Here’s the LML Star Deluxe at EICMA. Someone Italian, read this and explain the Stella implications.? Purple!?
3 thoughts on “LML Star Deluxe at EICMA”
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When scooter news breaks, we put it under a tarp in the garage.
Here’s the LML Star Deluxe at EICMA. Someone Italian, read this and explain the Stella implications.? Purple!?
Comments are closed.
There’d have to be a 4-stroke engine for there to be any Stella implications, and I’m not seeing that. Many states (including Washington and Oregon) have adopted California’s emissions standards starting in 2009, and under those cicumstances, it would be safe to say we’ve seen the last of new Stellas in their present form.
Of course, I’ve always thought the ET4 clone “Clipper” (or whatever LML might be calling it now) would make a great Stella2. “Award-winning Italian design and emissions-legal in all 50 States!” The market for used ET4s would probably tank, however…
Translation from Chris in St. Louis:
Those who had the opportunity to take a lap around the EICMA in Milan will certainly have noticed. We’re speaking of the “Indian Vespa” produced by LML in 125 and 150cc displacements.
It is useless to try to hide the similarity to the legendary Vespa PX because it is practically a clone with a small but substantial difference: the Star Deluxe is homologated to Euro 3 standards. The Star Deluxe body is made of steel and it can be started with traditional kick starter or electronically.
The Star Deluxe is equipped with an automatic oil mixer, which, combined with an 8 liter gas tank, assures good autonomy. The two displacements of 125 and 150cc offer respectively 6.5 and 7.7 hp, which push the two LMLs in turn to 90kph for the 150 and a little less for the 125. The Star Deluxe weighs 104 kg.
I like the environment and all, but it’s hard to believe that CARB is more stringent than Euro3. It’s also weird that ubiquitous huge, gas-guzzling, polluting SUVs can meet CARB standards while an uncommon 150cc commuter-friendly, traffic-friendly machine can’t. Another case of good intentions ignoring the big picture by allowing random limitations written by the industry they’re supposed to be limiting.
I’d normally say “but so what, is it really that important that the Stella is sold in CA?” but now it sounds like CA is cracking down on many legit modern scooters in an unfocused effort to fight illegal asian scooters, and what’s worse is (if I understand correctly) Oregon and Washington are tightening their rules to CA-levels, too.
The irony of environmental legislation stalling a boom in a fairly ecology- and economy- friendly (at least compared to automobiles) mode of transportation would be sick enough, if it hadn’t already happened back in 1985, when Vespa had to pull out of the U.S. because they couldn’t homologate for California.