FreeGo Wisper Group now Distribute and Service Solex in the UK

[Wisper Bikes]

Hi all,

Just a brief note to give you the news that we have just taken on the Solex agency for the UK.

These very stylised French bikes include the amazing folding Mobiky and run through to the new Bosch powered sports bikes.

For further information please see the range at http://freegoelectricbikes.com/electric-bikes/Solex you will not be disappointed.

All the best

David

 

[Artstu]

Is that the carburetor on the head tube ?

 

[Wisper Bikes]

No that's where the petrol goes!

All the best

David

 

[Wisper Bikes]

The truth is, it is a style thing, reflecting the traditional Solex design. Solex petrol driven bicycles were huge in France just after the war as an affordable means of transport for the masses, and continued to be manufactured until the late nineties. Solex a few years ago bought out a range of electric bicycles and the "fuel tank" is a salute to the old bikes.

 

[flecc]

The truth is, it is a style thing, reflecting the traditional Solex design. Solex petrol driven bicycles were huge in France just after the war as an affordable means of transport for the masses, and continued to be manufactured until the late nineties. Solex a few years ago bought out a range of electric bicycles and the "fuel tank" is a salute to the old bikes.

Indeed, below was their first e-bike, again imitating the earlier petrol design, Rear hub motor with the controller in the front "motor unit" casing I seem to remember:

 

[Wisper Bikes]

Hi Flecc, this is the eSolex, discontinued at the moment in favour of the lighter bikes, however I have just heard it will be relaunched in 2015 with a few mods.

All the best

David

 

[flecc]

That's interesting David, they love nostalgia!

Good products though, the quality was always high and the original VeloSolex outlived all the competing petrol bike motors by not just years but decades. I think it was 1983 that it was discontinued, but some are still in use in France.

I remember chef John Burton-Race using one during his more recent TV series on cooking in France.

 

[Wisper Bikes]

I must have missed that one Flecc, and do enjoy a cooking program!

I have recently seen a 1990 Solex advertised but am not certain when they went out of production.

The first Solex when onto the market in 1905, in 1949 36,000 were sold, 1954 100,000 and by the sixties the Solex reached Iconic status and was selling at 1,500 per day.

I wonder if a very low emission version would sell now?