yamaha fs1e suzuki ap50 garelli tigercross honda ss50 fanti

http://www.uk-ims.com
2 Stroke Bikes of the 70's and 80's
Being a teenager back in the 70's and early 80's meant that your first form of transport at the age of 16 was probably one of the many mopeds on the market. Bikes like the Yamaha FS1E, Suzuki's AP50, Garelli's Tigercross,Fantic Caballero and the 4 stroke Honda SS50 to name but a few.With a top speed of around 50 MPH these little bikes opened up a whole new world for youngsters who wanted to feel grown up.

With a bit of tax,insurance and some petrol in the tank, they could travel for around 100 miles on one tank full of fuel but in reality all they ever done was to drive around the towns where they lived annoying the locals by riding around in large groups.These little mopeds were often abused, thrashed and smashed by their young riders and as a result of this, a lot of them didn't last very long. You were only interested in mopeds until you turned 17 and then you were legally allowed to ride a 250cc bike with learner plates until you passed your test. After that, there was no limit to the bike you could ride.

A generation of cult 2 strokes emerged, bikes like the Yamaha RD250/400 air-cooled, RD350LC, RD500, Suzuki's GT250X7, RG500, Kawasaki KH250,the legendry H2 750 Triple and Honda's NS400 to name but a few.These high performance 2 strokes were the main choice for youngsters because of their power and sports styling. A lot of youngsters were killed as a result of having little riding experience.This prompted changes in the law when in 1978 mopeds were governed to a maximum speed of 30 mph and this then brought an end to the sports moped era. In 1982, 17 year olds were restricted to ride 12 BHP 125 cc bikes on learner plates so this killed off the demand for the 250cc 2 strokes.Over the following years, emission laws got tighter and these bikes were forgotten.

Nearly 30 years on a generation of 40 something's have remembered the fun these bikes brought and are now actively restoring and riding these cult bikes again. As a result of this, clubs have been formed and the prices of these bikes has rocketed over the last few years.Just take a look on the auction websites and you will find a mass of classic 2 strokes and parts selling for serious money. There is a whole network of people who have started businesses restoring these old bikes and make a living doing it too.A lot of these bikes were left in the back of garages and sheds when their young owners passed their car test and forgotten about. You may know of someone who may have one of these bikes sitting in the back of their garage and could be sitting on a little gold mine.One of the greatest things about owning and riding a 2 stroke motorcycle was the way the power came in. Low down the rev range there was very little power but when you hit a certain amount of revs, the bikes used to take off like a scalded cat. This rush of acceleration is what we all wanted.

Today's superbikes are capable of outrageous top speeds but the laws don't allow you to travel at these speeds let alone all the speed traps there are about. At least you can ride these classic 2 strokes and get the thrill of a power band and not excessively break any speed limits.If you are interested in these classic bikes, why not try one out. You may be surprised with the fun you can have.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• rd350lc
• rd400
• rd500
• suzuki rg500
• kawasaki kh250

[funnyfellowhahaha]

magic.....but how do you get away with building bikes in the lounge

[seemar49]

Hi John had fizzys in nearly every room of his house. This Guy wrote a restoration manual as well. he knows his stuff. Check out the dvd.

[slamminshan]

hi im 25 years old when i was 16 i had an 1976 susuki ap 50 as my first bike it was imaculate a police man stoped me at some traffic lights and i thought i was in trouble but all he wanted to do was tell me he hadnt seen one of them since he was sixteen he offerd me £1600 for the bike and i said no 2 days later it was stolen from my garden and burnt out on a field i wish i had taken the money i miss it so much

[seemar49]

Sorry to hear that.

That also happened to many of them in the 70's and 80's as well.

[MuMaker]

ap50 where?????

[seemar49]

In the actual video.

[baderman01]

@slamminshan sorry to hear that mate im almost 16 an im thinkin of getting an ap 50 i think there a lovley bike

[LolzMan7756]

so ugly with pedals =D

[bellboy222]

seemar49, you are so right.! Although my first moped was a Honda SS50, I also had an FS1E, and a Fantic Chopper, before graduating to a string of 2 stroke twins, including a GT125, GT250 (M), YDS7, and an X7, also a Kh250 triple. You're right, the rush of power associated with these machines is incomparable. My ZZR1100 that I have now is obviously so much faster and more civilized, but nothing like as much fun!

[1963builder]

mine was a garelli tiger cross RVJ 115N great bike

[jezztech]

them Garelli Tiger cross`s r the dogs bolox! If you ever see one Reg No OWA4R, it was mine when was16-17, Id give someone elses right bolok for it now!!

[Del350K4]

My 1st bike was a Tigercross 50, bought from a kid at school for 18 UK pounds. I had my 1st ever brush with the law as I pushed it home...

[NETJERIRHET]

Honda ss50 was and still is THE best four stroke 50cc motorbike.

I am 19 now and I still enjoy the performance of my father's 1969 ss50. It still can reach 90km/h!

Greetings from Greece

[Gaskellis]

Had the Garelli Tiger, only bikes that could come close to matching the speed were good fizzies, Garelli Records, Suzuki AP 50....The Honda SS 50 was a Joke, a real slug of a machine (speed wise)

[simiont]

the first few thousand where called ss then they had to change to fs1e because of the honda ss

[ian9207]

racing round the streets of Preston at break-neck speeds of up to 55mph with my full fairing and homemade spannie !

i remenber trying to get 60mph downhill - what a sight that must have been to any onlookers