Some custom scooters roar for attention; James Charles’ Chaos MKIII is an unapologetic street-racer that blends raw performance with obsessive detail, so we asked Stu Smith to find out more…
Sc: James, before we get to the details of Chaos MKIII, how did you first get into the scooter scene?
JC: I’ve always been into motorbikes, but scooters hit differently. My parents took me to the Isle of Wight rally in 2019 when I was 15. I’d never seen or experienced anything like it before. The mix of culture, scooters, music and fashion was amazing. The influence it had on me was life-changing, and as soon as I turned 16, I did my CBT and bought a Vespa PK50 running a PK125 engine with a Malossi 166 kit. That was it; from then on, I was hooked.
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Sc: What about rallies today… what keeps the spark alive for you?
JC: I love walking around the campsites and looking at the scooters. Every one of them has a story and a personality. You can also usually tell from them where people have travelled from, what they’re into and how they ride. It’s the individuality that gets me; no two scooters are the same.
Sc: Let’s talk about your scooter. When you bought it, it’d already had a lot of work done to it, so what attracted you to it?
JC: I picked it up in 2023 because it had that perfect street-racer stance; aggressive, stripped-back and purposeful. It was originally built by Terry Artell, and the amount of time he’d put into it, over 500 hours, was obvious. I loved the bones of it, and it presented the perfect foundation to work from. I could also see that there was more potential and room for development, and that I wanted to make it my own and put my own stamp on it.
Sc: The name is pretty bold. Is it out of tradition or sentiment?
JC: A bit of both, really. It was the name Terry gave it, and considering how mental the build is, I couldn’t think of anything that suited it better. The MKIII element is a reminder of how it’s evolved over the years, and I’m just the next chapter.
Sc: Performance-wise, the scooter’s undergone some serious development. Talk us through how you’ve set it up…
JC: When I got it, the engine was already pretty wild, but I wanted it to be sharper and more reliable. So it’s now running on a Rapido 225 kit paired with an AF race crank, a combination that delivers a strong, torquey pull without feeling snappy or unpredictable. I went for a Dellorto PHBH 30mm carb because, in my opinion, it brings out the best in the kit. The SIP Nordspeed expansion chamber gives it that proper street-racer sound, especially with the PM Tuning carbon end-can. It delivers smooth, usable power rather than all-or-nothing, and that’s a balance that is really important to me.
Sc: With the increased power, upgrading the handling is essential. How does the scooter ride?
JC: It’s a pleasure to ride. The BGM F16 race dampers up front and the BGM Pro V2 shock on the back plant it firmly on the road. It pulls hard in every gear, but it never feels like it’s trying to run away from you. Over distance, it’s surprisingly comfortable; the ride is still street-racer firm, but it’s not punishing.
Sc: What modifications stand out for you?
JC: The original builder did some fantastic work, like welding and smoothing out the toolbox door. To get that classic street-racer look, he also gave it dropped handlebars, and the shortened rear floorboards add to the feel.
Sc: For a street-racer, styling is essential. What features sharpen the look?
JC: The scooter leans into the S-Type vibe without going into full custom show territory. The K2 Custom headlight grill and crash bobbins tie into a purposeful race look, and the Scitsu tachometer is a proper piece of kit, not just for show. The PM Tuning alloy levers and bar-end weights are high-quality and also fit the character of the scooter. Its overall appearance is bold without being loud or overbearing; it has attitude but still looks like a machine that’s been built to be ridden.
Sc: What was the biggest challenge in breathing life back into the scooter and adding your own stamp to it?
JC: Undoing the years of hard riding that it had already been through. Street racers get used, and this one definitely had. Most of my time wasn’t spent on customising it, but more on restoring and refreshing it, and bringing everything up to where I wanted it to be, which was worth every moment.
Sc: For anyone wanting to start a project like this, what advice would you give them?
JC: Two things: it will take longer than you expect, and it’ll cost more than you expect. But if you stick with it and do things properly, you’ll end up with something you’re genuinely proud of, and that’s the feeling that makes everything worthwhile.
Stu says: Chaos MKIII is a street-racer that embodies a young rider’s dedication, blending inherited craftsmanship and new energy to breathe new life into an already well-established machine. In James’ hands, this scooter will continue to evolve, proving once again that the next generation of scooterists aren’t just here to participate, they’re here to push things forward with style, skill and enthusiasm.
MAN & MACHINE:
Name: James Charles.
Scooter club & town: Independent rider, Glasgow.
Scooter model: 1980 Lambretta GP125
When purchased: 2023.
Kit: Rapido 225.
Carb: 30mm Dellorto PHBH.
Exhaust: Stainless steel SIP Nordspeed with a PM Tuning carbon end-can.
Interview: Stu Smith
Photos: Courtesy of Neil Charles
Article originally appeared in Scootering Magazine July. To subscribe and grab £99 worth of freebies visit https://classicmagazines.co.uk/scootering?offer=SCOME2026
