Modern Buddy

As promised… Some interesting stuff from LML (who builds the Stella) at the EICMA show in Milan.

1. "Star Light" 4T (Stella) with CVT. Yep, an automatic.

2. Star 50cc.

3. INJECTED Star 125cc and 50cc.

4. A ton of new accessories.

5. Performance: Polini exhaust, Polini cylinder kit and Mikuni 22mm carb. Unsure of size of kit. Working on it.

6. A gorgeous concept sidecar.

7. A ton of color and styling variants that we're unlikely to get here!








Mate metallic paint in colors!


The CVT!

That white and orange is sweet...And I liked the flat metallics for paint. The second one in (copper) was cool.

Well, the 4T Stella already comes with "blue" whitewalls (the Savas).

Wonder how big the cylinder kit is.

Cvt Stella makes me shake my head a bit, especially since it loses the spare wheel to accommodate it.
Only exciting thing from the lineup this year was the 200cc displacement, for me anyway

...I like the red one!
I'll keep my fingers crossed for them to make a larger displacement fuel injected version... and that they bring it to the US.

The Stella "Offroad"?

I"d really like to see those metallics in person.

I love the corsa, it looks great. Is that a headlight in the sidecar? If so that is pretty awesome too. If they made the stella in a CVT 200cc fi version with a side car like that, oh man, I might have to rob a train

ho. ly. crap.
this is news.

Nooooo!!! No automatics! That means they will try to phase out Manual shift steel scoots

Eric,

Did you actually get to go to the Milan show in person?! If so, you lucky bum!

I usually don't gravitate toward "vintage" style, but I'll take one each of the "Corsa" and the "Off Road" please. Oh, and the model sitting on the sidecar version...

Really diggin that side car, that would be sweet on MY creme Stella.

Friggin' sweet.

neotrotsky wrote:Nooooo!!! No automatics! That means they will try to phase out Manual shift steel scoots

I doubt it. It's one of the few twisties left, and it's extremely popular. Maybe they will add a cvt to the list to appeal to more customers, but getting rid of the manual shift all together would be a huge step backward... and I think (hope) they realize that!

Great info & pics!

I would probably be interested in the CVT merely because it would do away with the clutch and shift cables. I'm not averse to shifting but as long as the CVT performs comparable to a shifty, I'd probably go shiftless.

Definitely interested in a bigger engine if it would allow a higher cruising speed.

I wouldn't be too upset about losing the spare under the cover if you can still fit a carrier either on the rear or the front.

Wonder what sort of prices we can expect?

Tocsik wrote:The Stella "Offroad"?

I kinda wonder if it was inspired by the Enfield Bullet Military.

They still make cars with manual transmissions, even though most people (in the US) prefer automatics. If there remains a market for manual transmissions in cars, whether for performance or gas mileage, I don't see why you wouldn't still get manual transmissions for scooters. If nothing else, there will also be European models that are manual. They really prefer them there, for cars anyway.

Southerner wrote: I would probably be interested in the CVT merely because it would do away with the clutch and shift cables.

Personally I find having to replace belts and rollers worse, but that's just me

that matte metallic red is sick!

Of course, the addition of Fuel Injection is a HUGE plus if they can get it to work right. I made the mention that the announcements of LML and BMW make Vespa's offerings seem weak over on ModernVespa, and MAN you should of seen the crap some of them were talking about LML bikes There's some real spite towards anything different over there...

Very very cool!!

I'm drooling over that small frame 50. I'd love to have a modern small frame!! Especially automatic (yeah, I know, I know, I suck at shifting). If they don't put a 125 in it, I'd gladly take it as a 50 that can easily be kitted.

I suppose if they didn't bring the smallie here, I could settle for that awesome sidecar rig, too.

So much to dream about! A cvt interesting, I hope the shifters are not at an end... R

Witch wrote:Very very cool!!

I'm drooling over that small frame 50. I'd love to have a modern small frame!! Especially automatic (yeah, I know, I know, I suck at shifting). If they don't put a 125 in it, I'd gladly take it as a 50 that can easily be kitted.

I suppose if they didn't bring the smallie here, I could settle for that awesome sidecar rig, too.

That 50 will be a 4-stroke, and it'll just be better to shove a 125cc in there! Kitting a 50cc is just difficult in my opinion and just doesn't have the same satisfaction as a tweaked 50/2T. I'll have to hold my judgement on the smallframe until I see it, which in America may mean never. Then again, without a manual transmission I am probably not interested.

BUT... that being said: Genuine needs to talk to the folks at LML and make the case. This would be a HUGE boost to their market share for scooters! Offering a CVT steel scooter along with steel shifters in FI will increase reliability factors and, while it may cost more to do a PR push, I think right now is a GREAT time to start. We're overdue for another fuel price scare, and those are ALWAYS good for scooter business.

neotrotsky wrote:

Witch wrote:Very very cool!!

I'm drooling over that small frame 50. I'd love to have a modern small frame!! Especially automatic (yeah, I know, I know, I suck at shifting). If they don't put a 125 in it, I'd gladly take it as a 50 that can easily be kitted.

I suppose if they didn't bring the smallie here, I could settle for that awesome sidecar rig, too.

That 50 will be a 4-stroke, and it'll just be better to shove a 125cc in there! Kitting a 50cc is just difficult in my opinion and just doesn't have the same satisfaction as a tweaked 50/2T. I'll have to hold my judgement on the smallframe until I see it, which in America may mean never. Then again, without a manual transmission I am probably not interested.

BUT... that being said: Genuine needs to talk to the folks at LML and make the case. This would be a HUGE boost to their market share for scooters! Offering a CVT steel scooter along with steel shifters in FI will increase reliability factors and, while it may cost more to do a PR push, I think right now is a GREAT time to start. We're overdue for another fuel price scare, and those are ALWAYS good for scooter business.

What small frame? I haven't seen any small frames in any of the LML pictures. They all appear to be the same P-series-style chassis.

This is what I think he means by small frame. It looks somewhat like the lines of a PK50, although I'm sure it will sport 10 inch wheels. From the shots I can see, it looks like it might have a thinner body. But it's hard to tell

You got my MONEY! If there is a pre sale up now for the STELLA with the CVT I am all in.... 2 stella who CARE I what it and NOW!

Looks to me like exactly the same chassis as all the rest of the Stars, except for a removable panel in the cowl instead of a removable cowl.

Anybody wanna take bets that its the same size?

I can see that a few folks would want a CVT stella. But Genuine has a very good CVT line-up, with the stella being the sole "shifty"...If I were running that business I would see no reason to bring in the cvt stella... sorry guys

Silver Streak wrote:Looks to me like exactly the same chassis as all the rest of the Stars, except for a removable panel in the cowl instead of a removable cowl.

Anybody wanna take bets that its the same size?

It's not the same—it's a PK body!

viney266 wrote:I can see that a few folks would want a CVT stella. But Genuine has a very good CVT line-up, with the stella being the sole "shifty"...If I were running that business I would see no reason to bring in the cvt stella... sorry guys

Is "it's a good scooter and we'll sell a shitload of them to people who'd buy Vespas otherwise" not a reason?

Now that I see the full body of that PK-type... I'm VERY interested! Although, I fear that only the automatic is available on that bike Being thinner they may be targeting it towards new riders/female riders. And, I can't see a clutch lever from this angle.

Also, seeing the spare on the right side is just...weird man! I know it's probably for the swingarm of the CVT, which only reinforces the fact that it won't be a shifter.

*sigh*

I'm just too picky. Guess I should be happy they're getting FI in these things. That alone is worth a thumbs up!

neotrotsky wrote:Nooooo!!! No automatics! That means they will try to phase out Manual shift steel scoots

I hope not... automatic makes for a nice addition, but not at the cost of the spare and the cowls. What they show in the pics is just... I won't say in polite company, except to say they ruined the whole P-series look. I'd give up the spare before I'd give up those "traditional" cowls.

How did they ruin the P-series look by using a PK body? Just like the Stella, this was made from Vespa's old tooling. This is a PK Automatica, but they put the CVT on the left and moved the spare to the right.

Vespa PK:


Other side of another one:


Okeh, so it's not quite the classic P/PX style. The PK is probably the most '80s of the Vespas (tied with T5?) and not exactly the most highly regarded in terms of looks. But the people mostly likely to buy this won't care.

neotrotsky wrote: There's some real spite towards anything different over there...

Haha, don't bring up DynaBeads then. Especially in the Mp3 forum....cause the Mp3 has never been new. Or different. Or the subject of spite in the motorcycling world.

Time to start a "Star" savings jar. Gotta funnel my pennies into it... label my jar "Star with a sidecar"!

Well, damn! I stand corrected (or sit corrected, as is the actual case).

Hadn't seen those pics.

I'm not really familiar with the PK. Besides the obvious differences in width, are any of the other dimensions different? Is the PK considered a "small frame" by the vintage aficionados? Looks to still have 10" wheels and nominally the same wheelbase.

I want! I want! I want!

Silver Streak wrote:Well, damn! I stand corrected (or sit corrected, as is the actual case).

Hadn't seen those pics.

I'm not really familiar with the PK. Besides the obvious differences in width, are any of the other dimensions different? Is the PK considered a "small frame" by the vintage aficionados? Looks to still have 10" wheels and nominally the same wheelbase.

I think it was considered a smallframe. I don't know if the PK 50 and 125 were different in body size, but the 125 apparently fits (with modification) into a Vespa 90 body. Someone at Scooterhelp is doing just this here: http://www.scooterhelp.com/restorations ... start.html

The PK was Vespa's first automatic transmission. It was a CVT, but the tranny was much smaller than what we have now and was bolted to the engine.


Someone who knows his Vespas better than any of us told me that the PK Automatica was quite possibly the worst scooter Vespa ever built and was an unmitigated failure. He was quite excited that LML might turn it around and put a much better scooter in that body.

From the looks of things, the shape of the cowls may have been better for placing the CVT than those of the Stella. We shall (hopefully) see!

scootavaran wrote:


I want! I want! I want!

Now this has to be marketing bullshit that far, far exceeds any insinuation by Vespa that their new model represents the future. Ya slap some blacked-out crash bars and racks on a basic Star 150, add a smoked windscreen, and call it the "Off Road."

Regardless of whether you dig the look or not, if anyone thinks this thing has any off-road capabilities, I've got an SUV built on a car chassis slathered with black plastic cladding to sell you.

Silver Streak wrote:

scootavaran wrote:


I want! I want! I want!

Now this has to be marketing bullshit that far, far exceeds any insinuation by Vespa that their new model represents the future. Ya slap some blacked-out crash bars and racks on a basic Star 150, add a smoked windscreen, and call it the "Off Road."

Regardless of whether you dig the look or not, if anyone thinks this thing has any off-road capabilities, I've got an SUV built on a car chassis slathered with black plastic cladding to sell you.

lol whoa there negative nancy! I'm just sayin I love that look. The olive green, the gloss black crash bars all looking good.

Nothing wrong with desiring the beautiful ones, even if it's all cosmetic

Silver Streak wrote:

scootavaran wrote:


I want! I want! I want!

Now this has to be marketing bullshit that far, far exceeds any insinuation by Vespa that their new model represents the future. Ya slap some blacked-out crash bars and racks on a basic Star 150, add a smoked windscreen, and call it the "Off Road."

Regardless of whether you dig the look or not, if anyone thinks this thing has any off-road capabilities, I've got an SUV built on a car chassis slathered with black plastic cladding to sell you.

I don't know about you but I have taken my Stella offroading before... maybe the black crashbars are better at not chipping and looking dirty than chrome?


I really kinda wish I had those crashbars rather than the chrome set

Needs a few more mods, but it can be done…

ericalm wrote:

viney266 wrote:I can see that a few folks would want a CVT stella. But Genuine has a very good CVT line-up, with the stella being the sole "shifty"...If I were running that business I would see no reason to bring in the cvt stella... sorry guys

Is "it's a good scooter and we'll sell a shitload of them to people who'd buy Vespas otherwise" not a reason?

^^ Yeah, I guess that counts

Silver Streak wrote:
Regardless of whether you dig the look or not, if anyone thinks this thing has any off-road capabilities, I've got an SUV built on a car chassis slathered with black plastic cladding to sell you.

^^^ Would you like the list of just how many people have bought that car chassis suv???

Yeah, I"m not gonna try a 60 foot double on that, but at least it looks cool...just like the hummer H2, and nobody bought that useless turd, now did they?!? LOL

viney266 wrote:I"d really like to see those metallics in person.

I'd prefer to see the accessory in the purple dress in person....

pugbuddy wrote:

viney266 wrote:I"d really like to see those metallics in person.

I'd prefer to see the accessory in the purple dress in person....

^^^ Okay. I like the blue one better ...it did take me a moment to notice that there were scooters in the pics

pugbuddy wrote:

viney266 wrote:I"d really like to see those metallics in person.

I'd prefer to see the accessory in the purple dress in person....

I think I lost the pool on how long it would take for someone to mention the models. I figured it would be within the first 5 posts! PROGRESS.

viney266 wrote:

pugbuddy wrote:

viney266 wrote:I"d really like to see those metallics in person.

I'd prefer to see the accessory in the purple dress in person....

^^^ Okay. I like the blue one better ...it did take me a moment to notice that there were scooters in the pics

Umm....the scooter pictures start from the third one down, right?

ericalm wrote:

pugbuddy wrote:

viney266 wrote:I"d really like to see those metallics in person.

I'd prefer to see the accessory in the purple dress in person....

I think I lost the pool on how long it would take for someone to mention the models. I figured it would be within the first 5 posts! PROGRESS.

Hey! I may have mentioned something along these lines in my first post in this thread...

At least these girls are wearing dresses. They usually wear bikinis or shorts & busty tops for these things.

I assume these are all so new that we don't know if Genuine will even get them at all at this point? But seriously, how can they NOT at least import a CVT Stella?