Sunday, November 9, 2008

electric bike, motor scooter or motorbike?



when i first set eyes on this machine, i mistook it for an electric bike but then it has big tyres, so it cannot be a bicycle. then i looked around for its petrol tank. i could not see a normal petrol tank but on closer examination, the long cylindrical tube appears to be the petrol tank as there is a cover at the top of the tube.

it is a german-made 4-stroke 125 motor bike known by its name sachs madass 125.

the new generation motor bikes, especially the smaller capacity japanese bikes are so steam-lined that locating the petrol tank is a problem. the other day, i was looking at a few 125cc yamaha bikes and asking my friend to pin-point the location of the fuel tank. he said it could be concealed under the seat.

3 comments:

Victor said...

I attempted a riding test about 30 years ago but failed because I was not steady enough in controlling the bike. Never took a 2nd time. I still remember this instruction: "Always grip the petrol tank with you legs." Who knows that some 30 years later, there might not be one to grip anymore?

yg said...

victor, although i rode motorcycles for many years, i did not go for any test. last time, you only needed a pdl and a 'l' plate to ride a motorbike.

Anonymous said...

nice collection