Moped

moped: see motorcycle.

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moped

Brit a light motorcycle, not over 50cc

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Moped 

a name designating a two-wheeled vehicle with an internal-combustion engine with a piston displacement of up to 49.8 cm³ and pedal and chain drive to the rear wheel.

In the USSR, light mopeds are equipped with an engine having a piston displacement of 45 cm³ and a power of 0.88–1.1 kilowatt (kW), or 1.2–1.5 hp; they have no transmission and are capable of speeds of up to 40 km/hr. Standard mopeds are equipped with a one-cylinder two-cycle engine with a piston displacement of 49.8 cm³ and a power of 1.62–1.84 kW (2.2–2.5 hp), with a two-speed transmission. They are capable of speeds of up to 50 km/hr. Shifting is accomplished by operating a handle on the left handlebar. Pedals are used to start the engine, for braking, and as a support for the feet while riding. Mopeds are also frequently equipped with a stepless, automatic V-belt drive and an electronic ignition system. Mopeds with a motor driven by a storage battery have appeared in some foreign countries.

Mass production of mopeds began in the late 1940’s and is increasing continuously. In the USSR mopeds are manufactured in Riga and L’vov (see Table 1). Production in 1972 was 340,000 units.

Table 1. Technical characteristics of Soviet mopeds
	Riga-7	Riga- 12 and Verkhovina-4
Type of engine .....	D-6	Sh-57
Maximum engine power, kW (hp) .....	0.88 (1 .2) @ 4,500 rpm	1.62 (2.2) @ 5,300 rpm
Maximum speed (km/hr) .....	40	50
Weight (kg) .....	36	52

REFERENCE

Grishin, E. M., and Z. la. lanson. Mopedy: Ustroistvo i ekspluatatsiia. Moscow, 1966.

S. IU. IVANITSKII and B. V. SINEL’NIKOV