Sport moped

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Derbi GPR 50 Derbi GPR 50 2010.jpg
Derbi GPR 50

A sport moped is a moped that resembles a sport bike and often performs better than standard mopeds. They were created to circumvent UK legislation, called the "Sixteeners Laws", aimed at taking young motorcycle riders off the road. The new laws, introduced in 1971 by Conservative Party Minister for Transport John Peyton, forbade 16-year-olds from riding motorcycles of 250 cc (15 cu in) capacity, thus limiting them to 50 cc machines until they turned 17.[ clarification needed ]

Contents

Description

The law resulted in motorcycle manufacturers developing a new class of high-performance mopeds in the 1970s, termed "sports mopeds" or, colloquially, "sixteener specials," due to their marketing being aimed at 16-year-olds, a move which was widely criticized at the time. [1] [ unreliable source? ] [2] [3]

If the speed limiter is removed, a four-stroke engine sport-moped can exceed 60 km/h (37 mph), while those with two-stroke engines can reach speeds of over 100 km/h (62 mph). To achieve higher performance, motorcyclists frequently modify the engines, such as installing a big bore kit which raises the displacement.[ clarification needed ] These engine modifications may increase maximum speeds to over 100 and 130 km/h (62 and 81 mph). Sport bikes with 125 cc displacements are sometimes registered as 50 cc mopeds to avoid certain state or federal regulations. Because of this, many manufacturers use identical frames and components in both 125 cc sport bikes and 50 cc sport mopeds, allowing a 125 cc engine to be swapped into a 50 cc sport moped frame. Examples of this are the Aprilia RS50 and RS125, the Derbi GPR50 and GPR125, the Yamaha TZR50 and TZR125, and the Gilera DNA 50 and 125.

Some sport bikes use the Minarelli AM6 engine (2T) (Aprilia RS 50 (1999-2005), Rieju RS2 Matrix 50, Peugeot XR6, Yamaha TZR 50, Malaguti Drakon 50), while other use Piaggio engines (Derbi GPR 50, and Gilera DNA).

Few sport bikes, for example: Gilera DNA and Kingway Fennari were produced with an automatic gearbox.

Bicycle-style pedals were installed when new legislation was passed requiring them.[ citation needed ] These models were produced from 1972 onwards by Japanese manufacturers Honda, Yamaha, and Suzuki, as well as European companies such as Puch, Fantic, Gilera, Gitane, and Garelli. The most famous of these versions was the Yamaha FS1-E. [4] They included roadsters, enduro and motocrossers, cafe racers and choppers or Scooters, [5] and led to a boom in motorcycling similar to the early 1960s rocker period. The government passed further legislation in 1977 which was more restrictive, limiting mopeds to a weight of 250 kg (550 lb) and a top speed of 30 mph. This later legislation contributed to the decline of the UK motorcycle market. [6] No such restrictions existed in continental Europe, and such vehicles could be ridden by 14-year-olds. [6]

Sport mopeds, currently and formerly produced

Yamaha TZR 50 Yamaha-TZR50R.jpg
Yamaha TZR 50

On Chinese components

    • Zipp Pro 50, Zipp Pro 50 GT, Zipp XRace 50
    • Romet RR 50, Romet Arrow Fly
    • Junak 901 RS, Junak 901 Sport, Junak 903 Race
    • Keeway Leone RK50
    • Kinroad Sprinter (also known as Kinroad XT50-18) / Ventus Sprinter
    • Kingway Fennari
    • Barton FR 50
    • Pulse Rage 50 (also known as LK50GY-2)
    • Yamasaki YM50

On Spanish, Italian, French and Japanese components

There are also Minibike sport mopeds; for example: Honda NSR50 and Yamaha YSR50.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moped</span> Small motorcycle-like motor road vehicle

A moped is a type of small motorcycle, generally having a less stringent licensing requirement than full motorcycles or automobiles. Historically, the term exclusively meant a similar vehicle with both bicycle pedals and a motorcycle engine. Mopeds typically travel only slightly faster than bicycles on public roads.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aprilia</span> Italian motorcycle manufacturer

Aprilia is an Italian motorcycle manufacturer founded immediately after World War II in Noale, Italy, by Alberto Beggio. The company started as a manufacturer of bicycles and moved on to manufacture scooters and small-capacity motorcycles. Since in the 1980's, Aprilia has also produced large sportbikes such as the 1,000 cc V-twin RSV Mille and the V4 RSV4.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Piaggio</span> Italian motor vehicle manufacturer

Piaggio Group is an Italian motor vehicle manufacturer, which produces a range of two-wheeled motor vehicles and compact commercial vehicles under four brands: Piaggio, Vespa, Aprilia, Moto Guzzi and Derbi. Its corporate headquarters are located in Pontedera, Italy. The company was founded by Rinaldo Piaggio in 1884, initially producing locomotives and railway carriages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Motobécane</span> French manufacturer of bicycles

Motobécane was a French manufacturer of bicycles, mopeds, motorcycles, and other small vehicles, established in 1923. "Motobécane" is a compound of "moto", short for motorcycle; "bécane" is slang for "bike."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malaguti</span> Italian motorcycle manufacturer

Malaguti is an Italian bicycle, scooter and motorcycle company based in San Lazzaro di Savena, founded by Antonino Malaguti in 1930. Producing bicycles until 1958, they then entered the motorcycle market. Noted for their use of small engines in their bikes. In October 2011, Malaguti laid off its remaining employees in Bologna, Italy as the company eventually folded.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gilera Runner</span> Type of motorcycle

The Gilera Runner is a scooter manufactured by Italian company Piaggio under the Gilera brand, designed by Luciano Marabese of Marabese Design Srl. It is noted for its unusual style, high performance and good handling. The Runner was initially only available with two stroke engines with 125 cc and 180 cc four stroke versions arriving in 1998 and the larger two stroke versions phased out. The model range was revised in 2005 with an all new model introduced in 2009. All 50 cc Runner models were restricted to 28 mph (45 km/h) to comply with European law. The 125, 180 and 200cc models were not restricted.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aprilia RS50</span> Type of motorcycle

The Aprilia RS50 is a sport moped made by Aprilia. The model made until 2005 was powered by a single cylinder two-stroke aluminium cylinder block, liquid cooled 49.7 cc (3.03 cu in) Motori-Minarelli AM6 engine. The new model, made since 2006, uses a single cylinder two-stroke aluminium cylinder block, liquid cooled 49.9 cc (3.05 cu in) engine made by Derbi, the D50B0. The bike is popular in countries that have restrictions on motorcycle engine size at specific ages. In restricted form the RS50 is capable of speeds of 50 km/h (30 mph), as per the laws in many European countries for those aged 16. In derestricted form, the 1997 model was tested at a speed of 105 km/h (65 mph). This and other similar machines such as the Derbi GPR 50 and Yamaha TZR50 have also been popular choices as a more adult-sized option for MiniGP racing, which is otherwise more commonly participated in by riders of smaller bikes such as the Honda NSR50.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fabrizio Lai</span> Italian motorcycle racer

Fabrizio Lai is a Grand Prix motorcycle road racer from Italy. He currently competes in the CIV Superbike Championship, aboard a MV Agusta F4.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rieju</span> Spanish motorcycle manufacturer

Rieju is a Spanish manufacturer of mopeds and motorcycles from Spain. It is based in Figueres. They specialise in small-displacement motorcycles using Minarelli engines. Their products are available in almost all European countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aprilia RSV 250</span> Type of motorcycle

The Aprilia RSV 250 was a race motorcycle manufactured by Aprilia to compete in the Grand Prix motorcycle World Championship until a change of rules ended the engine-class in 2010. From its debut in 1991 it underwent several modifications and upgrades, which culminated in the last version, the RSA 250. Since its inception, the bike won ten World Championships making it one of the most successful racing bikes of its category.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aprilia RS125R</span> Type of motorcycle

The Aprilia RS 125 is a race motorcycle manufactured by Aprilia to race in the Grand Prix motorcycle World Championship, built to replace the old Aprilia AF1. It was debuted in 1991, and it had many upgrades since. The bike won ten World Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gilera DNA</span> Type of motorcycle

The Gilera DNA was a motorcycle produced by Gilera from 1996 to 2009.

The Derbi GPR 125 is a street motorcycle sold by Derbi - Nacional Motor since 2005. The original GPR125 was powered by a single-cylinder two-stroke engine with a steel lined cast iron cylinder manufactured by Yamaha, but was superseded in 2010 by an all-new DOHC four-stroke four-valve model.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jincheng Group</span> Chinese industrial group

The Jincheng Group was established in 1949 and affiliated with China Aviation Industry Corporation I, Jincheng Corporation is a large state-owned enterprise group engaged in five industries, i.e., electromechanic and hydraulic industry, light power industry, vehicle industry, international trade industry and production & service industry. Jincheng Corporation is a hi-tech enterprise, a model enterprise of CIMS Project of the 863 Program and a national "contract-abiding by and credit-emphasizing:enterprise. The brand "Jincheng", with the value of RMB 3.109 billion Yuan, is "Chinese Famous Trademark". The company is headquartered in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aprilia SX 50</span> Type of motorcycle

The Aprilia SX50 is a street motorcycle sold by Aprilia since 2006. It is powered by a D50B0 single-cylinder two-stroke engine with a nikasil-lined cast-iron cylinder manufactured by Derbi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yamaha V50 (motorcycle)</span> Type of motorcycle

The Yamaha V series are two-stroke step-through motorcycles made by the Yamaha Motor Company. There were a number of different engine capacities to suit different sections of the market. The bike was primarily released to compete with the ever-popular Honda Super Cub. It is also very similar to the Suzuki FR50.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malaguti Madison</span> Scooter produced by Malaguti since 1999

The Malaguti Madison is a scooter produced by the Malaguti motorcycle manufacturer in four generations: the first three from 1999 to 2011 at the historic Malaguti factory in Castel San Pietro Terme and the fourth from 2019 is produced in China by Zongshen-Piaggio joint venture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aprilia AF1</span> Type of motorcycle

The Aprilia AF1 is a sports motorcycle, designed, developed and built by Aprilia between 1986 and 1993. It came in two version; 50 cc (3.1 cu in), and 125 cc (7.6 cu in).

References

  1. ↑ Letters; Saving Fuel, New Scientist, 4 November 1976. P.299
  2. ↑ Retail business, Issues 197202. Economist Intelligence Unit (Great Britain). Economist Intelligence Unit Ltd., 1974
  3. ↑ How to Restore Yamaha FS1-E, John Watts. Veloce Publishing Ltd, 14 June 2006
  4. ↑ James May's Magnificent Machines, James May, Phil Dolling. Hachette UK, 1 March 2012
  5. ↑ The Motorcycle Book, Alan Seeley, MotorBooks International, 2 May 2004
  6. 1 2 Funky Mopeds!: The 1970s Sports Moped Phenomenon, Richard Skelton. MBI Publishing Company, 1 May 2007. ISBN   1904788114
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