Any Malaguti experts?

[V1nce Fox]

Trying to track down a model i had as a kid in the 1980s. It was an ex fairground 50cc 2 stroke thing, looked a bit like a trials bike. I suppose the forerunner of midimoto type stuff but more substantial.

Anyone heard of these? I’d really like to know what the hell it was.

[OutInTheShed]

I think they made a lot of kid's MX bikes?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/275269534443?hash=item4...

And possibly sold engines to other bike makers?

[V1nce Fox]

That’s kind of it. I remember mine having a more square moulded seat shape and looking a tiny bot newer than that shape but that’s the basic gist.

Of course i also remember it being the hugest, fastest bike ever made at the time

[oilrag1]

Your referring to the GRIZZLY range ,came in two sizes,10inch wheels and a larger framed 12 inch model ,both used the morini franco power unit ,with centrifugal clutch and a small dellortto carb.They were aimed at the 5 to 11 age range of kids,even had a series which was fiercely competed.
they were updated visually from the 80's with styling and decal changes but essentially were the same bike .till around 2010.
I was a dealer in these for several year's from late 90's ,and i still have some spares stock and a couple of machines for display.

[V1nce Fox]

oilrag1 said:

Your referring to the GRIZZLY range ,came in two sizes,10inch wheels and a larger framed 12 inch model ,both used the morini franco power unit ,with centrifugal clutch and a small dellortto carb.They were aimed at the 5 to 11 age range of kids,even had a series which was fiercely competed.
they were updated visually from the 80's with styling and decal changes but essentially were the same bike .till around 2010.
I was a dealer in these for several year's from late 90's ,and i still have some spares stock and a couple of machines for display.

You bloody legend.

So if i had one in the mid 80s, what would it have been? I thought it was a Cf or RC from quick googling but none of them look quite like it. I’m guessing these got interchanged quite a bit with whatever parts were available?

Bloody loved that bike, has a lot to answer for!

[Caddyshack]

My mate had one and we used to love buzzing around on it.

[V1nce Fox]

I remember my mum went spare when my dad bought it home. She was worried it’d make me want motorbikes when i grew up.

Too bloody right it did.

[oilrag1]

They were designated RCX 10 or RCX 12,a few mods to frame occurred over the years but older bikes were often upgraded to newer plastics.

Loads of tuning bits were available for a fair few years and the whole package was very tough ,must be loads buried in sheds and garages around europe,i must have sold a few hundred myself into lincs/notts/sheff .

Edited by oilrag1 on Wednesday 20th April 21:34

[robinh73]

What a blast front the past! I had one of these when I was 11 or so. It was a bugger to start but it was what set me on my two wheeled adventures ever since. I will have to try and dig out some photos.

[V1nce Fox]

robinh73 said:

What a blast front the past! I had one of these when I was 11 or so. It was a bugger to start but it was what set me on my two wheeled adventures ever since. I will have to try and dig out some photos.

Same here. I have one old pic somewhere I’ll try and find.

[trickywoo]

I ve just picked up one of these.

A Grzzly 10 from 1996 I think.

Needed a few bits but it started and ran perfectly second kick.

Anyway I m after the silencer end piece on the off chance someone has one.

Looks like I can get a new one for £45 so might just do that.

It s a perfect size for a 7 year old if anyone is thinking of getting one.

Also wonder if anyone knows why it runs without a kill switch fitted? It’s got the bullet connector coming off the magneto and all of that looks fine. I fitted a new push switch with earths and the bullet connector and as predicted it doesn’t kill the ignition.

Edited by trickywoo on Friday 5th December 16:23

[Caddyshack]

Surely it would run without the bullet connected. Normally the bullet goes to earth to kill the engine. So, have you got one end of the switch to earth and the other to the bullet? Then, when the kill button is pressed the circuit is compete and the bullet is earthed to the frame via the switch.

[trickywoo]

Caddyshack said:

Surely it would run without the bullet connected. Normally the bullet goes to earth to kill the engine. So, have you got one end of the switch to earth and the other to the bullet? Then, when the kill button is pressed the circuit is compete and the bullet is earthed to the frame via the switch.

Thanks. That makes sense but the genuine Malaguti switch I got has an earth on both ends i.e. at the press switch end and the bullet connector end. I’ll try it without the second earth.

[Caddyshack]

trickywoo said:

Caddyshack said:

Surely it would run without the bullet connected. Normally the bullet goes to earth to kill the engine. So, have you got one end of the switch to earth and the other to the bullet? Then, when the kill button is pressed the circuit is compete and the bullet is earthed to the frame via the switch.

Thanks. That makes sense but the genuine Malaguti switch I got has an earth on both ends i.e. at the press switch end and the bullet connector end. I ll try it without the second earth.

That’s what I am saying though. One earth goes to the bullet and the other earth goes to the frame as an earth.


When the bullet finds earth it kills the engine…that’s how they work.

[M138]

There’s a Malaguti Facebook page, mostly aimed at the Sixteener Special mopeds from the 70s but someone may be able to help.

[Caddyshack]

I made you a picture that might help explain how it works. It isn’t a conventional circuit. When the bullet earths it causes the electrical circuit to fail and kills the engine.

[Caddyshack]

A 2-stroke motorbike kill switch works by grounding out the ignition coil, creating a direct path for electricity to escape to the frame instead of going to the spark plug, which prevents the spark needed to ignite fuel and instantly stops the engine without harming it. When you flip the switch, it connects a "stop wire" from the ignition system (CDI/magneto) to the engine's ground, short-circuiting the spark, which is vital for safety as it allows quick engine shutdown without taking your hands off the bars.

How the Circuit is Interrupted
Normal Operation (Switch ON): The magneto generates electricity, which travels through the ignition coil and a specific "stop wire" to create a spark at the plug to fire the engine.
Kill Switch Activated (Switch OFF): The switch connects the stop wire to the engine's metal frame (ground).
Grounding the Coil: The electricity, finding this new, easier path to the ground, flows through the stop wire and to the frame, bypassing the spark plug.
No Spark, No Fire: With no electrical charge reaching the spark plug, the fuel-air mixture isn't ignited, and the engine stops immediately

[trickywoo]

Thanks everyone helping with the kill switch.

The kill switch I bought (which is supposedly model specific) has a tiny earth hoop at the switch end which I currently have connected on the clamp for the handle bar.

The other end has a male bullet which connects to a female already on the bike. It has a big earth hoop that end which I have connected to what looks like a purpose made hole in the frame via a self tapper.

The switch itself breaks the circuit when pushed against the spring.

[Caddyshack]

Do a test. Run the engine and then touch a wire from the bullet to the frame. If the engine dies then just mod the switch to create an earth connection when pressed or buy a simple kill switch.