LML Star Euro 150 Automatic

I was excited last year when LML launched an automatic scooter at Milan and now after a year I am a little concerned with LML's choice of placing their new Star Euro 150 Automatic or Gearless solely for men. Are they saying men only ride automatic scooters? If so then who rides the geared Vespas? I am sure my Vesparado friends will object to not being men, so would all the lady Vespa riders that I know of. 

LML state that the automatic scooter is the 2nd fastest segment in the 2 wheel category of their domestic market. To them the automatic scooter clientele comprises mostly of college students, women and older people and very few real men hence the change of marketing tack from the below type of advertisement to the shocking adverts shown above.

I wonder if we are going to see the LML Star Euro 150 Automatic in South Africa any time soon. Although the power is less than its main rival, the Vespa LX150, it fits neatly among the other Chinese contenders of the Big Boy, Gomoto, Jonway, Motomia and Zest 150 scooters. Will the Indian rebel be more popular than the Chinese flood and become a true rival to the Vespa LX150?

LML's new Baby

Another scooter we expect to see in Milan this week is the latest incarnation of an automatic scooter from India's LML.

Last year a couple of prototypes were revealed based around the LML Sensation scooter (which was made using the tooling from the Vespa PK smallframes). Now it seems LML has decided that the Star chassis is the one for its auto engine.

While we understand that concept and pre-production models are being shown outside of India and LML Italia's HQ, as far as we know there's nothing finalised enough to offer any members of the press a spin on these new scooters yet.

(Posted by Paulo)

The Road to Happiness

Johannesburg winters are perfect for rides into the country. Although the Posers are scattered for now I did my best to hold up the flag when riding with the VLV and the Vesparados. Here are some photographs from a ride during one of the winter weekends. First was with the VLV with the modern Vespas on a Saturday and then on Sunday with the Vesparados.

Soweto in a Vespa

A number of Vespa heads decided to head out to Soweto, Johannesburg for a morning ride in the sun. And what fun did we have with 15 Vespas, 6 LMLs and 1 Lambretta, not to mention a huggle of other bikes joined us.

Filling up our babies before heading West then South

Meeting up with the West Rand Chapter

Heading South

Caught up to a large group of Hogs who weren't too impressed with us hogging their turf

Finally on the highway

Then off to ride pass Soccer City

And then into Soweto proper

One LML's accelerator cable broke about here and with a Vespa escorting they headed back north

Finally drinking beers in Vilakazi Street, the one street where two Nobel Peace Prize winners stayed, Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. 

Below are all the scoots except the two which headed back

We ate lunch at Winnie Mandela's family restaurant and 

even Winnie herself came round to look at our scoots.

Then we headed for Lebo's Soweto Backpackers Hostel

After beers we then headed back home

This is Lebo on his Gomotor

And finally till next time, happy scootering....