The Piaggio Zip is a scooter that is manufactured by

Piaggio Piaggio & C. SpA (Piaggio ) is an Italian motor vehicle manufacturer, which produces a range of two-wheeled motor vehicles and compact commercial vehicles under seven brands: Piaggio, Vespa, Gilera, Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, Derbi, and Scarabeo. Its ...

. All Zip models have a CVT automatic transmission, sometimes referred to as a twist & go transmission due to its lack of gears and use of an automatic centrifugal clutch, sharing several components with other models in the range. Several companies such as

Malossi Malossi S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of tuning parts for mopeds and scooters. It was founded by Armando Malossi in 1930. Originally the company specialised in tuning Dell'orto carburettors for motorcycles. This strong association continues t ...

Polini Polini S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of tuning parts for motorcycles, mopeds, and scooters. Among other products, they produce cylinders and variators for both racing and road use. They also produce pocket bikes with 50cc up to 15 hp. ...

and PM Tuning offer an extensive catalogue of tuning parts for the 50 cc and 125 models.

History

The first generation Zip was only available as a

two stroke A two-stroke (or two-stroke cycle) engine is a type of internal combustion engine that completes a power cycle with two strokes (up and down movements) of the piston during one power cycle, this power cycle being completed in one revolution of t ...

. The base Zip model was

air-cooled Air-cooled engines rely on the circulation of air directly over heat dissipation fins or hot areas of the engine to cool them in order to keep the engine within operating temperatures. In all combustion engines, a great percentage of the heat ge ...

, with early models equipped with

drum The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments. In the Hornbostel-Sachs classification system, it is a membranophone. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a she ...

brakes front and rear. The Zip SP model was water-cooled and had single sided front suspension. The fuel tank had a capacity of A machine based on the Zip SP with a

equipped engine was raced by a young

Leon Haslam Leon Lloyd Haslam (born 31 May 1983, in the London Borough of Ealing) is a motorcycle road racer based in Derbyshire, England. In February 2022, Haslam confirmed he would be racing in British Superbikes for Lee Hardy Racing on a Kawasaki Z ...

to win the 1997 Gilera Scooter Championship title. In 2000 Piaggio introduced a redesigned Zip model range. These are sometimes referred to as the Zip 2000 or Zip Cat models. It had a height adjustable seat, lockable glove box and underseat storage with room for a full face helmet. The base 50 cc version was once again a two-stroke but the engine was now the updated Hi-Per2 unit. The Zip SP had the water-cooled Hi-Per2 Pro engine and single sided front suspension. In the UK the 50 cc models were sold in restricted form to comply with

moped A moped ( ) is a type of small motorcycle, generally having a less stringent licensing requirement than full motorcycles or automobiles. The term used to mean a similar vehicle except with both bicycle pedals and a motorcycle engine. Mopeds typic ...

licence regulations. The restriction was done by the use of a washer to prevent the variator from using its full range and a blank pipe from the exhaust to reduce power. The Zip model was the best selling powered two wheeled vehicle (by registrations) in the UK in 2001. Piaggio ZIP 50

In addition to the two two-stroke variants a four stroke model was also made available. The Zip 125 had an air-cooled two-

valve A valve is a device or natural object that regulates, directs or controls the flow of a fluid (gases, liquids, fluidized solids, or slurries) by opening, closing, or partially obstructing various passageways. Valves are technically fittings ...

variant of the Piaggio group's LEADER (Low Emissions ADvanced Engine Range) engine. The 125 model was also equipped with side lights. In late 2005 a four stroke Hi-Per4 equipped 49 cc Zip 50 4t was announced. The 4t was restricted for some markets via electronics, a washer in the front transmission pulley and a smaller main jet. A four-stroke model, the Zip 100, was made available in March 2006 in some markets.

Specifications

References

External links

Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Piaggio Zip Zip Motor scooters Mopeds Motorcycles introduced in 1995 Two-stroke motorcycles