TOMOS
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The Tomos is a Slovenian factory enough known in Europe, because the mopeds of this brand were exported in several countries (also in Italy, till the '80s), obtaining a good success. But i dedicated a page to this brand, also because it produced very interesting 50 cc. racing bikes, like the "GP 75" (in the pic above), that partecipated to the old 50 cc. GP World Championship in the 1975, even equipped with two front disk brake...do you believe me if i say that this bike reachs the 200 km/h? It seems incredible, but it's true!
The early mopeds and...the Norton-Tomos 750!
The Tomos factory is born in the city of Koper (the italian Capodistria), in Slovenia, 10 km from Trieste, in Italy. The early models were called "Colibrė" (name that indicates a series of different models: scooters, mopeds, little motorcycles etc.), partially inspired to the German "Kreidler" mopeds, and they were characterized by a "western" layout, with a good design and a technical level comparable with the best Italian and German realizations. Up, some "Colibrė" of the years '60s: a classic "basic" version, a sport version (capable of 100 km/h in tuned version), and, in the third pic, the scooter version, equipped with forced air-cooling system. In the fourth pic, the "hybrid" "14-V", with protections typical of a scooter, but substantially a moped with closed frame. All the models were characterized by an engine with inclined cylinder (present also on the current models); the gearbox was with two, three, four and also five speeds on the different versions. Moreover, there was also a vehicle produced under license: the scooter Puch "RL 125 Galeb" (fifth pic).
In the first, second and third pics above, other mopeds of the "Colibrė" series, realized between the '60s and '70s: the "T-11" (1963), a sport moped, with white-stripe tyres and two-colors saddle; the "T-12" with leg-protectors and engine cooled with fan; the "Sprint 15" (1975), another sport version, with 5-speeds gearbox, duplex frame and 85 km/h of max speed. In the fourth and fifth pics, the "Cross 50" in the normal and competition versions, produced since the 1973. The normal version had 8 hp and 5 speed gearbox, not bad for that period!
Also other models were realized, often remained as prototypes: in the first pic above, the "Mobi 1", showily inspired to the famous French "Velosolex" (!); and, in the second pic, two miniscooters (one is electric), very modern for the '70s.
But the Tomos tried also to produce "real" motorcycles: in the first pic above, the Puch "SG 250", produced under license in the 1957. In the second pic, instead, the Tomos-Norton "TN 750"...yes, it seems incredible, but the Tomos also produced, since the 1970, the legendary Norton "Commando 750 Fastback"!!! The "TN 750" ("TN" is, obviously, for "Tomos-Norton") was egual to the original British model: 750 cc. parallel twin, 58 hp, 200 km/h. I think that this bike was produced, probably, only for the Yugoslavian police and army; anyway, the existance of this Yugoslavian version is very surprising! In the last three pics, instead, two other motorcycles, realized directly Tomos (and hypothetically much more affordable for the Yugoslavian people...): the "175 Touring" (third pic) and "175 C5 Sport" (fourth and fifth pics, with front disk brake and alloy wheels), both realized in the '70s. Unfortunately, these two 175 cc. bikes remained as prototypes, and the Tomos choosen to remain in the field of the mopeds.
The Tomos 50 GP: the "racing mosquitos"
Since the end of the '50s, the Tomos realized racing bikes destined to the national and international races, and also to the GP 50 World Championship (yes, GP 50, not 500!), still present till the early '80s. These bikes (it's better to not define it as "mopeds", although the 50 cc. displacement) had a technical level egual to the Western racing bikes. Here is some example (for more models, see also http://www.tomos.si/eng/history/winners.php): in the first pic, the "D-7" of the 1962 (already capable of 140 km/h!); in the second pic, the "D-9" of the 1965 (evoultion of the "D7"), and, in the third pic, the "D-6", realized in different versions during the 1967-1971 period (with this bike, the Italian driver Gilberto Parlotti took a podium in the 1970 World Championship).
Above, instead, the last Tomos racing bikes: the "GP 75" of 1975 (first pic; see also the opening pic), the "GP 79" of the 1979 (second pic, and in the third pic during an aerodynamic test), and the "GP 80" (fourth and fifth pics; note the front rim with five arms of great dimensions, probably used to improve the aerodynamic). All these bikes, about some aspect, were more difficoltous to drive than the motorcycles of bigger displacements, because they were very reactive and light (the weight was near to the 50 kg...and the "D9" had an even inferior weight, 39 kg!), and with engines without torque at the low revolutions. The last models had a power of 18 hp, released at the incredible regime of 16.000 rpm! Although these performances, the Tomos were not very competitive in the World Championship, but they obtained several successes in the national competitions, not only in Yugoslavia (for example, they won the Italian Championship in the '69-'70, and also the European Championship in the 1980).
In the first pic above, there is a model that can be found, sometime, also on our roads: the Tomos "A3", produced since the '70s, but diffused in Italy during the '80s (even through the TV sales, and sold with hi-fi systems, saucepans and other similar items!), and produced still now as "A35 Standard", with few modifies. It had always the two-stroke engine with inclined cylinder, but with an automatic two-speed gearbox. Indeed, now it's totally surpassed, but 15 years ago it was not different in comparison with our Italian "automatic" mopeds. In the second and third pics, instead, the "Colibrė" of the 1988, designed by Giugiaro (!) and characterized by some little interesting feature, as the rear sliding handle to fix the luggage, and the turn-light foldable to gain space in the parking. With this model, a new version of the classic automatic two-speeds engine was introduced, with electronic ignition and immission petal valve: this engine is used still now on the current models. In the fourth pic, the "Cityped", an original foldable moped, made in Slovenia with Tomos engine: this solution was launched by several factories in the '80s, but without success.
During the years '80s, also in the Yugoslavia there was the mania for the 50 cc. enduro bikes! In the first pic above, the Tomos "ATX 50", and, in the second pic, the "CTX 80" (with 80 cc. engine, front disk brake, monoshock suspension, and with a tank and an headlight cover similar to the Yamaha Tenerč!). In the third pic, instead, the "BT 50" road moped. These three vehicles were equipped with the frame of the "Cross Junior" of the '70s, but...they had too reduced dimensions, in comparison, for example, with the Italian 50 cc. enduro bikes (Aprilia, Gilera, etc.), that had dimensions egual to a 600 cc!
After the dissolution of the Yugoslavia, the Tomos passed through the post-communist crisis, the terrible Balcanian events of the '90s, and the concurrence of the Japanese products: now, although with minor numbers, the factory still produces mopeds. Above, some recent model. In the first pic above, the "Revival", a beautiful moped inspired to the Italian single-tube frame mopeds of the '70: quite "old style", but it's a nice classic vehicle. The moped in the second pic above, instead, called "CusTOM" (from "Custom" and "Tomos"...) and designed by the Slovenian artist Dali Kervina, is a real delirium: on the frame of the normal models, a "coachwork" similar to an Harley-Davidson has been fitted! Same philosophy for the "Targa" (third pic): take a moped, make it similar to a motorcycle (with a gigantic tank and a name inspired to a Porsche!). In the fourth pic (with very "kitsch" manikins...), the cheap "Flexer"; in the fifth pic, instead, the elegant "Classic", with white-stripe tyres and chromed headlight, much more pleasant.
Above, other new Tomos models, launched in the 2002: in the first and second pics, the "Streetmate", designed in Italy and equipped with an useful compartment for the helmet, under the fuel tank; in the third pic, instead, the "MC", a new minicross model (the market of the minicross bikes is quite important, especially in the United States). All the new models have the immission petal valve, automatic 2-speed gearbox, automatic lubrification, electric starter and catalyst (these two last features are in option on the basic models). The "Targa", still now, obtains a good success in the USA.
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Anyway, these mopeds were enough modern and comparable with the Western realizations till the years '80s, much more modern and finished in comparison with the Russian mopeds. They can be defined as the "Garelli of the East", and, like the Italian factory, the Tomos realized good racing bikes, remaining as one of the few Eastern brands (with Jawa, CZ and MZ) to obtain good results out of the national borders. It's a shame that the 50 cc. World Championship doesn't exists more...but the fulminating vision of mopeds capable of 200 km/h, could be diseducational for the boys...!
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Some pic taken from http://www.members.tripod.com/twowheelers/TOMOS.html , www.tomos.si , www.a2z-motopaedia.com
