Two-stroke lover!
Here are some pictures from our annual easter meeting. We where over 40 mopeds, that’s a record for us. Nice people and weather. Check out some pictures and a video below.
I will be competing in a cross event later this year, a two hour moped cross event held by me and my friends from the Small Pistons. Our goal is to ride machines that are restricted in a way that they are close to a stock moped. A small class with a maximum of 50 ccm and mostly stock parts and original engine cases. That’s the one i will compete in.
I had an old Bravo frame in my pile of moped parts, and a lot of other surplus parts. I only had to buy a cylinder, airfilter and other smaller bits. So it was an easy choice to make.
There are only two 50 ccm tuning cylinderkits available, one from DR and one from Athena. The latter seemed to be the best choice, but both are pretty mild. Since i’m using the stock engine case, a 13 mm carburettor will be the largest i can fit. It will be driven by a fixed pulley transmission, as variomatics aren’t allowed in this class.
Check the build progress of the frame, from start to finish here:
A quick video of the first test drive:
I got some advertisement material from a closed moped shop, enjoy.
Ciao and Bravo brochure (danish)
Ciao Bravo Grillo & Si accessories
A new moped in my collection, again a friend that had bought more than he could handle. I can’t get enough of these Piaggio mopeds, so i had to buy it.
It had a broken subframe and gear reduction, other than that only minor repairs and maintenance.
The engine got my standard treatment, DR 43 mm, SHA 13 mm and adjusted case and crankshaft.
Lots of pictures and comments in the picture gallery.
Engine:
Frame:
Everything you need to know about the Piaggio clutch, as found in many single speed Piaggio / Vespa Mopeds. I.ex. Bravo, Ciao, Citta, Si, Grillo etc.
I’m explaining how the clutch works and how you take it apart to service it.
This year was the hottest summer in history, we caught the last days of heat and sunshine in the start of august. 25-30°C the first three days, riding in shorts and t-shirt, amazing.
We started our trip at home, as usual, crossed Jylland up to Kolding where we slept the first night. On the second day we took the partially closed bridge over the “Lillebælt” and rode along the northern coast of Fyn. A short trip past Odense brought us to our second location, a modern shelter in Munkebo.
On the third day, we crossed Fyn from Nyborg to Bøjden. Like the other days, amazing roads and nature. Bøjden is the city where the ferry goes back to Jylland, here we also found our last shelter.
Please enjoy the pictures in the gallery, and the comments below. And of course, video footage from the whole trip.
My trusty Motobecane TM4 had some issues that i’ve pushed off for some time now. The original cylinder was a bit weak and the engine needed some new bearings. The moped has sat many years, only had 1200 km on the odometer when i got it. That has led to condensation in the engine, everything above the oil level was a bit rusty, and especially the ignition side mainbearing.
The engine is easy to work with, took me 5 hours including cleaning and making my own gaskets. New bearings and seals.
My german model had a Gilardoni R2051 cylinder mounted, i’ve never been truly happy with it. I got myself a N2052 model with a bit longer port duration. I like the way it rides now, more power over all. Maybe i’ll upgrade the carb at some time, at the moment it’s a Dellorto SHA 14.12 that i’ve drilled to 13,5 mm venturi.
Check the gallery for all the details:
