Sport moped

Derbi GPR 50

A sport moped is a unique variety of moped, which resembles a sport bike, and often performs better than standard mopeds. After the speed limiter is removed, a sport moped with a four-stroke engine can reach speeds above 60 km/h (37 mph), while those with two-stroke engines can reach up to 90 km/h (56 mph). To achieve higher performance, motorcyclists frequently change out engine components; i.e. cylinder-piston-rings (occasionally also camshafts) to 70/72/80cc (2T engines) and 70/72/80/110cc (4T engines). In cases where engine components are changed to 70/72/80cc (2T) and 110cc (4T), maximum speeds range between 100 and 120 km/h (62 and 75 mph). Sport bikes with 125cc displacements are sometimes registered as 50cc mopeds to avoid certain state or federal regulations. Many manufacturers use identical frames and components in both 125cc sport bikes and 50cc sport mopeds, allowing a 125cc engine to be swapped into a 50cc sport moped frame; for example: Aprilia RS50 and Aprilia RS125, Derbi GPR50 and Derbi GPR125, Yamaha TZR50 and Yamaha TZR125, Gilera DNA 50 and 125.

Some sport bikes use Minarelli AM6 engines (2T) (for example: Aprilia RS 50 (2G), Rieju RS2 Matrix 50, Peugeot XR6, Yamaha TZR 50), and some use Piaggio engines (Aprilia RS 50 (3G), Derbi GPR 50, and Gilera DNA).

A high-performance version of the moped concept aimed at 16-year-olds^[1] was developed in the United Kingdom in the 1970s. This moped was created to circumvent governmental legislation aimed at taking young motorcycle riders off the road. These new laws, called the "Sixteener Law", were introduced by John Peyton, the Conservative Party Minister for Transport in 1971. They forbade 16-year-olds from riding motorcycles of 250-cubic-centimeter (250cc) capacity, limiting them to 50cc machines until they turned 17. The law provoked motorcycle manufacturers to develop a new class of motorcycle, then termed "sports mopeds" or, colloquially, "sixteener specials," and was widely criticized.^[2] The market for these was primarily young males.^[3]

Sport mopeds were 50cc motorcycles and in some cases were capable of speeds above 50 mph. Bicycle-style pedals were installed when required by law. The models were produced by Japanese manufacturers Honda, Yamaha, and Suzuki, and European companies such as Puch, Fantic, Gilera, Gitane, and Garelli from 1972 onwards, the most famous of which was the Yamaha FS1-E.^[4] They included roadsters, enduro and motorcrossers, cafe racers and choppers or Scooters,^[5] and led to a boom in motorcycling similar to the early 1960s rocker period. The government responded again in 1977 by introducing even more restrictive legislation, limiting mopeds to a weight of 250 kg and a top speed of 30 mph. The move contributed to the demise 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:

• on Chinese components:
  • Zipp Pro 50, Zipp Pro 50 GT
  • Zipp XRace 50
  • Romet RR 50
  • Junak 901, 901 RS, 901 Sport
  • Keeway Leone RK50
  • Kinroad XT50 (Kinroad Sprinter)
  • Kingway Fennari
  • Pulse Rage 50

Yamaha TZR 50

• on Spanish, Italian, French and Japanese components:
  • Gilera DNA 50
  • Aprilia RS 50 (four generations)
  • Aprilia Tuono 50
  • Aprilia AF1 50
  • Derbi GPR 50
  • Rieju RS1 Evolution 50, Rieju RS2 Matrix 50
  • Peugeot XR6, Peugeot XR7
  • Yamaha TZR 50
  • Cagiva Mito 50
  • Suzuki RG Gamma 50

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

References