September 1977 - because the manufacturers were making souped-up 50cc machines with (lockable) pedals to qualify as “mopeds” the Government changed the rules to make pedals no longer required but limiting the top speed of 50cc machines to 50kph / 31mph.
Here’s a posh “moped” for you - the Aprilia RS50. 
A bike shop near my home in Cornwall sold Garellis. One of them was at the top of my I want list.
I had a Flandria moped with similar styling. Unfortunately it was never registered in the U.K.
My moped was a Puch maxi - not very stylish, but certainly cost effective. Until it was nicked. 
At 17 I got a Honda CB250K4, which was actually a decent bike to ride. A couple of years later I had it’s replacement - the CB250G5 - which was a ghastly wallowing gutless mess, and rather scary if you were pressing on.
I loved my 250G5 and did tens of thousands of miles on it.
Mine got used well, but they changed the frame and fork design from the earlier versions and it ruined the handling. The G5 frame wasn’t very stiff, and the lighter fashionable front mudguard had less bracing to keep the forks straight. It was OK up the motorway, but after the K4 where I could drag the pegs almost anywhere it was very unnerving. They also made it rev a bit higher with less midrange torque, so you could feel all sporty taking it through the redline, where the earlier bikes didn’t to be screamed.
It was still quite usable, but a definite step-down from the earlier models. I do remember them getting a bit of stick in the magazine reviews, and the Dream being considered a big upgrade.
The bike I had straight after the CB250K4 was a Kawasaki S1b 250 triple (before the KH series) and the handling on that was SCARY, but the incredible engine made it all worthwhile. If you managed to not bin it because of the handling.
I lived in Cornwall where it was all hills and corners and my bike was great. I was spoiled because I occasionally got to ride my dad’s CB400/4 but never felt that I wanted to change from my 250. I’ve still got some photos from that era and there are two events recorded that are known as Kawasaki 250 breakdown down 1 and Kawasaki breakdown 2. To be fair the second was a puncture which could have happened to anyone. The only Kawasaki triple that I ever rode was a 500 and that was super fast but the frame was awful. Its
Ditto.
I loved my moped, until wearing a crash helmet became mandatory, wasn’t going to ruin my hairdo so I decided to pass my driving test for a car… 
not my photo… just an illustration for those who are too young to remember such things…
Wow! That is a lovely machine. It must have handled quite differently from a two-wheeled vehicle when cornering. I’ve not seen anything like it, I would imagine it would be popular today for old fogies like me to get to the shops etc.
the two rear wheels and the basket section remained firmly trundling together, while the front wheel + seat section etc tilted left and right depending on the bend.
One problem was the inability to completely dodge lumps and bumps. I’d steer away from “whatever” , leaning sideways if necessary. Thus the front wheel… all ok… but one of the trundling backwheels would nearly always hit…
I used my speed-machine 
to get to work and back as well as doing a quick shop. no long journeys.
I couldn’t stretch to the Yamaha FS1E . I had a Casal moped with handlebar twistgrip gear change.
The next bike was a Yamaha RD200 with wonderful performance and build quality. A lot of my friends were riding big British bikes but I managed to keep up. Then a big jump to a Kawasaki 900 Z1b. She was a looker and fast but hopeless frame and brakes - recipe for disaster but I survived long enough to buy my first Ducati, a 900GTS, then the dream bevel drive 900SS. I’d like another Ducati when we’re settled here. I like the look of the Scrambler. Used bikes seem to be more expensive than the UK, just like the cars.
A friend in the UK has lost his leg and is selling an 1100 Scrambler and I’m quite interested in it but I don’t think I can be bothered with the hassle of import and registration.
That’s very sad John. With registration Mark Rimmer would I think be able to help. He put in the application for our car’s carte gris. My removal company in the UK have a relationship with an import/export agency. They handled my car import. Cost around £250. A friend here paid a lot in tax/duty importing his BMW motorcycle from the UK.
Presumably though if you do it as part of your move (within 1 year of arriving) then it would be included in your household “inventory of goods”?
YouTube knows about this thread…
I’ve watched lots of videos like this one. Very satisfying to see the transformation. If only I had the skills and know-how to do something like that . . . .
