Cutdown
This article possibly contains original research. (June 2012) |
A cutdown is a customised
While some scooter enthusiasts have focused on the stripped-down look, with just a bare frame and visible engine and mechanical parts, some scooterboys put back almost as much hardware as they had taken off, by adding customized chrome-plated accessories and racks.
Modifications
Many cutdowns have unneeded parts removed to improve
Cutdowns are often tuned – much like a four-wheeled
Some cutdowns have been used for drag racing. At scooter races, cutdowns often race in a separate category called the "specials", which is for cutdown and heavily modified racing scooters. The other scooter race categories include stock races with relatively unmodified larger scooters (152 to 250 cc) and "small frame" races for scooters with 136 cc or smaller engines. For races, scooters usually have to have accessories removed, such as center and side stands, mirrors, turn signals that stick out, and luggage racks. Scooter races often disallow performance-enhancing fuel additives such as octane booster.
Related scooter types
A cutdown scooter resembles a "naked scooter", which is a scooter designed without panels covering the engine and with little or no bodywork. The difference between the two types is that while a cutdown scooter started as a regular scooter with body panels and bodywork, before it was customized, a "naked scooter" is designed and manufactured as a "bare-bones" vehicle. In the 1960s, Lambretta models A through D were in this category. In the 1990s, Italjet produced a stripped-down scooter called the Dragster. In the 2000s Honda produced the
Another scooter type which is related to cutdowns is the "chopper", which is an extreme cutdown scooter with extra-long front forks. These bikes are mostly made using Lambrettas, because when the bodywork is removed from their tubular frame they resemble smaller custom style motorcycles. "Rats" are cutdowns which are made by putting together old parts to create a rough-looking, unpainted bike. In contrast to many other scooter enthusiasts, "rat" builders view blemishes and unrepaired dents as attractive. The "rat" approach to scooter customizing is similar to the rat rod style of hot rodding, in which old cars often have original paint with rust patches, or even just bare rusty metal. Major scooter rallies which give prizes to scooters sometimes put "chopper" and "rat" scooters in a separate category from the rest of the cutdowns.
See also
References
- ^ Sarti, Doug (June 3, 2004). "Vespa Scoots Sexily Back to Vancouver". Straight.com. Vancouver, Canada: Vancouver Free Press. Archived from the original on 2011-05-22. Retrieved 2012-06-30.
- ^ Long, Mary Anne (1998-12-17). "From Scooter to Scooterist: A Cultural History of the Italian Motorscooter" (PDF). p. 20. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2010-08-28.