In the mid-90s I did a little work with Rabasa Derbi in Catalunya, Spain. Like many of you, I did not really know this company beforehand. It seems they have a great GP history, but pretty much all with 50cc-250cc bikes, but really specialising in the smaller stuff. Barry Sheene started out racing small bikes with them, and their 50cc bikes really can fly.
Many of your are surprised that a 50cc can hit the high speeds. But if you ride one you will see how they managed to accelerate slowly at speeds above 100k (which is why streamlining becomes so important), and how much of a (fun) effort it is to whip these bikes up to 100k in the first place.
Even 50cc honda mopeds I used to ride with modified exhausts could crack 90k with a bit of a heads-down, but it was an experience I would hope not to repeat.
As the yanks say, there's really no substitute for cubes.
(metric version - more cc = more grin, Jim)
For more on Derbi:
"The 'Red Bullets' were a global success in the small cylinder categories for 40 years, collecting an incredible 81 Grand Prix victories in the 50, 80, 125 and 250cc classes, as well as 18 World titles. Ten individual crowns won by Angel Nieto (5), Jorge Martínez 'Aspar' (4) y Manuel 'Champi' Herreros (1) were added to by eight manufatcurers' titles, with two other legendary 500cc World Champions also having begun their careers with DERBI - the late Barry Sheene and, later, Alex Crivillé.
DERBI returned to the 125cc class of the MotoGP World Championship in 1999 after an eight year absence. Within five years the factory have picked up 11 victories and finished runner-up in the championship on two occasions with Japanese rider Youichi Ui. During this time, DERBI has also left their mark on the championship with a series of technical innovations, such as being the first to use double front brake discs, as well as a winning spirit exclusive to the great factories and earned over four decades of effort and, above all, passion for motorcycle racing."
Motorcycle songlist:
Best blast soundtrack:Born to be wild (Steppenwolf)
Best sunny ride: Runnin' down a dream (Tom Petty)
Don't want to hear ...: Slip, slidin' away, Caught by the Fuzz or Bam Thwok!(Paul Simon/Supergrass/The Pixies)
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