Contents:
1. Montgomery Ward
2. Ward Riverside
3. Riverside-Motobecane 1957-64
4. Parts Catalog
5. Riverside-Benelli 1965-69
1. Montgomery Ward
1. 1890 catalog, 2. MW ’57-64 3. Riverside ’65-69, 4. Open Road ’79-80
Montgomery Ward was founded by Aaron Montgomery Ward and Andrew Ward in 1872. Ward had conceived of the idea of a dry goods mail-order business in Chicago, Illinois, after several years of working as a traveling salesman among rural customers. (from Wikipedia). Ward sold “everything” and had a mail-order catalog.
Sears, Montgomery Ward and JC Penney were the major US department store chains that sold motorcycles, scooters, mini-bikes, or mopeds in the 1960’s and 70’s.
1950s – 60s: The Wards line was named “Riverside”. The earliest Riverside models were scooters made by Japan’s Mitsubishi and Italy’s Bianchi companies, and mopeds made by France’s Motobecane. Those pre-1965 France-made mopeds are completely different from the post-1965 Italy-made Riverside mopeds.
Late 1960’s: In 1965, Wards changed manufacturers and opted to sell mostly machines from the Italian company Benelli. Benelli offered mopeds and a line of single cylinder motorcycles 50-360cc. The Benelli line plus a Lambretta scooter allowed Wards to compete in the marketplace with the Austrian Puch mopeds and motorcycles that Sears was selling under their Allstate brand. The Riverside-Benelli mopeds are completly different from the Riverside-Motobecane ones.
Early 1970s: By 1970 the moped and motorcycle sales went away for the two department store retailers primarily due to the Japanese invasion with highly engineered, reliable and powerful 4 stroke motorcycles under the likes of Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki. Also, in 1970 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was created to oversee and combat increasing pollution and air quality issues. Smokey two stroke motorcycles and other high emission vehicles would be the first targets.
Late 1970s: After the mid-70′s gasoline shortage in the US, moped sales and popularity exploded. In 1978 Montgomery Ward (and Sears) began selling 2 stroke mopeds again. This time around, Wards sold the USA-made Columbia moped with German-made Solo engine, rebranded as “Open Road”, and two USA-made AMF models. Later they sold USA-made EZ Rider/Minarelli mopeds, and in California stores, the French-made 1980 Peugeot 102 (on sale for $279). Sears, once again, also started selling Puch (Kromag) powered mopeds but under their Free Spirit moniker. Catalog and department store retailer J.C Penney also got in on the moped action in 1977 by offering its own Puch (Kromag) based mopeds under the names of Swinger and Pinto. By 1981 the moped craze was over and all three department stores discontinued selling mopeds, this time for good.
2. Wards Riverside all models
Sources: These model numbers and data come from official ads and trusted sources found on Google Images, and independently from Wards Riverside Riders. The purpose of listing as many model codes as possible, is to learn what the all models are, for each year, and what the codes mean.
Determining the Year: Almost none of these 1960’s mopeds and motorcycles say the year they were made. As a result many riders guess their bike’s year or incorrectly use the approval year. To make matters worse, most of the Wards advertisements and manual covers or pages do not say any year.
Use this chart to learn the year range by the specs or the model code, if that is known (some ID plates can be missing or have the model code blanked out). On Motobecanes look at the date on the Gurtner carburetor for when that was made. On Benelli’s the Dellorto carburetors do not have dates. Look on the bottom of the speedometer, under the seat, or elsewhere for dates. The year the bike was made would be soon after all the components are made.
cc eng hp tires 00 model# ’57-64 Riverside Motobecane, others
?? 4S a 4.9 0.00-00 FRI-14014A ’58-60 Waikiki (Mitsubishi scooter)
?? 4S a 0.0 0.00-00 URR-14015A ’59-60 Nassau (Mitsubishi scooter)
80 2S 3 4.3 3.50-08 FEB-14050A ’59-60 Scooter (Bianchi Orsetto)
50 2S a 1.5 2.00-19 FZP-14007A ’57-59 Mobylette (’56 AV78) orange
50 2S a 1.5 2.25-19 FZP-14010A ’59-60 Mo-Ped (’59 AV88) orange
50 2S a 1.5 2.25-18 FZP-14010B ’60-60 Mo-Ped (’60 AV88) orange
50 2S a 2.0 2.25-18 FZP-14010C ’60-60 Mo-Ped (’60 AV88) copper
50 2S a 2.0 2.25-18 FZP-14011A ’60-60 Mo-Ped long seat copper
50 2S a 2.0 2.25-18 FZP-14010 ’61-63 Mo-Ped (’61 AV88) copper
50 2S a 1.5 2.00-19 FZP-14030 ’61-63 Mobylette (’60 AV43) cream
50 2S a 2.0 2.25-18 FZP-14011 ’61-63 Mo-Ped long seat (’61 AV88)
50 2S a 2.0 2.25-18 FZP-1411 ’64-64 Mo-Ped long seat (’64 AV88)
?? 4S a 3.0 4.00-08 61B-14020 ’62-63 Pack Mule (B & S) mini 15mph
?? 4S a 6.0 5.00-08 61B-14021 ’62-63 Pack Mule HD (B & S) 32mph
80 2S 3 4.3 3.50-08 FEB-14050 ’62-63 Scooter (Bianchi Orsetto)
cc eng hp model# ’65-’69 Riverside Benelli, Lambretta
50 2 a 1.5 FFA-61-14001A ’65-66 250-D red/wht long seat, 2.25-18
50 2 3 0.0 FFA-61-14002A ’65-66 Scooter gold
50 2 4 4.5 FFA-61-14003A ’65-66 Sport Bike “Fireball” 2.25-18
125 2 4 0.0 FFA-61-14016A ’65-66 Lightweight 125
50 2 a 1.5 FFA-61-14018A ’65-66 150-P red/wht, solo seat, 2.25-18
125 2 4 0.0 FFA-61-14019A ’65-66 Scrambler 125
175 2 4 0.0 FFA-61-14021A ’66-67 Lightweight 175
175 2 4 0.0 FFA-61-14022A ’66-67 Scrambler 175
250 4 4 0.0 FFA-61-14023A ’65-66 Mojave 250
50 2 a 1.5 FFA-61-14001B ’66-67 250-D red/wht, long seat, 2.25-18
50 2 ? 0.0 FFA-61-14002B ’66-67 350-S Scooter
50 2 4 4.5 FFA-61-14003B ’66-67 450-SS Fireball, 2.25-18
125 2 4 0.0 FFA-61-14016B ’66-67 Lightweight 125
250 4 4 0.0 FFA-61-14017B ’65-66 Mojave 250
50 2 a 1.5 FFA-61-14018B ’66-67 150-D red/wht, solo seat, 2.25-18
125 2 4 0.0 FFA-61-14019B ’66-67 Scrambler 125
175 2 4 0.0 FFA-61-14021B ’67-67 Lightweight 175
175 2 4 0.0 FFA-61-14022B ’67-67 Scrambler 175
250 4 4 0.0 FFA-61-14023B ’66-67 Mojave 250
125 2 4 0.0 FF-61C-14016R ’67-68 Lightweight 125
125 2 4 0.0 FF-61C-14082R ’67-68 Li125 (Lambretta scooter)
125 2 4 0.0 FF-61C-14083R ’67-68 Li125 (Lambretta scooter) deluxe
250 4 4 0.0 FFA-61-14017C ’67-68 Mojave 250
350 4 4 0.0 FFA-61-14020C ’67-68 Mojave 350
250 4 4 0.0 FFA-61-14023C ’67-68 Mojave 250
125 2 4 0.0 FF-61C-14016D ’68-69 Lightweight 125
250 4 4 0.0 FFA-61-14017D ’68-69 Mojave 250
360 4 4 0.0 FFA-61-14040D ’68-69 Mojave 360
360 4 4 0.0 FFA-61-14041D ’68-69 Mojave 360
260 4 4 0.0 FFA-61-14043D ’68-69 Mojave 260
260 4 4 0.0 FFA-61-14047D ’68-69 Mojave 260
3. Riverside-Motobecane 1957-64
Twist Grip Operation
The twist-grip control has two sliding blocks that pull two cables. Twisting the grip towards you pulls on the throttle cable, to increase the engine power. Twisting the grip away from you pulls on the decompression cable, to release the compression and make starting easier. You first twist it away from you. Then pedal or push the bike above walking speed. The automatic starting clutch will go clunk clunk and engage the motor, which will then turn over with a sound like glub glub glub. Then you twist the grip towards you. That releases the decomp cable, restoring the compression. Then the engine starts. If it’s a cold start the choke lever needs to be pulled also.
Identification
These US models were made in Patin France by Motobecane, for Montgomery Ward department stores throughout the USA and other countries. By the 1960’s Motobecane was global. US models were called Riverside, UK models were branded as Raleigh, India models were called Suvega. They all share the same equipment. The goal here is to admire and understand the bikes and learn what parts are the same. Motobecane models and dates are well known and organized in Ets Mauger.
Motobecane Engine Number Dates
from Dating Your Motobecane – Ets Mauger
year engine# range Ward models
1957 1361742 – 1630378 14007A 19″
1958 1630379 – 1961291 14007A 19″
1959 1961292 – 2342140 14007A 19″ 14010A 18″
1960 2342141 – 2745136 14010A 18″ 14010B 18″ 14010C 18″ 14011A 18″
1961 Riverside Mo-Ped parts catalog covers 1957 to 1960 models.
1961 2745137 – 3219674 14030 19″ 14010 18″ 14011 18″
1962 3219675 – 3783994 14030 19″ 14010 18″ 14011 18″
1963 3783995 – 4305912 14030 19″ 14011 18″
1964 4305913 – 4850919 1411 18″
Most of the time, the engine and the bike were made in the same year. But on some, the bike is made a year or more after the engine was made. This happens regularly near the end of the year, or when too many engines are produced, or not enough frames, or other reasons.
“It don’t come easy”, George Harrison said. Wards kept secret the identity and year of their products, because they sold better when they were perceived as fresh, and had recognizable brand names, and because their products did not change every year. Nowhere on the bike or any ads or manuals did they mention any dates.
The year of a bike has to be determined by the model code, engine number and by the equipment it has. The engine number years are in the table above. The year range of the corresponding Motobecane model with the same equipment is found there and below. Official manuals, ads, photos of actual bikes and their ID plates all provide evidence. When all the evidence agrees, it can be trusted as truthful.
1957-59 Mo-Ped FZP-14007 A (’56-58 AV78)
AV7 V engine (2-auto-clutch + variator)
1.5 hp, 30 mph, solo seat, 2.00-19 tires (23 x 2) orange
Identified in photos by the 19″ tires, solo seat, tangerine orange color, no chrome plates on gas tank, and 1950’s style rear suspension.
1. 1959 Riverside Mo-Ped FZP-14007 A eng# 2182515 (1959)
2. 1956-58 Motobecane AV78 Mobylette Superluxe
3. 1959 Ward catalog with FZP-14007 A
4. 1959 Riverside Mo-Ped FZP-14007 A eng# 2200582 (1959) provided by Paul Mc Main in Kokomo, Indiana USA
1959-60 Mo-Ped FZP-14010 A (’59-60 AV88)
AV7 V engine (2-auto-clutch + variator)
1.5 hp, 30 mph, solo seat, 2.25-19 tires (23½ x 2¼) orange
Identified in photos by the 19″ tires, solo seat, small egg shaped chrome tank plates, tangerine color, 1960’s rear suspension.
1. 1960 Riverside on Myrons wall, FZP-14010 A eng# 2687404 (1960). On this bike the ID plate had a correction. A strip of tape covered the model number. Under the tape it incorrectly said FZP-14007. Once bright tangerine, it’s now faded to brown. The small egg shaped chrome tank covers are missing, but the outline is still visible on the paint.
2. 1959-60 Motobecane AV88 Mobymatic Grand Luxe
1960 Mo-Ped FZP-14010 B (same as 10 A but 18″ rims)
AV7 V engine (2-auto-clutch plus variator)
1.5 hp, 30 mph, solo seat, 2.25-18 tires (22½ x 2¼) orange
Identified in photos by the 18″ tires, solo seat, tangerine color.
1960 FZP-14010 C (new engine)
AV7 V2 engine (2-auto-clutch + variator)
2.0 hp, 35 mph, solo seat, 2.25-18 tires (22½ x 2¼) copper
Identified in photos by the 18″ tires, solo seat, copper color.
1960-61 Mo-Ped FZP-14011 A (same as 10 C but long seat)
AV7 V2 engine (2-auto-clutch + variator)
2.0 hp, 35 mph, long seat, 2.25-18 tires (22½ x 2¼) copper
Identified in photos by the 18″ tires, long seat, copper color.
1961-62 Mo-Ped FZP-14010 (’61-63 AV88)
AV7 V2 engine (2-auto-clutch + variator)
2.0 hp, 35 mph, solo seat, 2.25-18 tires (22½ x 2¼) copper
Identified in photos by the 18″ tires, copper color, solo seat, round headlight, all-curved rear fender, curved tool box cover rear edge, small egg shape gas tank chrome covers.
1. 1962 Mo-Ped Deluxe FZP-14010 eng#3567657 (1962)
this solo seat was changed to long
2. 1961-62 Mo-Ped Deluxe FZP-14010
1961-63 Mo-Ped Standard FZP-14030 (’60-61 AV43)
AV7 Dbe fixed engine (2-auto-clutches)
BA10-540 carb, 7.5 cr, 2.0hp 30mph
solo seat, 2.00-19 tires (23 x 2) cream
Identified in photos by the cream color, sheet frame with rear gas tank, seat pole that goes through the tank, bicycle fork, headlamp on front fender.
1. 1962 Riverside Mo-Ped FZP-14030 eng# 3631790 (1962)
2. 1960-61 Motobecane AV43
3. 1960-61 Motobecane AV43. AV44 has large high headlight. AV43 has small low headlight
4. 1963 catalog: left ’61-63 Mo-Ped Deluxe FZP-14011, right ’61-63 Mo-Ped Standard FZP-14030
1962-63 Mo-Ped Deluxe FZP-14011 (’61-63 AV88)
AV7 V2 engine (2-auto-clutch + variator)
2.0 hp, 35 mph, long seat, 2.25-18 tires (22½ x 2¼) copper
Identified in photos by the 19″ tires, copper color, long seat, round headlight, all-curved rear fender, curved tool box cover rear edge, small egg shape gas tank chrome covers.
1. 1962 Riverside Mo-Ped Deluxe, model FZP-14011
2. 1963 ID plate FZP-14011 eng# 3811827 (1963)
1963-64 Mo-Ped Deluxe FZP-1411 (’64-65 AV88)
AV7 V engine (2-auto-clutch plus variator)
BA10-549 carb, 7.5 cr, 2.0 hp 35mph
long seat, 2.25-18 tires (22½ x 2¼) copper
Identified in photos by the 18″ tires, copper color, long seat, rectangular headlight, straight section on rear fender, straight tool box cover rear edge, small rounded rectangular gas tank chrome covers.
1. 1964 Mo-Ped Deluxe FZP-1411
2. 1964 Mo-Ped Deluxe FZP-1411 eng# 4419276 (1964)
3. 1964-65 Motobecane AV88 (different tank covers)
4. 1964 catalog has only FZP 1411
Source: Motobecane official photos of every year of every model are shown at Ets Mauger. Thanks to that wonderful resource, the three Wards Riverside French moped models are now correctly matched to their equivalent Motobecane models, after being incorrect. Also the confusion of 18 or 19 inch tires has been resolved; they use both sizes. It’s funny how the tire size can be determined by the shape of the tool box cover!
Date: The date of manufacture is not stated on the ID plate or anywhere else on the frame. The engine does say the year, but that is the year it was approved. The year the engine was made was a year or more after it was approved. This one says 1959 but it could be a 1960-64. There is a way to tell the year precisely by the original Gurtner carburetor. This “1959” has a BA540-F 2/62 carburetor made in Feb 1962. The frame would have been made some time after the carburetor was made, maybe a few months or less.
Wards and equivalent Motobecane tank badges
Top L: 1959-63 Wards Riverside, egg-shape plate (missing)
Bot L: 1959-60 AV88 and 61-62 AV68 egg shaped plate
Top R: 1963-64 Wards Riverside, curved rectangle plate
Bot R: 1963-67 AV68 Mobymatic curved rectangle plate
In the tank badges photo, you can see the outline of the egg shaped plate it once had on the gas tank, same as on early AV68. The extra washer on the badge screw does not belong there. For now, it takes up the space of the missing plate.
4. Parts Catalog
Click the link to go there.
5. Riverside-Benelli 1965-69
Click the link to go there.
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