Why should Dad be the only one to ride a motorcycle? This was the question posed when the 50cc Liberty debuted in 1962. Aimed at yougsters not old enough to acquire a driver’s license, it was truly a scaled-down motorcycle that looked like a bigger bike. The diminutive single-cilider, 4-stroke, pushrod engine only produced 1,5 HP, but in a bike weighing only 58,5 Kg, it would top out at 40 Km/h. This example uses a 3-speed gearbox with a twist-grip gear change. Production numbers were impressive; 5,292 units were built.
Engine: Technical Specification (1966)
Cylinders / Cycle: single / 4-stroke
Displacement: 47,7 cc
Bore x stroke: 39 x 42 mm
Compression ratio: 7,5:1
Power / rpm: 1 HP / 3,100
Torque / rpm: NA
Cooling: air
Distribution: pushrod
Carburettor: 14 mm carburettor
Ignition: flywheel-magneto
Lubrication: wet sump
Starting: kickstart
Primary drive: gear
Clutch: wet multiple plate clutch
Gearbox: 3 speeds handlebar mounted selector
Final drive: chain
Chassis:
Frame: open cradle frame
Front suspension: telescopic fork
Rear suspension: swingarm with hydraulic shocks
Front brake: 104 mm drum
Rear brake: 104 mm drum
Front tire: 2.00 x16”
Rear tire: 2.00 x16”
Wheels: spokes
Tank: 9 litres
Length: 1790 mm
Width: 710 mm
Wheelbase: 1110 mm
Weight: 58 Kg
Performance: 40 kph