A mysterious unique-shaped scooter from the past

It all started when We're surfing the internet and then found a picture of a strange-shaped scooter. We're very curious to know what the name of this scooter.✂️

We were very curious wanted to know what the name of this scooter. Help Us!! (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2Bi0lY9)

At first glance, we assumed that the scooter was very rare indeed. And then when we see the scooter closely, it was more likely a scooter with lots of bumps and carrying a toaster. And then, We finally got a little information but it wasn't a complete answer to this mysterious scooter. 

This is Proto Delaplace or Horsy scooter prototype made in 1948 by unfamous French manufacturer named Ets Delaplace & Co. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/33nbin2)

As quoted from StabilCar on page 8, this strange-shaped scooter known as 'Proto Delaplace, or Horsy' was a prototype made in 1948 by unfamous French manufacturer Ets Delaplace & Co. which is located at 14rue Constantin, Vitry-sur-Seine (a southeast suburb area about 7.5 km from the center of Paris), France, and the company knew was produced the 'Horsy' moped brand during the 1950s.

1948 Proto Delaplace or Horsy scooter prototype uses an 85cc engine (in the front) combined with a 2-speed transmission system. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/33nbin2)

1948 Proto Delaplace is a scooter
with a front-wheel-drive system.
(Picture from: http://bit.ly/33nbin2)

As quoted from CyberMotorcycle, the scooter has appeared at the Salon de l'Auto 1952 held in Paris. So far there was not much information that can be extracted about the company. So everything was very mysterious.😢

The next-information obtained was about the engine used by this unique-shaped scooter. It is said that the Proto Delaplace scooter uses an 85cc (assumed two-stroke) Le Poulain engine with a front-wheel-drive system (because the engine is located at the front) combined with a 2-speed transmission system.

To be sure this scooter will provide an unusual driving sensation. Due to the scooter adopted the front wheel drives system, you'll be felt a weird sensation of being pulled by an engine rather than pushed. One could hardly steer the scooter. 

The scooter was never ever produced (some said that it ever produced only nine units) and also no information about where this strange scooter now? If you have additional information about this mysterious scooter figure, don't hesitate to submit it to the comments box below. We really appreciate your help. Wanna see Gloobyscoot?

Kept spur your adrenaline on the power of the two-wheeled monster and stay alive with the true safety riding. May God will forgive Your sins and so does the cops...... *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CYBERMOTORCYCLE | GRAMHO | STABILCAR]

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Do you want to have a classic scooter-shaped ring?

Indeed as we've been knew, the scooters made by Italian manufacturer Piaggio named Vespa have many fans in all over the world. This makes everything related to those legendary Italian scooters always attracts a lot of attention and is liked by many of its enthusiasts.

The Vespa Scooter Ring by Paul Michael Design is a must-have for motorcycle enthusiasts (especially for those Italian scooter fans). (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2IuLvl2)

Recently, Paul Michael Design, a jewelry designer known for their expertise in making unique-shaped rings, again made the latest innovation. Unlike the most rings that have a standard model such as a circle and others.

There's an artificial diamond is designed as the headlight of the Paul Michael Design Vespa scooter ring. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2IuLvl2)

This time, they made a classic Vespa-shaped ring. Perhaps for some people, this classic Vespa-shaped rings are not as special to the Vespa fans. Yes, for the Italian scooter lovers, this unique ring is an interesting piece of jewelry that they must be collected and lets them wear it on their finger.

This Paul Michael Design Vespa scooter ring made of 22K gold and inspired by the famous Vespa's classic scooter models. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2IuLvl2)

As presented on the custommade.com page, the Vespa-shaped ring also looked unique and amazing with the distinctive details of those classic scooter. Starting from the shape of the front of the scooter, its round lights, handlebars complete with brake handle and clutch, up to the footrest and scooter seats are made in a tiny ring. And while the wheel parts are discarded. Then its footrest made in curvature becomes the inside of the ring.

There're artificial rubies form the taillight of Paul Michael Design Vespa scooter ring. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2MzFPYf)

This unique shaped rings are offered with several choices of materials, there some are made from precious metals such as silver, 22 carat gold, 14 carat gold, 14 carat white gold up to platinum. And for the price, you have to pay as much as US $495 or around Rp.7 million for silver. While the platinum ring, the price reaches US $2,195 or Rp.31.1 million. 

Are You interested in buying it? *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | NOVELTY STREET |  WEB URBANIST]
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Two classic French-made scooters

It turns out that a lot of scooters have been presented by manufacturers around the world. Noted, besides the Italian which until now is considered as the first country to popularize the scooter cultures throughout the universe by their famous companies like Piaggio and Innocenti and then there're several companies in the Great Britain, Germany, Russia (in the time of the Soviet Union) and then cross the sea in the United States and even farther in Japan.

A French scooter known as the 1956 Manurhin MR75 on its heyday was ridden by a French couples somewhere in the country. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2Mz4DzA)

All scooter manufacturers in the countries mentioned above have been discussed in several articles previuosly. And now we will discuss about the France which had also been recorded in history as one of the classic scooters producing countries. Here are two scooter manufacturer companies of the French:

1. Manurhin

This French manufacturer apparently did not want to miss in producing a scooter. Manufacturers who have the full name Manufacture de Machines du Haut-Rhin or abbreviated as Manurhin are also known as weaponary manufacturers.

At that time they were producing Hobby scooters with a license from the German company DKW. The scooter production by the Mulhouse-based manufacturer began in 1956 by using a proportion of French-made parts and later its scooter product been known as Manurhin MR75.

1958 Manurhin MR75 uses a single cylinder engine 74cc. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2nx1kjH)

The scooter was constructed to a high standard and also been known as one of the first motorcycles to be painted electrostatically, a process commonly known as powder coating. In its development, this French-made scooter was marketed to England under the name Manurhin Concord.

1961 Manurhin Concorde was a scooter model marketed in England. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/33ohBHb)

Compared to the scooters of its two Italian rivals, Manurhin's scooter has a longer body and bigger wheels so it is more similar to ordinary motorcycle wheels. In 1957 the MR75 model was relaunched with the new label of Manurhin Beltomatic SM75, this scooter used the 74cc single cylinder MR75 engine, but the sidepanels replaced the grilles over the rear wheels and the scooter was now a full automatic with no gear changes.

1957 Manurhin Beltomatic SM75 uses the same MR75 engine but, the scooter in a full automatic with no gear changes. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2OBODz5)

When DKW decided to stop the Hobby scooters production in 1958, and turning all production over to Manurhin included its sale. The results are truly astounding! At that time Manurhin managed to occupy the third rank behind the Italian famous scooter giants, Lambretta and Vespa in the best selling scooters in Europe.

And finally, a bitter period arrived in the early 1960s, when the production of the Manurhin SM75 model was ceased. At the time, the over 50cc scooter market had collapsed in France, mainly due to changing regulations. It sadly then Manurhin stopped all scooter production and returned to the weaponary producing to date.

2. Peugeot

The next French manufacturer who also made the scooter was Peugeot. Maybe now, they are better known as car manufacturers. And incredibly, this French manufacturer can survive until now in producing and marketing scooters to all corners of the world with its newest flagship product Peugeot Django.

The first Peugeot scooter named Peugeot S55 is started on production the 1953. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/322ynez)

Peugeot's journey in the scooter producing has been done since the 1950s, at that time they decided to experiment in the cars and scooters designing. In the 1953, they launched a new vehicle namely a scooter named Peugeot S55 which was equipped with an engine adopted from its P55 small motorcycle.

1955 Peugeot S55. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2Mv8ldg)

And in 1954 they also marketed new models namely S57, S57AL and S157. With a number of new innovations offered on their production scooter variants, ie the use of a new gear system where the pedal is replaced with a handle-bar selector.

1967 Peugeot S57. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2pVTVLC)

Then in 1957 the French manufacturer re-released the latest model of the S157 variant with front fender changes that can move independently of the body. Overall, Peugeot seemed to have succeeded in developing a scooter design that was different from its competitors at the time, namely the Italian Vespa or domestic WFM works with the "Osa."

3. ACMA
In addition to the two French companies mentioned above, there's still another scooter-making company named ACMA (Ateliers de Construction de motocycles et d'Automobiles). The manufacturer has a factory in Fourchambault, near Dijon and beside produces several Vespa scooters under license of Piaggio up to renown to produce the scooters in special shaped for military purposes called Vespa 150 TAP or Bazooka Vespa.

Kept spur your adrenaline on the power of two-wheeled monster and stay alive with the true safety riding. May God will forgive Your sins and so does the cops...... *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | RETRO RIDES | ARDOR AUCTION]

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Bizarre self-balancing Gyro-X vehicle back on the roads

Back in 1967, when a unique two-wheeled vehicle called the Gyro-X was built. At that time the prototype was built by a California-based company named Gyro Transport Systems. Physically the vehicle only has two wheels, one in front and one behind which at first glance looks more like a motorcycle than a car. The vehicle utilized a built-in gyroscope able to make it remain upright while on stationary condition or not moving.

Bizarre two-wheeled self-balancing Gyro-X vehicle gave an impressive demonstration at the 2019 Concorso d’Eleganza of Villa d’Este near Cernobbio, Italy. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/31RNWWd)

Even though the car developers initially hoped to take Gyro-X into production, it all faded when the company went bankrupt in the 1970 before the two-wheeled vehicle entered into production lines, and the only one of prototype was orphaned and neglected. Over the past 40 years, the vehicle has moved from one owner to another, which has made its conditions being more worse along the time.

Designer Alex Tremulis with the Gyro-X. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2OmoxAh)

The Gyro-X single-seat vehicle was created by a renowned industrial designer named Alex Tremulis. He had previously designed vehicles (the four-wheeled variety) for another big names of American automotives manufacturers such as Cord Automobile, Duesenberg, General Motors, Tucker Car Corporation and Ford, where he worked as Chief of Advanced Styling.

Bizarre self-balancing Gyro-X vehicle takes to the stage (on its two wheels) after winning the Dean Batchelor Trophy at the 2017 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/338dHSl)

According to an article in the September 1967 issue of Science & Mechanics, a ready-made two-wheeled Gyro-X can drive up to a top speed of 125 mph (201 kph), and could swoop through 40-degree banked turns without tipping. It weighs only 1,850 pounds (839 kg), measured 47 inches (119 cm) in height, only 42 inches (107 cm) in width, and 15 feet,5 inches (4,7 meters) in length. It rolls on two 15-inches wheels, and uses a small engine with power of 80-horsepower.

Its single 20-inch hydraulically-driven gyroscope – developed by noted “gyrodynamist” Thomas O. Summers Jr. – spun at up to 6,000 rpm, creating 1,300 foot pounds (1,763 Nm) of torque. It did take approximately three minutes to build up to that speed, however, meaning that drivers couldn’t just get in and go. A set of training wheel-like retractable outriggers held the vehicle up in the meantime.

Bizarre self-balancing Gyro-X vehicle able to drive up to a top speed of 125 mph (201 kph), and could swoop through 40-degree banked turns without tipping. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2okogmJ)

Now, this bizzare two-wheeled vehicle has been owned by the Lane Motor Museum in Nashville, Tennessee, United States since 2011 after it had passed hands several times and many modifications had been done. And finally the museum has successfully carried out a restoration project so that the vehicle condition has been recovered as it was in its hey days in the late 1960s.

Part of the restoration project was involved rebuilding the rear, replacing the two rear wheels with one, according to the original configuration. The missing gyroscope must also be rebuilt from scratch. To handle this, the museum has registered the service of Thrustcycle Enterprises - a company that is currently developing a gyroscopically-stable two-wheeled vehicle, known as SRT. Thrustcycle will also be tasked with rebuilding control and outriggers.

"The gyro people, their thing was that the cars were going to be narrower, they were going to take up half as much room - they will be more fuel efficient, they will be safer because it will be very difficult to flip them over," explained Jeff Lane, director of Lane Motor Museum. "The ideas are good, but I think in reality the gyroscopic part is very complicated and quite expensive... it always works on paper, but it doesn't always work in the workshop. This is a very obscure and strange part of history, but also is a very interesting part of history." he said further.

An impressive demonstration of a fully restored two-wheeled self-balancing 1967 Gyro-X vehicle at the 2019 Concorso d’Eleganza of Villa d’Este. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/31RNWWd)

And finally in 2017 the vehicle was fully restored and exhibited to the public at the the 2017 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. And again on this year, the bizarre 1967 Gyro-X two-wheeled vehicle was shown off in front of the world's automotive lovers at the 2019 Concorso d’Eleganza of Villa d’Este near Cernobbio, Italy.

See it for yourself on display at the Lane Motor Museum on a normal day. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | LANE MOTOR MUSEUM | BUZZ ANYTHING | AUTOWEEK | WIRED | NEW ATLAS]
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The most incredible custom motorcycle ever in the 2019

This motorcycle does look a lot different from the custom motorbikes built by motorcycle builders in the world. Yes, the unique-shaped custom motorcycle is called 'The Killer,' which was built by an Australian expatriate who lives in the US named Craig Rodsmith of Rodsmith Motorcycle. The difference can be significantly seen ranging from the motorcycle shaped to its engine.

Rodsmith Motorcycle 'The Killer' by Craig Rodsmith for Haas Moto Museum and Sculpture Gallery at The Handbuilt Motorcycle Show 2019. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/31OnxIQ)

The making of this unique motorcycle began when Booby Haas of the Dallas-based Haas Moto Museum surfed the internet and found some grainy photos of an art deco-style motorcycle made by a group of German engineers in Munich back in the 1930s.

Then he was inspired to make it, and immediately thought of Craig Rodsmith and contacted him right away. Soon they met to talk about the possibility of making the motorcycle.

The Killer features the integrated amber headlight, bars, and the thin seat are all similarly crafted from aluminum. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/30M21mW)

As mentioned above, The Killer shape heavily inspired by the 1935 Killinger und Freund Motorrad. You might still remember the figure of the German art-deco styled motorcycle found by US soldiers during the 2nd World War. If forget or not know yet, you can see it in here. 

Front view of Rodsmith Motorcycle 'The Killer.' (Picture from: http://bit.ly/30M21mW)

Just like the inspiration source, The Killer was also driven by its front wheel. So it uses 3 identical units of 60cc 2-stroke engines which are arranged in radial configuration and then installed on its 19-inches front wheel. Those engines were built by Rodsmith, himself.

The Killer completed without a central motor, chain, or driveshaft keeps it minimalist and utterly stunning to behold. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/30M21mW)

Also, the chassis is handbuilt without the modern benefits of 3D design or CNC machines. And could be said it was 'super insane' level of craftsmanship to make it closely similar to the source of its inspiration. The bike features an integrated amber headlight on the handlebars, and the thin seat also crafted from aluminum materials.

To ensure the front-wheel-drive works, he used a centrifugal clutch that fitted to a sprocket, which in turn connected an axle to which the wheel was bolted. The result is a beautiful fluidity that’s unmatched by another bike ever.

Rodsmith Motorcycle 'The Killer' was heavily inspired by this German's art-deco styled front-wheeled drive motorcycle called 'Friedenstaube' (Peace Dove) or Killinger und Freund Motorrad. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/30OLYow)

This bike has been fitted with an electric starter, but there are technically three engines which have to be cranked all at once. Hence, Craig built a Bendix drive so the starter would disengage once the engine was running.

The Killer has three 60 cc 2-stroke identical engines, in a radial configuration, on its 19-inch front wheel. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/30M21mW)

According to its creators, it is a very easy-to-drive motorcycle, though with very different sensations than conventional rear-wheel-drive bikes. Craig Rodsmith said, "It’s a weird sensation of being pulled by an engine rather than pushed."

The Killer is a fully functional bike but the project was commissioned mostly as an artwork to be shown off at the museum. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2MdGjmr)

Bobby Haas is happy. "I know from personal experience that success is all the sweeter when you accept a challenge to do something you think you’re destined to fail at. My role is to enable genius artisans to create a masterpiece that might otherwise escape reality, and just drift away as a pipe dream."

Indeed, We've been heard the Killer motorcycle is a fully functional bike but the project was commissioned mostly as an artwork to be shown off at the museum. See it for yourself on display in the Haas Moto Museum. But imagine, once upon a time when you look at The Killer speeding on the streets - won't that be a sight!

Kept spur your adrenaline on the power of two-wheeled monster and stay alive with the true safety riding. May God will forgive Your sins and so does the cops...... *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | RODSMITH MOTORCYCLE | HAAS MOTO MUSEUM | BIKEEXIF | ULTIMATE MOTORCYCLING | ENRG.IO]Note: This blog  can be accessed via your smart phone.

Here's the Kongo, one of the world's most sought after scooters (Part-2)

Now we are know that the Vespa Kongo is a designation for a Vespa special models which assembled in Germany and was a state award for the Indonesian soldiers who have been served in Congo as the UN's Peacekeeping Forces in between 1960 to 1963. So clearly this Kongo type of scooter only exist in Indonesia.

Vespa Kongo has become a part of the history of the Indonesia's participation for world peace. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2pFy4YR)

Distinctive marks of the Vespa Kongo 

One of the features that makes the Vespa Kongo so unique, due to these scooter models were not assembled at the Vespa factory in Pontadera, Italy as other Vespa models in general that time, but at the Vespa GmbH Augsburg, one of the Vespa factories in Augsburg, Germany which was established in 1958 and there were 2 scooter models, ie.  Vespa 150 cc scooters (Vespa Ausburg T150/4 (type 332, 4-speed) VGLB, and Vespa 125 cc scooters (Vespa Ausburg T150/4 (type 332, 3-speed) VGLA.

Vespa Ausburg VGLA/B aka Vespa Kongo has a round front fender without joints and uses 10-inches sized rim on both its wheels. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2oGthFZ)

Vespa Kongo is manufactured by using higher quality steel plate materials and has more complete equipment compared to other Vespa scooter models that were commonly circulating in Indonesia at that time such as the VBB1T or VBB2T models.

The Vespa Kongo scooter models physically have a special characteristic on the body which is not found in other Vespa models, namely:

• It has a Garuda emblem made of brass plates on the left front body (but unfortunately, the logo is rarely found in the remaining Vespa Kongo now).
• On the left handlebar (the clutch/gears section) precisely, there is an oval shaped bulge.
• It has a round front fender without joints.
• It uses 10-inches sized rim on both wheels.
• It has a handlebar with a rather large box-shaped VDO speedometer that is different from the Vespa Type VNA/VNB.
• At the top of the speedometer there is a small indicator lamp.
• It has a machine number that starts with the codes of VGLA1M or VGLB1M.
• And finally in the Indonesian Vehicle Ownership Book (Bukti Pemilik Kendaraan Bermotor/BPKB) there's an 'Ex-Brigade III information' about name and rank of the soldiers who got this scooter.

In addition to the characteristics mentioned above to complete the owner identity such as, the soldier identity numbers who got the Vespa scooter is also embedded in the handlebar (oval handlebar) made of brass and an accompanying awards. Here we provide some pictures that might give a little picture of the characteristics of the Vespa Kongo scooter as mentioned above:

Vespa Kongo distinctive marks as mentioned above, as follow it has an oval shaped bulge, a box-shaped VDO speedometer, at top of speedometer there's small indicator lamp, etc. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2n8KK9N). (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2o0ZOGR)

At present, the existence of thsee Vespa Kongo scooters are difficult to find in the original conditions. Even if there were, they would be very few in number and be in the hands of people who care to maintain their existence. 

The valid authentication marks of Vespa Kongo can be seen in the Indonesian Vehicle Ownership Book (Bukti Pemilik Kendaraan Bermotor/BPKB) there's an 'Ex-Brigade III information' about name and rank of the soldiers who got this scooter. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2n8KK9N)

In addition, at the first place it's also affected by the very limited number of scooters in accordance with the number of soldiers who got it, plus at present the condition of some of its spare parts which have been damaged and cannot be repaired, meanwhile its replacement parts are no longer on the market.

Another Vespa Kongo distinctive marks as mentioned above, as follow it has a box-shaped VDO speedometer, at top of speedometer there's small indicator lamp, etc. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2n8KK9N)

Until now, we don't know yet how much price of the Vespa Kongo scooter in original condition. We're though that were not cheap certainly, or an exorbitant prices it could be. (Some said the price over Rp.50 million or around US $3,5k).

Are you have these special-kind-of scooters? If yes. We can only say 'Congratulation, You are very lucky person due to have one of the most sought after scooters in the world.' 

Today, the Vespa Kongo like a myth among the Indonesian scooter fans even the world. If you have it. Keep the Vespa Kongo scooter as one of the Indonesian priceless treasures..!!  

Kept spur your adrenaline on the power of two-wheeled monster and stay alive with the true safety riding. May God will forgive Your sins and so does the cops...... (Back to Part-1).   

(This article was deliberately created in order to commemorate the 74th anniversary of the Indonesian National Army (Tentara National Indonesia/TNI) on October 5, 2019.)

Remain as the Guardian of Our beloved Indonesian homeland with all the heart. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | KOMPAS | OTOFREAK | MOTOPLUS | OTOMANIA | VESPA]

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