Custom Builds – Scooterworks USA Blog

(Insert Lame ‘Green With Envy’ Reference Here)

How does the old saying go? Something about chrome not getting you home? Well like it or not, Ken, our tech advisor, has de-chromified this Stella – partially in homage to Stella’s P Series ancestors, partially because he is a chrome hater.

All bezels have been swapped out for black. The clear lenses were replaced with amber lenses that would make even Stan Lee take notice. The aluminum legshield trim was replaced with a crimp-free black one. Even the stock rims were changed to black. Ken also ditched the centerstand in favor of the black Cuppini sidestand.

Nose dives at red lights? Forget those. The front suspension was given a huge upgrade with the Bitubo gas shock that fits all Stellas and P-Series Vespas.

This green love machine also got our prototype 4T exhaust, for that distinct growl your grandmother warned you about. (This pipe is still in development, so stay tuned. [Pun intended. Deal with it.]) The beefy black rear rack is expected by this summer, and works on both the Stella 4T and Auto.

UPDATE: The rear rack is finally here, in chrome!

Build List:

Stella Platform Rack (coming soon)

Sidestand (SSC1)

Bitubo Front Shock 174446BP

Black 10” Rim (R10B)

Floormat (FMPS)

Set of Four Amber Lenses (185979S)

Black Legshield Trim (LTR1-B)

Euro Tail light (140000)

Grips (179833)

Vintage Vespa Refurb

While this scooter didn’t quite start out as a barn find, it wasn’t too far off. It had its humble beginnings as a bodge job, meaning that, at some point, someone made it look decent and wired it up like they were high on glue.

Ryan Jeffries, Scooterworks alum, 100cc land speed record holder and all-around good guy, took this 1966 Vespa Super home with him and brought it up to snuff. He started by stripping the bike down to just a frame and a fender. He saved what he could, but some of it was better off in the trash. Ryan then did a bit of body work, repainted the frame and fender along with the cowls and tank, and redid the trim. He ran all new cables and a harness and replaced the rubber bits along the way.

This scooter got a brand new LML 150cc 5 port engine, which included a 20/20 carb and a stock exhaust. The new engine has an edge over its Vespa predecessor, with reed induction and electronic ignition.

All of the fun stuff like the lights and switches were wired in. Brand new bearings, suspension and steering went up the chimney with care. The change over to a Sprint fork allowed this Super to run on 10” wheels, just like it always wished for. Fresh rims, tubes and tires were installed along with new grips, levers, seat and speedo.

Anyone who has ever restored anything knows that it is a labor of love. Faithful restorations take time, money and an insane amount of patience. NOS parts have long since dried up in many cases; repops don’t have same charm and, in some cases, quality. If you are thinking about restoring the old Vespa in your uncle’s garage, or the one you got on Craigslist that ‘just needs a carb cleaning’, we’re here to help. We also carry some great books and manuals to help you on your way, and a boatload of accessories for when you’re finished.

Partial build list:

Two Tires Two Tubes Two Rims Deal (2T2R2T)

Rear Shock (83816)

Front Shock (137571S)

Front Fork Assembly (152300)

Engine Side Cowl (100097)

Glovebox Side Cowl (91836)

Cowl Rubber (135231B)

Sprint/Super Seat (CSS1)

Floor Rail Kit (FRKVNB)

Centermat (85072)

Centermat Trim (85074)

Taillight Assembly (70700)

Complete Cable Set (CCS6)

150cc 2T LML Engine (145227NI)

Grips (60304B)

Fender and Cowl Trim Set (90522)

Speedometer (183586)

Centerstand with Boots (91047)

Gas Tank (94146)

Stiletto Levers (70578)

Wiring Harness (92563)

Welcome to the Slaughterhouse

Scooterworks Tech advisor, Ken, took full advantage of an unsuspecting Roughhouse last week. The result was a very angry scooter that he dubbed ‘The Slaughterhouse’.

With a suspension overhaul, the Prima race pipe and a slew of NCY performance parts, he took this scooter from a back roads errand runner to an asphalt hell raiser.

Ken replaced the stock cylinder with a 68cc ceramic NCY jug and head, and the NCY Direct Ignition Coil was added for hotter spark. He swapped the stock carb with an adjustable 19mm Malossi carburetor to compensate for the bigger displacement. The air box was replaced with the Scooterworks racing air filter for more flow, and the new carbon fiber Pinasco reeds make this baby’s heart a-flutter. All of these changes mean that this little beast is breathing the way it was meant to, and getting all of the tasty premix it so craves. He also installed the NCY Super Trans Kit, using lighter weights for more delicious torque, and a Malossi Kevlar Belt to handle it all.

The beefed-up front end on the Slaughterhouse is probably the most obvious upgrade. Ken replaced just about everything he could with NCY parts, from fork tubes and the disc brake to the caliper and valve stems. The result- a better ride that eats stoppies for breakfast.

Ken also snagged our prototype low profile RoughHouse seat (expected this spring, in black and red) and installed the Scooterworks Low Down Shock, reducing the seat height a full three inches in the process.

All of these upgrades are well and good, but perhaps the most notable and reasonable for the sane rider, such as you, are the tires. By switching from the stock knobby tires to Vee Rubber sport tires, he has added about 4 mph to his top speed, all while giving the Slaughterhouse a more refined, business casual look.

The Slaughterhouse is not affiliated with the Slaughterhouse Rally, which is held in Chicago every year over Labor Day weekend, and is awesome. For more info on that, join their Facebook group or scope out their website. This year’s details are coming soon!

Build List:

Prima Race Pipe, Genuine 50cc (PE-THIRTYTWO)

NCY Super Trans Kit; GY50/QMB139 (1200-1171)

NCY Rollers 16×13, 6G (1200-1051)

Direct Ignition Coil 0900-1075

NCY Cylinder w/ Head 47mm, 68cc (1100-1245)

NCY Adjustable Front Forks (1000-1134)

NCY 200mm Floated Disc Brake (1000-1289)

NCY Forged Brake Caliper (1000-1311)

NCY Banjo Bolt (1600-0010)

NCY Throttle & Grip Set (0800-0102)

NCY Brake Line (1100-1238)

Prima Rear Rack (RRRAT1-B)

Scooterworks Low Down Shock (1000-1293)

Vee Rubber Sport Tire, Front (0600-0063)

Vee Rubber Sport Tire, Rear (0600-0033)

NCY Valve Stem (0600-0005)

NCY Axle (1000-1263)

Scooterworks Racing Air Filter (1300-1112)

Malossi Kevlar Belt (M 6112729)

Pinasco Reed Petals (P 10387503)

19mm Malossi Performance Carb M 1611028

Don’t Fear the Reaper

One thing that sets the Genuine Buddy apart from the rest of the pack is the slew of upgrades and modifications available. And another thing that sets it apart is the fact that you don’t need to change a thing to have a solid scoot— but where’s the fun in that?

Custom Buddys are typically geared more towards performance than looks. It isn’t all about an air ride, custom paint, and LEDs. It’s about adding horsepower and torque, everyone’s two favorite ingredients.

Genuine’s tech advisor, Massimo, decided to have some fun after work last fall with a Buddy 170i prototype and created what he affectionately calls the Reaper. The Reaper’s hobbies include wheelies, burnouts, really fast rides along the beach, and sewing.

Massimo kept most of his engine and transmission modifications pretty simple by using our NCY bolt-on parts. He beefed up the suspension and brakes with more NCY goodness, and tweaked the look with our blackout kit, low profile seat and sport mirrors (expected in stock this spring). He also upped the ante by changing the transmission gearing, and more importantly, installing a racing stripe. The only thing missing is more cowbell.

There are quite a few sleeper Buddys out there, and you won’t know them until they waste you off the line.

Parts List:

NCY Performance Exhaust (0500-1014)

NCY Front Forks (1000-1279)

NCY Brake Disc (1000-1013)

NCY Performance Shock (1000-1044)

NCY 177cc Ceramic GY6 Cylinder Kit (1100-1014)

NCY GY6 Super Trans Kit (1200-1048)

NCY Decompression Tube (1100-1282)

Big Valve Head (1100-1445)

Low Profile Buddy Seat (0400-1050)

Buddy Black Out Kit (0300-0107)

Black Buddy Rear Rack (maybe it is like a spoiler or something?) (RRB1-B)

Rogan’s Custom Ice Bear Maddog

Michael Rogan is up to his old tricks. This time he has gone after the Ice Bear Maddog, a Honda Ruckus clone that has been spotted terrorizing the US streets for the last year or so.

His first priority was performance. By upgrading the ignition system with our NCY CDI, Direct Ignition Coil and Performance GY6 Regulator, he was able to squeeze a little more fire out of this beast’s belly. He also added the NCY GY6 Performance Exhaust for a freer-flowing throatiness and the NCY Decompression Tube, for good measure. All of this was topped off with a Scooterworks Performance Air Filter.

He then went after the handling, to better tame the beast he’d built. He replaced the stock tires with Vee Rubber Sport shoes and replaced the grips, bars and clamp with NCY-goodness for a more comfortable feel and a better look. Rogan decided to keep the stock ride height so the rider can lay the bike down on sharp turns and hop over speed bumps without bottoming out.

When we last spoke with Rogan, he summed it all up for us;

What I made was a practical custom that is meant to be ridden while still looking as if it runs off robot blood.

Robot blood indeed, Mr. Rogan. Robot blood indeed.

Follow Mike’s latest projects at www.rogan.info.

Behold, the custom Bintelli Breeze, by Rogan Scooters!

Ever wonder what your 50cc 4T could be capable of? Ever wind up with a one-off orange Bintelli and spend a couple weeks turning it into a 150cc dragon slayer? Well, Mike Rogan, of Rogan Scooters, did. He combined his years of custom building, a wish list of NCY parts from Scooterworks, and a touch of Irish charm to crank out an awesome scoot.

After all of his modifications, this little 50 that could barely crack 35mph can now hit 60 with ease. There is still plenty of room to go, as he hasn’t gotten crazy and added a big bore cylinder and head yet. Mike didn’t overhaul the body panels of the Breeze, but he did make improvements throughout that dramatically change the lines of the bike. The GY6 swap gave him a mild 2.5” stretch. He swapped out the stock 3×10 tires for larger Vee Rubber ones (3.5×10 in the front and 100/80×10 in the rear), giving it a more aggressive look. And the custom CVT cover and black exhaust pipe add a general air of badassery.

These are just five of the parts from Scooterworks USA that Mike used to build this bad mamma jamma:

1. Scooterworks Racing 45°, 45mm Air Filter (part #1300-1112)
2. NCY Oil Decompression Tube (part# 1100-1282)
3. NCY Turbo Fan (part #1100-1258)
4. NCY GY6 50 Exhaust (part# 0500-1031)
5. Vee Rubber 100/80 x 10″ tire (part# 0600-0037)

Some of the modifications Mike had to apply are beyond the novice level, like fabricating engine mounts and welding them to the frame. He also modified the 50cc exhaust bracket to fit the 150cc engine This is why it pays to stay on your local builder’s good side. Either way, just don’t let anyone ever tell you that you can’t grow up to be a badass orange scooter that goes by the name ‘Crush’.

There’s a lot you can do to improve the look and performance to your scooter, and we’re here to help things get out of hand.