetors, stands, […]
Read moreElsie the Lambretta update 3 The lambretta 125LC Was produced in Italy between 1950 and 1951 with a total of 42500 units. With 125 cc it has a Bore/Stroke of 52×58 mm and a carburetor Dellorto MA16. This model has 3 gears and 4.3 horse power, going up to 65-70 km/h […]
Read moreSouthern Scoot is part of team ARSCRAC and will be riding with a newly rebuilt SS180 motor by Mike at Not a motorcycle shop. The logistics are not too bad for this trip with the scooter already in Mikes workshop in Wellington. Mrs Southern Scoot is going to be involved […]
Read moreBajaj scooter update 11 So the Bajaj had another stock 150 motor with the “sporty note exhaust system” and just needed rewired…. The newish motor started and went well but needed some more go as carting me around was OK but not very fast and the 8″ wheels at any […]
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