International Dealer News IDN 146 December 2018 / January 2019 | Page 16

news ROOM
NEWS
BRIEFS
Piaggio sold 312,200 two-
wheelers worldwide through
September 2018, an improvement
of +4.3%, generating net sales of
€ 772.3 m. Worldwide Vespa
shipments were +14%, claiming a
market leading 25.4% share of
the European scooter market.
Aprilia shipments were +13.2%.
Sales volumes were +27.1% in
India, +7.5% in Asia Pacific.
The MIC owned AIMExpo (October, Las
Vegas) is said to have been visited by
“a record number of trade attendees” -
more than 7,000 dealers, media
members, industry personnel and
exhibitor attendees, resulting in an
impressive 12% increase over the 2017
Columbus, Ohio event. More than
2,500 dealers made the trip to Las
Vegas, with representation from all 50
states and more than 50 different
countries; the organisers say the show
had 505 exhibiting companies. The
show returns to Columbus in 2019
(September 26-29).
Yamaha is to exhibit five new
models, including four new
concepts (among them the
Tritown Leaning Multi
Wheeler/LMW) at CES 2019 at Las
Vegas in January, the world’s
largest consumer electronics
show. The Niken LMW will also
been seen, along with their Public
Personal Mobility (PPM) concept –
a people service system based on
low-speed autonomous driving.
Hertz Ride, expert in motorcycle rentals
and tours, has announced an exclusive
partnership with Cardo Systems, the
“global market leader in wireless
communication systems” for
motorcyclists, making Cardo its official
communication system. The partnership
will debut at select Hertz Ride locations
throughout Europe and presents two-
wheel renters “with an incredible
opportunity for a greater connection to
their riding group, mobile device, GPS
and music”.
“Sixty Six” mm of radical
capacity ‘performance jewellery’
for PX/LML 125/150 cc Vespas
Italian Scooter parts specialist Parmakit
has added two new 195-205 cc 66 mm
‘Big Bore’ cylinder kits to its
performance “Sixty Six” line available
for PX/LML 125/150 cc Vespa engine
conversions.
Both feature a bridged exhaust port,
integral head (with side spark plug hole
as appropriate) and come with a Vertex
piston with two steel piston rings and
gasket sets for variable timing (with
added Viton O-ring for the LC 195 cc
kit).
Core business for Parmakit is the design
and manufacture of alloy cylinders - the
company was one of the first to
experiment with and develop new
technologies, manufacturing
techniques and materials for alloy
cylinders.
Over the years the company has created
a thorough and highly specialised
processing cycle, such as gravity-fed
foundry, CNC machining, durable nickel-
silicon lining on the cylinder bore and
more. With cast iron OE replacements
and upgrades as well as its bench-tested
alloy ‘Thermic Units’ performance
upgrades (such as its “Sixty Six”
programme), the company has created
more than 50 brands on the market,
with over 5,000 products in its range.
Parmakit’s “Sixty Six” 195-205 cc 66 mm Big Bore
conversion kit for PX-LML 125/150 cc engines “is a
thing of beauty as well as being powerful”
For both ranges Parmakit also offers
components such as crankshafts, fuel
pump units, electronic ignitions, clutch
baskets and more. The company is also
a major player in off-road and scooter
racing.
Bridging the gap between the small and
large block/large frame Vespa PX
models, the radical 66 mm bore of the
'Sixty Six' cylinder brings them up to the
same capacity of the original Vespa PX
200. When the 60 mm stroke version is
combined with the separately available,
complementary crankshaft, a total
cubic capacity of 205 cc can be realised.
The port layout remains “traditional” -
five transfer ports and a single ‘bridged’
exhaust with struts chamfered from
behind to improve gas flow. On the
Seen here for LC 195 cc applications,
both the kits have a ‘bridged’ exhaust
port with chamfered struts to improve
gas flow, integral head, Vertex piston
with 1.2 mm rings and gasket set
options/Viton O-ring as appropriate
opposite side of the cylinder the
exhaust outlet is provided with a bolt-
on flange, fully compatible with the
original Piaggio exhaust mounting.
The Vertex piston weighs 190 g, with its
two 1.2 mm thick steel piston rings and
the 16 mm gudgeon pin with clips, the
total weight is 245 g; a 110 mm
standard PX length crankshaft is
needed. The combustion chamber has a
45 mm diameter and a variety of
gaskets with differing thicknesses are
included in order to adjust the transfer
port timing and squish band clearance.
Parmakit recommends a squish band
clearance of between 1.3 mm and 1.4
mm.
Some engine case modifications are
needed, but in addition to being
powerful, the Parmakit ‘Sixty Six’ is a
thing of beauty. The ‘beehive’ styling
and precision machining of the cylinder
head is a work of art, with a black
anodised surface finish and contrasting
silver fin edges (that protrude 2.5 mm
into the bore of the cylinder) for the kind
of ‘contrast cut’ look that is popular
throughout the custom world currently
- close up it looks like a piece of
performance jewellery and is tactile and
architectural in equal measure.
www.parmakit.com