Latest Intro

As an owner of 2 motorcycles but someone who has previously owned or ridden most super scoots I was very keen to try the SRV850 which is considerably cheaper than the TMAX or the new BMW.

First Ride

On starting up of the engine the engine noise has changed since the GP800 and now has a nice deep exhaust note from the V Twin which was audible up to around 30 MPH and sounded great, almost cruiser like. The gear change was smooth although the gearbox tends to keep the engine revs reasonable high for a twin with 40MPG seeing around 4000 revs which means it is always ready for a quick take off.

Around town I felt the low speed handling very good and well balanced, although I did not try low speed turning except roundabouts where the bike felt a little slow at first but once I got used to it and put a little more lean into the tight corners the bike responded accordingly and felt much better.

Once on the open road I opened the bike up and feels like the acceleration uses a lot of torque but does give a nice feeling of speed and the speedo needle very quickly started to spin around the dial. This acceleration seemed to be there from any speed and was comfortable and easy for overtaking without effort.

Feedback from the front wheel was very good and not previously ridden a scooter with so much feel coming through to the rider and felt reassuring. The suspension is not harsh like other scooters and handled the very bumpy Norfolk roads very well and even going around fast corners with bumps in the middle it felt planted on the road and instilled confidence to the rider. The suspension was certainly a considerably better than my 1500cc cruiser which feels like it tries to flip you off the seat when going quickly over bumpy roads. One the fast bends I felt no wallowing or under steering which is what some touring bikes and maxi scooters can feel like, this bikes handling and ride quality has certainly been improved and shines over other scooters in this class.

Braking was excellent with the Brembos and there were no dramas when coming to a halt. The back brake had quite a lot of braking power, although with both brakes operated by hand you can use a lot more sensitivity than most bikes.

Comfort was good and the feet forward position was not as feet forward as the Burgman and keeps you upright with reasonable wind protection. If the fairing was a little higher and the wind deflected around the hands this would make it a much more practical machine. To top it off integrating more luggage space would make this a very practical and fun bike. On many scooters you find the wind whirling around the backs of your legs but this scooter seemed to have much less of this and therefore the legs stayed quite warm and protected.

Summary

The engine is lovely and gives a nice sound without any vibration to the rider. The handling has been improved giving the confidence of a bike with the comfort of a touring bike. With a few tweeks this would make an excellent sports tourer which can handle peg scraping fun at weekends. Great value for a scooter and lots of fun.

A few Vespa specials Photographed at the Vespa Museum Feb 2012

The Vespa 946 is a window on future trends in style and technology

At EICMA 2011 the Vespa 946 unveils a possible future with a tribute to the MP6, the original prototype and progenitor of the world’s most famous scooter, an unsurpassed example of Italian style and creativity. By distilling the essence of a scooter that changed the style of individual mobility forever and enhancing the lines that secured its success, the Pontedera Style Centre has projected the Vespa into a possible future where references and projections, tradition and innovation, merge seamlessly. The vibrant heart of the Vespa 946 is a state-of-the-art engine that paves the way for forthcoming advances, with low fuel consumption and minimal exhaust and noise emissions.

The All new Piaggio X10 & Beverley Sport arriving soon..

The Piaggio X10 is the cutting edge in Italian “maxi” scooters: a two-wheel flagship for people looking for maximum comfort from an outstandingly stylish maxiscooter. Electrically regulated rear suspension, dual ABS and ASR system, handbrake incorporated in the stand, everything on the new Piaggio X10 has been designed to guarantee comfort, maximum functionality and total safety. Other features include an on-board computer with LCD display, backlit controls, broad windscreen, triple glove box and a spacious luggage compartment.
The Piaggio X10 is available in three engine sizes – 125, 350 and 500 – to meet the full range of commuter needs. With the new Piaggio X10 travel becomes an everyday luxury

With the Beverly SportTouring, Piaggio’s best-selling high-wheel range has been enhanced with a sport model. A completely new 350 engine, a 150/70 rear tyre and a new look, for an evolution of the species that extends the class and elegance of the Beverly into the sport segment. The Beverly SportTouring is the first Piaggio model to feature the brand new engine with maximum power of more than 33 hp: designed and produced to deliver performance on a par with a 400cc but with the weight, volumes, emissions and running costs of a more compact 300cc. The new scooter is the first in the world with ABS/ASR, an important advance enabling riders to enjoy maximum performance in complete safety.

The new 2012 Piaggio Fly available soon..

Fly

The new Piaggio Fly is the Piaggio global scooter, a two-wheeler designed and produced for the entire world. Safe and easy to ride, the Fly is the perfect embodiment of the spirit of Piaggio, one of the great global scooter players, whose mission is to satisfy the needs and desires of wide sections of consumers, all over the world. The Piaggio Fly has now undergone a full restyling, for an elegant look offering new safety features that would not be out of place on a larger scooter. Initially available in a 50 cc, 4-stroke, 4V version (to be joined by 125 and 150 cc models), the new Piaggio Fly is a multipurpose, multi-faceted two-wheeler for every urban environment, from the daily commute to school or work to leisure time with friends in the city’s trendiest meeting places

0% finance available on Vespa lx50

0% finance available on selected Piaggio

Terms & Conditions

Finance is subject to status. This finance offer is only available through Black Horse Ltd, St. William House, Tresillian Terrace, Cardiff, CF10 5BH and is available on UK mainland and NI only.

See your dealer for full scheme and qualifying model details. Finance applies to new models only registered for warranty and excise duty between 1st November and 31st December 2011, supplied new by Piaggio Group to participating authorised UK dealers for bonafide customers only. Subject to availability. Offer applies to UK mainland and Northern Ireland only. All prices quoted include first registration fee, road fund tax, VAT, pre-delivery inspection, licence plates and manufacturer’s delivery. Finance is only available to applicants aged 18 and over.

Having your cake & eating it!!

Having just taken delivery of her Battle of Britain limited edition Vespa S, Toni Bradshaw bought in homemade Vespa / Piaggio inspired cakes for the staff (cakes are always welcome :)

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Vespa PX150! Back in!!

The superb Vespa PX150 has returned to the UK!

The Vespa in its most original form, once again takes its place of timeless legend.

Forming the link between the history of the world's most famous scooter and its future, the Vespa PX is back with a choice of its most classic engine sizes.

Incomparable style, an engine which respects the most severe emissions standards and the classic four gear transmission make Vespa PX unmistakable and unique.

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Goodwood to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia all on my amazing Apache 125!!

It’s difficult where to begin after such an epic trip aboard my Sinnis Apache 125…

10,700 miles in under 4 weeks crossing 15 countries and many time zones to enter Ulaanbataar on the 25th August becoming the 1st 125cc motorcycle to cross the finish line… It’s all a bit surreal…

Riding for 12 – 14 hrs a day wasn’t easy but then I guess it’s not supposed to be easy but the sights and people I came across simply overwhelmed me and it was a trip I shall never forget… Some highlights:

Riding from dusk until dawn for 14 days straight
Riding a camel
Falling over the handlebars – ouch
Having dinner and staying with The Kuwait Royal Family
Falling into river and after a squeeze of the air filter my Apache lived again (amazing!)
Riding at 10,000ft for several days
The beauty of the Altai mountains in Russia
Swimming naked
Eating Goat
Meeting similar people from all over the world!
Flying Mongolian Airlines and surviving (actually it was a great service!)
Getting ripped off several times in Russia
Sitting in Traffic at over 36 degree in all my gear for hours
Bribed $2000 at the Russia border (I didn’t pay!)
Camping overnight at the Mongolian border
Riding 8000 miles on standard Kingstone tyres!!
Getting abuse from angry drunk Mongolian men in UB
Eating a sausage on a stick!
Crossing 10 rivers (well 9 actually as a man did the 1st one!)
having pocketfuls of currency I rarely understood!
Doing sign language to represent a cow or a pig as I couldn’t read menus…
Staying in the worst hotels in existence
Pitching a tent in a sandstorm
coughing up week old smog and dusk
Being almost knocked off my bike my a crazy Russian truck driver
Running out of fuel on the German Autobahn at night

Plus a million other things! Please visit www.facebook.com/anthonysadventure

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APRILIA COMPLETELY REVAMPS ITS SMALL 125 AND 50 CC SUPERSPORT BIKES!

moonraker mp3 voted number 3 in norfolk most searched you tube report.

search under "norfolk mp3" on you tube

Reported that the you tube hits on the Piaggio MP3 supplied by Moonrakers, was number 3 in the most viewed "you tube" items in Norfolk with over 154,000 hits.

if you are busy restoring a bike which you would like to add to this page. send us some pics and the details and we will put on this page.

"fizzie rebuild"!

monkey business!

It has taken me three years on and off, but my 1964 Honda CZ100 Monkey bike rebuild is now complete. Stripped back to bare metal and a full engine rebuild by Dale our Mechanic. It has been interesting and challenging at times trying to source some of the hard to find bits!

Next challenge a 1975 FS1E we will keep you updated. Hopefully it won't take 3 years this time :)

the px is back!

available april/may 2011

The PX is Back!
The Vespa in its most original form, once again takes its place of timeless legend.
Forming the link between the history of the world's most famous scooter and its future, the Vespa PX is back with a choice of its most classic engine sizes.
Incomparable style, an engine which respects the most severe emissions standards and the classic four gear transmission make Vespa PX unmistakable and unique.
There has only ever been one Vespa.

The seventeen million examples of the Vespa sold across the globe since 1946 have brought together people of different languages and cultures, and have turned the dreams and desire for freedom of entire generations of young people into reality.
The Vespa has been an integral part of our history and a unique phenomenon in the history of popular culture: it was the vehicle that brought personal mobility to Europe in the post-war Europe. It saw younger generations take different sides with their Vespas and Lambrettas, or as Mods and Rockers. It embodied music, rebellion, romanticism and escapism. It represented the promise of freedom for all. It is the symbol of the era of the Dolce Vita. It played a leading role in the 'revolution of thought' brought to fruition by the young generations of the 1960s and '70s. It welcomed the arrival of Rock'n Roll in Europe and was still here to see the advent of the MTV generation and digital music. And it will continue to go on.
Thirty-three years on the world's roads.
2010 is the thirty-third anniversary of the launch of the Vespa PX, a milestone that very few vehicles - let alone a two wheeler - can claim to have achieved.
Making this achievement all the more extraordinary is the sheer popularity of this classic: with over 3,000,000 examples sold in every continent.
The majority of the examples built and sold are still running in countries all over the world - a testimony not only to the proverbial robustness and reliability of the scooter, but also to the deep affection that binds every Vespa and its owner.
In the current Vespa range, the PX is the only model which offers the four gear transmission on the handlebar: a true must for enthusiasts, together with an unmistakable design which goes beyond all fashion.
The legend lives on: revised technical content and style.
Essential lines, elegantly minimalist: Vespa PX maintains all of the classic strong points which determined its success for more than three decades: unmistakable style, functionality and user-friendliness, the legendary sturdiness of a steel bodyshell, the reliability of a simple and indestructible engine and the possibility (whether as a functional feature or just because you like it) of fitting a spare wheel.
Without indulging in retro style for its own sake, the design of the instrument panel of the Vespa PX is instantly recognisable as timeless, with its immediately clear instrumentation. The speedometer, with dual Km/h and mph scales, and the fuel gauge are lit with a neutral coloured light that is in perfect harmony with the purity of the design. The array of indicator and warning lights includes indicators for the lights, full beam, turn signals and fuel reserve.
A new saddle for the Vespa PX: with all-new design and upholstery. The proverbial comfort and space that have always distinguished the Vespa PX as the touring scooter par excellence have actually been improved. Ideal for two-up riding, the saddle accommodates riders of all statures, offering unparalleled comfort and vehicle control.
The headlight, with a state of the art complex surface reflector and halogen bulb, creates a powerful beam for ideal visibility and constitutes a vital contribution in terms of active safety.
The taillight has always been a signature feature of each and every Vespa model. From the small, round taillight of the legendary 1946 98cc to the headlight in two distinct elements and chrome parts which embellished the 1962 125cc, to the Primavera ET3's boxy design which was so typically "70's". Vespa PX rediscovers soft lines for the taillight which combine with a classic and elegant chrome edge. The component, with a red lens, also includes the brake light and license plate light.
The turn indicators on the Vespa PX feature an orange bulb behind a clear plastic outer lens. A combination which recalls the elegance of the numerous chrome details, enhancing the purity of the Vespa lines.
The new hand grips in black rubber are elegantly branded with the Vespa logo and complemented by the chrome taillight.
The classic Vespa logo also enhances the new central tunnel cover, now refined by an elegant edge in glazed material.
The new grille cites the style of some of the greatest classics in Vespa history.
The Vespa has always been distinguished by a unibody construction - an exclusive feature that has always set the Vespa apart from any other scooter. The PX remains true to this construction solution which, in addition to giving the scooter a classic flavour, also ensures superior stiffness and precision.
The link arm front suspension - a technical solution that is an intrinsic part of the Vespa character - works in conjunction with a coil spring and a dual action hydraulic shock absorber.
At the rear, the suspension components are linked to the engine-transmission case, which also does duty as the swingarm. The 10" wheels are shod with 3.50 tyres.
The 200 mm stainless steel front disc brake is complemented by a powerful and reliable 150 mm drum brake at the rear for perfect modulability.
The 125 cc or 150 cc single-cylinder, two-stroke engines with forced air cooling feature CDI electronic injection and both electric and kick starters. After all, how can anyone think of the most classic of the Vespa models without the fantastic kick start pedal crank?
Thanks to the use of a new catalytic converter designed to lower polluting emissions, both of the Vespa PX models comply with the most severe and modern Euro3 standards.
The PX comes with a four speed manual gearbox: choosing the PX means choosing total riding pleasure.