How do mopeds work?

Mopeds are a great way to get around but can appear confusing to someone who’s never started one. They don’t start with the turn of a key but with the turn of the pedals!

How Do They Start?

  • The pedals are basically only to start the mopeds.  You can pedal it as a last resort, but you’ll have a really bad time.
  • Mopeds start in a variety of ways, but in all cases, the pedals serve to provide forward momentum which allows the crank shaft / ignition to turn and begin combustion.
  • Once the engine has begun combustion, it’s just a little motorcycle.
  • There is a twist and go throttle on your right.  You twist it back to accelerate and return it forward to slow down.
  • You have brake levers on your right and left hand, just like a bicycle.  Compress them evenly when stopping.

How Does the Motor Work?

Like every other two stroke motor!

  • Two-stroke engines do not have valves, which simplifies their construction and lowers their weight.
  • Two-stroke engines fire once every revolution, while four-stroke engines fire once every other revolution. This gives two-stroke engines a significant power boost.
  • These advantages make two-stroke engines lighter, simpler and less expensive to manufacture. Two-stroke engines also have the potential to pack about twice the power into the same space because there are twice as many power strokes per revolution. The combination of light weight and twice the power gives two-stroke engines a great power-to-weight ratio compared to many four-stroke engine designs.
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New at Detroit Moped Works