Modern Vespa

Anyone know what happens if you live inside the zone and have a 13 year old bike? do you get a discount?

From what I've read...
"It is proposed all residents living in the ULEZ will be granted a three year sunset period to 6 September 2023 before any daily charge applies. This is to acknowledge that they are unable to avoid the zone and so may require more time to change their vehicle to meet the ULEZ standards. The discount will be available to people living in the ULEZ between 2020-2023 and will only apply while they live in the zone. In practice residents with petrol cars registered with the DVLA after 2006 will be compliant with the ULEZ standards; for diesel cars those registered from September 2015 will be compliant"

Furthermore, It is proposed those wishing to drive in the ULEZ in cars, minibuses, vans and motorcycles that do not meet the ULEZ standards must pay a daily charge of £12.50.

So, basically, you've got until 2023 to get your bike up to the standard needed.... sucks really...
https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/environment/ultra-low-emission-zone
Graham

thanks darling

I live in the Zone, and am in favour of measures to reduce pollution.

Bikes already have plenty of favourable treatment (cheap parking, ability to use bus lanes, no congestion charge), so to be honest I think it's churlish to complain.

This isn't a measure to victimize bikers. It applies to all vehicles.

Bit of a kick in the nuts for the trad Vespa/Lambretta rider.....

Be realistic - how many people are going to use them to commute through the City that will actually be inconvenienced by this? Given the entirely worthwhile cause here, I don't think we should lose too much sleep over it.

They don't see this as a worthwhile cause (they try to convince us it is), this is a money making scheme by the local London governance.
If they were serious they'd ban cars altogether and only allow Green buses, Taxi's, PTW's and bicycles into the zone.....that would sort out the poor air quality in the zone.

You can drive your gas guzzling Range Rover around the smoke all day long so long as you can afford to cough up for it

Vespa riders can go do one

Eurozone Health & Safety Practitioners

Just a shameless reminder that this immaculate BV350 with just 4,500 carefully ridden miles on it is for sale.

It's so good I want someone else to enjoy it.

I'm a giver.

Handsome handsome handsome

Bill x

I still can't love it, even if I love you on it

I see Black Friday went well then.... not. Welcome to the season of goodwill.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-30241459

My feelings exactly.

I think it kinda suits, I only wish it looked as good as it rides.

The engine is a peach and you can forgive it's screen's inability to keep the wind away from you at 70 plus because it does everything else really well.

Pillions like it also.

Bill x

Comedy moment in Bristol

Another one

Yesterday was Tracey's birthday so we started the weekend by taking Friday off for a little Christmas shopping in Cambridge followed by a night of Motown at the Corn Exchange. Ate at Smokeworks, a nice American style BBQ place.

Saturday we sauntered off to London Town to see the matinee performance of Miss Saigon (awesome by the way). Tracey starts a new job in Faringdon on Monday so we checked out a very nice walking route from Kings Cross to her new office, gonna be about 15/20 minutes when she's up to speed. Ate at Grace near Picadilly.

Back down to earth today though..........the joys of Tesco

We were in London yesterday Pepy, you should have let us know you were coming south.

Dammit.

Bill x

This is myself and John Clarke of Colwin Motorcycles Sittingbourne who got the Kymco deal together for the aborted Ironbutt 3.

He is one of the nicest guys I've ever met and his nickname is "Magnet" because people are drawn to him.

John will be taking over the shop in the New Year because it's owners are pulling out of the business so if you need anything Kymco he's the man to talk to.

I've lost some weight since this picture was taken.

Bill x

Why the long face, Ash?

Genie was eating the last burger.....

And she seemed like such a nice person when I met her. You can never tell...

LOL

Was that at the LSBS open day this year?

Thought of you today Trepp. I was at the Vespa Club of Britain AGM and could've sworn I heard Israel mentioned as a possible future venue for Vespa World Days?!

Sorry mate, we were on quite a tight schedule.
Sorting out Tracey's walking route ready for Monday then getting to the matinee.

You must have misheard. The total annual sales numbers for modern Vespas here in Israel would be considered a slow month at VSO.

Everyone and his brother had a vespa or lammy back in the day, but now that austerity is over and Israelis have access to a wider market, most of the scoots on the road are Asian.

I like being special.

Yes it was. Think that's Stan's scoot in the background

Maybe. Its not sales related though. The national Vespa club can bid to host it for visiting riders, so wondered if Vespa Club of Israel had bid and you may have heard of it. Future dates are always a bit smoke and mirrors though, rumour and speculation is rife (and sometimes enjoyed), even for 2018 onwards. Not to mention the small matter of riding through Syria Others maybes are Hungary and Poland.

Great weekend escaping the books at the Vespa Club of Britain AGM and social. Found The Italian Shop in the back streets of Northampton by chance, so had a lunchtime cappuccino and panini sat in the middle of the shop while customers came and went for fresh bread, cut meats and any other imported products spread around the little place, plus the beautiful stacatto chit chat I've missed since Italy. Guardi è una Vespa! I could have stayed there all day. Met a load of old and new faces Saturday night after the meeting, sunk a few drinks, and woke up to beautiful blue sky and sunshine, so what better way to wake up a dull head than a meadering ride home with a few photo stops along the way. Happy Days

Oh, nice - looks like a day well seized!

Was in Chicago over Thanksgiving and took this picture Saturday night as we were on our way to get some pizza. Such a well kept vintage theatre facade. It is Lake Theatre in Oak Park, IL.

Nice one. Wonder what it looks like in B/W?

I actually tried it on instagram. Here it is.

Beautiful. You wouldn't know its not a 50s photo. With everything so consumable, replaceable and throwaway these days, it makes those things that survive even more special.

I got my gift from Twist and Go Magazine this morning for my last cobbled together effort in print.

I now how have 3 litres of fully synthetic City Plus 5w40 Oil.*
A nice Rock Oil hoodie.
A beanie hat and baseball cap.
Numerous cans of bike wax and "Rockeze"
and enough stickers to entirely cover a cat.

Nice people at Rock Oil.

Bill x

* On the cover of the bottle is an Piaggio X 10

Stop teasing me with all these scooter pictures

Sorry hun. What's the latest with your insurance etc?

[quote="brown_beret7"] Sorry hun. What's the latest with your insurance etc?[/quote

I called them today mate, he's in process of valuing it for settlement x

That'll be a finger in the air I bet. I'd pull past sales values off ebay by searching for closed listings, pick the closest matches to Watson, and push for the highest value they show. That's probably a more factual approach than the valuer, and you'll have strong evidence to show why you want that. I doubt very much there's a Glass or Parker equivalent guide to scoots, but maybe another Skok will pitch in.

Chin up chuck, it'll be reet in time

I am thinking that this business is more than simply a living for the owners. Not a bit of neon out anywhere. Wish there had been a cafe racer and some vintage vespas and lammies parked alongside.

For sure. Even better still.
Talking of cafe racers, I stumbled across this and did find myself watching it through, even if it does stray into nonsense marketing - lets ride all that way with luggage big enough for a g string and a toothbrush. Stinkers! LOL
Proves what we've all known for ages though, vintage rides are cool 8)

Only the best!
Graham