Lambretta 200-Tv
LAMBRETTA 200-TV
Scooter Test:
"DOESN’T LOOK LIKE it goes so fast”.
“. . . While crisply styled, you expect it to be heavv, like a dumpling from a Jello mold, and it is. But when you turn on that quarter-turn throttle, it really turns on!” Thus reads a sampling of opinions from the CYCLE WORLD staff after our first encounter with the hot new Lambretta that is the talk of the scooter world these days.
It brings up one question: why should a scooter go so fast? Seemingly the scooter fan wanting this kind of performance should buy a motorcycle. But like a lot of us, some scooter enthusiasts want the advantages of the scooters, plus performance which is really not a part of their appeal. Ours is not to reason why Lambretta has included this “super” version. but the fact that it is an Italian scooter, and thev race them in Italy, helps us better to understand.
Cornering is above reproach as the suspension was engineered in honor of that racing heritage. This, however, creates a paradox: the quarter-turn racing throttle, matched to a twistgrip. drum cable controlled four-speed gearbox: gear positions spaced 1/3 turn wide with the clutch lever positioned standing almost straight
up in first gear make it somewhat uncomfortable to clutch properlv off the line. These positions would be fine if one were in a wind-cheating crouch, but while riding upright as all good scooterists should, our left hand got mighty strong.
Lambretta thoughtfully describes the 200-TV as the only scooter to combine traditional scooter comfort and clean riding with real motorcycle performance, a good point, but a top speed of around 50 miles per hour better suits the inherent scoo'er characteristics.
Brakes are exceptionally good. The front disc pulls smoothly and straight and the drum brake on the rear is more than sufficient. One staff member was forced to tie on the brakes violently and cross the machine up on pavement in order to avoid hitting a truck that turned in front of him. He stopped short and brought back a favorable, though shaLy, report on the first such maneuver on a small-wheel machine we had first hand knowledge of.
Handling is excellent, even at slow speeds on loose surfaces, a little like a lightweight scrambler as a matter of fact. We tried two-up riding, a bit of a challenge on any scooter at speed. We prefer to think of scooters as solo machines for
the most part.
It had been some time since our last encounter with a Lambretta, reported in our October 1962 issue. The current 200-TV is not too radically different from the then “hot” 175-TV. The 175 designates its engine displacement, as does the 200cc 200. It is still an extremely well made and assembled machine; it abounds with technical features that reflect modern, careful engineering and production practices, and like all Italian machines, is a handsome device.
Horsepower has been increased to 13, conservative for the 200cc cycle engine but quite a lot for a motor scooter. Top speed is claimed to be 70 mph. up 5 mph from the 175-TV, probably an accurate figure though we did not attempt to justify their claim. Front suspension continues to be of the leading link type with a swing arm in the rear, both hydraulically dampened. The engine/transmission is in unit and the drive is via an enclosed shaft; all are very silent and oil/free. Paint is a soft white in color, and very tasteful. We couldn’t help but think of it as the Thunderbird of scooters. •
