RIEJU RS1 (1997 - 2004) Review

The Rieju RS1 is a screaming, old-school, supersports, 50cc sixteener, with all the bluster, mayhem, carnage, testosterone and manicness that implies, but thankfully a whole lot cheaper than rivals like Aprilia and Cagiva. Yes it’s Spanish and a little brittle, but it’s also well-equipped, massively cool and impressively affordable.

Now superceceded by the roomier, higher spec RS2 (which came out in 2006) but the the Rieju RS1 is still near-as-dammit the closest thing to a GP bike a 16-er can get. Steering and brakes are razor sharp, yet comfort, for short hops at least, is surprisingly decent, too.

The Rieju RS1 has a screaming hell-or-glory wasp of a motor with all the fun and life-expectancy (of the engine that is) that implies. In truth it’s a fairly run-of-the-mill yet state of the art liquid-cooled reed-valve two-stroke single. Rev the nuts off it and it delivers nigh on 60mph. But it needs looking after, too…

Let’s get this straight. The Rieju RS1 is a sports moped, built in Spain, down to a price, so just don’t go expecting BMW style durability, OK? What’s more, bikes like these probably get more unsympathetic thrashing than any other. On the whole, they’re not bad, with no common weakspots, but be warned when viewing used…

When new, the Rieju RS1 was fair dinkum value, but used, especially now it’s been superceded by the RS2, it’s a reet bargain. Good 18month old examples can be had for well under a grand, whioch, when you’re starting out in biking, is vital… Find a Rieju RS1 for sale.

For the price, the Rieju RS1 is only bettered by the more recent RS2. Top notch suspension and brakes front and rear, neat cast alloy wheels and sporty tyres, a race style exhaust and closts and pukka fully-enclosed bodywork. When you’re 16, who could want for more?