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Loveless A Vespa GS4

Having always appreciated the older bikes more, I quite like the change of fashion. It gets even better when the intention of the owner is to incorporate his former quarter-mile engine into such a project.

Initially Niko planned to use a Vespa GL frame that was sat in his garage but, after starting work on it, he realised that it was beyond economical repair as it had just gone too rusty. So he gave the GL frame away and began the hunt for a more suitable base. After only a month a phone call from a friend brought an end to his search – he found himself the owner of an early Vespa GS4 and the project could continue.

Niko started by welding up the holes in the frame that were no longer needed but otherwise kept the frame untouched. The handlebars went to Worb 5 for the obligatory drop and were fitted with a quick-action throttle and fully hydraulic Magura brake lever. The forks have to be among the most lavish designs I have ever come across. The parts of three (!) Vespa forks were combined into what you see now on the bike. These came from a PX, a Cosa and a VBB fork and a Malossi RS24 front shock was also used which was shortened by Scooter & Service...

• Read the full feature in Scootering magazine - March 2012!