Presentation of the Solex brand

The Solex, a moped like no other

Le VeloSoleX, Known under the name of Solex is an atypical moped, since its 49,9 cc two-stroke engine is installed astride the front wheel. The motor is driven par via a friction roller.

Le VeloSoleX is not the first machine with a motor on the front wheel, nor the first to have a transmission par pebble, particularly seen in The Foal and Cyclotractor. However, a large industrytrialization allowing a very low price, satisfactory reliability, simple maintenance, etc., allowed a significant diffusion of its models.

The first prototype of “VéloSolex” rolled from December 1940.

Le premier VeloSoleX was sold in 1946. Since that date, seven million copies have been sold in France and abroad.ranger, particularly in the Netherlands whose geography stands out par a slightly uneven terrain. Note that the engines of the VeloSoleX Dutch were brown and not black. Importers and licensed manufacturers were present in as many as fifty-seven countries.

The different Solex models

- 1010 comes out in 1957.

- the model says “45cc” released in 1946. Its 45 cc engine developed 3 hp at 0,4 rpm.

- 330 released in 1953, the displacement increased to 49 cm3 and the power to 0,5 hp.

- 660 comes out in 1955.

- 1400 comes out in 1958.

- 1700 released in 1959, with automatic clutch and side cooling par turbine.

- 2200 was released in June 1961. Its production began par engine number 2202001 and its power reaches 0,7 hp. It has a new, more powerful engine with, for the first time, suppressed ignition, new lift lever and decompression lever. This model is manufactured in two engine versions: the V1 and the V2.

- S3300 released in 1964, with the appearance of the rear drum brake and the pressed sheet metal frame assembled par bolts instead of welded tubes (similar to the future S3800).

- the F4 which came out in 1966 is a children's bike in the form of a 2/3 scale replica of the S3300. It has a metal frame with a small injected plastic motor with ratchet to imitate the sound of the motor.

- S3800, the brand's emblematic model, was released in 1966.

- 5000 released in 1971, with small wheels, it is available in four colors. Palma yellow, atoll blue, orange and the rarest, white.

- Micron released in 1968, with even smaller wheels. It has the S3800 motor but has no pedals. It is therefore considered a moped requiring an A1 license.

- Plisolex was released in 1973. It is rarear only twenty thousand copies were made.

- 4600 was released in 1974. Flash 1969 (became the 6000) is equipped with disc brakes. The engine, cooled par fan, is placed in the crankset with a side transmission par tree.

- Solex Tenor, released in 1972 is a moped with a more “classic” architecture, the transmission being carried out par chain. It is the only model equipped with an engine that is not manufactured par the brand: the L and S series are equipped with a Franco engine Morini Gyromat then replaced par the GL and GS series equipped with the Anker Laura engine. There is also a very rare S4 model equipped with a Franco engine. Morini four speeds.