BEST BICYCLE HEADLIGHTS

I just picked this up last week. Was advertised on craigslist for $150. When I went to take a look at it, it was partially disassembled, and some of it was in a box. I almost walked away, but the guy asked: what would I pay for it if I wanted it?

I told him $100, and surprisingly enough he accepted after scratching his chin a couple of times.

I put it all back together, ordered some parts that were lost when it was taken apart, and now it runs like a champ.

For those of you who are uninformed, the Velosolex is one of the earliest mopeds. It was introduced in France in late 1946, and went through many design changes until production was halted in 1988. At that point production started in Hungary and continued until 2002.

Recently production has moved back to France.

The Velosolex is the second most popular motorbike of all time, trailing far, far, behind the Honda Cub.

The Honda cub has sold around 60 million units since 1958. The Velosolex has sold just over 8 million since 1947.

The Honda is universally appealing, because it was designed to be the best possible 50cc machine that could be made at the most attractive price.

The Solex on the other hand was designed to take advantage of laws, regulations and loopholes that are more or less specific to France, and to somewhat lesser extent the surrounding countries in Europe.

The Velosolex never really caught on in the U.S. or Britain, or other countries outside of continental Europe.

The Honda of course had been a world wide success, and continues to sell well in some markets.

Headlight to headlight with the light rail train - OK, so on slightly different paths. Taken this morning at 1am or so.

Seriously, when this train comes at you, you can't see a damn thing - I hold my hand up to block the lights and do my best to stay on the path and not hit any oncoming riders.

On a totally unrelated note:
Funny, I went through most of today thinking it was Wednesday...