Motorcycling: Scootering for all in the new era.

Byline: WILLIAM LEECE

TIME was when those who fancied themselves as proper motorcyclists wouldn't be seen dead anywhere near a scooter. And those who chose to ride scooters hated the very thought of being seen out on a big, noisy and greasy motorbike.

But the years roll on, and the mods and rockers who clashed in British seaside towns through the 1960s are now worrying about their likely pensions, and have long discovered that they have more in common than ever divided them.

Setting the seal on this outbreak of good will has been the scooter revival of the last few years.

Suddenly you can hardly move for the little blighters, and the old days when your allegiances were either to Vespas or Lambrettas (Triumph Tinas and the like just didn't count) have been replaced by the bewildering choice of today.

Not only is there an extraordinary degree of choice of maker, but also of size. Who would have given credit for a scooter of 400 cc -plus years back? But if you want one, then today you can have one.

At this point I must confess that my first venture on to British roads on a powered two wheeler was on a borrowed Lambretta longer ago than I care to admit. No licence, no insurance, no helmet and probably no tax disc look, I'm sorry, officer, it won't happen again. Honestly.

I avoided the law and lived to tell the tale. My next venture into scootering had to wait until earlier this year, with a few miles on country lanes on a big 650 cc Suzuki Bergman barely qualifying as a test ride. It was, shall we say, an interesting and different experience, and I'd still like a longer acquaintenceship with the Suzuki.

If the world of scootering leaves you baffled, either as a newcomer to the roads or as an experienced biker looking for something different, then the latest offering from Haynes, The Scooter Book, by Alan Seeley, should make matters a lot more clear.

Here are 160 pages of sound advice, covering all aspects of scootering today from choosing the right machine through the right riding gear to basic maintenance.

Alan Seeley hardly puts a foot wrong. Experienced motor bike riders looking to try, or maybe rediscover, the delights of scootering may feel that large chunks of the book come under the heading of teaching grandmothers to suck eggs.

A hardened sports bike or touring rider is likely to skip the chapter on the requirements of the driving test, or a debate on the merits of open or full face helmets. Been there, done that. . .

Even with this qualification, they should still come away having learnt something new about scooters of today. It's always good to keep an open mind.

The Scooter Book is a full-colour Haynes hard back running to 160 pages, retailing at pounds 14. 99.

n Courtesy of Haynes Publishing, the Daily Post has two copies of The Scooter Book to give away. Tell me what country Lambrettas and Vespas come from, and send the answer to me at the Daily Post's Liverpool office at PO Box 48, Old Hall Street, Liverpool, L69 3EB or bye-mail at the address below.

Multiple entries will be reduced to one per household, and replies should be in by Friday, November 19.

n Winners of the International Bike and Scooter Show ticket competition were: Sam Johnson, of Helsby, Cheshire, and Ian Smith, of Scarisbrick, Lancashire.

CAPTION(S):

Things you can do on a scooter -- racing on the Ty Croes circuit, Anglesey