Roadkill: November 2008

We see a lot of confusion about our tubeless rims for Lambretta and Vespa posted out there, much of it based on rare anecdotes involving older products or items not even sold by us. For example, someone asked on a forum if our tubeless rims were safe and was told this:

RS's tubeless rims aren't exactly unsafe, as long as you get the mild steel (NOT stainless--they crack under stress, making them for show use only.) The downside to them is that they lack a center channel to make tire mounting easier, so they require so much effort to mount tires that the rims are often bent in the process

Not that this is misinformation or anything terrible, but let's go through this one-by-one to clarify here for everyone:

1) “RS's tubeless rims aren't exactly unsafe”: in fact they are not only VERY safe, with not a single replacement ever on our beaded tubeless rims for sale, they have actively prevented MANY serious accidents and probably saved lives by eliminating all the regular tire blowouts people would have suffered on regular rims all these years. We'd go so far as to say people are foolish not to use them.

(Now, we must mention, in 5 years we have replaced a few only of the earlier non-beaded type, which we haven't made since our latest and greatest design came out a few years ago, but even the replacement rate on those, while not absolutely perfect like the current beaded type, is very low compared to other important parts on scooters - cranks, flywheels, rear hubs, etc. - and they have proven much safer than using regular rims. On top of that you can even exchange the earlier ones for the current beaded type if you like!)

As one customer wrote from frightening experience of the obvious safety benefit of running our tubeless rims:

One of my barrel fins went straight through my scootRS tubeless [tire] at high speed but still gave me time to get it under control and stop. If it was a tube I recon I would have lost it. No problems with fitting hub or tyre change.

2) “NOT stainless--they crack under stress, making them for show use only”: actually, we have never had even a single stainless rim crack or need replacement ever. This perhaps confuses us with a Vietnam seller that put out a bad batch of regular stainless rims as explained in Scootering magazine. Nothing to do with us. We do tell people that stainless rims are for show because stainless is more prone to cracking than mild steel, and want people to check them regularly if running them, but we have never actually experienced a single problem, just being cautious. On the other hand, stainless has some benefits. See the stainless rim product page for more info.

3) “The downside to them is that they lack a center channel to make tire mounting easier”: they do have a center channel but because of the large size of Lambretta and Vespa hubs it cannot be a typically deep one. Thus tire mounting is a bit more difficult as mentioned but usually not a problem.

4) “the rims are often bent in the process”: no, it is very rare that we hear of this. The tubeless rims we have been selling for years are thicker and stronger than the first type we invented 5 years ago, and we simply get no reports of problems with them, and had few earlier anyway. We mount them all the time ourselves, and you can even order them with quality tubeless tires already mounted.

As one customer wrote:

I have now done over 7000 miles on a set of scootRS tubeless rims and I'm on my second set of tyres. No problems at all and although I do check the tyre pressures regularly I have only had to top up the air on 2 or 3 occasions over the last 3 years which indicates the quality of the valves and the seal on the bead. The advertised problem with tyre fitting has not materialised although I have cut the old tyres off the rims myself before going to the tyre garage for the new rubber fitting.

In summary, why would anyone deliberately run a tube these days on a classic scooter and guarantee himself a dangerous blowout sooner or later?

We waited 40 years for someone to come up with a solution to eliminate dangerous blowouts, then went ahead and invented our tubeless rims and solved the problem. We hear nothing but positive feedback on them now, and all manner of reports about accidents prevented. Tubeless rims are truly one of the first items you should put on your Lambretta or Vespa if you care about safety. (And a disc brake kit too!)

Yet another Lambretta post.

Here are a couple shots of a bright orange GP TS1 missile we are finishing up in the shop.

And, yes, Dorothy, those are dropbars.

A little while ago we informed people about our original replacement Lambretta inboard disc brake kit - as opposed to our hydraulic brake kits. This is the ONLY high-pressurecast replacement inboard disc in the world, the other ones are only sandcast - one a quite poor Vietnam market one, the other Italian - thus rougher, much weaker and less precise (which often means fitment issues).

Here are a few photos of the two sides of the disc being machined for studs and such and compared with an original. Also a shot of the disc brake i cap we've made. (You can also see a video of one part of the process of stamping out the i caps on the parts start page.)

We'll be putting the i caps and other items up for sale shortly, along with the disc brake pads and disc grills and vented disc and such we already sell. We're just doing the adjuster lever and then we'll make the disc available as a complete package.

A Lambretta we restored the other year, and which the owner further modded out, just raked in a big haul of trophies at a big show in the United States.

Out of about 150 scooters entered, it won 3 awards including 1st place for Best Italian Scooter, 1st place for Best Custom Paint and 3rd place for Best Vintage Scooter.

Congratulations!

We just got a few more emails this week to add to the recent ones from around the world from customers ordering parts for their scooters. Again, in alphabetical order:

Brazil:

Like the other Brasilian buyers, I would like to say how I have been happy with your services. It's been easy, simple to buy and I received everything I bought very quick, here in Rio de Janeiro.

Congratulations and many thanks from Brazil.

Costa Rica:

My project is a VBA 1959 restoring, I very happy with your service and products because you are help me to finish my dream Vespa.

Thanks a lot from Costa Rica, Central America.

The USA:

Your service is really fantastic to the States! Ordered local time 01:00pm Sunday, received all parts on Wednesday at 10:00! Don't listen to Trolls! My sixth order shipped with perfection!

Thanks again, glad to hear people like our quality, prices and service.

As you might have noticed, we have an array of Givi top cases for sale.

What you might not have noticed is the incredibly low price. For example, they start at only $60. The 26 liter version shown here is only $89 and only $114 painted. And that's including a brake light kit! Without the brake light kit it is only $75.

The same huge discount is given on the the bigger sizes too, 35 or 45 liters, while the lowest price elsewhere is often 50% more! If you need a high quality storage solution for your scooter, take a look.

Bonus: while these are great for any scooter, we've also included an extra little bracket so you can easily attach the top case base to a Vespa GTS type rear rack.

A roundup of emails for you from the last few weeks from scooter parts customers in various countries around the world. In alphabetical order:

Australia:

Thanks for your prompt and reliable service! The parts which I ordered late last week (Thursday night) arrived yesterday (Monday).

Our business orders parts worldwide for other makes and I have to tell you, this is the fastest service I have experienced! Thanks...

I definitely will purchase from ScootRS in the future.

Belgium:

The Snetterton seat arrived yesterday. very nice quality. Super service!!! I am very happy.

First time I bought from ScootRS, but I will certainly buy again.

Brazil:

I would like to say how I have been thankful with your services. It's been easy, simple to buy and I received everything I bought very quick.

Congratulations and many greetings from Brazil.

Italy:

I hope to become your customer for long time. Some of my friends are your customer too. We really need in Italy people as you are.

Thank you so much.

Malta:

just to tell you thank you for the parts i am very happy, am still waiting for an answer from the UK.

FROM MALTA

Spain:

It's amazing! 4 days from Vietnam to Barcelona... Wow! Looking your products here, i can really tell that your quality-price relation is more than good.

Well thank you for your very good service and i will spend more money in your shop, as soon as i can.

The UK:

I've just received another shipment of parts from you and am immensely satisfied. You run a very good organisation and your customer service is second to none.

Thank you, and keep it up please. It's a breath of fresh air!

The USA:

I would just like to thank you guys for the awesome service and fast delivery.

I just wish you guys were in the States so I could make a visit.

Seeing we ship around Asia and to South Africa a fair amount already, looks like we really only have the North and South Poles left to conquer. (And no, we don't mean Poland where we sometimes ship already.)