The Peugeot cyclo is celebrating its half-century with a joyful nostalgic ride. The opportunity to immerse yourself in an atmosphere of carefree, freedom and simple pleasures. We tested a 1980s model in its original condition, including vintage feel.
Peugeot Motocycles brought together about fifteen of its mopeds for this party with the scent of Madeleine de Proust. We are spoiled for choice with these perfectly rolling copies, in their own juice, belonging to a specialized rental company *. Machines that are popular and are negotiated around 800 € when they are in good condition. Be careful not to call them “Mob”, because it is the historical competitor: the Motobécane Mobylette, which has become the generic name for this type of machine. This time it stole the show from Piaggio, who failed to redo the Vespa with his cyclo, the Ciao, which had fallen into oblivion.
Adidas Rod Laver, Levi’s 501, tracksuit jacket, bandana, motorcycle jacket, vintage glitter helmet … fashion is an eternal restart and that’s good: here is the perfect outfit to celebrate the50 years of the Peugeot 103, the mythical moped, idolized by generations of high school students!
We choose a 103 MVL model 1980s, which has the luxury of offering a square headlight, a brake light, stick rims, a speedometer (where we flirt here with a very optimistic 60 km / h) and a horn at so characteristic winded squeal. On the central stand, standing on the pedals, one finger on the choke trigger (on the left), another on that of the decompressor (on the right) that is released at the start of starting, the engine starts in two stages three movements. A characteristic rattling noise that we had forgotten, not as annoying as that of a nervous scooter but on the contrary regular, soft and reassuring. A few laps of the pedal help start the machine, then the variator easily plays with the roughly 2.5 hp available from the 49.9 cm two-stroke.3 to take the cyclo with surprising ease. No Polini kit, trigger or large carburetor here: everything is original. And yet. We were expecting it sluggishly, our 103 is actually relatively lively!
It is a pleasure to take the meaning of moped literally: a bicycle with an engine, combining the ease and lightness of the first with the comfort of the second. Drum braking is more moderate than powerful – to put it mildly – but no matter what, performance isn’t a must here. Our 103, however, reaches speeds that are now prohibited in some cities. In any case, such a machine itself is no longer there with its billowing smoke and questionable exhaust gases. In the countryside, on the other hand, there is still an extremely simple means of escape, with the scent of freedom and delicious nostalgia. And as after a piece by Mozart, silence is still by Mozart, after a stroll in 103, the smell of the two-stroke mixture that permeates our clothes vintage is still 103 …
Peugeot 103: an unparalleled career
Born in 1971, the lion moped has won over a public of young people, far from being able to afford a first car as an instrument of freedom. A success that reached the 3 million copies around the world, including 550,000 from 1974, with traditional production in the brand’s historic factory in Mandeure (Franche-Comté), then on Chinese and Moroccan chains until 2017. This makes it the two- 49.9 cm wheels3 the most produced in history, with production rates of up to 2,000 units per day.
We can no longer count the different versions marketed, between the famous 103 SP, the Racing, Chopper, Chrono, SPX, Fun, Indiana, Turbo 16, RCX versions…
Wiser, the entry-level Vogue was able to deduce from its aggressive appeal prices. A secret boot for the brand, with a glamorous name for a largely cushioned model, sold in a very basic version, sometimes without rear suspension … However, a test ride on a version thus stripped and provided with practical saddlebags reminded us as it could just as well fulfill its function of vehicle in the first sense: bring from point A to point B without fuss, but with efficiency and even a surprising dose of comfort, even pleasure. Well, about this last aspect, one can certainly strongly suspect the influence of nostalgia. But is it a bad thing? Here is an endearing machine capable of anything. The proof is through the journey made by two French in the United States between 1978 and 1979, with 50,000 km at stake, to promote the machine across the Atlantic. This was not enough to convert the premises to the “moped”, but whatever. It is the journey and the experience it offers that count more than the point of arrival.
The end of an era
In the 1980’s, the decline is coming for the good old cyclo despite its efforts to become more modern, with forceful kick starts, electronic ignition or liquid cooling. Because a phoenix is reborn from its ashes at the dawn of these years, the scooter, this time in a modern definition with a variator, a plastic body and a look that gives a slap to 103 and others. Peugeot itself is one of the culprits with its SC model, produced in collaboration with Honda. Then will come the duo MBK Booster / Yamaha BW’s. Finally, the coup de grace will come in 2017 from the regulations, with the advent of the Euro 4 standard.
Today, Peugeot is on the European two-wheeler podium with its Kisbee 50, but the future of this type of machine is in jeopardy. The French brand, owned by the Indian Mahindra, is now offering its e-Ludix scooter to gain a foothold in a booming electric market.
The future will tell if a rebirth of the 103 in zero emission mode is an option, in this form or another. Waiting for, an exhibition dedicated to 103 is organized from November 22, 2021 to January 31, 2022 at the Peugeot Adventure Museum, in Sochaux (Doubs). What to plunge back into a pretty nostalgia.
