Friday, 28 January 2011

BSSO AGM / Awards Ceremony + 2010 Racing Season Summary

BSSO AGM / 2010 AWARDS CEREMONY

For all you guys who don’t know what an AGM (annual general meeting) is then this might help: Think back to when you were at school, fill the classroom with lots of people that pretend to like each other and then add (bare with me while I work out some average ages of the guys and gals… about 15 to 40) years of watching Neighbours, Corrie, EastEnders and a bit of Big Brother, mix it all up with “I’m going to win” and what a concoction.

It doesn’t take too long to see some awkward relationships which are normally hidden starting to pop up between riders especially when the voting starts. And then the penny drops - that’s why all those peculiar rule changes take place. Anyway, getting back to what I should have been talking about, the AGM allows all members to take a vote on matters that should benefit the BSSO and all the people that are currently participating or may participate in the future. Thankfully this year it seems that the committee has seen the light and some sense and made changes that will benefit all riders, both classic and autos which is great news for everyone. New riders coming in (both young and old) will help keep the sport alive. At last we can drop the additional weight and get fully up to speed.

All the changes for the 2011 BSSO Series that have taken place or taking place can be found on the BSSO forum.

Here's Pedstop racer Josh Brown receiving his trophies at the 2010 BSSO awards ceremony:


BSSO SCOOTER ROAD RACE CHAMPIONSHIP 2010 AWARDS:

* AUTO 80 - FIRST: JOSH BROWN *

* OVERALL SOLO - SECOND: JOSH BROWN *

* BEST PLACED PIAGGIO RIDER: JOSH BROWN *

* TERRY FRANKLAND MEMORIAL AWARD *

PROJECT ZIP: 2010 RACING SEASON SUMMARY

What started out as a shop project with no real intentions of entering the BSSO series it seems crazy that in 2010 we were able to take the championship or should I say Josh Brown did on the Pedstop Polini-engined Zip that has seen more evolution than Darwin himself.


The wheels were set in motion after a chance enquiry by Ian Brown, Josh’s dad and the obvious talent that was on show from Josh himself. Not forgetting the technical and race experience that Darryl Taylor from 50cc Tuning was going bring to the team. Could it work? After some cups of tea and the odd digestive biscuit and with lots of things in common it made perfect sense for all involved to get stuck in. And there you have it, the Pedstop council house crew was born. With a difficult season ahead running a Polini Big Evo 70 engined Zip against the too talked about Malossi 77MHR Team engined scooters in an 80cc class, it was going to be close from the beginning and it was, right up to the final meeting at Three Sisters.


It seems natural now to be talking and thinking about racing or race parts in some way and this is definitely due to watching and participating at the trackside in the BSSO 2010 series. Although it was our first year in racing we were obviously blessed with the knowledge gained from our team’s 2009 season which saw Josh take the championship under the watchful eye of his dad Ian Brown and of course the legend himself Darryl Taylor who took care of the engines and technical work.

It’s not easy getting everything to work well when it should and it took a lot of time and effort to keep the momentum going, not only from Josh and Pedstop riders Zack Tingle and Sam Edwards but from everyone else including the wives and girlfriends. So to keep us guys in check and make sure everyone feels fluffy and appreciated for all those cold days and early mornings away, we would like to say a genuinely big thank you to all involved - my wife and kids, Ian and Claire Brown (for making Josh), Darryl Taylor (for technical assistance, engine building and dyno work) and Paul Robinson (for photography and video work).

2011 is set be a good year for the Pedstop Race Team with three riders of varying skill levels. This year you’ll have the opportunity to follow a 100% novice rider with no previous experience and two riders with good race pace which will be epic in itself.

Adrenalin Pedstop

Coming soon... News and pictures of our 94cc Polini Big Evolution Zip project along with a step-by-step guide that will cover setting squish, timing and crankcase work needed.

Polini Big Evolution minimoto grips / exhaust traction springs

Fresh from Italy are these Polini Big Evolution minimoto grips in those distinctive black and blue Polini colours:


RRP: £21.85 OUR PRICE: £18.60

Also from Polini are these exhaust traction springs available in pairs with three lengths to choose from:


Prices as follows:

53mm: £5.35 / 67mm: £5.35 / 79mm: £6.90

Wednesday, 26 January 2011

Yasuni Adrenaline 'B' (Black Edition) Exhaust

Yasuni must have been thinking about us when they named an exhaust after us!


New for 2011, this is the sexy new 'B' (which stands for 'black') silencer as seen fitted to a Yasuni Scooter R exhaust. Yasuni black edition exhausts will all feature this black anodised aluminium silencer with the words 'Yasuni Adrenaline Exhaust' printed on it. The silencer is held firmly in place by a laser cut Yasuni bracket. Yasuni's black silencer is available for all existing Yasuni exhausts apart from the Carrera 30. The RRP that Yasuni have quoted is just 7 Euros more than Yasuni exhausts fitted with the standard aluminium silencer. We'll be able to offer a good deal on this product as soon as it arrives.

Pedstop BSSO 2011 Series Race Package

If you're thinking about getting into scooter racing this year then now is the time to sort out your ride for the coming season. The start of the 2011 BSSO Series is just a few months away and we've come up with a very special offer designed to make scooter racing more accessible than ever before.

PEDSTOP RACE PACKAGE

What we can offer you is a complete set of high end parts, all the kit you need to build a high spec race engine. The best thing about the deal is the price - just £1900 which is a massive saving. What's more we'll credit you with £200 after completing a race in the BSSO Series.


After Pedstop rider Josh Brown's championship win in last year's BSSO series, it goes without saying that we have complete confidence in the product. And as with all Polini products we're able to offer expert advice and technical support.

If you'd like to take advantage of this amazing offer then you must adhere to the following terms and conditions:

  • One race package only per rider
  • This package is only available to BSSO members through Adrenalin Pedstop
  • Adrenalin Pedstop decals must be used at each race event
  • Riders must be aged 13 or over
  • Adrenalin Scooter Performance Parts holds no responsibility for the build of each engine or any maintenance
For further details or to order, please call us direct on 01226 630020.

2011 Polini Evolution 70cc/94cc 2T Piaggio/Minarelli LC engines


If you've got the need for speed and desire an out and out race spec engine then how about this - a complete race engine built by the Polini factory...

Each engine has its own unique number and is built to Polini's exacting standards and every engine is dyno tested before being signed off by Polini's technicians. Two formats are available: 2T Piaggio liquid cooled (e.g. Piaggio Zip 50 SP 1996-99 / 50 SP 2001 onwards) or 2T Minarelli horizontal liquid cooled (e.g. Yamaha Aerox 50 / MBK Nitro 50 / Yamaha Jog RR) with a choice of 70cc or 94cc.

PIAGGIO 2T LC

Polini's new 2011 Evolution Piaggio 70cc engine (product code: AD/050.0937) has the same 47.6mm cylinder as well as the same layout as the 94cc big bore kit and is capable of producing between 24 to 25hp. The latest engine carries all the usual goodies along with the new Evolution cylinder (47.6mm), a new crankshaft and the latest ignition system which we already like very much, not forgetting the latest Big Evolution exhaust.

If you're looking for maximum performance then Polini's 94cc Big Evolution engine (product code: AD/050.0938) is capable of producing between 27 and 30hp! Again, not only do you get the very latest high end Polini performance products, you're getting a blue print for speed, an engine put together by expert technicians at Polini.

MINARELLI 2T HORIZONTAL LC

Polini's 70cc Minarelli horizontal liquid cooled engine, like the Piaggio version, is capable of a very impressive 25hp. Not only do you get an extensive list of high end racing parts pre-fitted, the crankcase and cylinder are also ported to Polini's very precise standards to ensure optimum performance. For a full list of all the components fitted to this engine, take a look at our product page: Polini 70cc Big Evolution Minarelli horizontal engine (product code: AD/050.0939).

If you want to go a step further then how about the 94cc Big Evolution engine (product code: AD/050.0940), this is capable of between 27 to 30hp, suffice to say it's a bit of a monster.

The proof is in the pudding as they say and after Pedstop rider Josh Brown's blistering performance in last year's BSSO series we have no doubts about the capabilities of these engines. Anyone interested in purchasing please call us direct on 01226 630020. We can also offer a good discount to anyone interested in using a Polini engine in this year's BSSO series. As usual we're able to offer expert advice and technical support on all Polini products.

Tuesday, 18 January 2011

Artek product prices shot down at last


It seems like forever that we’ve been badgering Artek about their prices and although the products are good they need sensible RRP’s, prices that run in line with other more established brands, maybe. Did they listen, err no, well not for at least two years. In typical French style it seems that to get something done more than one needs to be involved, throw in a few protest boards and stop some cars etc, all for a good cause. Now Artek’s doors have been opened, “thank you”, it could be a blessing in disguise especially for all you lot. Good performing products that are extremely well made, look great and have a price that is relative, a no brainer we think. So what does all this mean? I think you guessed it, the prices are being shot down, blown up, massacred, lowered to whatever level they need to be to help you guys out in these hard times.

For all their products click: Artek

Tuesday, 11 January 2011

Athena performance parts for 2T Piaggio AC engines

If you're looking for performance upgrades, then a worthwhile consideration for engines fitted with a Piaggio air cooled engine are the following Athena parts:

Piaggio air cooled engines (e.g. Piaggio Zip / NRG)

The Athena HP 70cc aluminium sports cylinder kit provides very useable all round performance throughout the rev range making it perfect for the street. The porting and quality of this kit is excellent and it's also very durable. This particular kit features a single piston ring, carbon fibre reed petals and a bunch of gaskets. Fits all Piaggio air cooled engines.

We recommend using a bigger carb of 17.5mm or above, however this kit will still work fine with the original carburettor with a jetting increase of 10-15% along with a performance exhaust system.

Product code: AD/069200/1

This is the Athena HPR Racing 70cc cylinder kit from Athena. Like the Athena HP 70cc cylinder kit, the porting and quality is excellent and again, very durable. The HPR Racing kit features a revised port layout and flat top piston for added power. The HPR kit is higher revving than the HP kit and requires a suitable exhaust like the Yasuni C16 or Doppler RR7 for example. You will also need to use a suitable carburettor of 17.5mm or above, however the kit will work with the standard carb with a jet increase of at least 10-15%. Included in the kit are carbon fibre reed petals and a bunch of gaskets to alter squish.

Product code: AD/082000

The Athena Platinum series of drive belts are made in Japan so you can expect the same quality and performance as Polini drive belts. Made from reinforced Kevlar, Athena Platinum drive belts are also extremely hard wearing. Please note that Kevlar drive belts require around 100 miles to wear in.

Product code: AD/S41PLAT015


Increase your revs with an Athena unlimited CDI unit. This CDI is designed for race use and once fitted will remove all the barriers of the standard CDI and allow your scooter to be unleashed with an unrestricted unlimited revs unit.

Product code: AD/CDI06


Athena performance parts for 2T Minarelli horizontal LC engines

Italian company Athena produce a range of high quality performance parts for a wide range of scooters, too many to list all at once here. If your scooter has a two-stroke Minarelli horizontal liquid cooled engine then the following Athena products are well worth a look at:

Minarelli horizontal liquid cooled engines (e.g. Yamaha Aerox)

The porting and quality of the Athena HP 70cc aluminium cylinder kit is excellent, it's extremely durable and therefore ideal for road use. Included in the package is a single piston ring, carbon fibre reed petals and a bunch of gaskets. This kit is suitable for all Minarelli horizontal liquid cooled engines.

Product code: AD/072400


Like the HP kit from Athena the HPR Racing 70cc cylinder kit is also great quality and very durable. The difference with this kit is that it features a revised port layout and a flat top piston for added power. It's also a higher revving kit and therefore requires a suitable exhaust such as the Yasuni C16 or Doppler RR7. This kit will work with a standard carburettor with a jetting increase but to make the most out of it we recommend fitting a 17.5mm carb or bigger. Included in the kit are carbon fibre reed petals and a bunch of gaskets.

Product code: AD/081100

Athena's Platinum series of drive belts are made in Japan so you can expect the same quality and performance as Polini belts. Made from reinforced Kevlar Athena Platinum drive belts are extremely hard wearing.

Product code: AD/S41PLAT001



Athena unlimited rev CDI unit (for Yamaha flywheels)
Increase your revs! Intended for race use, once fitted this device will remove all the barriers of the standard CDI and allow full control of your scooter's power - unrestricted. Fitment is for models without a catalytic air feed pipe into the original exhaust system.

Product code: AD/CDI01

Athena performance parts for 2T Piaggio LC engines

Athena produce aftermarket parts for a wide range of scooters and are a good option if you want good power increases and reliability. Here we've put together a few suggestions for getting the most out of a two-stroke Piaggio liquid cooled engine:

Piaggio liquid cooled engines (e.g. Gilera Runner)

Athena HP 70cc cylinder kit
The Athena HP 70cc aluminium cylinder kit provides very useable all round performance throughout the rev range making it perfect for the street. This is an extremely durable kit and the porting and quality is excellent. This particular kit features a single piston ring, carbon fibre reed petals and a bunch of gaskets for squish etc. Fits all Piaggio liquid cooled engines.

We recommend you use a bigger carburettor of 17.5mm or above, however this kit will work fine with the original carb with a jet increase of at least 10-15% along with a performance exhaust.

Product code: AD/071500

Athena HPR Racing 70cc cylinder kit
The HPR Racing 70cc cylinder kit from Athena, like the HP cylinder kit is again a quality product with some great porting and it's also very durable. The way this kit differs from the HP kit is that it has a revised port layout and features a flat top piston for added power. This kit is also higher revving and therefore requires a suitable exhaust like the Yasuni C16 or Doppler RR7. This kit will work in conjunction with the standard carb with a jetting increase of at least 10-15%, but for best performance we recommend using the HPR kit with a 17.5mm carb or above. Also included in the kit are carbon fibre reed petals and a collection of gaskets.

Product code: AD/082500

Athena Platinum drive belt
The Athena Platinum series of drive belts are made in Japan so you can expect the same quality and performance as the Polini drive belts. Made from reinforced Kevlar Athena Platinum drive belts are extremely hard wearing. Please note that kevlar drive belts take around 100 miles to wear in.

Product code: AD/S41PLAT015


Athena unlimited rev CDI unit
Increase your revs! Designed for race use, this device once fitted will remove all the barriers of the standard CDI and give you the benefits of a free revving unlimited unit. This will give you full control of your scooter's power - unrestricted.

Product code: AD/CDI06

Athena performance parts for 2T Peugeot vertical AC engines

Athena was founded in 1973 and comprises of a group of seven companies that produce gaskets, cylinder kits, belts and CDI units plus many other parts. Based in Italy their main interests began with the production of motocross parts of which Athena are still very successful in throughout the world. Now producing genuine and performance tuning parts for a range of scooters like the Piaggio NRG, Diesis, Liberty, Zip, Gilera Runner, Ice, Nexus, Yamaha Aerox, Slider, Jog R, MBK Nitro, Peugeot Speedfight etc. They are the only company in the world to produce full engine gasket sets for every make and model of scooter, moped, motorcycle, jet ski and out board made to date. They supply not only replacement parts but a big range of aftermarket parts intended for track use like HPR racing cylinder kits and unlimited CDI units.

Peugeot vertical air cooled engines (e.g Peugeot Speedfight 50 Air, Trekker 50, Vivacity 50)

The Athena HP 70cc aluminium cylinder kit for Peugeot vertical AC engines provides very useable all round performance throughout the rev range making if perfect for the street. The porting and quality of these kits is excellent making them extremely durable.

Product code: AD/070600
Athena's Platinum series of drive belts are made in Japan so you can expect the same quality and performance as Polini belts. Made from reinforced Kevlar Athena Platinum drive belts are extremely hard wearing.

Product code: AD/S41PLAT010

Increase your revs! Designed for track use, this CDI removes all the barriers of the standard CDI by replacing it with an unlimited free revving Athena CDI unit. Now you can be in full control of your scooter's power - unrestricted.

Product code: AD/CDI05

Friday, 7 January 2011

50cc road tuning suggestions for Peugeot vertical AC engines

In the world of scooter tuning today there's a wide selection of tuning parts available. This may leave you a little confused when choosing the right parts to make your scooter more useable. So, we've put together a few suggestions for parts that can be used reliably if you use your scooter daily on the road

PEUGEOT VERTICAL AIR COOLED ENGINES

For two-stroke Peugeot vertical air cooled engined scooters like the Peugeot SpeedfightTrekkerVivacity etc. the tuning process should be approached slightly differently due to the engines being a bit awkward to set up.

Cylinder kits: The Polini cast iron 70cc kit gives good bottom end power and will work well with most exhausts. The only other alternative is the Athena HP70 which is an aluminium kit and will produce more power than the Polini.


Exhaust systems: Again the Leo Vince TT is the best budget exhaust in terms of power for money. The Doppler RR7 or the Polini For Race 3 are the best performing exhausts available but at a slightly higher price bracket above £150.

Variators:  The Artek K2 or the Doppler S2BR variators seem to work better on Peugeot engines in our opinion. A contrast spring and three sets of rollers are included so you can play around with the transmission to get your scooter set up correctly.

Carburettors: On Peugeot engines we recommend doing away with the standard inlet and carburettor. Replace the inlet manifold for one that accepts a push fitting for the carb like the Top Racing aluminium inlet manifold. Also replace the reed block for an Enki R2 aluminium reed block then finally  a YSN 17.5mm or Polini 19mm carb.

50cc road tuning suggestions for Minarelli horizontal LC engines

Within the world of scooter tuning today there is a big selection of tuning parts available. This may leave you a little stuck when trying to choose the correct parts that actually make your scooter more useable. So we've put a few suggestions together to help you get the best reliable everyday road performance from a 50cc scooter using reputable parts that work well together. The following list applies to two-stroke 50cc scooters fitted with a Minarelli horizontal liquid cooled engine:

MINARELLI HORIZONTAL LIQUID COOLED ENGINES

For Minarelli horizontal liquid cooled engine scooters such as the Yamaha Aerox, Jog RR, MBK Nitro, Mach G, Malaguti F15 Firefox, Italjet Dragster etc. we recommend the following parts:


Cylinder Kits: The Stage6 Streetrace 70cc kit is a cast iron kit that gives very useable bottom end power which is perfect for whizzing around town or practicing wheelies. Alternatively the Italkit aluminium 70cc kit will provide quite a bit more power but higher up in the rev range, perfect for all you speed freaks.

Exhaust systems: Again the Leo Vince TT is the best budget all round performer. The Tecnigas Trek or Artek K1 will see better power gains and release more of the 70cc kits potential. For anyone using a high revving aluminium road going cylinder then the Yasuni C16 is a must for anyone serious about speed.

Variators: This is the most substantial upgrade for any Minarelli engine as the standard article is very poor. The Polini 6 or Polini 9 roller variator kits are very easy to set up and give very consistent performance. Also the Doppler S2BR works really well on the Minarelli engine as it raises the rollers to 19x15.5 rather than the standard 15x12's.

So far we've mentioned the three main upgrades necessary to up the power of your ped. A carb upgrade and gear kit will further boost performance for anyone who has a larger budget available:

Carburettors: Minarelli engines normally have around an 11.5mm standard carburettor. For everyday use on the road we recommend a 17.5mm carb as it’s still fairly compact so therefore fits into the cramped space it sits. The Polini 17.5mm carburettor is made by Dell'Orto and can be easily set up for the original air box or a sports foam filter.

Gear Kits: Gear kits increase the gear ratios resulting in an increase in top speed. Top Racing 4 part kits come pre-pressed for easy fitting. Polini gear kits have undergone extensive testing to give you the best ratio for use with 70cc cylinder kits.

50cc road tuning suggestions for Piaggio LC engines

Looking for performance parts can be confusing, especially when there are so many products to choose from. If your scooter has a Piaggio liquid cooled engine then the following suggestions will assist you in getting the best performance on the road as well as keeping your scooter reliable for everyday use:

PIAGGIO 50cc LIQUID COOLED ENGINES

For two-stroke Piaggio 50cc liquid cooled engines which are present in most Gilera/Piaggio scooters like the Gilera Runner, Piaggio NRG, Zip SP, Aprilia SR 50 R Carb etc. we recommend the following:


Cylinder kits: Picking the right 70cc kit all depends on how you want your scooter to perform. The Doppler S7R 70cc cylinder is the most powerful kit available for anyone on a budget at just £119.95 and it's quite a revvy kit meaning it’s great for anyone wanting flat out speed, but bear in mind all the power is at the top of the rev range. Alternatively the Athena HP70 is a pretty powerful aluminium cylinder kit but has very punchy power right from the bottom so it's perfect for them standing starts from the lights.


Exhaust Systems: Don’t hold back when buying an exhaust as on a two-stroke scooter it plays a crucial role in releasing potential power from your engine. The Leo Vince TT is the best all round performer for anyone on a budget and works great on 50cc scoots and relatively well on 70cc cylinder kits too. If you're able to stretch your budget to between the £120/£140 mark then go for either the Doppler S3R or the Polini Team 2 as these are revvier pipes that will help you squeeze a few extra bhp out of your scooter. If you want the most power available out of the above mentioned cylinder kits then the Yasuni C16 will give you just that but at a slightly higher price.


Variator Kits: These are often overlooked but they're one of the most important components for any scooter tuner. There are lots to choose from but we recommend using either the Polini 6 roller or the Polini 9 roller variator. Also note that the roller weights will need to be changed to match your particular set-up, rider weight etc.

The above components will make the biggest improvement in speed on your Piaggio/Gilera scooter. The following parts will further improve performance for anyone who wants to stretch their budget:


Carburettors: Piaggio and Gilera scooters made from 2005 onwards already have a 17.5mm carburettor as standard. So we recommend either the YSN 21mm or the Polini 21mm. To get the best set-up use an open type foam filter and alter the jetting to suit.


Gear kits: Providing you have a 70cc kit installed you can fit a gear up kit. Available in a number of percentages they offer an increase in top speed. Top Racing three piece kits come pre-pressed so they can be installed easier. Polini gear kits are top of the line but this comes at a higher price and need to be pressed before fitting.

Thursday, 6 January 2011

FREE Classified Ads! Sell a scooter on Scooter Exchange

If you're thinking about selling a motorcycle or scooter (or you're thinking about buying one) then give our FREE Classified Ads a try with Scooter Exchange, think Auto Trader and you get the idea.

Advertising a scooter for sale on our website is easy and unlike other sites it won't cost you anything. If you've got all the information to hand inputting the details should only take a few minutes of your time. Add some photos, submit your ad and away you go. Here's a quick guide to help you get started:

First of all, go to the main Scooter Exchange page on our website. You'll see a box that says 'Advertise With Us', click on 'Create Advert' to begin:


Make sure you've read through the rules then click on 'Continue' to proceed:


The next step is to fill out all the details:

Step 1: Advert Information - this is the essential info that people will see alongside a photo of the bike you're selling. It's best to keep the wording factual and straight to the point. Think of key points that might help sell your bike. Input your contact details then select how long you want the add to be displayed for, you have a choice of 7 or 14 days.

Step 2: Vehicle Information - our manufacturer and model list is quite comprehensive, simply select what it is you're selling from the drop-down menus. If the make or model isn't listed, click on 'Specify your own' and fill out the boxes. Proceed to input the rest of the details.


Step 3: Vehicle Features - this section is basically an itemised list of features that you can select using tick boxes. If you want to be more specific about any upgrades and so on you can add this info within the Description in Step 1.

Step 4: Images - This is where you can add a photo of what you're selling. You can't advertise anything on Scooter Exchange without any pictures. You can upload up to five images directly from your computer. Once you're satisified with all the details in your advert, click on 'Continue' to submit your advert to us.

Please note that your advert won't appear instantly, it may take a few hours to appear on our website if not sooner.


Here's an example advert in our Classified listings:


Clicking on the photo in the listing then takes you to the actual For Sale page which is laid out like this:


Worth a mention is that we've added a useful little section at the bottom left of each page for any parts that are available for the particular bike/scooter that's up for sale. It's handy for potential buyers to know what parts are currently available.

Hopefully this guide will help you on your way to FREE and easy selling on Scooter Exchange.