TheScooterScoop

(Thanks to cyberscooter.it for undressing her for us all to see. Those Italians are always so suave.)

I’m going to try and attempt a translation of a Google translation of an Italian report of the American version of an Italian classic formerly known as the Lambretta. (Wait… it seems I lost a couple of you there). Here’s roughly what the Italians have to say about the new L-Series from CMSI. Here t’is.

Historically the world has known Lambretta as the alternative to Vespa. Passionate arguments between the pipe-frame loving Lambretta fans and fanatics of the pressed steel framed Vespa linger infinitely.

Today it seems that Lambretta is making a comeback and in a dramatic turn of events, actually collaborating with it’s arch-nemesis! (Gasp!)

The American company CMSI, owner of the Lambretta brand (not correct, but could be due to bad translation) is in fact completing the prototype seen at EICMA with an electronic injection Piaggio Quasar 250cc engine.

This unexpected alliance actually has the advantage of bringing back to life the historical Milan brand, with the guarantee that it will not be just some new Chinese produced clone, but instead a scooter that carries on in the tradition and the design originally ‘made in Lambrate’.

Unfortunately we don’t have the tech specs and details on it’s release, but from the images and discussions we had in the booth it seems that CMSI isn’t in it just for the business, but also the passion. The design and aesthetics are in fact closely derived from the last models Innocent, binding together this classic look with an updated, more ecologically friendly power plant that is now readily available. It’s the same motor that found on the Vespa GTS.

From what we saw it was riding on two 12 inch wheels and had a double front suspension with Disc brake, with a rear adjustable shock.

Nothing too obvious had changed with the handle-bar with the exception of the loss of clutch and shifter thanks to the CVT.

We have yet to see a test drive on a beautiful road, but stay tuned, we may soon have an UPDATE to this old argument.

That’s as good as it gets from me. If you wanna see the Babelfish’s shot at the translation just click on the title link and if your Italian is good, maybe you could tell us where we got it wrong.

One thing I didn’t see is the doubt-laden ramblings normally associated with the L-Series… As a matter of fact, it almost seems as if there was a little pride in the resurrection of the “Lambretta”. Had CMSI bypassed Italy and gone straight to China??? It would have been a MUCH different story.