MBK

125cc Mobylette Dragster - 1985

Creating a dragster

Millions of cyclemotors are in use in France. They are limited by law to 28 mph, but their young users dream of modifying them to get more speed and more eye-catching looks. In 1985, some of the budding special builders in the Parisian suburbs, fed up with following the crowd, exclaimed, "now for something completely different," and began to transform their Mobylette cyclemotors into dragsters.

An Impossible Challenge?

The task of creating a dragster while retaining the basic structure of the Mobylette – its open pressed-steel frame, its automatic belt transmission – seemed difficult, if not impossible. Success only came after hundreds of hours of fevered toil - and some fairly drastic changes to the Mobylette.

Up, Up and Away

For 200 meter drag races, they even had to replace the 50cc MBK engine with 125cc single-cylinder Yamaha or Husqvarna power units from motocross bikes, developing over 35 hp. One such machine was even built around a Yamaha 350 RDLC twin! A big top tube was added to reinforce the pressed-steel frame and acted as a support for a sober but successful fairing and a trailing tail terminating in two little wheels, to stop the dragster from tipping over backwards during acceleration. These tiny dragsters weigh only 150 lb and can hit 80 mph plus over the 200 meters, often scaring the rider rigid as he struggles to keep his mount in a straight line. One young team has become so smitten with the sport that it is developing the worldÂ’s wildest dragster. This time the machine will be powered by a turbine helicopter engine.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine: 125cc air-cooled Husqvarna or Yamaha single-cylinder motocross engine '

Power Rating: over 35 hp

Valves: two-stroke

Fuel System: carburetor

Transmission: 6-speed, chain final drive

Suspension: hydraulic telescopic forks (front); rigid (rear)

Brakes: disc (front & rear)

Wheels: light-alloy (front & rear)

Weight: 150 lb

Maximum Speed: over 80 mph

The spectacle of everyday Mobylettes transformed into real-life dragsters is quite amazing!