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The end of an era is very near to come. There had been rumors in 2019 about the closure of the Scooters India Limited in 2019, in January 2021 it was official that the Indian cabinet made the decision for closing SIL indeed.

what was Scooters India Limited?

The SIL company took over the rights and tools for manufacturing the Lambretta from Innocenti in 1971. Until the plant was set up and running it took a while. But from 1975 onwards they produced and marketed the two-wheelers Vijai Deluxe (DL) and later the Vijai Super for the domestic market and the Lambretta GP for the export markets. Besides the two-wheeler production they also produced the three-wheelers, mainly for the domestic market though. The two-wheeler production was stopped in 1997 and the focus from then on was for the three-wheelers and Lambretta spares for the export market.

The SIL scooters were popular during the 90's and Scooter Center as well imported quite a few containers full of brand new SIL Lambretta GP 200 back then.

Now it seems that the factory is going to be demolished very soon. Our friend Abhi was so kind to send us some pictures he has recently taken in the SIL plant. Who knows, maybe the last ones.

The end of an era!

SCOOTERS INDIA LIMITED SHORT FACTS:

  • Incorporated in 1972 as Scooters India Limited.
  • Company's plant owes its origin to Innocenti of Italy from which it bought over the plant and machinery, design, documentation, copyright and so on. The company is also said to possess the world right of the trade name LAMBRETTA / LAMBRO.
  • In 1975, company started its commercial production of Scooters under the brand name of Vijai DL (later Vijai Super) for domestic market and Lambretta for overseas markets.
  • Located at 16 Km mile stone, South-west of Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh on No 25 and well connected by road, rail and air.
  • Key player on supplying Lambretta enthusiasts around the world until the end of the 90s.

Frame -SIL- Lambretta DL125 / 150/200, GP125 / 150/200

We found an unexpected source for NOS Lambretta frames. Now we are happy to be able to offer you a new frame for your project, whether for a restoration, rebuilding or tuning / racing. It is a matter of brand new frame for DL ​​/ GP from SIL (Indian license construction), they fit for all DL/GP models.

The NOS (new old stock) frames are new and unused, but were long forgotten and stored on dry shelves.
Nevertheless, the surface may already have a bit of patina and a bit of rust in places.

Shipping worldwide or collection in Cologne possible

The frames are delivered via a forwarding agency.

Important: Please inquire about the shipping costs in advance, stating the delivery address or, alternatively, collect them yourself from our warehouse / shop near Cologne: 

  • Wooden box dimensions: LxWxH: 152x82x60cm
  • Weight: 52kg
  • Delivery lying on a pallet

Forwarding costs:

  • Germany: € 49
  • Netherlands: 49 € (excluding islands)
  • Belgium: € 49
  • Luxembourg: € 49
  • Austria: 49 €
  • France: 49 € (excluding islands, no overseas territories)
  • Switzerland: € 79 (customer pays customs and import duties)
  • Italy: 49 € (excluding islands)
  • Spain: 49 € (excluding islands)
  • Ireland: 149 € (excluding islands)
  • Great Britain: € 99 (excluding islands)

Buy a new Lambretta frame here

The brand new one Frame for Lambretta GP / DL comes in the best OEM quality. All bearing seats are intact and offer perfect tolerances. The threads are fresh and offer the best possible hold. Nothing is warped due to improper welding. Perfect start for your new project. Of course, you can also get everything you need from us Lambretta parts to successfully realize your new project!

Lambretta Specials Catalog Lambretta Catalog 2019

 

Buy a new Lambretta frame here

 

LML is bankrupt

LML - the last manufacturer of classic hand-operated scooters

We took sad news from the English online magazine Power off .

LML, the world's last manufacturer of classic hand-operated scooters, seems to be on the verge of a final end, but we hope the tide will turn.

Who does not know the history of LML "click" (https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lohia_Machinery_Limited). In its history LML has built license productions of the popular Vespa models:

Mostly pretty close to the original, sometimes a bit more idiosyncratic, they were always popular inexpensive entry-level models that were particularly characterized by their economy. The Indian reality simply required other priorities and so longevity and economy were a clear selling point.

At peak times, 30.000 scooters rolled off the assembly line every month and LML was not only serving the Indian market with them. Classic PX models have always been very popular in Asia, Iran and various African countries. Egypt was one of LML's main sales markets, which unfortunately was their undoing: The depreciation of the Egyptian pound in 2016 made the scooters so expensive that this market collapsed. Unfortunately, no market was able to make up for this gap and so LML stumbled even more.

Scooter Center visiting the LML factory

We first visited LML in 2014 and were able to see the production live at the Kanpur plant.

LML Scooter Factory

What we saw impressed us both deeply and at the same time, because to see a PX body made from a huge roll of sheet steel was an impression that gave us goose bumps. We were very impressed and it was just incredible to see the birth of a scooter live.

LML has potential

At that time it was clear to us, “LML has potential!”. Although the feel of some LML parts may not quite meet the requirements, they are of the highest quality in terms of quality. We installed the LML gearbox in 30 HP engines in the workshop without any problems.

The complete LML engines are unbeatable in terms of price-performance ratio and the painted ones LML frame sets  a great starting point for a new build. The rest of the original parts are also very popular with us. Unfortunately, there is a lot of counterfeiting in India and low-quality replica parts are simply sold in counterfeit LML packaging. You should pay close attention to this and keep your hands off any dubious offers.

LML has not only produced Piaggio models under license, but has also carried out many further developments to which the original has to bow:  LML motor housing XXl transfer ports. We discovered this motor housing by chance in the factory. To this day we have not really been able to clarify where they were installed.

LML Motor XXL transfer port

On the one hand, they have HUGE transfer ports (why weld and mill them ?!) On the other hand, the cylinder base was smaller than on the Piaggio engines. (we offer the housing already spindled to Piaggio dimensions: LML motor housing XXl transfer ports )

Furthermore, the development of a 4-speed four-stroke engine in the LML PX dress should not go unmentioned because this is the only way to comply with the strict exhaust gas values ​​and the gearshift has (had) a future.

As the grand finale, we were there when the production of the LML PK was rebuilt. The idea was actually a good one. One Smallframe with automatic motor and disc brake. She would certainly have had a future at least as a 50s in Germany. Fatally, it was only available as a 125cc and there was probably no mass market there. We had a fork (shortened Lusso fork) sent to us as a sample and saw great potential for V50, VBB and rally / sprint conversions, but unfortunately that never happened.

LML recently sought salvation in the production of a tricycle for the Indian market  http://lml3wheelers.com/. Unfortunately, this project does not seem to have had the necessary success and it looks bleak at the moment.

We keep our fingers crossed for LML that there is still an investor who recognizes the potential. It would be a shame if such a great company with enthusiastic employees just disappeared.

Ulf Schroeder, Scooter Center

 

 

LML motor housing for Vespa  |.  LML frame set for Vespa