Dustin Hoffman Approves The Twiggy Remake

Colin Tilson smiles mischievously when I ask him how fast it goes.

“I built one once with an 80cc engine that would wheelie at 60mph, with a top speed of 70,” he said. “You could smoke up the road on that one.”

Production models of the aero engineer-turned-inventor’s latest project - given the thumbs-up by Oscar-winning Dustin Hoffman and 1960s model Twiggy - nip around town at a more sedate 30mph on their 10in wheels.

Not too shabby for a road-legal folding scooter you can fit in your car boot, carry in a holdall and travel 130 miles or more on a gallon of petrol.

Mr Tilson’s two-wheeled runabouts - aka Street Cheaters - are set to hit the road next summer after 12 years of development.

An off-road version is already on the market in America, where his customers include police, beach patrols and other emergency services, who use the tiny bikes to scoot through traffic.

Heacham-based Mr Tilson, who has invested more than £1m in setting up production in Taiwan, is confident the machines will prove a hit with everyone from city commuters to caravanners looking for a portable runabout.

The folding carbon fibre and steel machines, which weigh around 22kg, are powered by tiny 50cc engines.

“It’s a short-journey vehicle, or SJV as we call them,” he said. “It’s not meant to go from Heacham to King’s Lynn, it’s a small vehicle that gets you around.

“It’s ideal for campers, caravanners and motor-homers, it’s great for people who want to make a short journey in the city. You can keep it in the office.”

Former Gaywood Park pupil Mr Tilson, now 53, became a freelance engineer in the aero industry after starting out as an electrician.

The scooters came about 12 years ago, when his son Dean - then aged 10 - asked for a similar machine which was then on the market.

Instead of bowing to pestering for some peace and quiet, Mr Tilson decided he could build something better from off-cuts of aircraft materials.

City types could soon save the machine’s £899 price tag by avoiding the £8-a-day congestion charge, which many expect to spread to other cities from Central London.

But despite its name, you don’t get to stick two fingers up to the taxman as well as Boris Johnson. “You still have to pay road tax of £15 a year,” said Mr Tilson. “And there’s a one-off £38 fee to register them with the DVLA.”

Riders also need to wear a crash helmet.

And avoid pulling wheelies.

SOURCE: Chris Bishop@EDP24

Tags: 30mph, 50cc, Dustin Hoffman, off-road, Scooter, Twiggy, UK