VéloSoleX

The Velosolex is a moped, which was the French manufacturer Solex carburetor by Marcel Mennesson, one of the two founders, developed and produced from 1946 to 1988. Even today it is manufactured in different countries worldwide under license.

General

The vehicle has a large following and was about six million copies produced. Reason for this success is probably its simplicity and robustness, low fuel consumption of about 1.4 liters of regular gasoline two-stroke oil mixture to 100 km, the low weight of 28 kg and the acquisition cost of the last series copies in Germany cost 798 DM, as mopeds German manufacturers have cost about 1,500 DM. In 1974, the previously independent brand Velosolex to Motobécane. After Motobécane was taken over in 1983 by Yamaha and sales declined, production in France was closed on 9 November 1988. In Hungary began in 1992, the production of new vehicles on the old production facilities, which ended in 2002.

In early 2005 took with financial support of the French state and the European Union, the company MOPEX in France back in production: under the name Black'n Roll the Type S is 4800 D assembled from Chinese parts with catalyst and further modifications and shipped to Germany. Qualitatively, these vehicles are not comparable with the erstwhile originals. The naming rights for Velosolex lie at the Paris Cible Group, which brought a new interpretation to the market in turn 2005: the electrically driven Esolex.

Over the many years of production, derivatives were designed and built, such as the foldable PliSolex or a model with angular gear, which is often incorrectly referred to as shaft drive (Model Flash & 6000), in which the Solex engine was no longer mounted above the front wheel. The primal principle with folding engine over the front wheel has all the "successor" survived until today.

Technology

The classic model, the front wheel is driven by a friction roller. The two-stroke engine of the most widely used model 3800 is hingedly attached to the fork, has a displacement of 49 cc and mixed lubrication ( earlier 1: 25, today, thanks to modern oils 1: 50). Unthrottled the speed limit is the model 3800 about 30 to a maximum of 35 km / h

On wet roads or is worn front tires were frequent problems with slipping friction roller, which significantly reduced the force transmitted. Another design-related property of the Velosolex is the fuel supply by controlled from the vacuum in the crankcase diaphragm pump, which conveys the fuel mixture from the deeper tank to the carburetor to the cylinder height.

The French Solex models had built in the Netherlands as the licensing models a small, rectangular headlamps with a 7- watt bulb, which was built into the middle engine cover and therefore mitmachte the vertical movement of the motor. From the mid- 1960s, a slightly larger, round headlights with greater power ( 15 watts) was rigidly mounted above the engine with the German versions.

By the automatic centrifugal clutch eliminates the engagement and disengagement. The engine is started at being lowered friction roller by pedaling or pushing the vehicle. Here, the decompression lever on the handlebars must be pressed briefly to overcome the rolling resistance. The stopping of the engine is also effected by the decompression.

Models

The first prototype of the Velosolex was written in December 1940. The first production models from 1946 differed little except for the auxiliary engine of a conventional bicycle. There were 26 " rims mounted. , 45 cc engine with piston nose made ​​0.4 hp at 2000 rpm. Since 1951 the mopeds possessed a main stand. In June 1952 only 24 were " big wheels mounted. Since the appearance of the model 330 in October 1953 the engine over 49 cc and 0.5 hp disposal. With the model change in 1955 model 660 of the gooseneck frame has been replaced by a round tube frame. 1957 appeared the model 1010, which decreed the first time on a reverse flushing. The size of the wheels was the model 1400 from 1958 reduced again to a current 19. " That Velosolex 1700 1959 decreed the first time via a centrifugal clutch and an engine cooling fan cooling. Since 1961 the Velosolex established, as the Model 2200 0.7 hp. Using the model 3300 1964 the round tube frame was replaced by a frame with square cross-section. starting from this model also has a rear drum brake was installed. the 1966 published Velosolex 3800 was sold from 1968 also with red and blue paint, and later also in white with stainless steel mudguards (only for the Luxe models). The produced in about 4000 copies Micron model had 12.5 "wheels and renounced pedals. The model 5000 from 1971 was parallel to the Model 3800 with 16 " - instead of 19 " manufactured rims. It was available in the colors orange, yellow, light blue, white. With the appearance of the model 5000 the production of the blue, red and white 3800 models has been discontinued. The model 3800 was 1971 again only in the classic black. The 1973 model Plisolex corresponded to the model 5000, but was collapsible ( number 4000 ). In 2005 the model was introduced 4800.

Trivia

Because of the engine placement over the front wheel, the Velosolex got a really funny nickname as Nasenwärmer moped. Another nickname was Mary Help of engine because the vehicle has long been used by some monasteries as a service vehicle. The reason was the position of the motor, which in contrast to the traditional design mopeds prevented the contamination of the cowl. In the same context is the more commonly used in Switzerland epithet persecutor of Christians.

Until now be driven with Velosolex machines fun races where it 's not just about speed but also about socializing and parading of craft art. For racing purposes Velosolex to have been already equipped with more than 15 hp. Usually the racers are reduced to the bare frame and are moved by drivers in oblique costumes. In the Netherlands this joke race have a long tradition, especially as the Velosolex mopeds were manufactured there for a long time under license ( Heem Solex ).

In Colijnsplaar (Netherlands, South Holland, North Bever country) there is a Velosolex Museum.