Post Listing Update: Despite 9 bids on eBay up to $4,600, this Fantic did not meet reserve.
In 1971, the Conservative Party in England introduced legislation known as the “Sixteeners Laws” – it banned 16 year olds from riding bikes that were 250cc and up. European and Japanese manufacturers responded with a wave of 50-125cc mopeds that were informally called sports mopeds or even “sixteener specials.” While the most commercially successful sports mopeds were practical bikes like the FS1 (also called the Fizzy), one of the most interesting options was the 125cc Chopper from the Italian manufacturer Fantic. These are hard to find in the US in any shape, let alone a restored example like this beauty.
Fantic made the chopper with a 50cc and 125cc motor – neither option would get you anywhere with any sense of urgency. But that’s OK, because I can’t imagine this is going anywhere but a collection now for someone who dreamed about having a Chopper when they were younger. This is one of those bikes that makes me wish I was born 20 years earlier. Have you ever seen one before? The Minarelli two-stroke 125 (actually 123cc) motor produced 13.2 horsepower, enough to get the 260 pound bike up to 65 miles per hour. For a little bit more information, check out this brief portion of the book Hot Bikes.
Find this Fantic Chopper for sale in Upland, California with bidding up to $3,700 and the reserve not yet met