Established in 1923, Motobecane was a French manufacturer of bicycles, mopeds, motorcycles, and other small vehicles. In 1981, Motobecane filed for bankruptcy, and was subsequently purchased by Yamaha and reformed in 1984 as MBK.

The French company continues to make motorscooters, and has no relation to MotobecaneUSA, which imports bicycles from Taiwan and China, manufactured to their specification under the Motobecane trademark.

MBK (mbk-europe.com)

The scooter was produced from 1975 to 1997. The company now focused on producing 3-wheelers.

Scooters India Limited (scootersindia.com)

I first learn of Lambretta from the Motorcycle Philippines. Impressed by their excitment, I dug further.

Here is a summary from Wikipedia.

The Innocenti company started producing Lambretta scooter after World War II in 1947 and production ceased in 1971. Lambrettas were also manufactured under licence in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, India and Spain, sometimes under other names but always with a recognizable design (e.g. Siambretta in South America and Serveta in Spain).

The Indian government bought the factory after the company went into financial difficulties in 1972. Scooters India Ltd. , a state-run enterprise, produced scooters up till 1998. Now the company produces a 3-wheeler pick-up truck powered by the Lambretta engine.

Like Vespas, Lambrettas have 3 or 4 gears and two stroke motors with capacities ranging from 49cc to 198cc.

Today Vespa and Lambrettas attracted an ecclectic following of “revival” mods, collectors and scooterists. Many owners customize these scooters with elaborate customizations and paintwork.

More of the Lambretta history from the Cambridge Lambretta Workshops.

Any idea Scooter fans?

Who is she and in which movie?

So what difficientiates a motorcycle, a scooter and a moped?

Let’s start with the moped. A moped really a motorized bicycle, usually equiped with a small capacity (50cc) two-stock engine or electric motor.

A scooter is characterised by automatic transmission and a step-through frame allowing the rider to ride with both feet on a running-board and knees together. Traditionally the engine capacity are small (up to 125cc). Now there are maxi-scooter with engine capacity up to 400cc.

The distinction between moped and a scooter/motorcycle is increasing blurred.

How do you classify the bike on the right?
With a design like a scooter but with padders, how do you classify it?

In many China cities, this is causing difficulties for the legislator and at the same time, danger to pedestrians.

Finally, a motorcycle is is a two-wheeled vehicle powered by an engine. On a typical motorcycle the operator sits astride the vehicle on a seat, with their hands on a set of handlebars and their feet supported by footpegs.

reference: Types of motorcycle

Started in 1963, the company is the largest scooter manufacturer in Taiwan.

To understand what’s the deal of being the largest scooter manufacturer in Taiwan, check out this photo. It is not exaggerating to say that every Taiwanese know how to ride a scooter.

Kymco also produces motorcycle in China (Changzhou, Jiangsu) as Changzhou Kwang Yang Motor Co.,Ltd (常州光阳摩托车有限公司).

(kymco.com)

Vespa (vespa.com)

Today I’m looking at Jinan Qingqi Motorcycle, one of the larger manufacturer mainland. Jinan is the provincial capital of Shandong Province while Qingqi means “light ride” referring to light transportation like motorcycles, scooters, electric bike.

Since China has a restriction on large capacity bike, they, like other chinese makers, manufacture bike up to 250cc.

They have a English version of their website, take a look.

Look at this nice looking bike. I doubt if any of these are available outside of China.