5 Classic 1970s Mopeds

[@Tirana44]

Hang on, just wiping a tear from my eye! So enjoyed your video. First bike I owned when I turned 16, was a brand new, purple FS1E. I had to stare at it sitting in our garage for a month, until my 16th birthday and my first ride. I was a diehard Yamaha guy, I owned an RD125, followed after passing my test, by an RD250 and finally an RD400, all air cooled 2 strokes. That was more than 45 years ago, seems like yesterday. Wish I’d kept them all, I’ve just the photographs now. Happy days.

[@bikerdood1100]

Very glad you enjoyed it

[@petergerritgroen3157]

Had a Suzuki 125 T 20. Lot of fun. 1973 Netherlands

[@Tirana44]

@@petergerritgroen3157 My best friend had a Suzuki 125 T20 My RD125 and his Suzuki 125 T20 were great bikes.

[@bulldog1066jpd]

I had an rd250f, 350b and a 400f all air-cooled, I had two lc 250s and an lc 350 and a dt175mx on the road and 175dt mx on the track..... happier days 😊

[@PrivateWalker]

I still love the styling of 1970's & early 80's bikes. In fact prefer the look over what came later. Performance, Handling & reliability is something else though

[@terryblackman6217]

Thank you for that wonderful trip down memory lane. Oh to be young again.

[@bikerdood1100]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@mickcuthbert8792]

What would you say to your 16 year old self ?

[@andrewdyson4255]

This takes me back to 1976 when I bought a brand new Suzuki AP50 at 16 years old. I got it because everyone else had a fizzy. It was a great bike and as my parents would allow me to have one I saved up and bought it myself. It cost me £225 brand new. How i survived I don’t know but I’m still going on bigger bikes at 63 I wouldn’t change anything other than keeping every single bike I’ve had, they’d be worth a fortune now

[@bikerdood1100]

The AP was the bike to go for if you didn’t want to follow the Hurd it seems

[@guymccue6369]

Andrew we are kindred spirits same age and same bike. Bought mine P registration for $225 pounds in Hayes outside London. Regularly did 50mph and put over 10,000miles on it. Sold it to a buddy’s girlfriend friend a year later so I could buy a Honda 175cc

[@Paul-md8de]

Exactly the same as me , bought my AP50 in March 1976 just turned 16 , got it from Trevor Goodalls a Suzuki main dealer in Didcot Oxfordshire , had 2 months left at school then that boiling hot summer .....halcyon days indeed , i owned many bikes after that went through a race bike phase then a Harley phase now got a Yamaha T Max 500 best bike i'v ever owned .

[@MrAvant123]

I had an FSID like the Yellow one, and always wondered what the Suzi was like and now I am 63 !

[@martinwoodworth3715]

I had a purple fs1e in 1976. Loved it. Kept it for 2 years. Wish I still had it, just loved buzzing around on it in good weather.

[@gordonshaw6231]

Oh this video stirred up some nostalgia….. great job

[@bikerdood1100]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@ianproudfoot5415]

I had a brand new Puch M50 GP back in 1976. What a wonderful way to enjoy the long, hot summer!

[@bikerdood1100]

It was brutally hot that year Was in whales with my parents, you couldn’t walk bare foot on the sand Would have preferred to be buzzing around on your puch I think

[@peterclarke3619]

Me and you both mate.

[@kentonnur]

Snap re the year and the Puch…except I spent the summer paying for it working in a poultry processing factory ..ugggh!

[@bikerdood1100]

@@kentonnur nice What fun

[@keithcornell692]

Snap ian a had a puch. Gp50

[@cayminlast]

So many memories of my schooldays, the students parking was always full of all these models and more. Thank you.

[@bikerdood1100]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Yorkshiremadmick]

I had the Garelli Tiger Cross Would out perform the FS1E all day. Loved it in 1973-4

[@bikerdood1100]

Tiger cross is getting a lot of mentions, I need to check them out

[@markb5985]

I had a mate in the 70s who could bump start his tiger cross backwards, was funny seeing him shoot away backwards. Never went far tho 😉

[@DaleArnold-u3h]

I had a 1974 tiger cross , paid £30 for it and it came with a spare engine,I started an engineering apprenticeship with the national coal board,I took the spare engine in and the workshop gaffer helped me rebuild/tune it,we even made a little expansion chamber it went really well, but my dad used to say it sounded like a dog being sick 😂

[@michaelflint4159]

I had the garelli record. More fun and faster than the Japanese. Bastard to start crap electrical system poor brakes and a chrome cylinder bore. Watching sieze. Best fun ever

[@DaleArnold-u3h]

@michaelflint4159 I seized my tiger, got a complete good engine from a breaker in Nottingham £30 😄🇬🇧

[@AndyColeman-g1i]

Loved this little blog which I have just come across. In 1976 just 16, now 64, don't laugh, dad put the money up front, then I paid him back when I started work. I had a lovely new brown yamaha FS1E and first thing I done was to take the pedals off and fitted yamaha foot pegs. I was the king of the road. Then from that I had a 250 kwacker triple with L plates, crazy but not at the time, which I passed my bike test on. Thank you for the lovely memories.

[@bikerdood1100]

Nice you had a dad that would do that

[@TheBezaleel]

As a 16 year old Brit in 1976, I can assure you that the AP-50 could achieve 63 mph. All you needed was a very steep hill, riding down it with a death wish, which was common behaviour for that age with first bike. 1997, place the Leaner plates on a 250cc and carry on. Sometimes I wonder how most of us survived, but it was a blast !!

[@elizabethcanavan3755]

1997 ?

[@bikerdood1100]

Must be a very steep hill, never got near that on mine I have to say. My sons 50cc scooter could but was much modified it must be said. 60 would have felt bloody fast on one of those things mind

[@TheBezaleel]

@@elizabethcanavan3755 Correction 1977; Punk, Fleetwood Mac, Meatloaf, beautiful young girls ............

[@bmidg4123]

AP50's were generally quicker than fizzies due to the 5speed gearbox. I had both, and whilst the fizzie went around corners better, the AP was definitely quicker in a straight line. Unfortunately my AP ended it's life burrowed into the side of a brown Mk1 Ford escort. (Hence buying a fizzie).

[@MrDickBills]

Pushed a friends AP50 as hard as I could with a GT550. Could not get above 58 mph until he pulled his clutch in. Then managed over 80. The engine was just acting as a brake. I previously had an FS1E as my first bike, and I would say that the AP50 was a better bike than the FS1E, by a very small margin, in just about every department.

[@deanhusk]

Had a FS1E and loved it. Yellow/gold paint job, expansion pipe and engine bars. My old man could hear me coming home a few minutes before I pulled up and would stick the kettle on !!! Next bike after the FS1E was a XS250 and loved that also. Those were the days ,great memories of teenage years.😊

[@bikerdood1100]

Glad the video brought back fond memories

[@deanhusk]

@bikerdood1100 Really enjoyed your vid. It's great to read all of the comments. Keep up the good work Ta

[@dufushead]

Great vid. For me it was the Puch VZ50, they we're sort of nerdy but went well. The AP was great, very underated except to those more into the bike scene rather than fashion. Fizzys and SS tended to be owned by kids who's parents had bought them. The one everyone really wanted was either the Puch M50 or the Garelli X. Cheers brought back a few memories.

[@bikerdood1100]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Nooziterp1]

One of my mates had a VZ50, and one day he let me have a quick ride on it round a pub car park. My first ever ride. Great fun till the pub landlord came out and spoiled it!

[@richardpearson4248]

Great video the 70ts/80ts were the best times for mopeds if only we could go back 😢stay safe looking forward to more videos 🇬🇧 👍

[@bikerdood1100]

Thanks 👍🏻

[@overlandworld2253]

Had an FS1E, but always wanted the Gilera 50 trials. Surprised it didn't feature on here as I saw more of those than the German peds. The Gilera was simply beautiful.

[@bikerdood1100]

All in good time

[@markb5985]

@@overlandworld2253 forgot about the Gilera trials, it was a lovely bike 👍

[@andysmith2417]

My first " bike" as a 16 year old in 1976 was a brand new yellow Yamaha FS1 DX, almost 50mph downhill flat on the tank with my feet on the back pegs.lol...the start of nearly 40 years of biking for me on a variety of off and on road to sports bikes ,from yamaha,kawasaki,honda and suzuki...from 50cc to 1000cc..loved every minute of every bike...rain or shine...lovin your nostalgic videos mate 😊👍👍👍

[@bikerdood1100]

👍

[@robinbowler2955]

Great memories , I had a Honda SS50 5 speed with the disc brake in yellow brand new in 1976 , just about killed it in a year , a friend helped strip it down to have a rebore done at Mores in Hemel Hempstead . Probably the most miles I’ve put on a 2 wheeler in all the years I’ve been riding in a year somewhere between 6 and 7000 miles . I paid around £250 on the road all my savings, paper rounds , washing cars and other jobs but still think that was one of my favourite years racing around with friends .

[@andrewdking]

Who helped you strip it down Dob, don't think it was me ? Moores with two Os and still going strong.

[@robinbowler2955]

@@andrewdking Robert from Chipperfield with the Tiger Cross

[@andrewdking]

@@robinbowler2955 Gawd ! 😬 The hamlet of Commonwood to be more exact. Good pub there though 🍺

[@bikerdood1100]

Disc brake on an Ss50 talk about all the mod cons

[@robinbowler2955]

@@bikerdood1100 it was only cable operated , the old drum was probably better , but looked good 🙂 will have to check out your other videos 👍

[@76-UVB]

Enjoyed that thanks for taking the time to put it together. The FS1E was the one to have amongst 16 year old daredevils with more daring than skill at that time, saw a good number of them crashed beyond repair.A friend of mine had a Garelli Tiger Cross which was a lovely looking little cycle and an object of envy.

[@bikerdood1100]

Hearing a lot about the Garelli

[@nigelsmith186]

s@@bikerdood1100 That's why I watched your vid but never mind. I had a couple of Garelli Tiger Cross' in yellow/black ( to N and a few P plates available) also an Agrati Garelli (available to R plate 1977) in black & red. Faster than all the rest until the RD50 came out & some lads derestricted them.

[@MissStar-yp5gd]

I really enjoyed it I've watched it before it was great taking the trip down memory lane again thank you so very much. Regards Haley

[@bikerdood1100]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@bmidg4123]

I had both an AP50 and a fizzie when I was 16. Both had pedals. I have never ever seen either the Zundapp or Kreidler bikes at all. However I did see quite a number of Fantic, Gilera and Puch machines. It's a shame they weren't included

[@bikerdood1100]

Well leaves me room for next time 😉

[@Phiyedough]

Yes, Puch made some interesting mopeds.

[@nigelperry8246]

Yes agreed. Never saw either but did see those you mentioned. Garelli & Casal were two others I recall

[@gs6503]

I had a motebecane in 1973

[@therealunclevanya]

My first bike was a Gillera 50 give to me by my uncle. In part 2 don't forget MZ Simpson.

[@charleshoward1475]

Wonderful presentation, I appreciated watching to the very end. In my early 60's now, but most often a teenager at heart. Really was a trip down memory lane. I had at least two from Your selection, and of course other bikes including Lambretta's and an old N.S.U. I bought a really clean Suzuki Stinger for £50. I rode it home, it was perfect. A good friend of mine is something of a small collector restorer, he owns a mint FS.1E an AP50 also. I was shocked when he told me the money these little machines sell for. He owns several early small Honda push rod models, I could go on. Thanks for making a sharing your film bikerdood 1100

[@bikerdood1100]

Bikes and things like them do have a way of bringing back memories One good reason to ride is the way it makes you feel no matter how slow the machine

[@charleshoward1475]

@@bikerdood1100 The sense of freedom certainly. I feel the regular biker would never leave a fellow rider road side. Made a few MAG runs back in the day, music and partying often all night after a meet. Couldn't do it now lol. More than plain speed, a lovely smooth ride out and perhaps camp to follow. Spring will be with us before we know it. Thanks for replying.

[@PhilUKNet]

This takes me back. Around 46 years, to be precise, when I was a spotty 16 year-old. Never been into motorbikes (and my parents wouldn't allow it, anyway), but everyone lusted over an FS1-E. Occasionally, friends would let me ride their Yamahas. Another friend, who was tall and looked stupid on a FS1-E (his father was also quite well off) had a Fantic Caballero. This was a bit higher and more suitable for taller people. Ah, memories ....

[@bikerdood1100]

Need a second video I think

[@merlin5476]

I remember the Fantic caballero's some kids had them & ( at the time) they looked absolutely huge, with a tiny engine & a 6 speed box with an incredibly close ratio gearbox.

[@bikerdood1100]

@@merlin5476 sound expensive don’t they Think this is why I waited a year and started on road on a 125, once the 30mph limit came in I couldn’t see the point. Oh and I didn’t have any money and poor parents so something like a Fantic at 16 would be a fantasy for me

[@johnb5352]

It always seems strange to me that the fizzys make so much money these days .Yes there were loads of them but they weren’t very quick and didn’t even look like a motorbike ,with the motor canted a long way forward and no down tubes on the frames.The ap50 was quicker but looked even worse.I was 16 in 1978 & virtually everyone I knew bought July 77 or earlier derestricted Italian peds-fantic gt’s,ti’s,or caballeros.garelli tiger crosses,or the gilera trail 50.All looked like proper bikes and were way faster than a fizzy,with the exception of the gilera that was about the same.

[@bikerdood1100]

@@johnb5352 don’t ask me to explain it. Totally mysterious when you can pick up a Triumph Bonnie or a Suzuki GS 550 for less money 🤷🏼

[@jackbeam56]

Man, that bring back memories. I had 2 Yamaha's FS1, a '73 and a '77 with a disc brake. Love those Fuzzy's 🙂

[@bikerdood1100]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@keithhampton9700]

My friend had a AR 80. What a fun little bike. He later put a KX100 motor in it. Scary little fun bike!

[@bikerdood1100]

Remember the AR 80 well Absolutely tiny motorcycle. Quite quick for its size

[@Tod_Unctious]

I remember the AE80. The trial version. Great little bikes

[@DeanHickman-g3s]

I bought a fs 50 in mint condition in 1985 for 30 south african rands, i took it home stripped all lights, chrome off and rode it on the farm till it became landfil😂😂 wish i had kept it in a box

[@bikerdood1100]

Similar story with an AP50

[@worty]

Fizzy for me. Got one with a bit of tuning to it (skimmed head), got 52mph on straights, head down, and about 65 with a tailwind downhill. Had an expansion pipe, dropped bars and an extra large rear tyre - I was king of the road man.

[@bikerdood1100]

A very steep hill 😂

[@1Toll]

❤ my fizzy too, mine like yours had work done. Those were the days, no speed cameras for one.😂

[@Pironi28]

Awesome ! Many of us in our 50's had a huge trip down memory lane ! For me i was Yammie guy, FS1E, then saved up bought spanking new RD125LC, passed my new 2 part test in 82, got the RD125LC derestricted, it was a missile, i actually hit 105 at Caistor Top in Lincolnshire. Then it was a RD250LC before i hung my helmet up !

[@bikerdood1100]

One should never hand up your helmet

[@trafficsnitch3505]

I'm nearly 62. My first road going bike was a Fizzy. It was pre registered so that it was a moped ie had pedals. If I'd waited until my 16th Birthday to buy it would have come without pedals but would have been restricted to 30mph. I wanted the earlier version which would do 52mph down a hill and keep up with my mates AP50.

[@bikerdood1100]

Definitely worth Getting early bike

[@mjotd8670]

I'm the same age, and have no regrets about buying a Fizzy, they were, and still are iconic

[@larry4789]

When I got my SS50 in 1974 it was £210 and the FS1E was a little cheaper but an extra tenner for indicators. Those early gold ones were beautiful, 2 of the lads at school got them. Ours was the 1st year to have to stay on for a 5th year at school. The slightly younger one threatened to beat the other one up if he brought the Fizzie to school when he turned 16

[@G58]

We called them Fizzers. I left school in ‘74, and got a vacation job for the summer at the company where I was due to start my aircraft engineering apprenticeship in December. I had a nice Carlton Corsa race bike, so I caught the bus to the training school over the winter, and waited until I was 17 in the following May when I got a 1968 C50 (a ‘granddad bike’ according to my mates), thus bypassing the moped era and the extra costs. Many of those mates were paying off their Fizzers and SS50s for years on the never never, whereas I bought my C50 from a local evening paper advert, with the cash I’d saved from my summer job. And in a flat out race (over a straight mile with a long sweeping corner at the end), partially due to the mild tuning I did to the engine, I beat a lad on his Fizzer, for a bet - which the little creep refused to pay up! The whole world was a different place back then, and we were different people too. Ride safe

[@patbutete1722]

@Trafficsnitch. All along was under the impression under 17 you could not ride anything other than a moped 50cc or under and it had to have pedals! this was mid 1970s.

[@keithquestedelectrical9785]

Hi Enjoyed your video Had a ss50 in 74 and in the gang we had several fs1e and a puch maxi 16 and free fantastic

[@bikerdood1100]

Memories

[@keithquestedelectrical9785]

@@bikerdood1100 Definitely luckily all good ones

[@bikerdood1100]

@@keithquestedelectrical9785 well some one is because they aren’t mine . Well alert from the Yamaha at the beginning and end of the video and that was a full on 100ccs

[@apacherider7110]

Brought back memories when I got my new Fizzie in 77, pre-restricted. I can remember riding it all day until midnight, then rode home and sat in the garage with it, I loved it. A mate got a Casal, a Portuguese make, it looked hideous, sounded dreadful and wasn't a cool bike. Another mate got a Fantic Supersix, that was very cool and would do about 60mph.

[@bikerdood1100]

Lot of suggestions for various bikes coming up

[@tonkie1131]

Had a Fizzy in 1976, got one now and just bought a Suzuki AP50 to restore, happy days

[@bikerdood1100]

Good work

[@martinoconnor4314]

Wow, good times! I had a Fizz, a Gilera, a Garelli Tiger Cross and a Honda SS50 five speed, my birthday was the latest in our "gang" so I was the last to be 17 and I bought their mopeds when they all went for the brand new Superdreams. Now I own a 1980 SOHC CB650 Custom, an 82 SOHC CB650 Nighthawk, a 92 750 Zephyr and a 2001 Royal Enfield 500 Bullet which I can no longer bloody start as its kick start only and I'm knackered.

[@bikerdood1100]

Definitely like your classic fours

[@bradmoss966]

How much do you want for the Bullet? :)

[@martinoconnor4314]

@@bradmoss966 lol, are you serious?

[@garyfaulkner1480]

We all had fizzers back in the day for cut bikes...chaos on the towpaths of bloxwich canals..👍😁

[@bikerdood1100]

Oh dear Sound a bit messy

[@borderlands6606]

A trip to Holland in the 1970s made me crave a Kreidler or Zundapp. Unrestricted they were genuinely quick, and in racing trim could do over 100mph. There's at least one more episode where you could feature Italian, French and Eastern European super mopeds.

[@bikerdood1100]

Oh at least , this could run and run

[@georgerobartes2008]

I had an ex race bike , a Ducati 50 SL2 that had been registered as a moped . Piston ported cylinder , Boranni alloy rims , Dunlop trigonic race tyres full expansion chamber and 6v battery lights . Capable of nearly 90 mph .

[@paulh.5691]

@@georgerobartes2008 sounds great, but how long did it last? Or rather, eat pistons and conrods... What I can recall, Italian bikes did not often have an air cleaner on, toe curling...

[@georgerobartes2008]

@@paulh.5691The engine featured in Cesare Bossaglias book '2 Stroke High Performance Tuning' of 1968 for its design features along with the Parilla kart engines he designed . The engine had a cylinder with hard chrome bore which lasted indefinitely , but had standard spares of course . Modifying standard cylinders to race spec meant a trip to the local friendly dentist ( friends Dad) to use his drill . The pistons were fitted with ' Dyke ' L section rings ,seals etc., and were readily available mail order from Mick Walker Motorcycles in Cambridgeshire after the dealer in Walthamstow dried up . The use of castor oil in the premix was a must back then as no synthetics were available . No crank issues whatsoever as it never ran a flywheel to load out the bearings , just a balance and ignition trigger with battery CD ignition . I had been building racing engines for some time before I could legally ride in the UK so had the kit to modify this and other engines etc. , plus I used school equipment during Metalwork later Technology classes to split cranks , O ring cylinder heads and machine up parts as needed . Your correct , the carburettor was a 20 mm Dellorto with horizontal throttle body , vertical float chamber and a simple ram pipe , tuned to length . The bike was slow compared to GP bikes by Honda , Suzuki and Kriedler in the early/ mid 70s , and peaky with poor acceleration but amazing handling and grip made up for this as bends could be taken much faster than anything else on the road and great fun .

[@fumanchu7563]

Yep i had SS50 ...all my mates had fizzies and gts, except one who rode a puch50 ... it was the fastest of the lot

[@bikerdood1100]

Speed being very much relative

[@fumanchu7563]

@bikerdood1100 yep .... but it came with less 'robust' restrictors, if I remember right!

[@davidl8739]

Was given a blue AP50 for my 16th birthday in 1976. Living in a rural area it changed my life and I had some great times riding it. Had a friend with an FS1E and we used to race each other - it was close but the Suzuki always won on the open road as it had 5 gears and the option of changing down to 4th for extra revs always gave it the edge. Top speed 60mph (downhill on the A1 in the summer of '77!)

[@bikerdood1100]

Happy memories ah

[@dereksmith6126]

Happy memories indeed. I had a brand new FS1E DX on an R plate.

[@MrSlaphead1960]

@@dereksmith6126 Was it restricted to 30? A lad I knew had a yellow one but only did 30 so even my slow SS50 was faster. UK gov killed new super mopeds but there were plenty of used (but thrashed) bikes around.

[@dereksmith6126]

@@MrSlaphead1960 No it wasn't. A lot of dealers registered non restricted models before the deadline. It cost £300, which if you'd known, buy 50 of them!

[@MrSlaphead1960]

@@dereksmith6126 Yes I should have known that. maybe i just forgot, Memory isn,t so good these days. 300 quid sounds good for a brand new unrestricted bike. also I assume would be worth more used

[@ianrobinson9243]

You tube is brilliant , thank you to you and the many others who put such great content on there on every subject possible.

[@bikerdood1100]

Well we try Thanks for the feedback

[@Eammim]

I had an AP50, back in 78/79, what I liked about the AP50 was it felt more like a proper bike, to me the FS1E and SS50 felt like sitting astride a garden gate. I fitted a recon crank after one of the main bearings spun - a common problem I believe, fixed on the replacement crank by a knurl where the bearings are pressed on.

[@bikerdood1100]

The wide tank gives more of a big bike feel Fs has a very narrow tank to my kind

[@Billyhunt419]

When I was 14/15 around 1978 my friend and I went half’s in a AP 50 Puch for 15 quid It was rubbish but we where kids and we would ride that bike up and down the beach and sand dune at Marske-by -sea having a ball. It would break down push it home fix it and back again to the beach. Those days are long gone. Brings tears to my eyes remembering those days.

[@bikerdood1100]

Happy memories

[@2Wheels4Wheels.]

I had the SS50 Honda, gutless as you like but I later found out they were actually restricted by the use of a long throttle slide- when you thought it was fully open it was actually only 3/4s 😬 all you had to do was cut off the excess (there was a groove round the slide to guide) et voila you could keep up with the 2 strokes. If only I'd know at the time...

[@chrisdean3072]

I had an SS50 too. Brilliant little bike. Wish I’d known about the throttle slide back then !

[@bikerdood1100]

That’s a very rudimentary restriction device

[@larry4789]

​@@chrisdean3072 I knew about it but didn't bother cutting the bottom of the slide off. It only added a couple of mph at most.

[@peakyblunder4613]

What a great trip down memory lane! My brother and his mates had the Suzy's and the Fizzys but I remember Rob Shaw, a college mate had a Puch 50cc, something entirely different. For a 50cc machine, it was pretty rapid I remember. 😊

[@bikerdood1100]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@raymaybury5337]

I could only afford a 4 speed SS50, but the bike that always impressed me was the Suzuki AP50. It must have made an impression because I went on to own several bigger suzuki's since.

[@bikerdood1100]

I later choices of bikes are often inspired that way. I had a book as a young guy with a Guzzi lemans in it, I’ve spent most of my life on Guzzi’s as a result

[@NotALot-xm6gz]

I was given my father’s 5 gear SS50 for my 16th birthday. Yes, it was slower than all the unrestricted 2 stroke mopeds, but it ran like a sewing machine and never once let me down despite being relegated to my winter bike after passing my test and using my savings to by an RD200. Got dropped several times and the only part that actually failed was the clutch lever.

[@bikerdood1100]

@@NotALot-xm6gz well the Honda was built with economical reliable running in mind. I think without a doubt the most important thing I’ve learned in the decades of riding is that it’s much better to stay onboard the thing. And falling of really hurts Oh and it’s expensive to repair them sometimes

[@robertgregory8964]

I found my younger brother's 5 sp SS50 was perfect for winter riding, while my Triumph cafe racer was laid up in the warm & dry. Especially on those icy roads where you slid down the camber and rode in the gutter. The cool kids at senior school rode the Garelli 50 GT.

[@NotALot-xm6gz]

@@robertgregory8964 Those Garellis were mental if you could afford to keep them in new pistons. :)

[@tsport6368]

Great video. Like you I started off on a Suzuki AP50. My local dealer, LLoyd Brothers in Hamilton, had purchased a huge stock of mopeds prior to the rule changes and pre-registered them. This meant I was able to get a brand new, unrestricted AP50 when I turned 16 in 1978. For some reason nearly every guy in my Geography class at school had a sports moped. I remember one day we all brought them in and lined them up side by side on the road outside. There were about 17 AP's, Fsie's and SS's lined up - quite a site.

[@bikerdood1100]

A sad comment on the times is that in my sons college year only one other kid had a bike

[@tsport6368]

@@bikerdood1100 Yes, it's changed days. Now if you get a bunch of bikers together it's like being in a retirement home.😂

[@bikerdood1100]

@@tsport6368 ain’t that the truth 😂😂😂

[@jimangelno1]

Lloyds was way ahead of its time. Multi manufacturer dealership. Shop at Peacock Cross was amazing

[@HolgerT]

The Zündapp KS 50 or the Kreidler Florett 50 were the dream of my youth. Especially the Kreidler was known for easy "performance upgrades". 😊

[@bikerdood1100]

If imagine they are pretty rare now

[@chrisdean3072]

About 6 of us used to have them to get to school. We used to unlock the pedals and have pedalled races round the car park. Happy days 😊

[@bikerdood1100]

Bet that was bloody hard work

[@martinusher1]

Without any warning the UK abruptly raised the motorcycle licensing age from 16 to 17 around Christmastime in the1970s. Before the change you could get your bike provisional license at 16 and ride anything up to 250cc with a provisional license. (That's how I started -- a gutless 125cc 'Bantam'.) After the change you had a lot of demand for 'mopeds' that were really highly tuned 50cc bikes that turned out a respectable 6-8 bhp through a five of six speed box. Clouds of the things -- they became quite a menace. (FWIW when our daughter started riding in the US we found that once she'd passed an off road basic skills course and a theory exam she could get a provisional license at 15 and a half -- with no capacity limit. She actually started on my old V50 Guzzi before 'borrowing' my SV650. You don't have to try so hard on a bigger bike so they're a lot safer.)

[@bikerdood1100]

You should check out UK laws now Talk about anti biker 🤬

[@garyhill9723]

I was caught out by this, my mate got his bike licence on his 16th birthday in October, by my 16th in December the same year I could only have a moped. He had a James 150 and a Greaves 250 trials bike and I could only have a Puch and a Honda PC50. It didn’t stop me riding his bikes on occasions though, off the public highway of course.

[@bikerdood1100]

@@garyhill9723 well of course 🤫

[@tactikzzF1R3]

Great video, brought back lots of memories from the very early 1980s! Mate of mine had the SS50, whilst I had a BSA Beaver. Great fun was had!

[@bikerdood1100]

I can imagine 😂

[@gedbalk2710]

Agree that the Yam and Honda were classics. Kreidlers were rare, Zundapps even rarer, and Suzuki were too late to the party. Other classic peds included Fantics, Garelli Rekords, Malagutis, Gileras, Puch M50s, and my own Casal K190.

[@bikerdood1100]

Well I’m trying to save some for a later video

[@montypythonish]

Looking at the bikes and their switch gear takes me back to 1984 when me and a couple of 16 year old school chums got mobile. Tony had a Yam trials 50, I had a Honda MB5 and we were both jealous of Neil on his AP. It was sooo quick. I could manage 45, head down on the flat, but Neil would just sail past. Thanks for the trip down memory lane. 👍🏼

[@bikerdood1100]

Had an AP myself Pulled surprisingly well I thought

[@MrB-bl3bf]

Left school in 1978, started work straight away in a local factory, my brand new AP50 got me there and back every day without a fault, plus all my happy little jolly rides out. when i hit 17 i took a hacksaw to the copper tube in the exhaust pipe that regulated me to 30mph. my fizzy friends weren't happy. loved that little bike.

[@bikerdood1100]

You always remember your first bike

[@Andeecee]

I had a Fizzy when I was 16 back in ‘77. Absolutely loved that bike. One occasion I visited my gran in Blackpool about 50 miles away. Was almost frozen to the bike by the time I got home. Happy days.

[@bikerdood1100]

I fit heated grips to everything these days Too old for cold fingers

[@marklawson6824]

Had a Honda SS 50. Got it from Bill Smith in Chester in 1976. I think it cost £195 but got it on hire purchase so cost a bit more. My Nan stood as guarantor for the HP agreement. Still emember the reg num. NLG 119P. Happy days🙂

[@bikerdood1100]

Memories of youth eh

[@kevinbodnar448]

Wow, I remember my older brother having and his mates have 50cc mopeds, I had a Honda XL 100s in 1982. Thanks for sharing

[@bikerdood1100]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@michaelmcdermott1877]

Brought back some great memories for me. My first road bike was a Yamaha DT50MX.

[@bikerdood1100]

My pleasure

[@JohnnyRocker2162]

I left school in '79, and passed my art exam with a painting of my mates FS1E. Just seeing it, and the Suzuki, along with the Jam and the Stranglers reminds me of back then.

[@bikerdood1100]

Just makes me think 1979 was a bloody long time ago

[@rayflynn162]

Absolute trip down memory lane, thank you.

[@bikerdood1100]

My pleasure, glad you enjoyed it

[@amr1612]

Thanks for this. Took me back to when I was 16 and got a blue AP50 like the one in the clip

[@bikerdood1100]

Thanks Glad you enjoyed it

[@nicolbunyan3203]

You missed my start to get on the road A few when still at school had the Suzuki and Yamaha I was very very lucky to get a Puch Grand Prix Special or John Player Special as we called it. and I loved it Great video thanks for the upload and memories Thanks

[@bikerdood1100]

Puch is featured on another video Part 3 I think 🤔

[@reiniervisser291]

Beautiful mopeds I must say. We had here in the 70ties in Amsterdam a Kreidler shop with the latest model on a turning plateau with spotlights on it. In that time it wil cost about 2500 guilders.

[@bikerdood1100]

A lot less than a car Freedom on two wheels

[@lesterquintrell4844]

I had a 76 Fizzy when i was 16, it was a great little bike and nearly did 60mph, Good ol' times 🙂

[@bikerdood1100]

Ahh the memories

[@robleary3353]

Can remember being at school in the 80's. The Fizzy' was the bike of choice (if you could afford one). After school there was the 3 oclock 'scream' as they all went out the parking area flat chat.... 🤣🤣

[@bikerdood1100]

I couldn’t afford one on road, poor parents so I had to wait until I had my own money to get my first bike a GS125

[@robleary3353]

@@bikerdood1100 I had to wait too!. Ended up with a BSA Bantam D3 150cc non runner for 80 quid that Dad and I 'rebuilt'. Still have it, although in pieces awaiting a proper resto!. 🤣 Great bike to learn on.

[@bikerdood1100]

@@robleary3353 early Bantams we’re quite reliable, we had a D14 which was rather overstressed and quite troublesome by comparison

[@Spitsz01]

I live in Holland and used to have a 50cc Yamaha Enduro in the early 80s. Souped it up with a 70cc crome cilinder and a 19mm DelOrto carb, good for 100 kmh +, for on the bicycle paths in Holland! Police in those days were pretty forgiving. Had to replace all the bearings every 2-3 months. It was so noisy that people next to me waiting for the lights used to cover their ears. Used to go on roadtrips to Antwerp (from Eindhoven) with a couple of pals (Yamaha FS1, Honda MT, Zundapp KS50). All used to come to my (Dad's) house and tinker. Great times! Wish I still had it. There were a couple of automatics too, like the Vespa Ciao and the Puch Maxi, also 50cc but automatic and much smaller. Very easy to soup up (a friend had and still has a Puch Maxi that does 95kmph)but really dangerous at speed. Thanks for the vid to my carefree past!😄 Cheers Ian.

[@bikerdood1100]

Glad it brought back some memories

[@d.beaumont9157]

Because i new sod all about engines i bought the Honda ss50 in 1975. It cost 78 pence in fuel to ride from West Yorkshire to Porthmadog in North Wales and it took me 12 hours. The engine would overheat and just stop, which was a bit scary for a sixteen year old miles from home. When i turned 17 and one big learning curve later i baught a Suzuki GT 250 B. Later a had a Suzuki GT 750 B (kettle) i was hooked on strokers for quite a while. Great video thanks for making it.

[@bikerdood1100]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@mjotd8670]

Ahh the memories, I think between 16 - 17 year old teen I sold/swapped 3 FS1E's knows as Fizzies, fantastic mopeds, spend every weekend, making adjustments, just to get another 3-4 mph out out of it.. Great days!

[@bikerdood1100]

Bikes make memories That’s a fact Why I’m never without one , or three well 4 actually

[@charliepatterson9321]

My first and only brand new bike was a 1982 Honda mb5 . I've never seen any of the bikes featured in this video and I was surprised to see the liquid cooled one . I don't know why but I like these little bikes as much as I do the 125s or 250s . There aren't any small bikes besides the grom here in the states and all that means is fewer beginner riders which is a tragedy . I'm amazed that in all of your videos you say mph instead of kph . At any rate per the norm you've knocked another one out of the park . I very much enjoy watching the content you produce and I don't know how you find such pristine examples of the bikes that you feature . Excellent work ❤

[@bikerdood1100]

Thanks for the feedback In the UK we never use Kph, I must try and include it for Europe and Canada 🇨🇦

[@sidecarbod1441]

40 years ago my first bike was a Honda MT5, I don't think it was available in the US, in the UK both models were restricted to 30MPH, I managed to tune mine up a bit so that it did around 45MPH. Last year I decided to buy a basket case of an MT5, I've rebuilt it and applied all my 2 stroke tuning 'know-how' just to see what I could get out of the bike. Even with my 13 stone sat on it I'm getting 55MPH out of it on the flat which I'm pleased with! (it has taken a lot of work to get this sort of speed out of it)

[@mcebz1]

31 years ago my first bike was a W reg Honda MB5, every penny I got was thrown at her, before I turned 16 I had the standard cylinder bored out to the limit with paper thin walls. Up jetted, bean can micron and K&N, she would sit under 50 on the very bouncy speedo. That lasted a month and the crank bearing collapsed. Chucked a 2nd hand engine in her ( £25 ) from the local bike breakers that came with a proper 65 kit. Different animal now with a proper power band, this lasted me for months until a car pulled out on me and I went superman. Next was the MT5, dropped a H100 engine in with all the 50s electrics. Honestly don’t know how many times I flipped her. These were some of the best days of my life, still got the knee scars to prove it.

[@charliepatterson9321]

No the MT 5 was never available in the states to my knowledge . And it's so sad your bikes were restricted to 30mph . My MB would do 55 mph from the factory 60 if I laid down and the wind was to my back . Back then our interstate system had a 55mph limit rather than today's 70mph . I took that bike as far as 200 miles away from home in all directions. And I too still have scars on my knees from practicing stopping fast . One time I pulled the front brake a little to hard and she washed out . I put a smaller back sprocket on it after I wore the original one out and top speed was 60 to 65 mph with a slower take off . Such fond memories. Thanks for sharing yours with me . Todays temp is supposed to reach 70° farenhight. I definitely need to put a few miles on my 750 aero to keep the battery charged . No plans on laying it down 😆

[@bikerdood1100]

@@charliepatterson9321 I have always felt that 45 to 50 mph is an absolute minimum. 30 is just plain dangerous and was definitely the concept of a non biker

[@JH-ck1nr]

FS1E- DX for me and i loved it and my first real taste of independence and freedom. Out with my mates, going fishing with rods strapped to it, lots of happy memories. Wish i still had it now

[@bikerdood1100]

That’s a bike, freedom on two wheels

[@landyfan5366]

Honda SS50 5 speed in lime green was the ultimate in 16 year old sophistication, independence and adventure ;o)

[@bikerdood1100]

Happy days

[@Jones-xx2gc]

FS1E'S, AP50's, SS50's. I had an SS50 back in the late 70's, my first motorcycle and I will never forget it. So much fun.

[@bikerdood1100]

Nothing like the first bike

[@Mr9ig]

I had the Honda SS50z back in the day, I didn’t want to be the same as everyone else with the FS1e. Only problem I ever had was the metal spar plug cap, in wet weather the rain got inside and the spark was lost. Soon changed that for rubber and off I went. Mum went mad when I bought a leather motorbike jacket for £60 (most lads road in their Harrington jackets) but liked it after I got knocked off the bike by a car, just a few scratches to the leather none on me lol

[@bikerdood1100]

What was the point of those bloody metal covered spark plugs I remember getting shocked myself in the rain

[@colingoode3702]

Memories came flooding back watching this. My paper round, Saturday job & apprentice pay didn't allow me to get any of these 70's peds after I left school in 1972. Instead I had to make do with an old 1950-60's NSU Quickly which I pulled out of a scrap yard & got going. I had a two seat 3 speed model. It went OK but compared to the others shown here it was pretty slow. I only had it for a few months before I passed my test & 4 wheels took over my life. One moped that wasn't shown here that a mate of mine (or his parents) bought new in 1972 was a Puch VS50 Sport. He had a canary yellow one & really struggled with it cos he was 6'4"!! Just as he got the Puch we all got rid of our peds & got cars. He followed soon after.

[@bikerdood1100]

My son is a touch over 6ft Looked quite funny on his Peugeot scooter at 16

[@jeniferallan6693]

Ah. FS1E...I can smell it just by looking at it. Many a fantastic days riding. And mine was in purple. I had purple go fast stripes painted on my crash helmet. 😊 Good days. 😊

[@bikerdood1100]

Do miss the two stroke odour

[@jeniferallan6693]

@bikerdood1100 as soon as I saw the beautiful bike it filled my nostrils!

[@DaveBagley-qq1qq]

I had a ss50 put the 70 top end on it it went well then happy days now 60 and still biking got a few /70s/80s bikes big and small cheers ride free Dave

[@bikerdood1100]

And you too👍🏻

[@markshelton4688]

I had a red & white RD50… spent most of my life thumbing a lift when it broke down all the time. Happy days

[@bikerdood1100]

Similar story with my 125 Suzuki I’ve been sceptical about people who say that Japanese bikes are the best ever since Still pushing is very good exercise

[@scopex2749]

My Dear Mum bought me a Yamaha FS1E! I rode it until the wheels fell off! Thanks Mum wherever you are now we miss you.

[@bikerdood1100]

👍 Love to yours and every mum out there

[@Vincent-dc6ku]

16 years old in 1975, got my moped from Rumbelows in Hartlepool, it was a Casal. £200 and freedom, loads of us young lads had mopeds, Puch, Gilera, Suzuki etc. Great times.

[@bikerdood1100]

Rumbelows what a bizarre place to get a moped. I got my first fridge from there. Like the Tomos and Bondbugs at Woolies

[@stevieb9699]

Had a Honda SS50 in 1977, and it was slow compared to all my fellow apprentices who all had the 2 strokes. However, I only needed 50p worth of fuel each week though!! Happy days indeed. Great video bikerdood, thanks.

[@bikerdood1100]

Well would cost a fair bit more now. Still bloody economical though

[@sambrooks7862]

And the ss didn't heat seize on Sunday trips to the coast!

[@stevieb9699]

@@sambrooks7862 😆yes you're right but it took us twice as long to get there, but as we did not seize the engine we also got home again!

[@sambrooks7862]

@@stevieb9699 but the 2 strokes had to stop for petrol more often aswell, the furthest I rode mine was about 250 miles. My mate had family in Sussex so we rode there from East anglia. Because we could use the motorways it took ages, especially when we encountered a hill!

[@johnj4130]

Memories, I loved my AP 50, it cost me £200 in 1978. As I lived in the country it gave me and my mates the freedom to get into town and see girls.

[@bikerdood1100]

That’s a win win

[@pabbeb4144]

I still have a few old mopeds. 1x Zündapp GTS 50 from 1978, a Zündapp GTS 50 from 1981 and a Puch Maxi S Spezial from 1982. every time I go back in time when I ride one of the mopeds again. and then the smell of mixing lubrication, delicious 👌🏻😊

[@bikerdood1100]

Hope you get many more years out of them

[@simonwiltshire7089]

Had a yellow FS1E DX. Loved it. 1977 - great times on that bike.

[@bikerdood1100]

As I like to say bikes make memories

[@Elvisdukebox]

First bike I owned was a brand new, purple FS1E, lovely first moped, had it for about a year then moved up to a Yamaha 125 sport in blue. Bring back so many memory's from years past. Through the years I've had a BMW 1100, suzuki 250 and now two Yamaha MT-07 2021, and part exchanged last year for a new MT-07 Cyan. Love it to bits. 🏍🏍🏍🏍🏍

[@bikerdood1100]

Glad it’s bringing back happy memories

[@jagmarc]

4:38 100 km/hr takes me back to the 70s after changed rear sprocket ratio. We used to get more torque from removing the head gasket, porting the exhaust, more head skimming and then switching to 4* fuel when head too much skimmed, or get hole burned in piston. Such fun

[@bikerdood1100]

A lot can be achieved on the right hill

[@jagmarc]

@@bikerdood1100 yes, going up hills and leaving all the other 50s behind, SS50s always were first left behind. After sooping up you had to change the sprockets to stop the engine screaming 15000 rpm in top

[@SimonMaguire-l9i]

I bought a fizzy in 1978 when I was 16,it was a 1976 P plate in yellow with pedals,I had it ported and a expansion exhaust fitted,the noise from it was unbelievable, I used to lay on the tank and managed to get it flat out 49mph.oh those where the days,when I turned 17 I upgraded to a suzuki GT250.

[@bikerdood1100]

Life is easier with CCs that’s for sure

[@SimonMaguire-l9i]

Loved the video by the way,thank you.

[@steveturansky9031]

In the early 70's, my brother and I got a Motobecane moped that was patterned after an MX bike. It had knobbies and high fenders. Great bike.

[@bikerdood1100]

A shame Motobecane didn’t survive as an independent manufacturer

[@patbutete1722]

Fizzy! Yeah!! Got mine for a tenner from this kid couldn't get it going. Took it to Maitland racing. They could not get it running either. Anyway,got myself a workshop manual and managed to work out the reed valve was the culprit. Great fun I had with it.Mates Chris Pedro and his AP50. Tom Pollard with a Puch Maxi.Vince McGann with his crappy Tomos!...Them the days lol!

[@bikerdood1100]

Goo look get one for a tenner today 😂

[@smudgermick]

I had an AP50 in 1982. It cost me the princely sum of £200 and I loved it! Most of my mates had fizzies (which I never liked), although there was another AP50 and a Puch Grand Prix in our crowd. Happy days!

[@bikerdood1100]

What can you get for 200 quid these days 🤔

[@smudgermick]

@@bikerdood1100 I think you'd struggle to get a night out to be honest. Thanks for doing the videos, great memories/dreams!

[@soulcarrot]

Was lucky to have both in 1979, reason being parked my Fizzy Dx in the front of a maxi so bought an AP, as a 16 year old they were the best of times.

[@bikerdood1100]

Well apart from the maxi episode

[@andyt48]

Happy happy memories, oh and the Gilera enduro too.

[@bikerdood1100]

That’s what bikes can do Stir memories

[@stevereed5046]

Brilliant video bought back lots of memories 9:08

[@bikerdood1100]

Glad it brought back some good memories

[@anthonycarty9433]

Most surprised not to see any Italian 'peds in the list . They were the most common around where I lived . Fantics being the number one make ( a moped chopper anyone ? ) then Garelli . Got beat by a Fantic GT on the Ewell bypass whilst riding my KH250 , it desperately needed a decoke . Happy days .

[@bikerdood1100]

Need to save some for part 2

[@paulharrion3398]

Suzuki AP 50 RBH 161R First bike on the road. Loved it! 💨

[@bikerdood1100]

Nice 👍

[@christal-clear4505]

My Honda SS50 with pedals (for when I ran out of petrol or it just died 😂) from my youth still leaves a hole in my heart

[@bikerdood1100]

Always imagine the pedals being bloody hard work

[@christal-clear4505]

@@bikerdood1100 ooooooh yes, imagine a push bike dragging a heavy lead weight, that’d be about it, thighs of iron! 🤣🤣

[@bikerdood1100]

@@christal-clear4505 well that sounds fun

[@christopherenmarch5699]

I went from Newport in Shropshire to Buckley in Kent on my ss 50 when sixteen .. took me 8 hours on the A5 stopping at most cafes as it was cold autumn .. went through London ( nightmare ) burnt out an exhaust valve on return journey .. happy days

[@bikerdood1100]

Poor bike

[@Ontheroadtourism]

I had a Honda SS50 as 16 year old in 1981 and it was so cool riding it to school. Quickly followed by a Yamaha TY 50.

[@bikerdood1100]

Nice

[@matthewhaddon599]

I had a Fantic in about 1978 which blew up shortly after I bought it as some previous owner had removed the head gasket to get more power out of it. It wasn't a bad bike after a rebuild!

[@bikerdood1100]

Oh 🙄

[@jamoco1]

We had AP, fs1e and ss in the family. big bore kit for my ap and exhaust mods saw it at 60+ ,and new pedals weekly

[@bikerdood1100]

Shhh Don’t let the law know 😂

[@jafo4u508]

Very fun video to watch, unbelievable the price they sell for today.

[@bikerdood1100]

Isn’t it though

[@mryorkshire3623]

I had a 1976 KTM Comet Cross in gold. Don't see any about today sadly. It produced a whopping 3 bhp. I had to hang on for my dear life !!

[@bikerdood1100]

In Yorkshire too, bet hills were a tonne of fun Well down bank at least

[@DavidBurns174]

i had an SS50 but my mate went and paid a fortune for the Fantic Chopper

[@bikerdood1100]

Well her certainly had interesting taste if nothing else

[@recoil7.625]

Ap50 all day for me ,my mates had fizzys ,sprayed mine gloss black with a fresco pipe, sounded great!

[@bikerdood1100]

Seems a 50/50 split between the Ap and the fizzy

[@MarkMACG]

I am surprised that Kawasaki AR50 isn’t on the list. Fabulous looking moped & the best looking of ALL the bikes of that era.

[@bikerdood1100]

Well simply because I wanted to limit the video run time It’s not a best of after all

[@MarkMACG]

@ totally understand very informative anyway brought back memories

[@murrayarmstrong499]

Five of us went to Corfu in about 1977 and rented Yamaha 50s. None of us had ridden a motorcycle of any kind before. By the second day, we were racing everywhere. Long straight roads weren’t much fun but these were few and far between on Corfu. It was an unforgettable experience. The speedos would show 85+ kph but it felt like a lot more and was probably a lot less! We all survived, which was probably a miracle.

[@bikerdood1100]

It’s always a bit of a moment when a small bike hits the limit

[@majorgify]

After doing my O levels in 1976, I spent all summer working in a warehouse to save the money to buy a new Fizzy. Happy days 😊

[@bikerdood1100]

Well you’d have too Unless you have generous parents I don’t 😂