![Rieju RR 2006](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2a/Rieju_RR_2006.JPG)
Rieju is a manufacturer of
mopeds
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 typi ...
and
motorcycles
A motorcycle (motorbike, bike, or trike (if three-wheeled)) is a two or three-wheeled motor vehicle steered by a handlebar. Motorcycle design varies greatly to suit a range of different purposes: long-distance travel, commuting, cruising, ...
from
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, i ...
. It is based in
Figueres
Figueres (, ; , es, Figueras, ) is the capital of the ''comarca'' of Alt Empordà, in the province of Girona, Catalonia, Spain.
The town is the birthplace of artist Salvador Dalí, and houses the Teatre-Museu Gala Salvador Dalí, a large museu ...
. They specialise in small-displacement motorcycles (between 49 and 450cc) using
Minarelli
Minarelli is an Italian motorcycle engine manufacturer. It is part of the Fantic Motor
Fantic Motor is an Italian manufacturer of motorcycles.
History
Fantic Motor began in 1968, manufacturing and exporting enduro motorcycles, mini-bikes ...
engine
An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert one or more forms of energy into mechanical energy.
Available energy sources include potential energy (e.g. energy of the Earth's gravitational field as exploited in hydroelectric power gen ...
s. Their products are available in almost all European countries.
History
In 1934, two young entrepreneurs, Luis Riera Carré and Jaime Juanola Farrés, founded a company to manufacture bicycle accessories. The name RIEJU came from the first letters of each of their surnames (RIEra + JUanola).
They bought some land and started to build a factory, but the
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil War ( es, Guerra Civil Española)) or The Revolution ( es, La Revolución, link=no) among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War ( es, Cuarta Guerra Carlista, link=no) among Carlists, and The Rebellion ( es, La Rebelión, lin ...
thwarted their plans. The
Republican Government
Representative democracy, also known as indirect democracy, is a type of democracy where elected people represent
Represent may refer to:
* ''Represent'' (Compton's Most Wanted album) or the title song, 2000
* ''Represent'' (Fat Joe album), ...
confiscated the unfinished building and used it as a truck depot. A second storey was built above the existing premises during the war and was considered a payment of interests when the facilities were returned.
In 1940, once the war was over, Rieju resumed its industrial activity making bicycle accessories.
In 1942, Rieju was established as a Private Limited Company (Sociedad Limitada) with a capital of 1 million
pesetas, and started to build, alongside components, their first bicycle models. The company now had 35 employees and an average of 30 bicycles were built each week.
In 1947 Rieju built their first moped, adding to one of their bicycles an auxiliary 38 cc four-stroke engine (built by Serwa of France) coupled to the rear wheel. This model had a power of 1 HP and a maximum speed of around 40 km/h. Two years later, in 1949, Rieju launched the "No. 2" model, now with a more powerful engine and a gearbox designed in-house. Later models (No.3, No.4, etc.) evolved the vehicle to give it a "motorcycle look".
In 1964 Rieju reached an agreement with Minarelli to manufacture their engines under licence, and launched the "Jaca" model, with 3.5 HP and a top speed of 70 km/h, but this was limited to 40 km/h due to moped regulations.
The landmark Jaca model was evolved throughout the 1960s and 70s, giving birth to the Confort and TT models. In 1978, Rieju developed a moped with automatic transmission but it was not successful.
Production kept increasing steadily throughout the 80s, with new and more varied models, placing Rieju among the top moped sellers in Spain. Also, Rieju bikes won several prizes in international
Enduro
Enduro is a form of motorcycle sport run on extended cross-country, off-road courses. Enduro consists of many different obstacles and challenges. The main type of enduro event, and the format to which the World Enduro Championship is run, is a ...
competitions, raising the profile of the marque.
In 1994,the company opened itself to other markets and started exporting their models across Europe. By 2006 exports represented about 60% of their sales.
2011 saw the launch of many new Rieju machines, most notably the new RS3 50 and RS3 125LC. They are made in Spain and are powered by Yamaha engines.
In 2020 Rieju purchased the rights to
GasGas's off-road motorcycle models.
Competitions
The first victory of Rieju in Endurance was in the 1979/1980 season, when Jordi Piferrer Taulé, riding a Marathon machine, won the 80cc category of the Spanish Championship.
References
External links
The official English siteRieju club Holland; a forum for technical questions, also in English under topic; international forumRIEJU MOTORS models & history
{{Automotive industry in Spain
Companies based in Catalonia
Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1934
Motorcycle manufacturers of Spain
Moped manufacturers
Spanish brands
Spanish companies established in 1934
Figueres