Have you ever noticed that some scooter enthusiasts love to cover their scooters in mirrors and lights? Why this obsession with customisation? Well, to put it simply, it’s all about being different. The funny thing about Mods is that they often contradict themselves. They want to stand out, but still remain a subculture. They want to be noticed, but never to be considered mainstream. They stand for all things ‘modern’ and yet favour vintage Lambrettas and Vespas. This is the beautiful, often inexplicable world of being a Mod.
In the early 1960s, scooters were far less showy than they are now. Most riders stuck to simple paint jobs to customise their ride. It was quick, cheap and easy with a two-tone scheme being the most popular choice. You could easily remove the side panels on a Lambretta and repaint them.
By 1964 and the now infamous seaside resort battles between the Mods and Rockers, scooter riders were adding fog lights, mirrors and anything else that could conceivably fit onto their machine. It became commonplace to see wheel covers, spare wheels, pennants, badges, aerials, back rests, car badges, crash bars, mud flaps and even baskets! Other accessories that appeared included bumpers, leg shield trims, air horns, mats and headlight peaks. Back rests the size of ironing boards became another particularly stand-out and flashy accessory.
A scooter was easy to customise and that was part of its appeal to the youth culture. Many different companies began manufacturing add-ons, such as Cuppini, Feridax, Vigano and Ulma, to name just a few. A mod’s scooter was a prized possession and as such was made as personal and unique as imagination and budget would allow.
Car badges were a popular choice, such as from the RAC or AA. Jaguar badges and mascots would be lined up on bars, alongside chrome airplanes sitting on mudguards. Having different scooter parts chromed was another past-time for serious Mods. Any part that wasn’t fixed could be removed and chromed, such as side panels and even mudguards.
It has been argued that Mods were very keen on oneupmanship and with fashion ever-evolving, it was important to Mods to keep up and appear ‘modern’. If one person had four mirrors, then you could guarantee that the person next to them would go and get six mirrors. This flashy oneupmanship was particularly prevalent in the northern cities of the UK.
There are many customising options available today with leg shield mirrors still being one of the most popular items. Visit a scooter specialist or motorbike garage in London for help and advice with all customisation projects. From badges to bars, floorboard extensions to glove patches, there are no idea of ideas for fully personalising your vintage Vespa or Lambretta. Chrome spare wheel holders, grab rails and comfortable back rests in an all-in-one compact design can turn an average ride into a great one!