Scroll through photos of recent bike garage custom motor show, especially a bike that caught our attention; PiperMoto J series. On the outside, it looks like a motorbike, though a rather stylish one. But open the hood and you’ll discover the KTM 690 Duke’s engine is housed in a custom chrome chassis.
PiperMoto founder John Piper calls it a “super scooter”. Full-size scooters are nothing new—but the J Series’ high aesthetics, 67-horsepower engine, and wild engineering take it to a class of its own. That’s not surprising, given John’s pedigree.
As an engineer and designer, John’s portfolio includes F1, Le Mans and World Rally Championship racing cars, along with numerous prototypes and concepts. He designed the transmissions for Nigel Mansell’s 1985 Williams FW10, the Foggy Petronas FP1 World Superbike and the current record holder for the diesel land speed.
John founded PiperMoto a decade ago—based on his experience building motorcycles that combine precision engineering with a handcrafted feel. And that’s exactly what the J series is. Attaching a big engine to a scooter is one thing, but this is a machine that runs on the ground and looks incredibly stylish as well.
The core of the J Series scooter is a TIG welded chrome spacer frame; a work of art on its own. The KTM 690’s engine is located at the rear of the vehicle, tucked into a life-size Meccano, linked to a custom rear suspension. Offering 120 mm increments of travel, it has ExeTC remote tank shock absorbers, which are connected to a custom swing arm via push and swingarm.
The front suspension is a bit more traditional, using KTM’s inverted forks with 150 mm of travel. Wheels have 17-inch laces at both ends, wrapped in Bridgestone Battlax BT090 tyres. Braking comes from Brembo, with four-piston calipers clamping to a 320 mm disc at the front and a single-piston floating brake caliper clamping to a 240 mm disc at the rear.
Accompanying KTM’s LC4 engine is a host of intriguing upgrades. It inhales through a spacious pod filter and exhales through a stainless steel exhaust system. The exhaust ends with a box muffler that blends perfectly with the bodywork and even includes a catalytic converter.
Other features include a semi-dry sump with dual Eaton oil pumps and a pair of aluminum-core radiators with electrically controlled temperature fans. Fuel is stored in a 14 liter tank [3.7 gal] The tank is located in front of the engine, with a fuel pump inside. And the six-speed gearbox shifts gears via an electronic system, activated by a paddle on the gearshift lever.
And then there’s the elegant bodywork of the J Series. Made from woven carbon composites and finished with well-regarded chrome details, it has a premium OEM feel. Where most scooters are functional and basic, the J Series makes a statement.
To create it, the PiperMoto team started by crafting a wooden armature to work around. Next, they perfected the riding posture and ergonomics. Next, pieces of cardboard are placed on top of the structure, after which the final form is shaped from clay.
The final design is extremely cohesive, showing an absurd level of consideration. The sports scooter has two storage compartments in the front apron, both of which are lockable, while the rear trunk flips up to access the engine and rear suspension. It is finished in an eye-catching blue paint, with a detached saddle reminiscent of the classic Vespa and Lambretta designs.
Twin Smiths gauges reside in the cockpit, along with a combination of beautiful CNC machined details and plenty of OEM-style trim. Mirrors, turn signals, headlights and taillights are the same as the factory ones, as are the rear license plate brackets. Packaged neatly under the body is a maintenance-free gel battery and military-grade wiring.
If you like to explore the numbers, the J Series scooter has a wheelbase of 1,500 mm, a tilt angle of 52 degrees and a dry weight of 160 kg. [353 lbs], with a 50-50 weight distribution. It can go from 0 to 60 in 4 seconds with a top speed of 120 mph.
If that interests you, the good news is that the J Series is not a one-off product. PiperMoto will build these to order, with several personalization options to suit potential customers.
Maxi-scooters are usually sporty, angular cars. But what PiperMoto has created, is a high-performance custom scooter from KTM that, with a timeless look, straddles the line between classic and modern. More on this, please.
