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Most durable moped/engine

I was just wondering which brand or engine is most durable? Which one can you pack the miles on and with proper maintenance would still last you a while?
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Re: Most durable moped/engine

  • Author: SUNSET vanilla thunder-brokane (---.twcny.res.rr.com)
  • Verified User: motobrokane
  • Date Posted: 11-06-09 01:07

all of them?
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Re: Most durable moped/engine

  • Author: Tony (129.32.40.---)
  • Verified User: stonyman215
  • Date Posted: 11-06-09 01:32

Tomos vs Puch vs Minarelli vs Motobecane vs Garreli vs Peugeot vs Honda vs Sachs vs General vs Derbi vs JCPenny Kreidler vs Batavus vs yata yata yata
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Re: Most durable moped/engine

sach 504 or 505
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Re: Most durable moped/engine

  • Author: A-ko (---.desm.qwest.net)
  • Verified User: a_ko
  • Date Posted: 11-06-09 02:54

i would hold puch e50 as probably one of the most reliable engines of all time, mainly because of the simplicity. no variator to give you trouble or belt or anything to wear out, just a super simple chain-drive engine that basically cant fail.

i know people will disagree, and i know that a moby or peugeot or honda or vespa or sachs or any number of other engines are also insanely reliable, but i just trust an e50 because there is just SO LITTLE that could possibly fail on it.
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Re: Most durable moped/engine

  • Author: SUNSET vanilla thunder-brokane (---.twcny.res.rr.com)
  • Verified User: motobrokane
  • Date Posted: 11-06-09 03:00

meh, the things that fail on a puch are the same things that fail on every other bike. condensers, timing, carbs, whatever. theyre all the same
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Re: Most durable moped/engine

  • Author: zeke (---.subnet125-160-112.speedy.telkom.net.id)
  • Verified User: ai
  • Date Posted: 11-06-09 03:05

a well maintained one. no really if you beat a bike to hell and never change the oil its gonna die. but if you treat it semi decently and leave it stock. most bikes will turn to rust before you put enuf miles on them to kill it.
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Re: Most durable moped/engine

  • Author: tdc pinascokitten (---.hsd1.ca.comcast.net)
  • dean
  • Date Posted: 11-06-09 03:08

a well maintained a35 running the proper oil would last as long as or longer than an e50 i think, and be a more fun ride.
if i had to pick one stock bike and stick with it forever, though, it would probably be my sachs 2 speed. or a peugeot.
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Re: Most durable moped/engine

  • Author: orange JUICE (---.hantover.com)
  • Verified User: orangerobin
  • Date Posted: 11-06-09 08:46

I think that variated bikes are the best. They allow the motor to sping at roughly the same rpm for most of its life. Working parts dont like transients. Plus the variator just needs to be oiled or greased every once in a while. Easy to use, fun to ride..all around the best bang for the buck.
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Re: Most durable moped/engine

I just had a tire problem, a flat.

Moped engines are all fine.
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Re: Most durable moped/engine

  • Author: wiffleball (---.dhcp.aldl.mi.charter.com)
  • Verified User: wiffleball
  • Date Posted: 11-06-09 09:37

Honda.
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Re: Most durable moped/engine

  • Author: doppelkolben (---.gac.com)
  • jconstantinos
  • Date Posted: 11-06-09 09:45

“a well maintained one.”

No. If it needs to be maintained, then it’s not durable, is it?

Hondas, Suzukis, and Yamahas run without maintenance. They will run for years on rusty gas mixed with olive oil, and duct-taped tires, and one brake, and…

+++

Variated bikes use belts. No final drive wears out faster than a belt (except a BMW driveshaft, but that doesn’t count).

Belts even have a shelf-life – an oiled chain will sit for years without damage where a belt will rot.
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Re: Most durable moped/engine

  • Author: orange JUICE (---.hantover.com)
  • Verified User: orangerobin
  • Date Posted: 11-06-09 09:59

Chains rust and break.

Reliability and Durability are two different things.

Durable-

Reliable-
!
http://moesucks.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/honda_hobbit.jpg!
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Re: Most durable moped/engine

  • Author: orange JUICE (---.hantover.com)
  • Verified User: orangerobin
  • Date Posted: 11-06-09 10:21
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Re: Most durable moped/engine

  • Author: mopedjay (---.hsd1.ma.comcast.net)
  • jasont
  • Date Posted: 11-06-09 11:03

jawa 210 and dont say no cause the cog belt will break im still on the same damn one and theres at least 20,000 miles on it

i run this bike through the swamps out in the woods i never maintain it at all never has left me stranded like my puch and my derbi has many times

i say jawa 210 2 speed is the most reliable and durable moped engine ya cant kill the fuckin thing

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Re: Most durable moped/engine

Honda. they make good shit that lasts.
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Re: Most durable moped/engine

  • Author: Lance Campeau (---.dsl.bell.ca)
  • Verified User: lancecampeau
  • Date Posted: 11-06-09 12:59

sweet Jawa
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Re: Most durable moped/engine

  • Author: Rob Burrito (---.hsd1.pa.comcast.net)
  • Verified User: roburrito
  • Date Posted: 11-06-09 13:40

definitely McCoullgh or Kamasura, that’s why there isn’t even a repair tutorial in the wiki they’re so fucking reliable, never needed repair.
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Re: Most durable moped/engine

McCollogh BHE900 (found only on the AMF Roadmaster)
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Re: Most durable moped/engine

Sachs manual two speed! Do you know anyone who has kitted one of those?
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Re: Most durable moped/engine

  • Author: mopedjay (---.hsd1.ma.comcast.net)
  • jasont
  • Date Posted: 11-06-09 14:20

mccollough made the worst engines ever their yard equipment was just total crap
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Re: Most durable moped/engine

  • Author: mopedjay (---.hsd1.ma.comcast.net)
  • jasont
  • Date Posted: 11-06-09 15:29

rob h in khz has one kitted and it fuckin hauls i think its the fastest bike in boston
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Re: Most durable moped/engine

  • Author: SUNSET motobrokane (---.twcny.res.rr.com)
  • Verified User: motobrokane
  • Date Posted: 11-06-09 15:38

you guys arent REALLY debating belts vs. chains are you?

thats like saying FUCK SPARK PLUGS, THEY GO BAD
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Re: Most durable moped/engine

  • Author: Bret (---.sfo2.dsl.speakeasy.net)
  • bret
  • Date Posted: 11-06-09 15:43
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Re: Most durable moped/engine

  • Author: Todd (---.columbus.res.rr.com)
  • Verified User: jaco4life
  • Date Posted: 11-06-09 15:48

Hero. :)
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Re: Most durable moped/engine

  • Author: mopedjay (---.hsd1.ma.comcast.net)
  • jasont
  • Date Posted: 11-06-09 15:52

the worst scooter honda ever made
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Re: Most durable moped/engine

I like it when they mod the shit out of a honda ruckus:
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Re: Most durable moped/engine

  • Author: Oleg Kostoglotov (---.cc.shawcable.net)
  • Verified User: olegkostoglotov
  • Date Posted: 11-06-09 19:37

It depends on the design, I would venture that the most durable engines are the ones with iron cylinder barrels, even if a bearing blows up, the piston seizes, or a ring cracks, the worst you have to do is bore it out. So the PA50s are iron, so are some Garellis, along with Laura M48s and the Velosolex engines. I would guess that an M48 would be near the top, not a fast engine but very simple, the PA50 Honda is also very good. On the Velosolex the engine is fine but the internal ignition coil is an Achilles heel.
There aren’t too many bad engines with the name brand machines, the longest stock moped ride was on a 1978 50V Mobylette in 1978 by a fellow named Walter Muma. 11,000+ miles in 1978 without anything other then the odd carb cleaning, plug changes, and decarboning thanks to the 70’s two stroke oil.
There isn’t such a thing as a no maintenance moped, chains need oil and bearings need an occasional greasing. There is a an engineering joke about what no maintenance and low maintenance mean. No maintenance means impossible to repair. Low maintenance means nearly impossible to repair.
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Re: Most durable moped/engine

  • Author: Tate (---.dhcp.mdsn.wi.charter.com)
  • Verified User: madtownmick
  • Date Posted: 11-06-09 20:16

I guess its not a moped but if I had to a bet my life on a moped getting me somewhere, it would be a honda express.

They refuse to stop running. They also run roughly the same and usually don’t “sorta run”. A lot of hobbits sorta run, in the way that they start but they wont idle, or they will idle but they don’t variate, or they variate but the pedals are broken, or the electrical shit gives problems or or or. The actual engine on the hobbit is almost the same as an express, but the other stuff that makes it better, i.e. the variators and pedals are the things that give out.

As far as actual mopeds, I would say the puch E50. E50s will run with 1/2 of one ring, they will run on ancient gas, they will run after being seized a dozen times, they will run with bearings that sound like a garbage disposal, and they don’t have any fatal and or endemic electrical issues. Also the frames are tough as hell. I have never seen a kinked maxi frame. Only problem is the internal gas tank. That is the only major strike against it. I have never owned a pinto or a free spirit or a murray or any of the external tank E50s, so I donno how those frames are.

Tomos A35s are good but they have clutch issues pretty often. That is kind of their weak point. Also where the tomos body itself is pretty tough, the materials and build quality could be a little better. The plastics are fragile, the paint chips/flakes easily, they rust up if you don’t keep them inside. They are good, just not the best.

I would have to say the worst by far is the Motobecane. The frame itself is ok, and it feels solid when you rid it, but there is always some bullshit problem or riddle you can’t solve or part you can’t get off. A lot of mopeds wont run because there is something wrong with them, no spark, no mixture, no compression. A motobecane will not run or stop running just because it feels like it. Once I spent all morning fixing a motobecane and I finally got it running right. I went to eat lunch and when I came back it had a new problem and never ran again. True story.
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Re: Most durable moped/engine

ROKON! 2wd motorcycle! SWEET!
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Re: Most durable moped/engine

Sweet Hobitt lame windshield, my hobbit has not had any maintenence since ‘98? same plug, and I run 25:1! Starts every time all the time!
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Re: Most durable moped/engine

Not a moped but bulletproof for sure!
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Re: Most durable moped/engine

I guess just maintaining point gap good.

As well as the right pre-mix.
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Re: Most durable moped/engine

I would have to say Honda or Motobecane. My Hobbit has never failed me EVER! I have had several Moby 50v’s and the engines themselves are gems if they have not been fucked around with. the do have some electrical gremlins (condensor!) and you must grease the varriator, I have personally put over 7k on a bone stock 50v (my first moped) the only things I ever replaced were both brake cables and the rear tire. Never cleaned carb, cleaned the spark plug once. Ran stock mix 32:1. I would also vote for the Puch e-50 based on what I have learned on this site. I have never owned one though so can’t speak from experience.
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Re: Most durable moped/engine

  • Author: tomtom (---.nyc.res.rr.com)
  • Verified User: pseudofib
  • Date Posted: 11-06-09 21:47

ROKON are sooooooooooooooooooooo sweet like sugar yum yum yum

seriously tho.. minarelli v1 are solid stock. only problem I have had were the bearings w/ the rod… and that was my fault.

3 engines and about about 3 years

my experience is extremely limited though
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Re: Most durable moped/engine

ROKONS are amazing contraptions, never had the pleasure of riding one, are they still made?
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Re: Most durable moped/engine

  • Author: A-ko (---.desm.qwest.net)
  • Verified User: a_ko
  • Date Posted: 11-07-09 03:14

tate, i would agree that the honda express engine is probably one of the most bulletproof engines ever made, that and the classic 3/4 speed OHC engine they use on tons of shit, same one the lifan knockoff is based on

however neither of these are moped engines.

my honda hobbit was probably the most trashed moped i have ever owned, and the engine sounded like it was going to explode, but damn, that thing was reliable.

but yeah i’d agree. any moped engine is reliable with proper maintenance.
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Re: Most durable moped/engine

much as i hate to say it, I have never been let down by a Laura 48
When you absolutely positively have to get there
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Re: Most durable moped/engine

  • Author: zeke (---.subnet110-137-227.speedy.telkom.net.id)
  • Verified User: ai
  • Date Posted: 11-07-09 09:42

^^ next week
j/k
i was let down by an fa 50 when i premixed wrong, blew a 30 year old head gasket, and when it ran out of gas. so if you keep your injector , keep your revs stock, and keep gas in it, it will not let you down. pretty reliable i would say.
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Re: Most durable moped/engine

  • Author: wiffleball (---.dhcp.aldl.mi.charter.com)
  • Verified User: wiffleball
  • Date Posted: 11-07-09 11:39

You’ve got to make one exception though. I have a ‘69 McCullough outboard that other than being a bit noisy is freaking awesome!
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Re: Most durable moped/engine

  • Author: tomtom (---.nyc.res.rr.com)
  • Verified User: pseudofib
  • Date Posted: 11-07-09 21:14

rokons are still made… they’ve even expanded their line

those lifan honda knock offs are fucking bullet proof too… but none of these are moped so ill exit the thread :/
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Re: Most durable moped/engine

  • Author: A-ko (---.desm.qwest.net)
  • Verified User: a_ko
  • Date Posted: 11-07-09 22:48

yeah ive heard nothing but good thing about Lifans, even from hardcore honda purists. they are solid engines.
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Re: Most durable moped/engine

  • Author: zeke (---.subnet110-137-227.speedy.telkom.net.id)
  • Verified User: ai
  • Date Posted: 11-07-09 23:47

lifans are shit quality, of an indestructible design. like a new 125cc lifan will go the same speed as a 90cc honda beat to hell. still practically built proof though.
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Re: Most durable moped/engine

  • Author: Seth Zaiser (---.hsd1.pa.comcast.net)
  • Verified User: sdzaiser
  • Date Posted: 11-08-09 17:03

I have the bike apart right now to make it look pretty, but I have a feeling my Honda PC50 is going to be about the most reliable ped ever. It has about 5000 miles on it already and has most likely not had an oil change since 1969 when it was new. It still runs perfectly.
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Re: Most durable moped/engine

  • Author: patrick (---.jax.bellsouth.net)
  • Verified User: dr_moped
  • Date Posted: 11-08-09 17:22

The way i look at it is which engine has the best seals. To me,the seals are the largest part, and all the other problems that could take place average them for the other part. Doing that, the M-56 engine is the only conclusion i have come to.At least it is the best belt driven moped engine. You have to change the breaker points in them at some point, clean the jet, and also the belt might break.
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Re: Most durable moped/engine

  • Author: patrick (---.jax.bellsouth.net)
  • Verified User: dr_moped
  • Date Posted: 11-08-09 17:24

You might be right about the Honda PC50,since i have never owned or worked or rode one.
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