I see them all the time - like scooters, only weedier and slower. They seem to top out at 40kph, usually have white wheels and a tiny number plate, and negligible lighting, front and rear.

But that's not my issue - it's the way they're ridden. They're ridden like pushbikes - in the gutter on the road, but will also ride on the pavement, will ride in the bike lane (technically undertaking in the process), and generally hold everyone else up once on the road.

I feel nervous on their behalf, because it doesn't look like an enjoyable, or particularly safe way to ride (thought I'm spoilt by riding a 'real' bike).

What are these things, and what's the deal with them?

They can normally go up to around 25km. They are battery operated and a charge can take you up to 20km depending on slopes and speeds. They are really good for doing regular and short round trips.

I have 2 for sale if interested (bought 2 cars to replace them)

They need a moped license (or driving license) but its not required to wear a helmet on them (as stated in the license itself)

Methinks you could mean a "Mofa" or Motoriziertes Fahrrad (motorized bicycle)

I think when I was younger, (read before license-worthy age) I totally would have wanted one of these.

Now, while I see the utility of them, I can't really understand the mentality of riding in traffic without a helmet, or out of traffic for that matter. You get one head, one brain, that's the rule. I wouldn't want to take the chance.

Yes, I think these are petrol powered - they definitely don't look or sound battery powered. Then again, I wouldn't be able to hear them over my own bike (a Diavel) anyway. They look like Cub 90's, without the fairing/bodywork.

And at the opposite end of the scale...where are all the 1000cc bikes? Surely I can't be the only guy in the Zurich/Zug area riding at the moment?

Can you post a pic, do you mean these....

No, he's talking about those glorified lawn mowers known as mopeds. They sound like someone hooked a kazoo up to a leaf blower. I wish there were a bounty on those things. They race up and down my street constantly as the idiots use footpaths and footbridge across the river as a shortcut (despite the no motorized vehicles signs)

Perhaps in hibernation due to winter tyres required?

Well, I have one and I ride it to work every day. (Triumph Speed Triple)
I've wondered since I got here why is it my liter bike has to be silent as a church but these moped things and dirt bikes can run around nearly unmuffled.

You mean these?


I think they're only reason of existance is, or was rather, they're not very popular anymore, that you could ride them with 14, scooters with 16.

As a youngster the meant freedom, almost all my friends had one in the early 90s.

Bingo - that's them!

This worries me slightly...my bike failed a drive-by noise and only scraped through the static test at my last trackday (Snetterton), and it's bloody loud in the Tunnels/car parks. And it's totally standard.

They're mopeds, Töffli in Swiss-German. 50cc, 2stroke engines with manual oil-petrol mix, loud, dirty and really slow but easy to tune and make faster, most will go about 40km/h with minimal tuning. I do believe helmets are mandatory, but hardly enforced.

Actually 49.5cc as anything above 50 is a scooter

On Puch Maxis you could straight swap the cylinder and piston for a 75cc kit (no visual difference to the 49.5cc other than lack the swiss homologation stamp on the cooling fin). Instant power and speed increase although as the speedo is only marked up to 60km/h it was hard to say exactly at what speed one topped out.

For the more technically savvy, you could change the admission pipe and exhaust pipes for larger bore ones, change the carb pointer and change the front and back pinions.

Back in the days they were the most coveted thing, with the best ones sporting all the above tune-ups plus special chrome parts (custom handle bars etc) and custom paint jobs... those were the days.

Very cheap to run and insure.

Helmet is (and was) indeed mandatory.

The motor is artificially speed restricted it it's being ridden by an under 16, which accounts for some of the infuriated wasp noise.
The pedals are mandatory as well, although a lot of kids remove them and the chain (any additions or alterations are in theory banned), which just makes their owners more determined than ever to do them!
I spent a small fortune on fines run up by my youngest when he was a teenager; they seem to be a 'rite of passage' thing on the continent and then they move on.

Kids, love 'em!

Like with fat ugly chicks, they're great fun to ride but you wouldn't want your mates to see you on one.

'Groan' button is below right etc...

[geek] Actually it's the high engine RPM that accounts for the wasp noise, not the speed restriction. [/geek]

You're almost certainly right, I was just basing it on watching kids desperately trying to make the things go faster!!!!

This is of course before they've had a chat with their mates and worked out how to remove the speed restriction 'bague'.

Everything under 1100cc is practically a pushbike