The Rebirth of the Mobylette Moped

The retro look of the Mobylette moped has been making a comeback among scooter and motorized toy enthusiasts over the past couple of decades.  The discontinued French motor scooter has a cult-like following, and the mechanical problems inherent in the various models only add to the special feeling of being involved in with a special piece of history.

A Little Motobecane History

The mobylette was built by Motobecane, and first offered to the public in 1949, long before engines were required to be clean and efficient.  The French company produced millions of these bikes, but eventually went out of business in the early eighties.

The long history of these scooters, (the production line on it ran for nearly fifty years,) and the fact of their rarity, has combined to make them a much sought after collector’s item.  The bike tends to have mechanical issues, so it can become an obsession for the person who likes to tinker with engines, as well.

Keeping a Classic Running

The classic moped styling of the French scooter included a streamlined frame or chassis, spoke wheels, and genuine leather on the saddle or bench style seats.  In traditional moped style, the motor scooter looked like an exaggerated version of a bicycle.

The look of the moped as bike/motor scooter has always appealed to a niche market, and the mobylette draws collectors and fans that will go to great lengths searching for unique models and parts.

The most sought after model made by Motobecane was the 50 series.  Up until the 1970’s, this little motor scooter was being sold by the hundreds of thousands.  Unfortunately, the two-stroke engine discharged thick and dirty pollutants, and France wisely banned the moped.

Motobecane Engines and Parts

As with any discontinued line, parts can be hard to come by.  Searching for parts for a 50 series, or one of the older mobylette AV series bikes can be time-consuming.  In order to find just the right part, a collector will need to go hunting through the community forums, checking Ebay, and looking through classic motor sports classifieds.  The other option is to find aftermarket manufacturers or custom made parts.

The basic construction of the engine makes it fun for the mechanically inclined.  The ignition system, whether a 49.9 cc or 70cc Motobecane engine, was typically a 6 volt ignition.  The drive system utilized a variator, and the intake systems contained a Gurtner carburetor and manifold.  For enhanced performance, many after market carburetors were and still are made for the scooter.

The variator in the drive system was a simple piece of work.  The fixed and sliding plates increased and decreased the gear ratio, which allowed the engine to find the most efficient gear ratio in conjunction with the engine’s RPM’s.

Mobylette as Culture and Craze

A lot of pride exists for the various French mopeds by Motobecane.  The various models appealed to millions while the company was in business, and continue to delight moped fans today.  As collector’s items, the mobylette series of scooters may become more popular in their afterlife than they were during production.