Its a strange concept to go out and road test some restricted 50's, especially after spending years on much larger and way more powerful bikes, but these two little Malaguti 50's looked such a tempting proposition that I just had to have a go!

The latest generation of 50cc real motorcycles (I say that as opposed to all the scooters around!) have very little in common with the bikes I grew up with a few generations ago. The new 50's both look, and feel like much bigger bikes as opposed to the smaller models from Yamaha, Honda and Suzuki some years back. The icon of the 70's & 80's the Yamaha FS1E, was a tiny little bike, but it was a real motorcycle, and that's what everyone wanted then. But now were are faced with small engined motorcycles that have full size adult proportions in every respect.

The Malaguti 50 XTM enduro-style, and the XSM supermoto fall easily into this category. The overall design dimentions and geometry of these new models, especially the frame design, would have been seen as overkill a few years ago, even for bikes of much larger capacity. The seat height, footpeg position and overall riding position on both of these superb 50cc 'real' motorcycles is a far cry from the so-called 'mopeds' of the past. I can honestly say that if you are under about 5'7" or don't have fairly long legs, then you won't be able to even get on either of these Malaguti 50's, your feet just won't touch the ground! But in saying that don't be put off, there is a lowering facility for both of them at the rear, so you can drop it by about 20mm, just enough to suit most people under that crucial height.

Both these 50's are restricted to 30mph as the law requires, it's a shame as I rode an unrestricted XSM Supermoto a little while ago and it was just great fun up to about 55/60mph. The restricted versions are all well and good but do struggle a little without the available power. Both bikes are just perfect for 16yr olds, street cred is everything, and the Malaguti 50's have it by the bucket load! Both bikes share the main components, the Paioli forks, the watercooled motor, motorcross intakes for the radiator, cool digital dash, funky colour schemes and with the exception of the wheels being different they both ride just the same.

The XTM comes with motorcross tyres and larger wheels (18" and 21"), whereas the XSM comes with sticky road rubber and 17" front and rear. There is also a brake difference between the two bikes, the XSM gets a 20mm larger disc for those mad 'stoppies' we all know Supermotos can do! The XTM enduro version has a slight weight advantage at 96 kg, two less than the XSM. This is of course dry weight, you will have to add 6.7 kg of fuel, and 1.2 kg of oil for the separate oil mix of the 2 stroke engine. The fuel/oil mix of the single cylinder is managed by a pump, all you have to do is maintain the oil level in the tank on the front right hand side of the bikes, on the other side is the radiator, hence the motocross look-a-like intakes.

Both the XTM and the XSM are powered by a 49.7 cc liquid cooled engine, this is fuelled by a Dell'Orto PHBN16-HS carburetor. The ignition is obviously electronic on most things nowadays and with the emissions of 2-strokes being monitored closely both bikes come with a catalyser making them conform to the recent Euro 2 emission requirements. A manual kick start, multi disc wet clutch and a six speed gearbox add to the entire package to get you the best available power delivery.

Both bikes are different to ride, yet both bikes are the same in their performance. Being restricted there is only so much you can do with them, but however you ride them they are both fun to take out. The XTM and XSM are both perfectly suitable for every day use in and out of town. Ride the Malaguti (either one!) and you wil find them both agile and very manoeuvrable. East to ride, forgiving and an ideal learning tool to progress tolarger motorcycles. That's what these bikes are all about, a stepping stone to bigger and better bikes which give you the satisfaction of actually having a bigger (looking) bike to learn on. The riding position leaves you a little squeezed up due to the high pegs and the lower bars (especially if you are tall) but the riding experience overall is very good. The engines, although restricted, are still fun, and can be fairly exciting when they reach top revs. The unrestricted version was indeed fun to ride, but you will have to wait a while for that!

All in all I enjoyed the Malaguti 50's, they are good bikes to start you journey into motorcycling with, they both look good and have some serious 'pulling power' on the street (if you know what I mean!), the only thing you'll have to put up with is the lack of speed, which is no bad thing to start with. A cool package and well worth a look at instead of those plastic scooters we see everywhere!

AP