What moped should I buy? If you’re getting into vintage mopeds, this might be one of the questions you have. How much is a moped? This question is usually another popular one. We’ve covered that in a previous article.
Choosing a moped is subjective and depending on who you ask you will get different answers. I suggest asking as many moped enthusiasts you can find. Then choose the average or popular choice among them. There are a few vintage moped shops around, I would suggest reaching out to them and hearing what they suggest. Ask them what is their more popular moped to sell and why.
I’m here to get you started on your information quest if this is one of your questions. Depending on where you are located the answer may be as simple as the one you can afford or get your hands on. I’m not 100% happy with that answer because when I remember back to starting out with mopeds there were some mopeds I would recommend to stay away from.
Here are my top 3 mopeds you should buy if you’re starting out with mopeds and the reasons behind them.
WHAT MOPED SHOULD I BUY – #1
One of the most popular moped engines is the Puch E50. This engine was available on many moped models. An E50 is a simple two-stroke engine to work on. There are a lot of parts and internet support for this engine. The specific vintage moped models with this engine I would recommend are:
SEARS FREE SPIRIT
The Sears Free Spirit started out as a moped offered in Sears catalogs. It is a step-threw design with a removable gas tank. The forks and rear shocks make this moped one of the taller mopeds. It’s a great ride for someone 5.5 or taller. If it feels too tall smaller forks can be swapped out to lower the ride height. The frame is made from solid steel tubing. Its rear swingarm is also one of my favorite features. The moped just feels solid.
PUCH MAGNUM
A Puch Magnum is another good choice. It shares a lot of the same “good” features as the Free Spirit but with a larger gas tank. In addition to the top-mounted gas tank, the tubular frame has center support for that gas tank to mount to. That additional center support makes the magnum feel more solid than the Free Spirit. Also, you have to admit the classic look of a Magnum is nice.
J.C. PENNEY PINTO/SWINGER
The Pinto or Swinger model mopeds share a similar story to the Free Spirit. They were mopeds offered in a catalog for J.C. Penney. There are four models to choose from the Swinger, Swinger 2, Pinto, and Pinto 2. Of those four I recommend the last three and not the Swinger. I say this only because the Swinger was fully rigid and did not have shock absorbers in the rear or front forks. Its an awesome collector’s piece but a rigid ride might not be comfortable to you.
These mopeds are step-threw designs with removable gas tanks like the Free Spirit. They sit lower than the Magnum and Free Spirit. This is a great choice for smaller riders but is still comfortable for taller riders. The one thing I do not like about the Pinto and Swinger is the rear swingarm. They are stamped steel and not tubes like the Magnum or Free Spirit.
PUCH COBRA
Finally, to complete my first choice of recommended mopeds for new riders it is the Puch Cobra. The Cobra is the successor of the Puch Magnum. It also has a tubular frame and a top tank. The Magnum can be thought of as the top tank version of the Free Spirit. Similarly, the Puch Cobra is the top tank version of the Pinto/Swinger. It shares the same build quality and height as the Pinto. A Cobra also has a stamped steel swingarm.
These four would be my go-to mopeds of choice. They can difficult to find but not impossible and sometimes carry a larger price because of it.
The Puch E50 did come on other mopeds and you could just pick any of them that has it. The Maxi is one of the most popular models with that engine. There are two issues I have with the maxi. One is the stamped steel rear swingarm like the Cobra and Pinto. The other is the Stamped steel frame with the gas tank integrated into it. If you find a Maxi with a rusty gas tank, it isn’t impossible to clean but if the tank has holes it cannot be replaced like the four listed as number one.
WHAT MOPED SHOULD I BUY – #2
My second recommendation would then be a Tomos moped. The Tomos two-stroke moped is an automatic two-speed engine. This gives it good low-end acceleration. The A35 and A55 engines are available in a pedal and kick start versions. They are easy to start and do not require holding a clutch engagement lever like a Puch or Minarelli. If you have the pedal version you simply kick either of the pedals backward to start.
Like the E50, there are a number of parts and support on the internet. The A55 engine is my favorite of the two. I have seen these engines perform like a moped that has $300 in performance parts added to it for less money. Do not turn away an A35 engine either, these are simple to work on and have a lot of performance potential.
In the U.S. market, we got a lot of the stamped steel frame model variations like the Sprint or LX. The way I feel about the Maxi is the same I feel about the Sprint A35 models. Sprints and other step-threw models have the gas tank located in the frame. The A35 or older A3 versions came with stamped steel swingarms that have been known to bend. Because of this, I recommend the following:
TOMOS STREETMATE
The Tomos Streetmate is a larger moped with a faux top gas tank that is really a storage compartment. The gas tank for this model is designed into its frame but the frame is tubular steel and not stamped together. Most tubular frames are my go-to choice. The Streetmate comes with solid traditional forks and a popular front disk brake. Oil injection is standard making fill-ups easier. But the oil injector has been a fail point if it stops working then oil will not be fed into the engine causing it to seize. Streetmate models are equipped with an A55 engine and upgraded suspension for a passenger.
TOMOS TARGA LX
My next choice for a Tomos would the later model Targa LX with the A55 engine. The LX is a top tank version of the Tomos step-threw models. It shares the same stamped steel frame as the other but with a larger top tank that can be removed. Targa LX models came with either an A3, A35, and A55 engine. The A55 models share the same forks as the street mate minus the front disk brake. They have a solid square swingarm like the Streetmate only it isn’t as long. These are not as tall as the Streetmate and only made for single riders.
WHAT MOPED SHOULD I BUY – #3
For my third option, its a tie between to variated mopeds. A variated moped provides a range of “gearing” and usually have a better take off and acceleration similar to a two speed.
DERBI
Derbi mopeds are a brand from Spain. These mopeds two-stroke engines combine technology from variated engines but provide an option for chain gearing as well. They make for a good performance upgrade platform and I have seen many build these engines to hit some high speeds for a moped. A good option for taller riders is a Derbi Variant. Some downsides to a Derbi are the stamped frames, this is subjective but I don’t have a lot of faith in stamped frames. The other downside is the price point. Derbi’s popularity is on the rise. The U.S. market did not see a lot of Derbi mopeds making them difficult to find or higher up in price point.
HONDA HOBBIT PA50ii
Hobbit mopeds are by far one of my favorite mopeds. I’ve been riding mine for over 4 years, though it’s down at the moment. It may be time for a rebuild. Early Honda Hobbit mopeds came in two models. PA50i/PA50/PA50I (roman numeral for 1) model is restricted to 20 MPH max speed. A PA50II or PA50ii (roman numeral for 2) is the version I recommend. 1980 is the final year for the PA50I and only the PA50II was produced.
A stock or original PA50ii is simple to operate. They are light mopeds with a good launch or take off. There are many performance parts and support online. The moped is a step-threw tubular frame design with a removable gas tank. Some downsides are the plastic trim pieces break and usually lost. A weak point for these is the stamped steel subframe/swingarm. It is a Honda model so the wiring is intricate for a moped. The good news is there are suppliers making new trim pieces and subframe/swingarms of better material so those can be replaced. The wiring can be simplified if you ever need to mess with electrical issues.
WHAT MOPED SHOULD I NOT BUY
For a first-time moped buyer, there are a few mopeds I would try to stay away from. I covered this in my article about How Much is a Moped, but ill share it here as well.
Until you get comfortable with mopeds I would not recommend these engines/brands for beginners for different reasons:
- Motobecane – Difficult to work on. It could be difficult to start.
- Peugeot – Difficult to work on. It could be difficult to start.
- Vespa – It could be difficult to start.
- Sachs – Could have some clutch issues.
- Batavus – Low speed, not as easy to make faster as some other mopeds. Difficult to work on. It could be difficult to start.
- Jawa – Not a large aftermarket of parts.
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