Retro in looks but modern in execution, Lambretta’s new G350 is a premium mid-sized scooter with proper road manners and a welcome injection of substance. Photos: Janette Wilson
Lambretta’s new-for-2025 G350 makes a strong first impression. It’s smartly finished, thoughtfully engineered and more than capable of holding its own in traffic, proving that a 12-inch-wheeled scooter can be stable, composed and genuinely enjoyable to ride…
Kel putting the G350 to the test in Melbourne’s suburbs, the perfect place for the Lambretta…
From the moment you turn the key in the ignition of Lambretta’s 2025 G350 scooter, it impresses. Depending on the time of day, the full-colour TFT dash greets you with a ‘good morning’, ‘good afternoon’ or ‘good evening’ before telling you to ‘stay cool’. Thumb the starter button on the left-hand switchblock and the single-cylinder engine fires into life as that colourful display settles into informative and conventional digital layout.
Swing the G350 off the centre-stand and it lurches forward assertively, its 183kg of weight propelled easily by the 330cc four-valve single with direct fuel injection which, when 500cc scooters are classified as maxi, must absolutely be classed as mid-sized in the sector.
“the full-colour TFT dash greets you with a ‘good morning’, ‘good afternoon’ or ‘good evening’ before telling you to ‘stay cool’. “
Twist the throttle and what becomes immediately apparent is just how stable the G350 feels beneath you. Like its smaller stablemate, the 275cc X300, the G350 is built around a steel semi-monocoque chassis – a structural decision that brings with it a real sense of integrity. It’s more rigid and planted than the underbone frames that dominate the scooter segment, and you feel it. Whether darting through urban backstreets or cruising at 110km/h on the freeway – which it’s happy to do – the G350 remains calm and predictable. And it will easily reach 125km/h when pushed.
“Built around a steel semi-monocoque chassis, it’s more rigid and planted than the underbone frames that dominate the scooter segment, and you feel it”
Despite running 12-inch wheels front and rear, its stability is the jewel in its crown. That monocoque construction, coupled with a slightly longer wheelbase than the X300, gives it a surprising amount of poise. It carries a bit more weight than many of its competitors, but that only seems to add to its sense of stability, showing that heritage styling doesn’t have to come at the expense of real-world handling.
The suspension setup strikes a good balance between feedback and comfort; it features a double-arm link system with preload-adjustable springs rather than the more common telescopic fork, which plays an important role in that planted, composed ride feel. At the rear, twin shocks with preload adjustment offer enough flexibility to cope with solo or two-up riding. The Lambretta doesn’t make that plastic-y rattle that so many of today’s scooters do over uneven surfaces, adding to that sense of solid quality.
The Pirelli Angel Scooter tyres offer plenty of grip, and the 240mm disc brakes at each end are well matched to the G350’s weight and performance. Brake feel is progressive rather than aggressive.
“Dig a little deeper and you’ll find Bluetooth connectivity options, including navigation support, and access to diagnostic fault codes.”
The TFT display is one of the nicest in the segment – sharp, colourful and genuinely useful. In addition to the usual speed, fuel level, odometer, trip, clock and engine temperature readouts, a quick tap of the mode button lets you toggle between settings for time, backlight brightness, language preferences and metric or imperial units. Dig a little deeper and you’ll find Bluetooth connectivity options, including navigation support, and access to diagnostic fault codes.
“The TFT display is one of the nicest in the segment – sharp, colourful and genuinely useful”
Lighting is all LED and visibility is excellent, particularly from the wide-beam headlight. Indicators are neatly integrated into the fairing at the front and flank the tail-light assembly at the rear. And there’s also a generous helping of Lambretta badging evident all over the bike – from grips and mirrors to footpegs and even inside the headlight and taillight housings leaving no doubt about what you’re riding.
“There’s also a generous helping of Lambretta badging evident all over the bike”…
Storage is about what you’d expect for a mid-sized scooter with this silhouette. There’s a modest glove box ahead of your knees that houses the toolkit and a USB-A charging point – handy for keeping your phone juiced on the go, though in practice it proved a little temperamental. On both occasions I tried charging while riding, my phone dropped into SOS-only mode, presumably reacting to the jostling inside the compartment. Shoving it in a soft pouch or thick sock might resolve the issue, but I ended up carrying it in my jacket pocket instead.
The glovebox opens with a twist of the key to the left while it’s in the ignition, and from there, you can also access a manual lever that pops the seat. There’s also an electronic seat release button just beside the ignition, but it only works when the bike is on. Under the seat, there’s another USB-A port and just enough room to stash an open-face lid or some daily essentials, but I couldn’t lock a full-face under there.
“With a 9.5-litre tank and a realistic average of around 3.2L/100 km, you’re looking at a practical range of nearly 300km between fills.”
The fuel filler lives at the rear of the underseat area, which explains the limited storage volume, though Lambretta’s included a clever spring-loaded bag hook on the front of the seat base – a small but thoughtful addition to help with convenient grocery runs. With a 9.5-litre tank and a realistic average of around 3.2L/100 km, you’re looking at a practical range of nearly 300km between fills.
Ergonomically, the G350 strikes a comfortable balance between cruisy posture and upright city practicality. At 790mm high, the seat height is really manageable and complemented by a thoughtfully narrow section at the front. The broad floorboard area does force your legs out before they make landfall though, meaning at 164cm tall, it was a one-foot-down affair at stops. That’s actually not unusual for me, but something to be aware of if you’re new to scooters or particularly concerned about footing. Speaking of footings, the sidestand is easy to reach and deploy, and the centrestand lifts the scooter up with minimal effort.
“Ergonomically, the G350 strikes a comfortable balance between cruisy posture and
upright city practicality“
Once moving, it’s a relaxed and well-sorted place to spend time. The seat is broad and nicely cushioned, the ’bar reach is natural, and there’s ample room to shuffle your bum and your feet around. The mirrors are well positioned and offer a clear rear view, and everything you interact with – from the switchgear to the throttle action – feels considered and solid. The G350 might lean on its heritage in terms of styling, but comfort, appointments and build quality are thoroughly modern.
“The Pirelli Angel Scooter tyres offer plenty of grip, and the 240mm disc brakes at each end are well matched to the G350’s weight and performance”…
The G350 looks every bit the flagship of Lambretta’s current line-up, which is now is. There’s plenty of vintage DNA in the squared-off headlight, art-deco chrome finishes and two-tone paint, but it feels more like a modern interpretation built with the right amount of restraint rather than a retro model.
At $11,990 ride away, the G350 doesn’t sit at the inexpensive end of the scooter market, but it’s not aiming to. It undercuts Vespa’s GTS 300 by a decent margin while offering comparable tech, solid build quality and a slightly sharper design language. It doesn’t have the versatility of something like KYMCO’s DT X360, or the long-distance comfort of a full-sized maxi, but what you’re getting is a scooter that looks special, feels well made and rides with far more composure than you’d expect from a 12-inch-wheeled step-through. If you’re drawn to classic lines but want the reliability, performance and everyday usability of a modern machine, the G350 makes a strong case.
Kel rated the 2025 Lambretta G350 7.7/10, scroll down to see the ratings breakdown and verdict of her review…
Lambretta’s steely resolve
One of the most distinctive elements of the G350 – and what gives it such a stable, reassuring feel on the road – is its steel semi-monocoque chassis. Unlike the tubular frames and plastic bodywork found on most modern scooters, Lambretta’s construction method integrates structural steel panels into the core of the frame itself. It’s an approach the brand has used for decades, and one that continues to define the way its scooters ride today.
Rather than bolting panels to a skeleton, the G350’s outer panels form part of the overall structure, which adds rigidity and contributes to its calm, composed handling. The double-layer side panels are also removable, giving owners access for servicing or customisation without compromising strength.
It’s not the lightest option, and it’s certainly not the cheapest way to build a scooter – but it’s part of what gives the G350 its premium road manners. For riders used to the flex and fidget of lighter, plastic-bodied machines, the Lambretta’s solid, unshakeable feel will come as a very welcome surprise.
2025 Lambretta G350 Specifications
Price: $11,990 (ride away)
Colours: White, White/Red or Black
Claimed power: 19kW [25.5hp]@7500rpm
Claimed torque: 25.5Nm [18.8ft-lb]@6250rpm
Wet weight: 173kg
Fuel capacity: 9.5L
Fuel consumption (Claimed): 3.2L/100km
Fuel consumption (Tested): N/A
Fuel Range (Claimed): 300km.
Engine: Liquid-cooled, single-cylinder, four-valve, four-stroke, unknown bore x stroke, 330.1cc, N/A compression, cable throttle Gearbox: Automatic CVT Clutch: Wet, centrifugal
Chassis: Frame: Steel, semi-monocoque
Rake: N/A Trail: N/A
Suspension: Double-arm link, non adjustable (f), Dual rear shocks, preload adjustable (r) Brakes: Single 240mm rotor, twin-piston caliper, ABS (f), single 240mm rotor, single-piston caliper (r) Wheels & Tyres: Cast aluminium 15-spoke, Pirelli Angel Scooter, 120/70-12in (f), 130/70-12in (r)
Dimensions:
Wheelbase: 1400mm
Ground clearance: N/A
Seat height: 790mm
Overall height: 1129mm
Overall length: 1956mm
Overall width: 770mm
Instruments & Electronics: ABS and full-colour TFT screen.
2025 Lambretta G350 Gallery
Ratings | Bike Review | 2025 Lambretta G350 Scooter
Excellent
Lambretta’s new-for-2025 G350 makes a strong first impression. It’s smartly finished, thoughtfully engineered and more than capable of holding its own in traffic, proving that a 12-inch-wheeled scooter can be stable, composed and genuinely enjoyable to ride.
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