1972 GILERA 50 TRAIL

Exotic Italian might just trump the Fizzy boys

If you’re of a certain age, sports mopeds may occupy a place in your heart. Back in the winter of 1971, Ted Heath’s government passed a new law restricting 16-year-olds to riding machines of less than 50cc equipped with pedals. At a stroke, anyone between 16 and 17 was condemned to phutt around on something that looked like the love child of a bicycle and a chainsaw.

That was the plan – but it didn’t quite work out that way. A resourceful motorcycle industry geared up rapidly to beat the system, producing tuned 50cc bikes with pedals grafted on to comply with the letter of the law. The sports moped was born.

Over time, the Yamaha FS1-E became the defining machine of the sports moped generation. But other makers chipped in with their own interpretations. One such was Italian manufacturer Gilera, who produced stunning little bikes in both road and off road style. This Gilera 50 Trail – on sale at Classic Super Bikes, ironically – offers a rare opportunity to go one-up on the Fizzy-mounted masses at a few sports moped events this summer.

Fully restored, this gorgeous little machine is part of Classic Super Bikes owner Chris Bunce’s own collection and is being reluctantly offered for sale at £4950. It’s a genuine UK model with loads of accompanying paperwork including handbook, original warranty book and receipts for parts and work. I doubt you’ll find a better example. classicsuperbikes.co.uk