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Derbi
Spain's moped maker, US since 1978
// The story
Derbi is a Spanish moped maker that started shipping bikes to the United States in 1978. Its US office was in Laguna Hills, California, which is where the Laguna Sport got its name.
After a couple of years Derbi started building models just for the American market. The Laguna Sport ran from 1978 to 1983, and the C-5 Diablo and the RD-50 followed. Derbi sold the RD-50 as a "motocross moped," with raised fenders and hydraulic suspension.
Derbi built three different engine designs over the years: a piston-port motor, a pyramid-reed motor and a flat-reed motor. The flat-reed engines are known for their reverse-threaded parts, which can surprise anybody wrenching on one for the first time.
// The models
Derbi models
Variant
Derbi's everyday step-through, one of the Spanish maker's best-known mopeds.
Photo: Peprovira, CC BY-SA 3.0
C5 Diablo
Derbi's dirt-bike moped, renamed the RD50 in 1981. Shown: a 1978 Diablo.
Photo: Peprovira, CC BY-SA 3.0
DS 50
Derbi's moped-scooter, sold in the US at the end of the 80s.
Photo: Laura Buononome, CC BY-SA 2.0
More Derbi models and versions (no free photo yet. Got one? DM us)
- Laguna / Sport Laguna US 1978–80
- RD50 The renamed C5 dirt-bike moped. US 1981–88
// Printed to order
The Derbi collection
Every design starts as a photo of a real bike. Tap any item to see sizes and colors on Etsy.