The Royal Gazette has learned.

But Pearman Watlington chief general manager Mr. William Cox has rejected speculation that the problem could be linked to unleaded fuel.

"If that was the case, there would be a problem with every bike in Bermuda,'' he said.

However, one of his mechanics speculated to Vespa user Mr. Steve Mundy that this could well be the problem.

Mr. Mundy is one of several local Vespa users who have taken their scooters in for repair after they began leaking gasoline.

"I took it into PW's and was told that the switch over to unleaded gas had had some effect on the gas lines of Vespas and was causing gas to leak into the carburettor,'' he said.

After the needle valve on his bike was replaced, gasoline again began leaking from the vehicle while it was still in the workshop, said Mr. Mundy, who was left with a bill for $18.70.

"I was told the next step was to replace the carburettor for about $200,'' he said.

"But a serviceman said the nature of the problem was such that they couldn't guarantee that even that would fix it.

"He told me I'd be just as well off leaving it as it is and remembering to shut off the gas when not in use.'' A mechanic told him that PW's had been in touch with Piaggio, which manufactures Vespas, to point out the complaints.

The Royal Gazette knows of at least two other Vespa users who have experienced similar problems.

One experienced Vespa rider said he was lucky to escape a blaze when his gasoline tank emptied over the road as he was driving along a road.

"I was driving along and sniffed gas,'' said the driver, who did not want to be named.

"I thought I had simply ran out of fuel but then saw a long trail of gas behind the bike.

"If I had dropped a match or lighted cigarette the whole thing could have blown up.'' When he refilled his tank the next morning, the fuel just ran out onto the floor, he said.

He had to fork out $50 for PW's to pick up his nearly new bike and replace the $2.70 needle valve. He has not had any problems since the repairs six months ago.

Another Vespa owner having problems is Mr. Reggie Tucker, who teaches at Sandys Secondary School.

Mr. Tucker said: "If I leave the gas turned on when I'm not using the bike, it will leak out. this has been happening for a month. The gas goes into the carburettor and eventually leaks out.'' He said he had not yet taken the bike in for repairs.

Mr. Cox played down the problems.

"We've had about eight bikes come in with a flooding problem but that's out of hundreds on the road,'' he said.

"We've had needle valve problems with some of the bikes which has caused flooding.

"As far as we're aware, we know of no problems with the bikes running on unleaded fuel.''