So you want to make your scooter faster?  Malossi manufacture the fastest, best performing, best quality tuning parts available for mopeds and scooters, and work closely with the major scooter manufacturers to build the best tuning parts and accessories available. Every national and world class championship winning scooter has been tuned with Malossi parts, simply as they're the best tuning company in the business!  If you're ever unsure on what to go with, 99% of the time Malossi are the best to go for, although they're not always the cheapest. Does that mean there are better value for money alternatives?  Yes, but they're not always the best performing, so it's usually a careful balancing act when tuning scooters with a budget, as a lot of cheap tuning alternatives to Malossi are of poor quality, however there are some other manufacturers out there that are 99% as good for road tuning compared to Malossi, and half the price. Generally there are 3 main things when tuning the modern automatic scooter we carry out: performance exhaust replacement (fitting a race pipe), 70cc performance big bore kit, and an aftermarket performance variator.  After this tuning gets very expensive and isn't cost effective, nor suitable for road ...

Firstly, Piaggio / Gilera / Vespa engines are mainly split into three different types, all produced by Piaggio: Pre 2000 Piaggio / Gilera engine – No catalytic converter and Dellorto or Weber 12mm carb 2000-2005 Piaggio / Gilera / Vespa engine – Catalytic Converter and 17.5mm Dellorto carb 2005 onwards Piaggio / Gilera / Vespa engine – Catalytic Converter, 17.5mm carb and slightly lower exhaust port There are minor differences between the Piaggio 50cc engines (which is the same motor fitted in every Piaggio, Gilera or Vespa 2 stroke 50cc machine produced, e.g the Piaggio NRG MC3, Gilera Runner, Piaggio Typhoon, Gilera Stalker, Vespa ET2 50cc, Vespa LX 50cc, Piaggio NRG Power etc) but no real major differences between all the engine versions, just mainly setup changes with the introduction of the catalytic converter into the Piaggio / Gilera / Vespa Exhausts The pre 2000 engine came with no catalytic converter and a 12mm carb fitted. This engine is getting on a bit now, and there aren’t that many bikes left on the road with it, although I’ve seen more Gilera Runners still about at that age, so I presume they sold a lot better than anything else. Derestricting this engine is ...

One of the earlier race inspired scooter by Suzuki, featuring upside-down Showa forks and Carbon fibre look dash panels, the Suzuki Katana was an instant hit and quickly became popular for tuning, with plenty of performance race parts from Malossi and numerous other manufacturers. Early Suzuki Katana’s had the Suzuki air cooled engine in them, whilst later Suzuki Katana’s had Suzuki’s new liquid cooled engine, and where designated AY50R for the race production version. One notable feature of the Suzuki Katana’s are their very low gearing, which means the engine does more revolutions per wheel revolution compared to other scooters, this provides very quick acceleration but a lower top speed, even on tuned engines, most other derestricted scooters can keep up on top speed, but will struggle to match a race tuned Suzuki Katana on shear acceleration. Although some people see the Suzuki Katana’s low gearing as a problem, it is also the scooters greatest strength, with blisteringly fast acceleration, most other scooters will struggle to keep up with it in an urban environment, as even when others are tuned and kitted up with performance parts they’ll still struggle to match the Suzuki Katana’s 0-30 times. When the liquid cooled Suzuki Katana is ...

So, you’ve bought a race pipe, you’ve bought a big bore kit, big carb, Malossi over range kit, K&N air filter, new crank, anything and everything to boost your scooters engine performance, yet someone rides around the outside of you on a simple derestricted moped?! How can they do this? Straight lines aren’t everything, if you even watch racing, they never say how they spent the entire race weekend doing further tuning to the engine performance, no, they always say how they’ve spent every session optimising the suspension settings, the brakes and the tyres! This is how the 125cc bikes in racing can lap only a few seconds off the highly tuned performance superbikes, they’re lighter and handle better, even though they make less than half the power! The best part to this is, you can do two out of these three steps for very little money, it’s cheap as chips! 1. Tyres So, you’ve spent thousands tuning your scooter, it has every modification possible done to the tiny little engine revving its nuts off, and you’re doing over 70mph on a tyre contact patch the size of two fingers? Doesn’t sound very safe does it? So why do most people skimp out when it ...

MILAN (Thomson Financial) - Piaggio SpA said its board on Wednesday decided to pay about 70 million euros in cash to former bank creditors and shareholders in Aprilia, a motorbike company Piaggio The payment comprises 63.9 million euros for 9,959 Piaggio 2004-2009 warrants held by the Aprilia bank creditors and 6.5 million for instruments for ex-Aprilia shareholders, it said. Piaggio board has decided to pay off the warrants in cash, rather than issuing Piaggio shares -- which is an available option. The payment will be made by July 3, the company said, with officials adding that it already was planned by the company. Ten thousand of the warrants were issued and the remaining 41 outstanding warrant holders have not asked to be reimbursed, officials said.

Piaggio Performance Tuning Guide To compliment to the Moped & Scooter Tuning: The Facts article, here is my personal reccomendation on how to tune Piaggio scooters, at my old work we have used this setup literally on every 50cc scooter we tune and have never had a kid come back from his test ride without a smile on their face. This article covers any Piaggio engine based scooter, so will apply to all Gilera, Vespa and come Aprilia scooters, but beware that exhausts may be specific for certain Vespa & Aprilia models due to bodywork differences. Although a little different in order from the previous article, these are the three main things we to do Piaggio scooters, and most people do not require anymore! 1. Fit a performance Race Pipe / Sports Exhaust We reccommend the Giannelli Reverse (or the Giannelli Extra if your budget can't quite stretch that far) for Piaggio motors (Remember all Gilera, Vespa and later post 2004 Aprilia's use the same motors). Firstly, this exhaust is sold as a legal aftermarket exhaust, not technically a race pipe by law, so it's got a nice little stamp on it which means it'll pass an MOT, as well as coming with a warrenty, so ...

Then just a reminder: Typical real world fuel economy figures across our range would be as follows: 50cc ..........................75-95mpg 100cc.........................90-110mpg 125cc.........................70-85mpg 250cc.........................60-80mpg 400cc.........................60-72mpg 800cc.........................50-60mpg Lower figures are for in-town use and/ or hard riding, upper figures are for open road/ more reasonable speeds. Despite some of the government fuel consumption figures being touted around my all the major manufacturers, it's nigh-on impossible to obtain the best figure on any new car, while the combined (So called 'average') figure needs a modicum of control to obtain. These are real figures obtained by real riders! ------ Author:  John Thompson of Piaggio Center ------

OK, this is NOT a definative Scooter tuning guide, nor does it delve into the best combination of Jets, Rollers or Tyre compounds. There are too many combinations to contemplate, so I'll stick with a nice simple overview of what you really need to know. First, the nasty stuff. Legalities You must be aware that at 16 you are only legally licenced and insured to ride a 30mph Moped, assuming you have a CBT.  That means no go-faster modifications, or you are risking a total loss of licence and when you get it back, prohibitive insurance costs. THE COURTS ARE FULL OF PEOPLE WHO THOUGHT THEY WOULD GET AWAY WITH IT! At age 17 or more, you can ride a 125cc UP TO 14BHP unless you have passed a full motorcycle test. Unrestricted or Tuned Mopeds are fine too, although the 14bhp limit applies (No problem normally) and the machine should have been re-registered. CBT Riders are not allowed to ride tuned (Over 14bhp) machines, or those with Big Bore kits. The penalties can be harsh! A driving ban for 12 months, Huge fines, and worst of all A CRIMINAL RECORD for riding uninsured. This may prevent you doing important things in later ...

Tune My Scooter is a brand new website by Kyle Bennett, designed to try and collaborate as much knowledge on moped and scooter tuning and modifying (i.e 50cc and 125cc automatic scooters) into one big, easy to access, easy to use resource. The problem traditionally has been that the only big resources on running, modifying and tuning automatic mopeds and scooters has been on other companies online stores and business websites, so you’re relying on what they’re trying to sell you to put on your scooter, which isn’t always the best choice. This website is therefore designed to be an impartial resource, where anyone can submit articles, reviews and how-to’s on tuning and modifying 50cc and 125cc upwards scooters and mopeds. We’ll review and post anything of value to the scooter community, including reviews of specialist shops and tuners, do it yourself tuning guides, information on the best tyres to run etc, anything at all! We welcome both businesses and individuals to write in with advice and articles, afterall, if you’re an enthusiast you’ll be contributing to the scooter community, and if you’re a business owner with an interest in the mopeds, scooters and tuning, you’ll be getting free advertising and linking to ...