The Alpha moped (110 cubic meters) belongs to the category of vehicles that became widely popular among domestic consumers back in Soviet times. Modern models have a brighter exterior, better ergonomics and a modernized design. The moped in question is manufactured in China and has good characteristics, which we will consider in more detail below.
Instructions for the Alpha 50cc moped and its technical characteristics
Being a typical representative of the Chinese automobile industry, the Alpha 50 cc moped, the instructions for which are given below, is distinguished by its affordable price and excellent driving performance. There are certain shortcomings that inevitably arise in any technology, but this specimen is not a rare guest on the roads of our country. For this reason, familiarization with it and its technical parameters will be very important.
New Alpha moped with an engine capacity of 50 cc
Disadvantages and price
The Alpha moped (110 cubic meters) has certain disadvantages, which are significantly less than the advantages. The disadvantages include:
- The handlebar width is not suitable for all users.
- There is no forced cooling of the engine, as a result of which it is susceptible to overheating during long-term operation.
- The drum-type brake system is not particularly reliable.
- The manual gearbox is rough when shifting.
On the domestic market, a new model can be purchased at a price of around 30-40 thousand rubles. A used modification can be purchased much cheaper, but in this case you should carefully check the main working components for serviceability and reliability.
Technical specifications
The moped embodies the reliability and high technology required for everyday driving and travel. The design of the moped fully meets all current standards and environmental regulations.
Life time
The manufacturer indicates that the service life of the Alpha 50cc moped is three years. But in practice, if you monitor the equipment in accordance with the instructions, it can be used for much longer without major repairs.
Alpha 50 cc is, first of all, a vehicle for traveling and everyday driving for work or other errands . This is a real workhorse with big wheels, impressive front forks and a lot of components. The dimensions of the moped themselves are also impressive - two meters long and half a meter wide!
Design and driving performance
The design of the moped also has no flaws. A solid design that Alpha’s competitor in the same price range is unlikely to boast of. It is suitable for both city driving and off-road driving. The high ground clearance and manual transmission are clear evidence of this.
Alpha moped with luggage rack for trips to the country
In addition, two clear advantages set it apart. The Alpha 50cc moped is ideal for summer residents, fishermen and village residents. It has an impressive trunk size, where you can conveniently put almost everything you need. Even a full-fledged two-seater moped does not have this.
The passenger seat in the Alpha is made at the highest level. The seat is long and soft. Two people with rather large dimensions can easily sit here.
Engine
The Alpha power unit, whose technical characteristics are among the best, is torquey and strong. The model itself is designed in such a way that the engine, regardless of road conditions, realizes its full potential.
One of the secrets of a strong 4-stroke engine is its displacement. True, it varies depending on the specific Alpha configuration. The moped picks up perfect speed, climbing up slopes like a real mountain bike, equipped with a powerful engine.
Alpha moped engine internal structure
Gearbox (gearbox)
As mentioned above, Alpha is equipped with a 4-speed manual transmission. The technical characteristics of this box are quite successful - with skillful use it is possible to squeeze the maximum out of the unit. In a word, the gearbox interacts with the engine very well.
Starter
It is electric, which is already regarded as a big advantage. We look at the technical characteristics and see the following: the starter is practically trouble-free and is of enviable quality.
Maximum speed
The maximum speed that the Alpha 50cc can reach is 60 km/h. This is quite enough to drive on country roads or in city conditions.
pros
The Alpha moped (110 cc) is equipped with a comfortable seat, its characteristics are superior to many similar models from other manufacturers. In addition, the following advantages of the technology under consideration can be noted:
- Large and reliable trunk.
- The unit actively and confidently overcomes steep climbs, largely thanks to the informative four-speed gearbox and enlarged wheels.
- Double starting system.
- High reliability and performance of the power unit.
- High level of seating comfort for driver and passenger.
- An instrument panel with all the necessary set of sensors, the readings of which are visible even in poor lighting.
- The presence of safety arches.
- Easy to operate and maintain.
- Availability of consumables and spare parts.
Racer Alpha RC50: cheap and cheerful
Most Chinese motorcycles are produced according to the principle “the cheaper, the better.” The lightweight Alpla moped from Racer, which claims to be one of the most affordable bikes for beginners, did not escape this fate.
What do beginners usually choose when they want to join the world of two-wheeled vehicles with a motor? That's right - something inexpensive. This is a reasonable approach that significantly reduces the chances of ending the very first motorcycle season in some kind of accident, which, unfortunately, often happens to those who choose something extremely powerful as their first motorcycle. The Racer RC50 Alpha moped is designed specifically for beginners. It is inexpensive, weighs little, and is quite capable of teaching the skills of working with a manual transmission. Another important advantage is its cubic capacity - despite all the disadvantages of such a small motor, there is also a plus, because to drive the Racer Alpha, a category “M” license is enough. Of course, it is also subject to restrictions such as a ban on driving on highways, but these are nuances.
First look
For many motorcyclists originally from the USSR, the word “moped” means something very weak, archaic and unsympathetic. But the days of “Riga”, “Karpaty” mopeds and others like them are long gone, and modern lightweight 50 cc bikes look almost like motorcycles. The technical characteristics of the Racer Alpha 50 are also head and shoulders above those of its Soviet predecessors. Of course, when designing and producing this model, the Chinese clearly prioritized cost reduction, but, nevertheless, the moped turned out to be tolerable. More or less.
The first generation Racer Alpha looked like a guest from the past, but after a slight restyling its appearance has noticeably improved. The moped has been refreshed, acquired a more harmonious appearance and at the same time has hardly risen in price. As for the technical component of Racer Alpha, everything is as expected as simple. The Racer Alpha 50 engine, as the name of the model suggests, has a displacement of 50 cubic cm . Cooling - air, maximum power - 3 hp. At the same time, the maximum speed of the Racer Alpha is 75 km/h - not bad for a moped. It is worth noting that it is indeed capable of achieving the stated speed. As well as being able to teach how to handle the gearbox, the Alpha RC50 is equipped with a 4-speed transmission . 1-N-2-3-4 scheme is used , and not 4-3-2-1-N, as on some Chinese bikes of the same class. This is a significant plus that will be useful in the future if the motorcyclist decides to switch to a full-fledged motorcycle. The engine must be “twisted” to have some kind of dynamics, since the peak of power occurs at around 8500 rpm .
Moped "Alpha" (72 cubic meters): technical characteristics
The Alpha moped (72 cc) is the most common means of transportation among light motorcycle enthusiasts. This is due to the price of this equipment, its functionality and maintainability. Cross-country ability, speed and the small amount of fuel that is necessary to drive this vehicle put the Alpha moped (72 cubic meters) in popularity on a par with the most famous Japanese brands. This is no coincidence, because the engine that powers these light motorcycles is an exact copy of the Japanese “Cube” from, which is comparable in reliability to the AK-47. Single-cylinder engine 139 FMB with a volume of 72 cc. cm operates in all weather conditions and does not require frequent repairs or replacement of spare parts. Technical data allow the use of this vehicle in the most extreme conditions, including driving in the cold, on sand and on any off-road. This is the best light motorcycle for Russia. In rural areas, you can most often find the Alpha 72 cc moped. The photo of this model is easily recognizable. Simple and concise design, low price, good speed, maneuverability, maintainability, efficiency and a number of other advantages - this is what underlies the reputation of this type of transport.
Features of moped tuning
The alpha moped is one of the most popular mopeds today. Its popularity is due to its low price and the large number of opportunities it gives its owner. Most often, models with an engine capacity of 100-125 cm3 are chosen for purchase. This power is enough to accelerate the moped to 100 km/h and feel comfortable. Alfas are also famous for their low fuel consumption, which is also very important. But, perhaps, the main advantage of this moped is its maintainability, because there is not a large amount of electronics, and all power units, in principle, are quite simply designed. In general, the alpha moped is a pretty good motorcycle for rural areas or small towns, where it is much faster and more convenient to travel on two-wheeled vehicles. However, every Alpha owner sooner or later comes up with the idea of modifying and tuning the moped. What to do in this case?
Unique maneuverability
The record holder for cross-country ability among light motorcycles is the Alpha moped (72 cubic meters). The characteristics of its engine, dimensions and weight are very significant advantages. The Alpha's ability to overcome any off-road conditions is due to its light weight - 81 kg. To ensure confident movement through sand and mud, such lightweight equipment does not require a powerful and heavy motor. If there is a need to overcome a section of deep and sticky mud, a steep climb through sand, or ford a shallow stream or river, then you can always get off the moped and help it cope with a difficult section of the road, pushing it forward like a bicycle.
Good speed
The speed limit for this moped is 70 km/h, which is quite enough for highway driving. The Alpha's weight is small, and controllability at higher speeds is noticeably lost. Some fans of this technology are trying to modify the Alpha moped (72 cc), install a more powerful piston, a zero-resistance filter, sprockets with an increased gear ratio, modify the ignition system, setting it to advance, and achieve an increase in speed to 90 km/h. But for driving around the city in traffic jams, on country roads, on dirt and gravel, the speed capabilities of the Alfa are quite sufficient even without all these modifications; moreover, with an increase in power and speed capabilities, many important components and assemblies of the moped begin to wear out faster.
The design of the Alpha allows it to be equipped with more “solid” engine options, increasing its power to 8 hp. With. But Alphas with such engines more often require repairs, the service life of the most important elements of the chassis is noticeably shorter, and they also begin to experience dangerous vibration damage. A more powerful motor would require an increase in the mass of other structural elements. This would be a loss of many advantages, especially in cross-country ability and efficiency, which the Alpha moped (72 cubic meters) has. The speed characteristics of these mopeds are perfectly balanced with the lightness and strength of their structure and chassis.
Alpha moped tuning - engine
There are a lot of reasons to tune the engine of an alpha moped. One of them is the lack of maximum speed. If you also desperately need higher speed, for example, you often drive on the highway, then now you can increase it. All you have to do to do this is change the gear ratio. The gear ratio is the ratio of the number of teeth on the driven gear to the teeth on the drive gear. Based on this rule, we can conclude that to increase the maximum speed of the moped, it is necessary to install a smaller gear on the rear wheel. Accordingly, the fewer teeth there are on your new gear, the faster you can accelerate your moped.
By replacing the gear on the rear wheel, you get a small increase in the maximum speed of the alpha moped. As a rule, 15-20 km/h is added to this figure, which is quite good if you often have to rev the engine to maximum speed. The only thing worth considering is that the first gears will now become shorter. And from this comes a little advice - do not rev the engine in first gear to maximum speed, otherwise you will lose neutral speed due to a stuck bushing in the clutch.
Engine
The reliability and unpretentiousness of the Alpha’s 72 cc four-stroke engine is due to its ideal design developed by Japanese specialists. Even in a somewhat simplified version, with the use of cheaper materials and lower requirements for the quality of components, the 139 FMB engine operates surprisingly reliably, which indicates the balance of all its structural elements. The power of this motor is only 5 hp. s., and the maximum number of revolutions per minute is 7500. However, thanks to a well-thought-out transmission with four gears, the Alpha engine copes well with standard loads in all ranges of its gearbox capabilities.
Technical indicators
Despite the fact that the unit is made in China, it has quite serious parameters and good build quality. Below is the characteristics of the Alpha moped (110 cc):
- The brake system is drum type front and rear.
- The power of the power plant is 7 horsepower.
- Revolutions - 5.5 thousand revolutions per minute.
- The standard equipment of the scooter includes alloy wheels and a tachometer.
- Transmission unit - four speeds.
- Shock absorbers are spring elements at the rear and a hydraulic system at the front.
- Load capacity is 120 kg or two people.
- Weight – 80 kg.
- Fuel consumption per 100 km is about 2 liters.
- The volume of the fuel tank is 4 liters.
- Dimensions – 1840/520/1002 mm.
- Tire type – 2.5/2.75.
- Wheels - 17 inches.
Engine design
The design of the motor is very simple. There are two valves in the cylinder head - inlet and outlet. Their operation is ensured by a timing star located in the same place, the rotation of which occurs synchronously with the magneto through a chain drive. On the left side of the engine is a foot shift lever that operates a very simple system of gears mounted on two parallel shafts in the crankcase. The oil pump is driven by the timing chain and is located under the crankshaft. On the right side of the engine, inside the crankcase, there is a clutch unit, which is controlled by a lever using a clutch cable coming from the left handlebar.
Alpha moped engine (110 cc)
This modification has a four-stroke power unit with a volume of 110 cubic centimeters. The motor is cooled by air. Thanks to its design features, the power plant has a high dynamics rating.
(110 cc) using an electric starter that is powered by the engine. There is a backup option to switch the starting mode to kickstarter. The volume of the fuel tank is enough for 200 kilometers without refueling; AI-95 grade is used as fuel.
Prevention and repair of the Alpha engine at home
The engine of the Alpha moped (72 cc), like any vehicle, requires regular maintenance and repair. Regular oil changes are an important condition for prolonging its operation. The oil change process is very simple. The engine warms up, then turns off, and using a drain hole located under the crankcase, the hot waste oil is easily removed from the crankcase into a specially prepared container. Then new oil is poured in. Setting up the correct operation of the engine begins with adjusting the carburetor, with which you can enrich or lean the mixture. It is also necessary to regularly check the operation of the valves, setting the required clearances using a special 0.5 mm feeler gauge. Two or three times a season, it is necessary to check the tension of the timing chain, as well as the condition of its tensioning mechanism, rubber rollers and dampers. Any breakdown of the Alpha engine can be easily repaired. If traction is lost, it is necessary to remove the cylinder head and check the integrity of the valves. Burnout of valves is one of the possible breakdowns of this engine. To restore their functionality, you need to clean them and rub them in with paste again. This procedure is familiar to many owners of old Lada models. If the timing chain is broken, it is necessary to remove the generator rotor and replace all elements of the gas distribution mechanism, and when assembling the engine, you need to make sure by the marks that the generator rotor and the timing star are synchronized with the correct stroke of the cylinder.
The clutch must be disassembled and washed in gasoline once a season, since a viscous mixture of oil and metal powder accumulates inside it. With regular engine inspection, proper tuning and replacement of parts showing signs of wear, the 139 FMB will operate flawlessly. Repairing the Alpha moped (72 cc) does not require major capital investments and can be successfully carried out at home with minimal skills.
Recipes for increasing 139 FMB power at home
The most common way to increase the power of an Alpha moped engine is to replace the piston group with a version with a larger cylinder volume. As a rule, such a replacement adds power to the motor, but does not greatly affect the increase in the speed of the moped. There are other ways. The simplest is dual ignition. You can make a step on the protrusion located on the generator rotor housing by cutting off a 0.5 mm layer from half of its metal surface, from the edge that first touches the sensor during the working stroke of the rotor. This will give an increase in power by 5-10%. The diameter of the intake and exhaust valves can be increased. To do this, you need to bore holes in the cylinder head for wider valves taken from the 139 FMB piston group with a larger cubic capacity. This operation gives an increase in power by 15-20%.
Maintenance and repair of moped chassis
Repair of the Alpha moped (72 cc), caused by major breakdowns, can be completely eliminated by carrying out regular preventive replacement of those parts that have obvious signs of wear. The chain on a moped should be replaced after each season or after 2000 km. The chain stretches very significantly, which increases wear on both sprockets. Due to the chain breaking at high speed, a situation with sudden locking of the rear wheel is possible, which can lead to a dangerous fall, injuries and even greater damage to the motorcycle. On the road, this situation can cause destruction of the tension elements of the rear wheel, severe deformation or complete destruction of the tension mounting sockets. Artificially shortening the chain contributes to rapid wear of both sprockets. After 7,000 km, tires completely lose their tread texture and traction. They need to be changed after 2-3 seasons of use. The clutch, fuel supply and front wheel brake drum control cables should be shortened after each season of operation due to their stretching. The rubber bands in the brake drums gradually deform, which increases wheel play. It is also better to change them after each season of use.
Vibration damage
Some moped breakdowns may be associated with the destruction of its load-bearing elements. The plastic front wing on the Alpha lasts longer than the metal one, since it is less susceptible to the negative effects of vibration. Engine mounting points on the frame can also be damaged due to vibration. To avoid this, you need to weld wide washers onto them. After 2-3 seasons, the battery loses up to 50% of its capacity, so its regular replacement is also advisable. Electrical clutch and turn signal sensors must operate normally. Both safety while driving and correct control of gear shifting depend on them. The standard rear shock absorbers on the Alfa wear out, which can lead to unwanted friction between the rear wheel and the inner surface of the rear wing. There are luxury rear shock absorber options for the Alfa that allow you to put fat tires on the rear wheels, as they can help raise the rear of the bike a little. If you handle fasteners with care, serious problems with the repair of this moped are unlikely.
Run-in
Running in the Alpha moped (72 cc) does not take much time and has several main conditions for obtaining the correct result. It is necessary to strictly observe the speed limit until the first thousand kilometers, you must not overheat the engine by forcing it to operate at maximum speed for more than 20 minutes, and you should also change the oil after 500, 1000, 2000 and 5000 km.
Modifications
Review of the Alpha 72 cc moped. would not be complete without listing its main modifications. There are two frame options for this moped. This is high, with space for a large gas tank, and low, where the gas tank is small and the trunk is located above it. In terms of their characteristics, both versions of the moped will be almost identical, with the exception of the difference in the volume of gas tanks and a slight difference in seat height. "Alpha" is made by a number of Chinese manufacturers, so there are many parallel names for the same model. For example, the Omax Alpha 72 cc moped. is a purely Chinese version, and the Orion moped is 72 cc. - Russian assembly of the same model from Chinese spare parts, carried out at Velomotors enterprises.
Equipment options
Existing modifications of the Alpha (72 cc) may differ in some design elements. There are also luxury versions of this moped. For example, the Alpha Racer 72 cc moped. has a more impressive and dynamic seat shape and stands out from other Alfas with the spectacular sporty contours of the gas tank. In fact, this is the same model of moped. Luxury versions can be equipped with hydraulic rear shock absorbers, an alarm system, plastic fenders, more attractive decorative elements, slightly more expensive turn signals and headlights, an expensive trunk and even leatherette saddlebags. But it will still be the same 72 cc Alpha moped, with the same technical characteristics, but 30% more expensive.
Exterior
The Alpha moped (110 cubic meters) does not look like low-power scooters with plastic body kits. It has a large wheel diameter, a larger front fork, and some parts are made of chromed metal. The resemblance to a motorcycle is added by the original seat and mirrors.
For its category, the equipment in question has respectable dimensions. For convenience, wide footrests are provided, and the unique shape of the muffler has become one of the distinctive elements. You can also note the informative dashboard and side metal arches that provide additional safety.
Comparison of the Karpaty moped and the Alpha 50cc moped. Which one is cooler!?
As from the title of the article, you probably already understood that I want to compare two mopeds, since I owned both of these devices:
Let's look at the technical characteristics of these mopeds:
- Firstly, both mopeds are 50 cubic meters (well, not really, but sort of 49.9)
- Secondly, the Karpaty moped is equipped with a two-stroke engine, while the Alpha moped is equipped with a four-stroke engine, but with the same displacement.
- Thirdly, the “Karpaty” moped has only two gears, while the “Alpha” moped already has four gears.
- The maximum speed of the Karpaty is about 45 km/h, while the Alpha is already somewhere around 60 km/h.
- The Alpha moped is equipped with an electric starter and kickstarter, while the Karpaty moped is equipped with only a kickstarter.
- The fuel consumption of these mopeds is approximately the same.
- Gear shifting on the Karpaty is a handle on the steering wheel, while the Alfa has a foot shift.
What does the market offer?
Having wandered a little around motorcycle stores, you can find zero-resistance filters that have become popular recently. Such a small trinket also adds some zest to the alpha moped. In addition to appearance, it also improves the technical parameters of the engine. If you install such a filter on an alpha moped, the engine will receive more air, which means it breathes better. This gives some power gain, but you probably won't notice it.
Complete repainting will help to radically update and make high-quality tuning of the alpha moped. In the case of the Alpha, we have chrome fenders, a trunk, a steering wheel and some other elements that make no sense to repaint. The only color that would look good when repainting these elements is matte black or, in general, pasting with liquid rubber. By choosing a good color scheme, you can improve the appearance of the moped for the better.
Pros and cons of a Chinese moped:
Pros:
- There is no need to mix oil with gasoline, but change it on time.
- The moped pulls off perfectly both at low and high speeds.
- The maximum speed is higher.
- In appearance, this moped looks more beautiful.
Minuses:
- There is too much plastic, which almost falls into pieces when dropped.
- If it breaks down, it is more difficult to repair such a moped.
- The quality of Chinese metal and welding leaves much to be desired
Reviews
The owners of the device in question consider the excellent combination of price and quality indicators to be the main advantage. Along with the availability of spare parts and inexpensive service, consumers note the original informative dashboard, good traction, cross-country ability, easy control, as well as efficiency and quite a solid load capacity.
Among the negative aspects is the finishing material of low quality, subject to darkening over time. Owners also do not consider wheel tires to be one of the advantages of the scooter. Otherwise, users are satisfied with this unit, which can also be further tuned if desired.
Conclusion:
In terms of build quality, the Soviet moped is much better than the Chinese moped, but in terms of comfort and attractiveness it is inferior to the Chinese moped, because tell me that it is much more pleasant to change gears with your foot and start the moped with a button, rather than with a kick.
But since this is a comparison, I give my vote in honor of the Soviet automobile industry, but I myself ride a Chinese moped. You just need to take a frame from the Carpathians and put a Chinese engine on it, and it will be just an armored vehicle
But as for the quality, I can really say that the Soviet moped is much better in this regard, because once, while riding a Karpacz, I flew into a ditch, I kept thinking about the moped, well, I kind of drove diagonally down a hillock from the road, and then he rolled it out onto the road and examined it and saw that only the headlight on it was bent upward, not even the glass was broken. I adjusted the headlight, sat down and drove on. But on a Chinese moped one day in winter it simply fell on its side, and the driver’s footrest immediately broke off and the plastic was all cracked.
