It's gasket making time!!!

Next project, Making some brake shoes for the Derbi...

The set up is…

-malossi 70cc
-malossi 50cc high comp head w/decomp
-Polini crank case
-malossi crank
-phgb 19mm
-ducatti cdi
-malossi variator
-doppler spring and clutch pulley
-doppler pipe
-45 tooth rear
-lazer sport 50 forks
-custom handle bars

Last night we tried to go on an epic ride but barely got to the other side of town. The new Doppler Clutch Pulley on Joe's moby was tearing up his belt pretty bad and my 80 Metra Kit blew a head gasket.

Rebuilding a Derbi engine is nothing like rebuilding an E50. I appreciate E50's so much more now. I initially had to rebuild this engine because the pedals were not engaging. Once I had it apart I found a lot more things that had to be fixed.

Things I replaced...
-NOS crank
-NOS clutch assembly
-TJT variator
-TJT belt
-75 Metra Kit
-All new bearings and seals
-Carbon reeds

-Still have to install the CDI and buy a carb

It took me months to find all the tools and parts to rebuild this. Having a manual definitely helped.

I hope this is not t0 off topic but I thought that with the love of moped restoration comes the appreciation of all things old and neglected.

I bought her cheap, and she has come a long way but is still The Rat.

The before pictures, about one year ago.










And the an after photo, taken last week.



Someday she might be the HooptyRide, cruising the mean streets of Westport.

Picked up the Pinto frame today from the powder coating place. Amazing! The color came out awesome. It's very different then what I originally expected, but I like it even more. I choose what I thought was a dark pearl red. Turns out the pearl (on an object with more surface area than a 2x4 inch chip) gives the red an almost orange/gold glow. The color seems to change depending on the kind of light it's in. (inside fluorescent vs outdoors) I also painted my fork upper, and handlebars in the same red. It looks really orange here, and in other light it looks like a dark burnt red.

I also had my 5 stars powder coated black along with some other miscellaneous parts which I'm still waiting to get back.

Now that I have my frame, fork, bars and wheels back I can start assembling the ped. Hopefully I'll have this thing up and running soon. More pictures to come, hopefully outdoors if it gets warmer.

It's really a crying shame I didn't take a picture of this engine before I opened her up. She was covered in sludge, rust, and black alu-tarnish. I split the case and completely rebuilt her. The kit of choice is a Athena AJH 70cc 45mm reed valve. The case was port matched and I also modified the piston by cutting out the bottom of the skirt and grinding out the 4 small holes in the pistons head into 2 large ovals. Here is what the piston looked like before.

Thanks Treats!
...and after.

After cleaning the engine again it was ready to assemble. With a new racing crank, seals, bearings, gaskets and Boyesen carbon fiber reeds she's ready to be mounted. All that's left once it's on my frame is to set up my electrical. Carb of choice- a Dellorto 19mm PHBG clamp on, with a Malossi 90degree air filter.

I own a puch magnum but decided I also wanted to build a u-frame. Since a couple friends already ride maxi's I thought it would be a good idea to build something different so I decided to build a Pinto, from the ground up.


Here is the frame and tank before restoring and powder coating.

I just got the rest of my Derbi parts back from the powder coating place. All that is left is my fork which I dropped off tonight. Everything looks sooo good!

I wish that it was warmer out so we could have went swimming.

It's almost time to rebuild the Derbi engine. I am just waiting for a few more parts from Handy Bikes. Why are there so many parts in this engine?!?!

It actually works...

This past weekend I had plans to go with my girlfriend to visit her family in New York. It also happened to be the first weekend to break 50 degrees. I really didn't want to miss out on a warm weather moped ride so I brought one with me.

I can't remember the last time that I didn't need winter gloves to ride. I really wish we had roads like this where I live. Long, hilly, lots of turns, no traffic.... So nice!