I was at Kissell Motorsports buying oil and a filter for my Vespa when owner Craig Kissell showed me his new line of bikes — the Motoped — probably the most elegantly engineered machine I’ve seen in a long time. If you want a moped, then you really need to look at the Motoped.
The Motoped is a lovely machine and comes in three versions — the Cruzer show here, the Pro, and my favorite, the Survival. And with a four-stroke, 49cc engine. Craig tells me they are built in the United States (Kansas I think) though parts are brought in from different parts of the world.
Like the Brooks leather seat on the Cruzer courtesy of Brooks Seats Limited in the United Kingdom. And the bike is loaded with machined parts that make it something you just don’t see in a moped.
The Motoped Cruzer will be a hipster hit.
Wooden fenders with brass attachments on the Cruzer. You don’t see that everyday. As I looked it over there was one feature or detail after another that made me go, “Wow”.
My favorite — the Motoped Survival. This machine had the same elegant build with all sorts of details that say let’s ride. Anywhere. With two side cans of fuel you can go and go. And on a more practical side the Motoped would offer the possibility of a little exercise with the peddling possibilities.
The price for the Motoped is around $3500. But for someone wanted to commute, run errands or explore the great outdoors, it might be the best $3500 you ever spend.
It’s a work of art. Reminds me of hand made Italian sport cars of the 1960’s. Paul
It is a lovely machine. The Leica of mopeds…
Hello Steve and thank you, please stop in and take one of our new Motopeds for a spin. They are sweeeeet!!!
Would love to take one of the Survivals for a spin. Time to write about mopeds!
Beautiful. Quick question, what brand of oil do you use for your Vespa?
You ask the hard questions. I had to run out to the garage to check on the oil:
Motul Scooter Power 4T Injection 5W40. And a HiFlo filter.
On a related note — we still need to get together for coffee. Or breakfast.
I, too, am taken with the Motoped Survival bike, Steve. If I were to add anything to the stable right now (I have no such plans), that would be it.
One other moped make that I’ve fallen for in recent years is Derringer Cycles (derringercycles.com). Though Motoped’s machines likely are better engineered, I love Derringer’s vintage appearance and customizability.
It is beautiful to behold. I don’t generally get excited by machines but this one reminded me of something I would have lusted after as a kid.
The Derringer looks cool but doesn’t hit me the way the Motoped does.
Hi, Steve,
My son just bought one of the Survival Motopeds, and it should have been delivered by now. He’s wintering up in Arizona and is looking forward to exploring the desert things on it…seems a good fit to me.
Karl U
Las Cruces, NM
You’ll have to share how it performs in the desert. Seems like a lot of possibilities with one of them.
Pretty cool but way out of my price range. The wooden fenders look pretty cool…
Aw, you can buy one with all that retirement money. That’s my plan. Someday…
You know, not typically my thing, but that last one looks sweet. I’d love to check one out.
Same here — I normally wouldn’t look twice at a moped but this one caught my eye (an imagination).
Well, I don’t know what the Pro looks like (haven’t looked it up yet), but I prefer the Cruiser – the Survival has a bit too much of a Mad Max vibe for my taste. Nice work overall though…this definitely ain’t your daddy’s moped.
You’re right about the Motoped Survival having a Mad Max vibe. Or something out of Star Wars. Either way, it definitely is not your daddy’s moped.
Seen pics before of the Motoped Survival, it’d make a good “lifeboat” to carry around on a sidecar rig, for when it breaks….
I’m surprised URAL doesn’t sell some sort of emergency moped to go with the rig. Would give you a lot more range! *grin*
I like it aha aha aha. I’m with you – Survival looks the best. Just for megacities like Toronto, it may not be the best. But for a relaxed tour along backroads….
I thought the Survival was for battling zombies!
A neat little machine.
I can see these becoming really popular in Portland. There is a large hipster population there and I think you hit it right when you said it would be popular among them.
I”m hoping to take one for a ride. We’ll see if the visual coolness translates into a cool ride.
That new two-wheeled device looks like some Rube Goldberg would have invented!
A long time friend has returned home to Canada after a two year teaching assignment
in South Vietnam. He brought with him two 49cc step=through motorcycles, one labelled Honda the other can’t recall the name. The Honda has not changed much in fifty years.
He did ride it here last evening (December 1) as there is no snow and it was not cold. He is my size physically, and like me the length of his shin bone is very long. longer than mine. Suggested iIsit on the Vietnam Honda machine, I fit! My knees cleared the handlebars. However my weight flattened the shocks. Seems these small machines often are customized to the nith degree. He suggested if I really want to do the small two wheel transport bit that we find a 49cc or equivalent machine and modify it to fit, me.
Told him I’d think about the project. He cited the numerous small mopeds in use in
lesser countries for all forms of tasks, and often well-overloaded.
It is something to contemplate. My friend returns to teaching secondary school after the change of semesters end of this coming January. He has retieved (if that be the word) his leased house and is in the process of cleaning up after the tenant left in October.
His
significant other returned to Canada during the summer and is working in Toronto
taking the commuter train into downtown. His significant other also does not own a motor vehicle using the other moped to take him to and from home.
They both want to see if they can survive without a four-wheeled device, at least forthis winter (which may prove to be mild) using the mopeds and public transit and taxis.
Seems the now-married couple have discovered an automobile is a burden; and having walked just about everywhere in Vietnam or taken public transit they have no desire to have a such a device.
I need to think the small displacement machine theory.
Steve, your first Vespa was of what cc? compared to the current model?
Am thnking 49cc is not enough oomph to move big ole me when needed; i’d have to paddle my feet to get moving perhaps.
The Motoped looks cool but riding one is entirely different. I have to admire serious moped riders like your friend. Hard to imagine that you won’t fit on almost any motorcycle but fit on a moped. Go figure.
The small displacement machine theory. I like the sounds of that. With your permission I may borrow that line of thinking.
My first Vespa was 149cc — the LX150. The current model is the GTS 250ie. It’s fuel injected with a 249cc engine. Much quicker and responsive. The LX150 wasn’t bad but the GTS is sweet.
I’ve ridden a couple 49cc scooters and they are reasonably peppy at the start but the top speed is limiting. And going up hills you find gravity a challenge.
Damn! I’m a few days late reading this! I just bought a used TW200 for bombing around Toronto for the same price! These are sweet looking tools!
The TW200 is a completely different experience from the Motoped. I’ll post something as soon as I have some free time.