Onboard Minibikes: part deux.

rustybarge · 26 Apr 2014

Hi All,

Last year I was looking for a light weight mini bike for onboard use, after extensive internet search, total failure.

Fanfare, flashing lights>>>>.

I like the Skymini 125cc...weighs only: 66kg...................!

Let me introduce Sky motorbikes......http://www.skyteammotorcycles.com/motorcycle-range/

Anyone tried one of these?

Robg71 · 26 Apr 2014

Theylook like the old monkey bikes from honda

rustybarge · 26 Apr 2014

Hi Rob,

There are some fantastic new bikes coming out of China. Apparently super rich Chinese tycoons are now manufacturing high quality bikes as 'vanity' products which can match up to the Japanese standards; had to happen eventually.

I think the Honda Minbike weighs 120kg, Vs the 66kg for the Sky bike.

sarabande · 26 Apr 2014

made in Somerset.

View attachment 41962

ooops, 'tis Yeovil, though.

rustybarge · 26 Apr 2014

rustybarge said:
Hi Rob,

There are some fantastic new bikes coming out of China. Apparently super rich Chinese tycoons are now manufacturing high quality bikes as 'vanity' products which can match up to the Japanese standards; had to happen eventually.

I think the Honda Minbike weighs 120kg, Vs the 66kg for the Sky bike.

Correction the Honda is 100kg........but very expensive.http://www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles/125cc/#!/msx125/specifications/dimensions/

Nick_H · 27 Apr 2014

Have you looked at Di Blasi?

http://www.diblasi.co.uk/Folding_Mopeds.asp?Prd=R7&Pag=Prodotto&Lng=en

We had one of these when I was a kid, and i used to drive it round the roads at 14 wearing a cricket helmet, as my dad had started making the first ever such helmets in conjunction with Dennis Amiss. Eventually the fuel tank split from jumping too many piles of bricks on it, but up until that point it was great. Super light weight and folds up into a bag. No gears or clutch to worry about, just twist the throttle and drive. Writing this has made me think I might get another one!

rustybarge · 27 Apr 2014

Nick_H said:
Have you looked at Di Blasi?

http://www.diblasi.co.uk/Folding_Mopeds.asp?Prd=R7&Pag=Prodotto&Lng=en

We had one of these when I was a kid, and i used to drive it round the roads at 14 wearing a cricket helmet, as my dad had started making the first ever such helmets in conjunction with Dennis Amiss. Eventually the fuel tank split from jumping too many piles of bricks on it, but up until that point it was great. Super light weight and folds up into a bag. No gears or clutch to worry about, just twist the throttle and drive. Writing this has made me think I might get another one!

Yes I have ridden one; shame oh shame, around Porto Banus.[forgot to bring my gold medallion!]
There were two brand new ones on a boat that I was on; twichy little b'trds, kept on cutting out, very very slow,impossible to start. Hit a bump and you'll be off the road.

Can't quite remember which was worse ,Porto banus or the Deblasi!

All IMO, of course. Only had a 30 minute trial on them.

rustybarge · 27 Apr 2014

This new scooter is just available; bored out from 50cc to 100cc, seems to tick all the boxes.
55mph max speed [claimed!], 104kg.

All the 'youths' seem to drive the Pugeot scooters. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BRAND-NEW...005&prg=9589&rk=4&rkt=6&sd=171291102848&rt=nc

The advantage with a scooter is that you can bring a 20 ltr container between your feet, and they also have room for a helmet under the seat which will take a bag of groceries. You can also buy a helmet 'box' to fit behind the rear seat which will take even more stuff.....

The old 50cc ones are useless, far to slow to keep up with traffic.

Robg71 · 27 Apr 2014

I like the idea, stash the scooter in the stern locker/lazarette

rustybarge · 27 Apr 2014

Robg71 said:
I like the idea, stash the scooter in the stern locker/lazarette

It would look great parked between your swim platform stairs; you'll need a cool SS crane to swing it onto the dock.

Robg71 · 27 Apr 2014

I think i can carry that

Haha, maybe not these days.....

rustybarge · 27 Apr 2014

Robg71 said:
I think i can carry that
Haha, maybe not these days.....

In the old days, I used to load fertilizer in 50kg bags into a seed drill no problem; it involed humping bags from a trailer by bear hugging them, then stepping up a couple of feet and emptying them into the hopper.....

.....the Eu reduced them to 40kg, thank God. Now at 57 I struggle lifting a 25kg OB up onto the deck.:ambivalence:

david_bagshaw · 27 Apr 2014

rustybarge said:
Yes I have ridden one; shame oh shame, around Porto Banus.[forgot to bring my gold medallion!]
There were two brand new ones on a boat that I was on; twichy little b'trds, kept on cutting out, very very slow,impossible to start. Hit a bump and you'll be off the road.

Can't quite remember which was worse ,Porto banus or the Deblasi!

All IMO, of course. Only had a 30 minute trial on them.

We have had a diblasi R7 since 2001, bought at the london boat show.

Yes with the small wheels take a bit of getting use to, to the extent of lifting a foot off the foot rest will induce a turn.

very easy to start and drive, goes at standard max moped speed, even has a variator gear system to get the best out of its small power plant.

Only problems since new,

1 rear inner tube split on a long recover car ride (moved boat to a slipway etc) 2007

2 Stand spring fractured (2013)

jimmy_the_builder · 27 Apr 2014

I tried a Di Blasi for a while as well, but although ultra-portable, it was just too weedy for a JTB-sized pilot. I've got a couple of Tmax scooters now, completely not portable (220kg each) but they are v quick and huge fun to ride.

Robg71 · 27 Apr 2014

220kg..... Eek....
You can buy proper bikes that weigh less than that....
Im actually shocked they make scooters that heavy....

jimmy_the_builder · 27 Apr 2014

Robg71 said:
220kg..... Eek....
You can buy proper bikes that weigh less than that....
Im actually shocked they make scooters that heavy....

yeah but 500cc, 100mph twist-and-go. They are hilarious to ride, although it's a bit too easy to ground them out when cornering. You're right though, my R1200GSA isn't much heavier.

Robg71 · 27 Apr 2014

Shame its not an NSR500 twist no go...

I like the idea though. I take it you dont put them on the boat. Just left in the marina.....

jimmy_the_builder · 27 Apr 2014

Robg71 said:
Shame its not an NSR500 twist no go...
I like the idea though. I take it you dont put them on the boat. Just left in the marina.....

Yep, I use one for the run between the airport and the boat, perfect for the Riviera traffic, and you can ride it right up the quai and park right by the boat.

rustybarge · 27 Apr 2014

jimmy_the_builder said:
Yep, I use one for the run between the airport and the boat, perfect for the Riviera traffic, and you can ride it right up the quai and park right by the boat.

..and there''s free parking at Nice airport for m'bikes, can things get any better.

rustybarge · 27 Apr 2014

david_bagshaw said:
We have had a diblasi R7 since 2001, bought at the london boat show.

Yes with the small wheels take a bit of getting use to, to the extent of lifting a foot off the foot rest will induce a turn.

very easy to start and drive, goes at standard max moped speed, even has a variator gear system to get the best out of its small power plant.

Only problems since new,

1 rear inner tube split on a long recover car ride (moved boat to a slipway etc) 2007

2 Stand spring fractured (2013)

That's a very positive report, my first impressions may well have been wrong; I only mucked around on them for half an hour.

I'll put them back on the list!

Onboard Minibikes: part deux.

Active member

New member

Active member

Well-known member

Active member

Active member

Active member

Active member

New member

Active member

New member

Active member

Well-known member

Well-known member

New member

Well-known member

New member

Well-known member

Active member

Active member

Share this page