Milan-Pantelleria in MBK Booster: a 90s dream [PART 1]

Everyone knows it, but few really know the history of the scooter that marked entire generations: The Booster. It arrived in Europe in 1990, with its unmistakable line, single-seater saddle and drum brakes. The first series Booster, as this first model is called, was produced until 1994, the year in which it was outclassed by Booster R and subsequently give it Spirit, both equipped with a front disc brake and decidedly more attractive colours, so much so that with these new vehicles on the market, the millionth unit sold was achieved in 1999. But that of Booster it is a somewhat romantic story, because the "ugly that pleases sometimes comes back", in fact, just like for coins with minting defects, the First Series Booster, so snubbed compared to its disc brake successors, returns thirty years later to the second-hand market with skyrocketing prices, given that it is very rare to find original and well-preserved models, having escaped all the elaborations of the kids of the 90s .

The adventure we will tell you about will be experienced alone by our videomaker Federico Sambruni, riding a rare Booster First Series Blue Ocean of 1994, with which he will reach Pantelleria in about 25 days of travel. The goal of this project is to realize two documentaries: the first will tell the story of the scooter trip and will show the decidedly more "wild and adventure" aspect, the second will instead focus on the island of Pantelleria.

The challenge is the part we like!

Un fifty on the road it can encounter several problems, especially if air-cooled. For this reason the medium was completely revised, with completely new thermal unit, bearings, oil seals and transmission. Furthermore, a Rollbar grille armed with LED headlights was mounted on the front fairing. The Rollbar for the Booster It is a rare component to find nowadays and sought after by many enthusiasts. It is a very aesthetically pleasing accessory, but which performs both the function of protecting the hull in the event of falls, and that of illumination thanks to the LED spotlights provided. The biggest limitation of long trips with small 2-stroke engines it is certainly that of maintenance and lubrication, great friends and enemies of this type of engine. These two elements force you to carry with you not only the spare components that could break along the way (spark plug, piston, accelerator cable, etc.), but also all the keys to disassemble and reassemble the parts to be replaced. Not to mention the engine oil for mixing, which together with the keys and spare parts, as well as ballasting the journey, take up considerable space in the limited space available.

The itinerary

The complete itinerary will be revealed in the next episode. We can certainly tell you that Federico with its Booster will pass by Cinque Terre, From Versilia, from Palermo, From Zingaro Reserve and Trapani, with a final goal Pantelleria. It will be a demanding journey from both a practical and technical point of view, given that a lot of footage will be filmed along the way to make the documentary. In short, we will see some good ones, because then the booster is also nostalgia. Who in adolescence never dreamed of experiencing their freedom, taking a long trip on a scooter with lifelong friends?

Thanks to the partners who are involved in this journey:

Helmet: Ber Store
Technical clothing: Tucano Urbano
Hospitality and logistics: Municipality of Pantelleria