20 Mar Please Excuse the Growl
Over the past year I’ve gotten hooked on two-wheeled commuting. Not the human powered kind, the small two-stroke engine powered kind, a moped. My newly acquired love for this mode of transport actually took me a bit by surprise as I had never been a motorcycle or powersports type of guy before. I only picked up a used moped off of a craigslist ad out of frustration with my daily commute downtown in a giant gas guzzling Astro van.
If you’re not sure what exactly I mean by moped, and are thinking of the popular Vespa type of scooter with the floorboards you put your feet on, you are close (but oh so far). Think more like a beefed up bicycle frame with a motor bolted on it. The utilitarianism and simplicity of moped designs is something that gives these little bikes a unique style and makes them immediately approachable. Their small 50cc engines and two-speed automatic transmissions are designed to produce just enough power to get you up to 30-35mph, allowing you to keep up with traffic on most back roads without having to worry about clutches and shifting. This small engine category also means that you don’t need a motorcycle license, and insurance is cheap. Despite the small size, the pick up, handling, and throaty growl of a well tuned moped can really put a smile on your face.
Most of the advantages of moped commuting in the city are pretty obvious, great gas mileage, less waiting in traffic, easier parking etc, but the real reason I’ve fallen for mopeds is the culture of creativity and DIY tinkering that goes along with riding this little machine. Learning the basics of the two-stroke engine cycle and the quirks of tuning a carburetor has been just as enjoyable as twisting the throttle and leaning into turns. Not to mention the mechanical and visual design inspiration that has come from some seeing of the amazing work in the custom moped builder world.
So, what started out as an experiment in lowering my fuel consumption and time wasted in traffic has turned into a bit of an obsession, with lots more to learn and more fun to be had.
Some links if you’d like to explore the world of mopeds:
Custom Moped Builder Image Gallery
Mariano graduated summa cum laude from University of Maryland, Baltimore County, with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. In a previous life Mariano also received a BS in Psychology from Towson University and worked in early childhood development and special needs therapy. When he’s not at work, you can find Mariano enjoying family time with his wife and three children, or riding a vintage motorcycle through Baltimore County landscapes.
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