You cannot think of scooters without picturing the swinging sixties. The Mods heyday was all about scooters and a whole subculture was born of music, fashion, freedom and rebellion. You cannot think of the Vespa for example, without seeing the hordes of Mods along Brighton seafront. What made the scooter so popular?

Back in the 1960s, Britain didn’t have the reliable public transport system that we enjoy today. For youngsters, it was still relatively hard to get around especially in the evenings. How else were the Mods going to get to their dance clubs and parties? The scooter was a reasonably cheap solution to this transport problem, as well as being easy to store and with endless customising opportunities.

It was the Italian style and design that became so favoured by the youth culture of that decade, but the two distinct makes of Vespa and Lambretta divided groups straight down the line. You were either one or the other and any swapping over was viewed extremely negatively. If you’re the proud owner of a Vespa, keep it in tip top condition at a Vespa repair specialist London.

For the majority of scooter enthusiasts, the Vespa was the archetypal machine that represented the Mod lifestyle. The fact that it was used in the cult Mod film Quadrophenia seems to suggest that the Vespa was the ultimate choice. Lovers of the Vespa sing its praises in terms of performance, reliability and the shape of its curvy body. There were loads of places to customise the scooter, adding decals, mirrors and badges which made it even more appealing to the Mods.

The shape of the Vespa has been called ‘sexy’ by enthusiasts and there’s no denying the curvy design has stood the test of time. It was also the first of the two makes to feature the headlight on the handlebars, a feature much loved by Mods.

Those who put forward the argument for the Lambretta, drew attention to its more modern design. As the Vespa seemed retro even in the sixties, those who rode a Lambretta argued that the contemporary feel made it ‘cooler’ to be seen on one of these scooters. It could also go much faster than the Vespa, so for those who wanted the exhilaration of speed, the Lambretta was the obvious choice. The legshield of the Lambretta is sleeker and the side panels feature chrome arrow flashes that appealed to many Mod tastes.

The ride stability was said to be better than the Vespa offered, with a centred engine and tubular frame but the engine was famously temperamental despite its speed advantage. For Mods, the necessity of cruising and looking sharp was more important than the speed at which they could get to their destination.

Whichever scooter remains your personal favourite, it’s easy to see why they retain so much of their allure even today. For the Mods of sixties Britain, they represented a freedom of movement and of expression following a rather tumultuous first half of the century politically and economically. The scooter was, and remains, an easy companion. Lightweight, portable, easily stored and economic to run.