Puch VZ50

Any desirable moped fetched in excess of £150, anything below this figure was either a wreck or a Puch Maxi. It was another Puch that eventually grabbed my attention - a yellow and chrome non runner with a Vespa type hand gear change and a back brake operated by pedalling backwards. It was a decidedly old design. 
 
Dad got the bike running and I practised in the garden until most of the flailing limbs were under control. After new rear wheel bearings were fitted it passed its MOT. First ride out there was a loud crack from the back end and the handling went all weird. The back wheel bearing had gone. Rather than apologise the dealer offered to fit the correct bearings free of charge - he reckoned that the bearings must have got mixed up when they fell off the bench. After that, I became most reluctant to take my bike to any dealers. 
 
The Puch’s engine was rather worn and rattly and it never went more than 45mph (down a hill). It would reach its cruising speed of 33.5mph quite quickly and stay there all day. As if to make up for the disappointing top end, the low down was quite phenomenal (for a 50, that is). Wheelies were no problem and were performed frequently, but its main forte was off road. You could approach a hill on rough terrain at next to no speed and just whizz up it, on one occasion it even beat a Yamaha DT175.
 
Compared to my later SS50, the Puch’s handling was ace: In fact, I have yet to ride a bike that inspires the same degree of confidence. You could hack around corners, wet or dry, flat out or not (usually flat out) in complete assurance of making it around without a dose of tarmac rash. The combination of 120mpg and a three gallon tank (on a 50) meant that getting the premix quantities was a cinch and that I didn’t have to visit petrol stations unless there was a full moon. At first the saddle appeared rock hard, but a couple of times I travelled over 100 miles without noticing it. On most bikes you start to get numb after 60 miles.
 
The ride comfort wasn’t helped when the rear shocks gave up their meagre quantities of oil. Due to an excess of enthusiasm at Puch they made the shocks easily re-buildable. Details such as this abounded, you could leave the chain and sprocket in place when removing the wheel, the cables all had oil nipples halfway down and there were loads of neat little touches. The quality of the alloy and paint meant that an afternoon's cleaning had the bike looking like new, even if it hadn’t been cleaned for a very long time indeed.
 
An excellent little bike for the commuter or learner. Don’t count on your chances of finding one, though, as I have only seen two others since. I can, however, verify that other Puchs, such as the M50, M125 and Grand Prix are made to the same high standard, but also benefit from more conventional controls. Some day, all bikes will be made this way.
 
Stephen Willet