MLA style: "Funky mopeds.." The Free Library. 2005 MGN Ltd. 25 Nov. 2023 https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Funky+mopeds.-a0131045055 The BW’s (pronounced ‘B-whizz’) is an off-road inspired scooter with chunky, fat, semi-knobbly tyres. No, you’re right – that doesn’t particularly help handling on the city streets, but it does make it look fab. It’s not the cheapest or most practical, and it’s quite small, too, but it’s rugged, has a distinctive style and nice detailing, decent performance and is great around town, all of which go some way to explain its enduring popularity. You’ll certainly stand out. Spanish firm Derbi are now owned by Italian giant Piaggio, who also own Aprilia, so it’s only natural the two brands’ trail/supermoto two-stroke 50s are basically the same bike. This style of machine, being upright, suits taller riders and is also hugely cool and great fun. On the downside, dealers are scarce and Sendas tend to get thrashed, but if you want a full-size, geared 50, this (or the Aprilia) is great. The bikes were mopeds, but looked like 'proper' motorbikes - sports mopeds. Sports mopeds were a clever response to new road safety legislation of 1972 which restricted 16-year-olds to 50cc mopeds. The government imagined those to be naff, impotent, safe step-thrus. But the manufacturers, facing a huge loss in motorcycle sales and, potentially worse, an effective squeeze on young new bikers into the market, rose to the occasion. They started building sports mopeds - hugely attractive bikes which looked like proper motorbikes, would go like stink and conformed to the letter of the law, rather than the spirit.

The stylish, two-tone Django proves that if you want a retro-styled scoot it doesn’t have to be a Vespa. Full-sized and available in 50, 125 and 150 engine sizes, the Django has lots of nice styling details and a quality feel about it, which goes a considerable way to justifying the higher asking price. In 50cc form it’s a little sluggish but if you’re a teenager who likes the style there are very few better-looking ways to get yourself on to a powered two-wheeler. The ELO line-up had now settled around Lynne, Bevan and pianist Richard Tandy, cellists Mike Edwards and Hugh McDowell and violinist Mik Kaminski. The newest member was Kelly Groucutt, he of the Brillo pad hair and moustache, who’d replaced original bass player Mike de Albuquerque. It’s pretty much impossible to thrash a 50cc machine as the engines are designed to be redlined most of the time so as long as the servicing has been completed then reliability should be ok for recognised manufacturers. Our latest electric scooter review is the retro Čezeta 506/02. What to look for when buying a 50cc motorbikeTouring with ELO was like running an old-age pensioners’ club,” complained Sharon Osbourne, who accompanied them on several jaunts. “All they wanted to do was sit in their rooms doing their knitting. I was so bored I would drink to amuse myself.” When it comes to getting onto two wheels for the first time, 50cc machines restricted to 30mph (to comply with the AM licence you can be eligible for at 16 if you have an AM licence and CBT certificate) remain the only way to go. Buying advice Just like Aprilia motorcycles, this scooter is very nicely put together. It’s built to be abused by 16 year olds, so rest assured it has Tonka Toy durability.

Buying advice A very well put together motorcycle when new and left in standard condition the little two-stroke engine will run on forever. Reliability issues can arise when used and abused by first-time riders.Mine was a red Mk1 Rekord. God it was ugly, but it looked like a real motorbike. I even took the left pedal off, just leaving the right for starting it. They were the fastest, well potentially - 60mph was possible (down-hill); a Fizzie simply couldn't go over 50, it'd run out of revs and gearing. Garellis had all the traits of Italian bikes in the 70s, crap electrics, unreliability, rust. They started best from cold as once the flywheel was hot your spark would be weak. No battery, you see. I probably pushed mine further than I rode it. I don't think I ever made it from first to second without hitting neutral. Beerrrrp... Ying! Booooorp... Not such a Victory. The US brand is not the only bike company to go out of business this century...

The RS3 was mostly well put together, save for a few issues, such as the sidestand not retracting fully and the left mirror working itself loose every couple of minutes. How well the two-stroke engine would hold up to abuse and minimal maintenance from a 16-year-old is another matter. Come February 1975, ELO’s lowly status in Europe was apparent when they toured Germany with support act Barclay James Harvest, who sold more records there than ELO did; a fact driven home by how many people left before ELO came on.Roy Wood told the press ELO would carry on where The Beatles’ I Am The Walrus left off: dressing Sgt. Pepper-style pop with classical trimmings. But Wood walked out during the recording of 1972’s ELO 2 and formed Wizzard instead. “We couldn’t work together,” said Lynne. “It was like having two bosses.”