Category: Cars and Bikes

Petrol prices are on the up – which means more people are opting for two wheels to get around town. Which is good news for the scooter accessory companies, the latest of which is Vespismo.

Based in Holland (but shipping worldwide), the company offers mod-friendly scooter clothing and the helmets above. All are approved for safety, clad in weatherproof sky leather and made in Italy.

The three designs above are Vespismo Target, Bossy Beetle, Union Jack and Classic Crimson, but others are available and new styles added on a monthly basis. All are priced at 119.95 Euros and if you want vintage goggles to match, they have those too – for an extra 24.95 Euros.

Find out more at the Vespismo website

For the cyclist around town who has everything – including a hefty bank balance – Gucci offers the 8-8-2008 Limited Edition bicycle.

It’s one of eight items created by Gucci’s creative director Frida Giannini to ‘epitomize sporty luxury’, which is certainly does with its classic looks matched with high-end leather saddle bags and seat.

The only downside (apart from the high price) is that you can only actually buy this in China, with the launch designed to coincide with the Olympics. But let’s be honest, someone would probably steal it anyway.

Find out more at the Gucci website

If you like the modern-day version of the Volkswagen Beetle (which I certainly do – in fact, I own one), you might be interested to know that Volkswagen is currently working on a new range of models.

According to the C4 Cars site, not one new model is being planned, but a few – likely to include a low-slung, two-seater roadster which might look like the Ragster concept above, an SUV-type Beetle (which just sounds plain wrong) and of course, a standard version.

All will be based mechanically on the VW Golf, with technical development in Germany, styling done in California and construction in Mexico. Expect a launch sometime around 2011.

Volkswagen website

We’ve featured plenty of retro bicycles, but now you can get some retro-styled accessories too, courtesy of Cycle Chic.

First up, the vintage-style box bags are produced by the same company that made them first time around in the 1970s. Take your pick from white, red or blue tartan, with fixing via four plastic buckles and a capacity that should be enough for your daily essentials. Yours for £25.

Also available is the Bern Muse hard helmet, which you can pick up in plain colours or with a design, all with protection, waterproofing and a foam lining top stop your head from getting too warm – prices start at £39.99. Finally, the traditional Ding Dong Bell clamps to your handlebars, letting people know you’re coming with a polite ring – you can pick it up for just £8.

Find out more at the Cycle Chic website

If you love all things two wheels, you need to get yourself down to RAF London at Hendon to see the items available in the Bonhams vintage Motorcycle and Scooter auction.

It’s the largest one-owner collection of bikes ever to be offered in the UK, with the Professor Fritz Ehn Motorcycle Museum Collection offered for sale, along with spare parts and memorabilia. A seemingly endless selection is available to browse on the site, with the scooters outnumbered by the bikes – but if you love a scooter, there’s some really obscure models and makers. The 1953 Piaggio Vespa 125 pictured here is being offered in its original condition with Austrian plates, with an estimate of  £1,800 – 2,200.

But there’s plenty more at higher and lower prices if that doesn’t catch your eye. You can view them all (with on obligation to bid) at   RAF London at Hendon on June 28th (Post 1pm) 29th, and 30th. The auction itself takes place on the 30th June.

Find out more at the Bonhams website