How to Ride a Lambretta - Controls, Setting Off and How to Change Gear

Riding a Lambretta Scooter or any other Manual geared scooter such as Vespa and LML
A talk through of the controls then a practical demonstration using my GP125.
Fast Forward to Chapter 11 to skip the talking and get straight to the riding.
How to change gear on a manual lambretta.
How to shift gear on a lambretta
How to ride a Vespa etc... px ... is the same principle
How to Start a lambretta
Fuel Tap and Choke positions on a Lambretta
How to ride a manual scooter
00:00 - Start
00:52 - On and Off the Centrestand
02:28 - Right Hand Controls
03:20 - Left Hand Controls
04:10 - Rear Brake
04:47 - Braking Principles
05:24 - Switches
05:53 - Fuel Tank and Level guage
06:25 - Ignition
06:38 - Petrol Tap and Choke
06:55 - Kickstarting
07:36 - How to set off
08:14 - Setting off for real!
DISCLAIMER
I am not a professional and as such will not be responsible for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in these videos. They are to give information only and carried out with the best of my limited ability.
Also, information given in these videos does not guarantee the desired outcome.
Always refer to the vehicle handbook and/or service manual for specific settings and procedures for your own vehicle.

[@philldownes8685]

Great vide ofor a complete beginner, if they cant ride one afterseeing this they should not be on the road. this video is brilliant for a leaner, and a reminder to us who aint been on a old lambretta for 45 years ha ha .

[@TonysGarage_UK]

Thankyou. They are such a fun scooter, everyone should experience them at least once, lol. Thanks for commenting too.

[@Hazjw]

Great video Tony, as someone who is just about to jump into the scooter scene, videos like this are massively helpful.

[@TonysGarage_UK]

That's great, you'll love it! It's a great community.

[@glenrichardson6439]

Excellent video my friend, just refurbed a 1966 LI 150 special and looking for a basic instructional tutorial on how all things Lambretta work and your video delivered exactly what I needed rather than most of the personal look at me stuff from a lot of the clips on the net. Thanks again for a refreshing massively helpful well delivered informative video Nelg

[@TonysGarage_UK]

Glad it helped

[@davidpurton1784]

Great ,very helpful,cheers

[@TonysGarage_UK]

No problem 👍

[@youngandrew66]

Want a 2 stroke with gears now damn it 😂

[@TonysGarage_UK]

LOL.... They are cool!

[@derrenlambert2279]

Just built a GP from scratch, ended up with a GP190 , Tanemi GP crank, scootronics 12vDC, casa layshaft, too much to mention but it is mint... mines an '81.

[@TonysGarage_UK]

Excellent, well done. I'd love that spec on mine!

[@derrenlambert2279]

You can buy the scootronics kit in separate parts, I did, cant fault it.

[@TonysGarage_UK]

cheers

[@repromark]

GREAT looking Specials Lambretta!

[@TonysGarage_UK]

Thank you

[@ryanmcintosh5131]

Hi Tony, just entering the lambretta world, I’ve watched this video a good few times now 😂 how did you measure out the spoon for the fuel check? Looks a great wee tool that? Cheers

[@TonysGarage_UK]

I just ran the tank down until it starting spluttering so that was the reserve line. Put the wood spoon in, see where its wet and then mark that line. I'd like to say it was rocket science haha.. But I'm afraid not.. A very easy way.

[@ryanmcintosh5131]

Hahaha brilliant!! Great idea 😂 thanks bud

[@macweed3358]

Do they still make the lambrettas with the gears on the handle bars like your 1 brandnew or do i have to buy the vintage 1? Thanks

[@TonysGarage_UK]

The new ones are all Auto's so if you want the full on experience you will have to buy an older one.

[@macweed3358]

@@TonysGarage_UK cheers pal whats the model or year im looking for? Love the lambrettas i had 1 20 years ago as my 1st bike , i bet they cost twicd as much nowadays

[@TonysGarage_UK]

I'm no expert mate, mine is a 1978 SIL Indian version, they did Spanish ones too about the same age. The Autos I believe are the 4 Stroke engines.

[@macweed3358]

@@TonysGarage_UK Cheers pal, im after the geared version there so much fun but there not cheap ive noticed

[@Mikexception]

@@macweed3358 I have now chinese 125 - and so far I am very happy with it. Between 1971 and 1993 I had Lambretta - for few years two even - second for parts. Comparing both have own advantages- In my actual scooter I do not use my right leg for breaking - it is ready to support and rear brake is available without moving foot to pedal. - in Lambretta It was only in last moment when I could step down - not a deal but could be called a "con". On other hand leg operation offered more breaking force than left hand fingers. . And in lambretta pedal looks stylish too. which I like . On other side Lambretta with manual gear in my opinin was nicer for driving - in new scooter rear wheel is still coupled with engine giving only two choices - acceleration or engine braking. No idle driving with momentum which is kind a comfort stable speed at turns . Another result of auto is that during starting rear wheel of new scooter must hang above ground (for safety) which makes that stand must lift it higher in compare to lambretta which may stand fully on ground - lambretta I was for me effortless in to put on stand and down. . Lambertta needs that additional operation of left hand which on other side is enjoyment of better power management. -. .I love the lambretts sounding - I would compare it to new 4 stroke like opera singer to army choir - emotions are not comparable. I am big fan of lambretta but now I must admit due to my age . keeping outside sadly I had to choose rather max comfort. and low prize advantage.

[@midge225]

First thing , always take the scooter off its stand whilst you are standing on the kickstart side , otherwise you have to get around to that side while its not on its stand which is risky especialy if you drop it , just basics , when you have owned one for 40+yrs you will know whats right for you and whats not

[@TonysGarage_UK]

Thanks David, its good advice, but after owning bikes for 40years my fung Shiue would be all wrong from that side and I'm not even sure I could lol.... but I'm going to give that a try ! Cheers

[@TezTez-dj9ci]

As a kid it was inbuilt instinct, you looked at it , 1 up 3 down clutch in throughout the gears to change, and back up as you came to stop, how did people become that backward today were they are to dumb to work out a manual gearbox on anything ,,fair play to you though as a lot of these old timers that never had scooters can now rewrite there history buy the sx200 registered as 125cc and see how it’s done 40 years or so after the revival 😂

[@TonysGarage_UK]

The video isn't intended for people who already know.. it was just to show someone who's never seen an old scooter and is interested in getting one. And people who are simply curious how a hand clutch and gear mechanism work. This shows just how easy they are to ride.

[@TezTez-dj9ci]

@@TonysGarage_UK yes I can’t fault the vid and your tuition one bit ,, it’s well done and proper credit to you and respect for that 👍

[@TonysGarage_UK]

Thankyou, very much appreciated.

[@paulbarrett22]

You sound bitter pal ,there's nothing better than seeing old classics back on the road no matter who's riding them,and nothing worse than the old classics gathering dust in a garage or even worse in a fkin man cave 😂😂

[@TonysGarage_UK]

no, no... I love my Lammy! I totally agree with you.

[@smithywick]

Great video massive help to me this as just going from automatic to manual and finding it a little Tricky especially first gear as you said your wrist is in quiet a Twisted position and then from first to second missing out neutral is also a bit Tricky I’ve ended up going too far and into third a couple of times 🙄😂 ✊🛵✊

[@TonysGarage_UK]

You'll get the hang of it in no time, but you're cable might need adjusting?

[@davebarrowcliffe1289]

Funfact: If you read the original owner's manual, it makes no mention of using the clutch to change up... seriously!

[@TonysGarage_UK]

That's a good point, on my motorbike I change up gears clutch less... Never thought about it on the Lammy.

[@Mikexception]

@@TonysGarage_UK Yes - I used Labmbretta since 71 till almost 93 - the gear change is provided by mechanical clutch between selected gear wheels and rear driving shaft. All gear teeths are constantly cooperating. I checked how it goes and it worked, Anyway the click soound and a bit hard momentum push was just less comfortable than with operating clutch. I concluded it as emergency condition when clutch wire is broken or not operable but obviously in city drive it spares the clutch and it's wire.

[@GaryFÓBrien]

The ‘“bike” ? 😂 Bet you weren’t calling it a bike 40 yrs ago ! Sign of the times I guess 😢

[@TonysGarage_UK]

Haha... you're right there!