Why didn’t they do this in the first place?

Yeah, it’s plastic, but at least it looks like a Lambretta (Motoblog.it photo)

Here’s the real EICMA bombshell: a “new” Lambretta. But this one looks like a Lambretta.

Now here’s something you’ll really like

LML introduced its new 4-stroke Star (aka Genunie Stella) at EICMA Friday (Motoblog.it photo)

It’s official. LML introduced its much-anticipated 4-stroke Star at EICMA Friday. The company claims fuel consumption of 60km/liter (which according to my precise calculations translates to 142 mpg) from its fuel-injected single cylinder engine.

Not for U.S. sale

Aprilia Atlantic gets the Vespa GTS 300’s engine (Aprilia photo)

Most of what’s rolling out at EICMA won’t be available outside Europe, but a few noteworthy items have emerged.

A 2-wheeled scooter concept

Piaggio’s USB concept scooter was unveiled at EICMA (Motoblog.it photo)

At last, a 2-wheeled scooter concept!

A brave new scooter world

Honda’s new PCX 125 plays in the scooter mainstream, worldwide (Honda photo)

You may have seen this scooter elsewhere, but Honda’s intro of its PCX 125 at EICMA is a coming out of sorts. The PCX 125, which is made in Thailand and will arrive in the U.S. sometime in 2010, advances the state of the scooter art with liquid cooling and electronic fuel injection, jumping right into the thick of the world’s biggest scooter market segment.

We ♥ theme-park Italy

New for 2010 is the Vespa LX Touring (Piaggio photo)

EICMA, the big motorcycle show in Milan, Italy, kicks off this week, and while I tell myself I really need to get over there one of these years, at the moment I have all kinds of time to monitor the Interwebs and bring you the latest scooter news emanating from northern Italy.

Vectrix: bankrupt

Vectrix VX-1 (Orin O’Neill photo)

The soap opera surrounding the Vectrix electric scooter begins a new chapter today.

It was bound to happen

Motorcycle.com reports the 125 and 150cc engines found in Vespa LXs and Ss (and presumably any other Piaggio Group scooter that uses those engines) will trade their carburetors for electronic fuel injection.

No surprise, really. Emissions standards around the globe are getting tougher, and the only way to meet them is to precisely monitor the amount of fuel going into the combustion chamber. EFI (or if you prefer, inienzione elettronica) is how you do that.

Of course, the added bonus is more torque and lower fuel consumption. If this means you can get an LX 150i.e. in orange, so much the better…