JUNE 2002

27/06/02 : JASScooters new engine pivot bush kit is now available, and by all accounts the bushes are super high precision, super light weight and apparently easy to fit. The kit includes a tool to remove the old rubber bushes and comes with fitting instructions. Price £26.95.

24/06/02 : Calling all budding mechanics... For anyone who may be interested JASScooters are putting together a course for anyone who wants to learn how to take apart Runner/Dragster 125/180 engines and re-build them. The course would comprise of two days tuition and include removing the engine stripping it down, checking, then re-building and re-fitting. Meals will be included and accommodation at a local B & B. No dates or prices available as yet as JASScooters want to guage the interest level. If you are interested then JASScooters would like to hear from you, click here to send them an email.
 
UPDATE: The second part of Ian Sim's NOS Dragster project is now on-line.

21/06/02 UPDATE: The Tuning section has been updated with info about Ian Sim's NOS Dragster project. JASScooters are also developing a new reed block which will house the NOS fogger injector and reed petals in an all-in-one unit for this Nitrous Dragster engine. For your perusal here are a couple of AUTOCAD renders of the reedblock manifold which show the design in its early stages:
 

 
As for the Nitrous kit itself, SCCC are the company who have been busy developing the kit. Barry Giles at SCCC tells me that they are awaiting the arrival of NOS kits from the USA and will be available for purchase soon (price not yet known).
 
SCCC's NOS kit has been developed on a Peugeot Speedfight, performance figures are 12bhp aspirated and with the Nitrous and the jetting pattern SCCC put into the system makes a reliable 24bhp at the press of a button. The standard battery had to be dumped in favour of a 14amp hour battery. SCCC's NOS Speedfight is using a 120cc Malossi kit with a standard cylinder head so there is absolutely no squish as it is a very low compression engine so there is indeed a lot of improvement to make here. Nevertheless imagine the results with a tuned 172cc set-up... For further reading, check out the current issue of Twist & Go which contains Ian Sim's article on SCCC's NOS Speedfight (if you've not already read it that is).

20/06/02 : Update on new stuff from JASScooters: in a few days time a new Engine Pivot Bush Kit will be available for the Dragster from Jasscooters, the bushes are super light weight and of high precision and best of all they will not be expensive (price currently not available). Jasscooters also have, amongst other goodies, some funky anodised fuel filters and coming soon a gear box air filter worth havin' a look at.

14/06/02 : If you've been reading the message board lately you will have read the posts about Piaggio taking a stake in Italjet. In an attempt to shed some light on the situation, I asked Piaggio if they could offer any enlightenment on the topic. So, for your perusal here's a press release (dated May 21) from Piaggio's press office which basically confirms that Piaggio will indeed become a shareholder of Italjet. Unless I am mistaken, the good news as far as I can see, is that this press release does not show any signs that production of the Dragster will come to end.
 
UPDATE: Finally on-line, a few of the pictures I took in Stockholm in May are now available for your viewing: Dragster Gallery Collection 19.

11/06/02 : News on the new PM59 X-TECH PRO exhaust from PM Tuning:
 
The new PM59 system maintains the looks and styling of the popular (and now discontinued) PM58 but with the following new features:
 
1. Newly developed two-piece rear baffle cone / construction for improved exhaust harmonics and sharper looks.
 
2. New 500 Grand Prix styled polished stainless steel end cap with one piece bend rolled end pipe edge and laser engraved PM Tuning logo.
 
3. Revised newly developed trick looking CNC alloy gold anodised hanging bracket, CNC engraved PM Tuning logo with quick release chamber rubber mounting system for improved durability and ease of mounting.
 

 
4. Revised muffler support using stainless steel strapping to chamber mounting to allow for greater expansion tolerances and improved long-term duty cycle.
 
5. Last but not least an additional 1hp power increase across the speed range to 70mph over the PM58.
 
Despite an increase in production tooling / development, prices are maintained the same as the PM58.
 
PM59 X-TECH PRO OFFICIAL R.R.P. PRICE RELEASE/OPTIONS:
 
PM59: X-TECH PRO with alloy muffler £248.00
 
PM59/A: X-TECH PRO with alloy anodised muffler (red, blue or gold) £256.00
 
PM59C/F: X-TECH PRO with carbon kevlar muffler £282.00
 
PM59/TI: X-TECH PRO with titanium muffler £287.00 (LIMITED PRODUCTION RUN)
 
More options:
PMT1017SC Add high quality 'show' chrome to any PM Tuning exhausts and fittings £50.00
 
PMT1017BC Add budget chrome plate to any PM Tuning exhaust and fittings £20.00
 
If you wish to place an order this can be done by telephone (01524 823900), fax (01524 824843) or e-mail or via PM's on-line shopping system when the products become available.
 
ALL PRICES +17.5% UK TAX UNLESS OUTSIDE THE E.C.
 
All PM59 will from June 02 incorporate all of the above features.

10/06/02 UPDATE: Better late than never, pics from the May Day Gathering at Skokloster, check out the Gallery. More pictures from Sweden to follow...

07/06/02 : As you all know, there's more to life than scooters at the minute: ARGENTINA 0 - ENGLAND 1 : now that's what I call a resounding win! COME ON ENGLAND!
 
BBC NEWS

06/06/02 : Now you can do away with your Dragster / Runner's silly aeroplane style mirrors and get a set of these cool bar-end mirrors from Lockhart Phillips in the US, these low-profile billet bar-end mirrors (pictured on the left) aren't the cheapest but they do look the biz and they're easy to install. Just un-bolt the default bar-end and cut off about a quarter inch of the grip and the mirrors clip on, easy. Check out the Lockhart Phillips website for details and look under the 'Accessories' page.
 

 
UPDATE: Finally on-line, a collection of pictures I took at last year's 'Mayhem Day' at York Dragway and this year's Streetfighters show at Sheffield Arena - Streetfighters Gallery Collection 3 is the place to look.

05/06/02 : Here are a couple more pics of MJ Designs second prototype speedo face. This time it has a blue backlight and different style notches, nice. The price for the speedo faces are £25.00 plus £3.00 postage and packing, fitting instructions are included. To place an order, just send an email to Jason at MJ Designs.