Posted on 08/25/2008 4:58:02 PM PDT by bruinbirdman
The classic Vespa scooter which came to symbolise Mod rebellion in Britain has been scrapped after falling foul of European Union emissions rules.
The last Vespa PX, with its distinctive waspish engine, came off the production line this weekend.
Mods arriving on their scooters as part of the Quadrophenia convention held in Brighton
Italian company Piaggio said that tightening emission legislation sounded the death-knell on the 30-year-old, manually-geared bike - and that all models would now be automatic.
The 125cc model became a must-have in the Mod revival of 1970s Britain - following on from the obsession with the Italian scooter in the Mod scene of the 1960s.
Andy Gillard, editor of Scootering magazine, said it was the end of an era.
"It's a shame really because It's the end of a long line of motor scooters. It's the end of the true blood line - the Vespa PX is a design classic."
The first Vespa, made famous by Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn in the film Roman Holiday, was produced in the 1940s. More than 100 models have been enjoyed by some 20 million owners, from Salvador Dalí to Jennifer Lopez. Hundreds were on display this weekend in Brighton for the famous Mods bank holiday weekender.
UK general manager Tony Campbell said: "In an effort to clean up emissions of all motorised vehicles, the EU government has set a number of standards to be met within certain deadlines.
"The new emissions regulations, known as "Euro 3", make the production of a two-stroke engine larger than 50cc not economically feasible.
"The Vespa PX will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the best. A model does not last for 30 years unless it was right in the first place."
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
So why not replace the 2-cycle with a 4-cycle? The Japanese know how to build quite small and powerful 4-cycle engines. Heck, my gas-powered "weedeater" is a 4 cycle.
Rented a geared Vespa in Bermuda back in the 70s (tourists can’t rent cars). Don’t think it had as much hp as this one, though.
Guess the Euros like that “ding, ding, ding” sound when decelerating. Btw, there are virtually no two stroke motor bikes or scooter in China now. They're all four stroke engines.
I had a 90cc two-stroke Vespa I rode around West Georgia College's campus in the early 70's.
It would do 40 mph (if you dropped it off a roof).
LOL! Have to be at least a 4 story building to get up to 40!
They have. The PX model is a throwback “classic” model for the purists who love the 2-strokes. Their 4 strokes are pretty good.
I had a Lambretta 150 cc two-stroke in college. They were a little faster than the Vespa, generally speaking. Plus you could lean more into turns, because the engine was over the wheel, instead of on the side.
That was a great little bike. Gone now, alas!
Hooligan PING!
Good. Glad to hear that even the Italians can cope with change.
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