When it comes to getting around town, there are really fewer options than a learner-legal scooter. Easy to buy, cheap to use and simple to get into, thanks to the fact that you can drive them after a day of mandatory basic training (CBT), they offer great flexibility and cost saving opportunities in the environment current situation of high fuel prices and problems with public transport. .
Scooters come in all shapes and sizes, and some of the coolest are the various retro models. These generally resemble the classic style of the Italian scoots of the Swinging Sixties, but benefit from modern technology and construction standards to rely on.
There are so many designs to choose from, but here are 10 of our favorites to suit all tastes and budgets.
Lambretta V125 Special
There are two iconic Italian scooter brands: Lambretta and Vespa.
While Vespa has been ubiquitous since 1946, Lambretta has had a more tumultuous history, hitting T-shirts but not much else from 1972 until a few years ago when scooter production resumed in India.
The V-Series comes in three traditional displacements: 50cc, 125cc and 200cc, and although the styling is straight out of the 60s, they now use four-stroke engines and rotational transmissions rather than gears. . There are also modern touches like LED lights and neatly concealed disc brakes.
£3199.
Honda SuperCub C125
OK OK. We know it’s not actually a scooter and it’s technically a motorcycle (thanks to the mid-mounted engine and footpegs, rather than running boards) but there’s nothing more classic than the Honda Super Cub, which is the latest version of the best-selling motorcycle of all time.
Let’s be honest, the average person on the street won’t know the difference between the Super Cub and a twist and go scoot anyway. It’s cute, fun and a little more engaging to drive than the average scooter – thanks in part to the semi-automatic gearbox – although the layout is less practical than a scoot due to the lack of under-seat storage. .
£3699.
Yamaha D’elight
Is it really a retro/classic style scooter?
Hmm, maybe not, but it’s a modern scooter with a touch of retro styling, and we like it. And it has plenty of appeal for cyclists looking for a brand name that’s decidedly modern, but with a touch of the classic thanks to its smooth lines.
The oddly dotted D’elight is one of the easiest machines to fly. The small wheels contribute to the low height and lightness of the saddle, and there is ample storage space under the saddle to add to the practicality. It’s also cheaper than most Japanese scooters.
£2900.
Peugeot Django
Although Peugeot’s scooter division is now completely separate from the car company of the same name, the Indian two-wheeler division’s range continues to bring a touch of Gallic flair to the scooter market.
With a heritage dating back to 1898, Peugeot can rightly claim to be the oldest scooter manufacturer in the world. The Django, which is also available as a 50cc moped, combines modern technology with design cues taken from Peugeot’s own 1955 S55.
There are a variety of color options, but for our money the base blue model arguably offers the most traditional looks thanks to the chrome mirrors and contrasting seat.
£3699.
Royal Alloy GT125
Royal Alloy is a fairly new British brand with a range of scooters inspired by classic Lambrettas.
The wide range includes scooters up to 300cc, with a number of traditional metal bodies, but the GT125 is the entry level model with plastic body panels, a 9.7hp air-cooled engine and a modern automatic CVT transmission.
There is a range of bright one and two tone color options and provides a perfect platform for Mod style modifications.
£3349.
AJS Modena
AJS is a classic name in British motorcycling history. The brand is used to badgering the engineering of some Chinese-built models these days, and the Modena is a budget set of wheels with plenty of Italian style spilled.
It’s got a modest 7bhp engine but it’s a sleek machine if you want that Mod look, with the chrome racks front and rear and whitewall tires on the two-tone versions particularly evoking memories of Brighton.
£2199.
Vespa GT 125
One of the two great old Italian scooter brands, Vespa has reinvented itself as much as Mini has in the world of four wheels.
The current Vespa range is decidedly modern in its mechanics and technology, but draws inspiration from the styling of these iconic 1960s bikes.
Unlike the originals, which were designed as cheap post-war means of transportation, today’s Vespa sits at the very top of the scooter market.
The £4,000 Primavera is the entry level model, but if you want to be king or queen of the scooter world, this GTS combines Vespa styling in an even more fashionable, high-tech package that comes in many funky colors.
There is also a 300cc version for riders who have a full license.
£5150.
LML Star Auto
Ok, so the name might not be the most suggestive, but the LML Star Auto has a fair enough pedigree to back up those authentic looks.
If that sounds familiar, that’s because it’s based on Vespa’s PX models from the late 70s and early 80s. Indian company LML says the Star was designed in conjunction with owner Piaggio. from the Vespa brand, although the engine is their own fully automatic four-stroke rather than the older manual two-stroke of the original.
They’re somewhat rare here, but come with a low price tag and some decent reviews.
£2495.
MGB Trieste 125
MGB is another one of those new British brands developing and rebranding scooters and motorcycles made in China, and although many of us have heard horror stories of Chinese bikes with poor build quality and after service -unreliable sale, it’s a safe bet that MGB should be one of the best brands.
This is because the company behind, MotoGB, is a very experienced importer whose other brands include Benelli and Royal Enfield.
The Trieste has Italian roots, being penned by Massimo Tartarini of Italjet fame, and it’s a neat design that just falls on the modern side of retro. To be honest, that wouldn’t look out of place in a Piaggio brochure.
The swoopy rear is a classic Italian scooter and we think it looks great. Although the spec is a bit basic by modern standards, that’s reflected in the sub-£2000 price tag.
£1999.
Scomadi TL125
Like the aforementioned Royal Alloy, the Scomadi TL125 is another one of those Italian-influenced, British-owned, Asian-built Lambretta clones.
It uses the same Hanway engine as the Royal Alloy and the differences between the two brands’ models are subtle – indeed, there’s been quite a bit of beef between them in the past.
This appears to have been sorted out and although the company did indeed close shop during the Covid lockdown, it is on its way back into 2022.
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