226 Stands For Performance

Now We’ve Got Something for All of Your Vespas and Stellas

“The Fireball Phil Special”

Calling All Vespa and Stella / LML Star Riders

226 Vintage makes exhausts for all two-strokes: From vintage, pre-P scoots through the P series, to the Stella / LML Star. Our proposition is simple: you put one of these exhausts on your scooter, and you feel the full joy of riding throughout the entire powerband of your scoot.

Our exhausts sport a lifetime, one owner manufacturer’s warranty that we service. Ask any of our current riders and you will understand our commitment to your performance and overall happiness with our pipes.

Some of our latest innovations include designing and releasing the definitive T5 left- and right-hander, dubbed the Haymker and the Hook. We have also modified our original offerings, the Hot Wing and the H-Bomb, to fit perfectly with pre-P, vintage scoots like the GS, Rally and Super Sport. Check out our GS exemplar bike, fully installed here if you need some fuel for your decision to get a 226 Vintage V-model exhaust.

P-Town Racer What started as Project Stella has evolved, but we haven’t forgotten Stella riders. For you, and now for all Vespa riders, we also manufacture the Black Bolt^TM Rear Shock Bolt. It’s a longer-than-stock bolt that removes the worry from your rear end. We are riders and we want our lives to be fuller so we make these things as much for us as we do for you. With over 500 bolts sold to date, we are on a mission to replace every rear shock bolt with one of these babies. Visit our store to read more about it.

If you want to see some of our products in action, we have provided all of our resellers with promo pipes that you can ride. Check our store locator for the shop nearest you. If your local shop doesn’t carry our products, ask them why not and then have them get a hold of us!

In the meantime, we can hook you up with a 226 rider in your area for a demo and a testimonial. Your excuses have dwindled to none. What are you waiting for?

Scooter On!

NEWS

- The Gospel on Stella/LML According to Bald John

Here are a few things you should know about your Stella to get the most out of your 226 Vintage exhaust according to us.

Below is the Project Stella feature article in Scoot Magazine. This article documents the development of the 226 Vintage exhaust pipes and provides very specific, useful information for all Stella and LML engines. The PDF files are large. They may take a few seconds to load:

The most important thing to do when you install a 226 Vintage exhaust on your Stella is to UPJET, UPJET, UPJET, and not just your Main Jet! The stock Stella rolls off the showroom floor with incredibly lean jets. There are four (4) individual pieces to the jetting puzzle and ALL of the stock jets need to be replaced to ensure your Stella motor receives the proper amount of air and fuel. Also VERY IMPORTANT: if any of this is over your head, take your scoot to the nearest authorized shop for help. We strongly encourage it and have a list of full-service shops we trust here. That said, here are the jets you need for sea level. Your jetting will likely vary based on altitude, season, etc but this is a fine starting point:

55/160 idle jet
160 air corrector
BE3 mixer
125, 130 or 135 main jet

In addition to these jets, you should install a PX/P200 air filter. The stock Stella (blue) air filter is far too restrictive. Modifications to the stock filter can be done, but buying a new filter is best.

You do not need to wait until you install your 226 exhaust before upjetting your carb. This jetting configuration - known as Bald John Jetting - is the ideal jetting for your Stella regardless whether it is stock or kitted. The ONLY difference is going to be the main jet. A completely stock Stella motor with the stock exhaust requires a 100 main jet.

The unique difference between Stella and Vespa motors are their intakes. Vespa intakes are rotary valve and Stella intakes are reed valve. The Stella reeds are the most overlooked replacement part on the entire scooter.

The stock reeds are steel and wear very quickly in comparison to resin or carbon fiber reeds. Worn reeds directly affect engine compression. This is very, very, very important to realize when jetting a reed valve motor.

When steel reeds wear they bend to the point where they physically cannot seal the crankcase any longer creating very low compression. A low compression motor will give you the impression that your main jet is too rich. Do not be fooled by this!

I recently ran into an issue with a completely stock Stella scooter. After routinely installing a 226 Hot Wing exhaust, upjetting and preparing for a test ride, the scooter was bogging horribly. The starting point on the main jet for the Hot Wing pipe is a #125. If your motor does not like the #125 main jet, almost certainly this means your scooter is still running the stock steel reed.

Replacing your reed is not a difficult procedure. Information on replacing your reed can be found on the forum at www.StellaSpeed.com. Once again, if you are not comfortable with doing it yourself, seek professional advice!

For Stella reed replacement, we highly recommend upgrading your stock Stella reed to a GGR Hot Reed. GGR Hot Reeds were developed on the dyno during Project Stella and are the only reed designed and manufactured specifically for Stella/LML motors. Lucky for you, they were also designed using 226 exhausts. A GGR Hot Reed combined with a simple modification of the reed block will give you a dyno-proven 1 hp increase in power.

Fireball Phil’s Stella Upgrade

"I went from bone stock to a Sito Plus pipe and GGR Hot Reed at 500 miles. The improvement was noticeable. Soon after that we put the H-Bomb on and the performance increase was huge. Second and third gear are the most impressive. I am sure there is the law of diminishing return on the top end. Let’s face it, on a Vespa/Stella aerodynamics are nonexistent. Fact is, I now get out of third gear what was basically my top end in fourth. Fifty MPH is no problem in third and more importantly, it gets there in a hurry. Best Regards, Fireball Phil

Who’s on the cover of Scootering?

Scootering Magazine cover The answer is 226. Martin Murray wanted the best pipe available to fit to his Best in Show winner “For Valour.” He came to us and asked for a Hot Wing that he could have chromed and engraved. Buy Scootering to see and read about this scoot and the history that culminated in its making.

See more of Martin Murray’s, “For Valour” on our team page.

Who’s Riding 226 Pipes?

We keep adding to the ranks of 226 riders. Many have given us excellent feedback on design, fit, tuning and more. You should check the reviews and the FAQs for specific answers on things like jetting, timing, and tuning. If you don’t find what you’re looking for there, Bald John started a thread on stellaspeed.com and on paisans.org to fuel the discussion. Both of those sites are worth registering for. Remember, we’re pipe makers and can only give general suggestions on tuning. Since your specific setup will vary, you should poll current riders or your local shop for specific tuning suggestions.

Click the image to see more shots of Guillermo’s beautifully modified Vespa, or click here or watch the YouTube video below. Team 226 photos are here.

Who's wearing 226?

Tank Top! Featuring our high-priced European model, known only as “Mikel”, this tank top is available for immediately delivery. Buy one for your better half and send us pictures!

Mikel Limon, Westside Scooter Club, Los Angeles, CA.
Photo: Courtesy of Tanktop

The online store is open for business!

I know we keep saying it, but Lambretta pipes are coming soon as are small-frame Vespa pipes. Almost saved up enough money to finish the testing/protoyping. In the meantime, the H-Bomb and, of course, the Hot Wing are available - now for all scoot styles! Come to us you P, Stella / LML Star, and pre-P vintage riders. We’ve got you covered. You are getting very sleepy, you will buy our pipe, you will go fast, you will be the envy of all others...

Seriously, response to both pipes has been great, and we’re anxious to get these babies into your hands so we’re working around the clock to meet the demand. Order one now. Or just indicate your interest, get on our mailing list, or open lines of communication with us at: info@226vintage.com.

If you don’t own one of the current models mentioned, come back in a month or submit your suggested model for testing here.

Handmade in the US by well-respected members of the scooter community with dozens of awards for designing, building, and riding. Try one on for size.

See Ad in Scoot! Magazine ». If you don’t already subscribe to Scoot! Magazine, you should.

contact us at:

email: info@226vintage.com
snail mail: 226 Vintage | 616 E4th Street | Reno | Nevada | 89512