minarelli mopeds are the best, as far as many people are concerned. they are simple and reliable engines and are used on many models of mopeds well beyond minarelli brand itself.
i ride a 1976 bianchi snark eagle, w/ a minarelli engine. several other moped army members in the kzoo decepticon branch ride other minarelli-based mopeds. parts are rather easy to come by.
i'm curious, however, about the engine on your minarelli safari. if it has a kick start, and not a pedal start like most minarelli engines, it might be a different model engine. check and let us know.
as far as maintenance tips, they're pretty standard for most mopeds. keep the carb clean, since most problem are in the carb. be sure to check your oil in the crankcase at least once a year. the minarelli v1 engine uses sae20 motor oil ... but the kickstart engine might use something else, so check to be sure. if you have a premix engine like the v1, then be sure to use the right amount of two-stroke oil premixed w/ gas. everything else is pretty standard for any moped or motorcycle (check cables, tires, etc.).