Vespa SS90

Despite being one of the two largest scooter manufacturers in the world, by the early 1960s Piaggio was under threat from various sources. One, in particular, was a law that had been introduced into Italy in 1959 that allowed a 14-year-old to ride a 50cc ‘motorcycle’ legally without needing a licence. The sales opportunities were obvious and a tidal wave of manufacturers vied for a share of the newly created market. In 1963 Piaggio launched itself into this 50cc market, aiming to stave off the competition from mopeds with a completely new design.

One thing the small-capacity engine lacked was power, so the chassis needed to be light so that the engine could