The New Bretta
Jan 6th, 2009 by Leo
The Indian motorcycle company is back from the dead (for the time being) so why not a defunct scooter mark with a loyal following? If you’re into classic two strokes Lambretta’s are probably a little cooler than classic Vespas, but modern scooters are much more reliable, cleaner and (usually a little) faster than the classics…so what is a scooter hipster to do? Lambretta hopes you will jump on one of these, but will it take? The Lambretta Pato comes in 50cc, 125cc, and 150cc four stroke models. If you can’t get a good look at the bike, try this link.
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Poor Lambretta rep. It’s bastardization never ends.
This “Lambretta” Pato is a re-badged Chinese (NOT Taiwanese) scooter that can also be bought as the Lance Milan (http://www.scootsusa.com/milan-150cc-lance-powersports-p-165.html) or the Flyscooter LaVie (http://www.scooteringusa.com/2008/10/2008-flyscooter-la-vie/). The Lambretta name/badge has a different “owner” with exclusive use of the marque here in the U.S. vs. another company for scooters for sale in Europe or Asia with the Lambretta badge. This Pato model can’t be bought here in the States, yet CAN be bought with a Lance or LaVie badge. Regardless, there is no single Lambretta corporate HQ, design office or factory. It’s just a couple of companies who own rights to the Lambretta name that stick badges on existing scooters from other Chines or Taiwanese manufacturers with exclusive territories to sell said
“Lambretta” scooters.
Imagine for a moment a world where “Ferrari” was just a brand, and in Asia, Hyundai owned exclusive rights to the brand and could re-badge KIA models as “Ferraris” for sale only in Asia. Whereas in Europe, VW owned the Ferrari brand, and re-badged Sködas for sale only in Europe as “Ferraris”. THIS is what the Lambretta marque means today.
Yeah – it’s like “welcome to the world of global branding.” Similar things happened to the Indian brand – which is alive again and actually making a new high-end motorcycle (although I don’t know anything about it good or bad).
Never know…one of them might turn out ok.