This Easter, Stan tested our Polini demonstrator by taking it to the Scarborough National Rally and quickly discovered that he was the weakest link…
Like most machines of its kind, our 300cc Polini demonstrator has a relatively easy life. For most of the year it sits in our Barnsley showroom waiting for someone to contact our sales team and arrange to take it for a quick ride to see just what difference our Polini conversion makes.
It’s been a while since we last had it out for a spin and as I’m a strong believer that every scooter needs to stretch its legs once in a while, the National Rally at Scarborough seemed like as good an opportunity as any to really put the pristine machine though its paces.
Where’s Dave?
In the run up to Easter, as usual, the weather forecasters filled our collective consciousness with apocalyptic predictions about the damage ‘Storm Dave’ was going to inflict on the north of England. So, it was with some surprise that I set off from my home on the edge of the Peak District in glorious sunshine. Because everyone in the north of England has the same idea, there’s no easy way to get to the East Coast at Easter but for me there were only really two choices. Option one being to use the rolling carpark which is the A64, or suck up a bit of motorway and then head across the paradise which are the Yorkshire Wolds. No contest, the Wolds it was.
Because I like to ride where my spirit takes me (No, that’s not code for I get lost easily…) I’ve got into the habit of using a Beeline sat nav. It’s taken me all over Europe without drama, it’s unobtrusive, easy to use and quickly adapts to any changes I decide to inflict on my chosen route. Just as I set off the app demanded that I update the latest software, this isn’t unusual so I let it do its thing, input my destination and set off. After a while I noticed that the nav was being unusually demanding, demanding that I re-route but refusing to find a fresh path. I faffed with it for a while but gave up, mentally composing a strong email to Beeline about how they’d ruined a perfectly good platform with the latest update. Just north of York, ‘Dave’ began to make his presence felt with some drizzle that grew progressively heavier as I drew closer to an ever darkening sky. Amongst my riding chums I’m famous for not donning my wet gear at the correct time. I either go early, boiling away waiting for rain that never comes or leave it too late, getting soaked in the process. This time I got it just right, literally pulling on my over-trousers just as the heavens opened. One nil to me!
I also took a quick look at my Beeline and saw that it was forecasting six hours to my destination, which couldn’t be right. I then realised that the Beeline has two modes, motorcycle and bicycle. Yes, in my haste to load the update I’d selected the wrong one. Unsurprisingly, the system had been getting quite anxious as I ‘pedalled’ up the M1 at 70mph!
With my navigation comfort blanket now functioning correctly I headed off into the rain, only to run into a road closure. Now, the Wolds are lovely in summer and even the smallest of lanes are beautiful to ride in the sunshine but in driving rain it’s a different matter. With an assortment of cars, motorhomes and caravans I was diverted onto what I can only describe as a neglected farm track. With every pothole and section of gravel I encountered I began to worry more and more about what the boss, Michael (Daley) would say when I returned the previously pristine machine to his showroom, to all intents looking like I’d entered it into an enduro race.
Thankfully, the factory fitted City Grip tyres took all that the trip could throw at them. It’s for good reason that they’re one of my favourite sets of rubber and I’ve lost count of the miles I’ve covered on them without complaint. In fact, the demonstrator seemed to be enjoying its weekend break.
The Polini additions may only add a couple of mph to top speed, but the difference in acceleration is noticeable. Going for an overtake becomes fun rather than a game of roulette and filtering is a joy, with handfuls of acceleration being on tap to make the most of gaps in traffic. In fact, it’s vital to turn off the ASR as with it in place the computer struggles to understand how it’s meant to deal with the increased torque. Switch it off and the fun really begins.
The only addition to the demonstrator since I last rode it is a set of Raximo brake levers. With four way adjustment, including 35mm of flexibility in length, these milled aluminium levers enable any rider to customise the lever position to their own needs. It only took a short time for me to find the perfect setting, and they look cool too!
Rally town
Having enjoyed a spot of mild off-roading, I headed back onto tarmac and into Scarborough. I’ll admit to being somewhat disappointed on the way into town. One thrill of attending any rally is seeing like mined souls arriving from all points of the compass. However, Dave seemed to have put a few off, and the numbers of scooters buzzing around town seemed to be smaller in number than usual. However, any thoughts that everyone had stayed at home were dismissed when I arrived at The Spa, which the rally had taken over for the weekend.
To say that the main room was packed on Friday night would be something of an understatement. The VFM DJs did a fantastic job of getting everyone in the mood for the headline act: The Beat featuring Ranking Junior, who proved once again that he’s a more than worthy successor to his father.
It pays to check
Once again, Saturday’s weather threw in a surprise with bright sunshine. As I manoeuvred the demonstrator out of the hotel car park I began to wonder whether this could be a T shirt rather than galoshes kind of day. However, as every scooterist knows, the enjoyment any small wheeled adventure can turn on a sixpence depending on how cooperative your steed is that day and when I pressed the start button nothing happened. I turned it off and back on, checked all the micro switches. Left it alone and came back to it after 10 minutes but, nothing. Dejected I rang the RAC and told them I needed some help. Having got my ETA from the very nice operator I thought I’d better ring the boss and tell him things hadn’t gone to plan. “Have you checked that the kill switch hasn’t been knocked?” he asked.
If you were in Scarborough at around 10am on Easter Saturday and heard a loud metallic clang, that was the sound of the penny dropping in my mind and the realisation that I’d made a complete fool of myself. (It’s up there as one of my most embarrassing scooterist moments but still doesn’t beat my personal best of causing a two lane motorway closure on the M1 on an August Bank Holiday, only for the recovery to realise that my HT cap had come loose….)
With the RAC cancelled I headed down to the Spa for the custom and trade shows. Here the queue to get into the show was huge and there was no shortage of machines to ogle along the seafront.
As always the custom show revealed some old favourites, but there seemed to be a very high proportion of new machines making their debut. Many of these picked up some silverware, which was very nice to see. The owner of one of these newcomers, a gorgeous Led Zeppelin themed PX, certainly needs to invest in a new trophy cabinet.
Custom show results
Best in show: Led Zeppelin
Punter’s Choice: Ornately Ulma
Best Ridden: Old Skool Classic cut
Best Custom Lambretta: Peaky Blinders
Best Custom Vespa: Led Zeppelin
Best auto/hybrid: Frankie
Best chop/cutdown: Mellow Daze
Best display: MJP racing team
Best restoration: Immodesty
Best Original: Series 2 Li15, 553 XUL
Best Mod/Accessories: Ornately Ulma
Best street racer: Dazzler
Best engineering: Xevolution
Best mural: Fall from grace
Best engraving/plating: Mellow Daze
Final test
Having caught up with some old friends, and allowed the demonstrator to rub shoulders with some giants of the custom scene, I decided that the odds in a game of chance I’d been playing with Storm Dave were now stacked against me. So, I saddled up for the trip home. Heading against the tide of day trippers I elected to take the direct, if rather boring, route home of the A64. For most of the trip I was facing into Dave’s strong headwind, but the Polini equipped motor ploughed on making light work of the incoming storm.
Try it yourself
Being blessed with having the choice of several scooters to take on this Easter adventure, I was glad to have given the demonstrator a run out. Having spent the weekend exploring its performance I can truthfully say that I’m impressed with it than it probably is with me.
Of course, you don’t have to take my word for how it rides. All you have to do is contact our sales team on 01226203377 or sales@rondaleyscooters.co.uk and arrange for a demonstration ride of your own.
Just give me time to clean it first…
As always we'd like to thank the VFM team for putting on such a fantastic event. We're also very aware that, for some, this Easter weekend was one to remember for all the wrong reasons. Our thoughts and sympathies are with everyone affected.
