Myrons Mopeds

Contents:
1. Montgomery Ward
2. Wards Riverside models  1957-1969
3. Wards Riverside mopeds 1957-1964 (Motobecane)
3. a. Identification
3. b. Parts Manual 
Click: Wards Riverside mopeds 1965-1967 (Benelli)

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1. Montgomery Ward

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 Wards 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 Wards Riverside mopeds are completely different from the post-1965 Italy-made Wards 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.

 

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.

 

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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.

 

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product code   year range    moped or not    (made by or same as)  size type      specifications xxxxx tires

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F———— 1957 to 1960 ———————————————————————————————————————-
FF FZP-14007A  1957-59 Riverside Mobylette (Motobec.  ’56 AV78) 50cc 2-S a 1.5hp orange xx  (23 x 2) 2.00-19
FF FZP-14010A  1959-60 Riverside Mo-Ped (Motobecane ’59 AV88) 50cc 2-S a 1.5hp orange (23½ x 2¼) 2.25-19
FF FZP-14010B  1960-60 Riverside Mo-Ped (Motobecane ’59 AV88) 50cc 2-S a 1.5hp orange (22½ x 2¼) 2.25-18
FF FZP-14010C  1960-60 Riverside Mo-Ped (Motobecane ’60 AV88) 50cc 2-S a 2.0hp copper (22½ x 2¼) 2.25-18
FF FZP-14011A  1960-60 Riverside Mo-Ped long seat (MB’60 AV88) 50cc 2-S a 2.0hp copper (22½ x 2¼) 2.25-18
FF FRI-14014A   1958-60 Riverside Waikiki (Mitsubishi scooter) xxx xxcc 4-S a 4.9hp
xx URR-14015A  1959-60 Riverside Nassau (Mitsubishi scooter)  xxxxxcc 4-S a x.xhp
Fx FEB-14050A  1959-60 Riverside Scooter (Bianchi Orsetto)  xxxx 80cc 2-S 3 4.3hp 3spd grip-shift,  tires 3.50-8
———— 1961 to 1963 ———————————————————————————————————————–
FF FZP-14010C  1961-62 Riverside Mo-Ped (Motobecane ’60 AV88) 50cc 2-S a 2.0hp copper (22½ x 2¼) 2.25-18
FF FZP-14011R  1961-63 Riverside Mo-Ped long seat (MB’60 AV88) 50cc 2-S a 2.0hp copper (23½ x 2¼) 2.25-19
FF 61B-14020R  1962-63 Riverside Pack Mule (Briggs & Stratton)  xxxcc 4-S a 3.0hp mini 15mph xxx tires 4.00-8
FF 61B-14021R  1962-63 Riverside Pack Mule HD (Briggs & Strat) xxxcc 4-S a 6.0hp mini 32mphxxx  tires 5.00-8
FF FZP-14030R  1961-62 Riverside Mo-Ped (Motobecane ’60 AV43) 50cc 2-S a 1.5hp cream, xxx (23 x 2) 2.00-19
FF FEB-14050R  1962-63 Riverside Scooter (Bianchi Orsetto) xxxx  80cc 2-S 3 4.3hp 3spd grip-shift,  tires 3.50-8
———— 1963 to 1964 ————-———————————————————————————————————-
FF-FZP-14011R  1963-64 Riverside Mo-Ped (Motobecane ’64 AV88) 50cc 2-S a 2.0hp copper (22½ x 2¼) 2.25-18
———— 1965 to 1966 ———————————————————————————————————————–
FFA-61-14001A  1965-66 Riverside 250-D xxxxxx  (Benelli) xxxxxx 50cc 2-S a 1.5hp red/wht long seat,  2.25-18
FFA-61-14002A  1965-66 Riverside Scooter xxxxxx (Benelli) xxxx   50cc 2-S 3 x.xhp gold 3-speed,
FFA-61-14003A  1965-66 Riverside Sport Bike xxx  (Benelli) xxxx   50cc 2-S 4 4.5hp 4-sp “Fireball” tires 2.25-18
FFA-61-14016A  1965-66 Riverside Lightweight 125(Benelli) x      125cc 2-S 4 x.xhp
FFA-61-14017B  1965-66 Riverside Mojave 250 xx (Benelli) xxxx  250cc 4-S 4 x.xhp 4-sp tires 3.00-18, 3.25-18
FFA-61-14018A  1965-66 Riverside 150-P xxxxxx  (Benelli) xxxx     50cc 2-S a 1.5hp red/wht, solo seat,   2.25-18
FFA-61-14019A  1965-66 Riverside Scrambler 125 (Benelli) xxx    125cc 2-S 4 x.xhp
FFA-61-14021A  1966-67 Riverside Lightweight 175(Benelli)  xX   175cc 2-S 4 x.xhp
FFA-61-14022A  1966-67 Riverside Scrambler 175 (Benelli) xxx    175cc 2-S 4 x.xhp
FFA-61-14023A  1965-66 Riverside Mojave 250 xx (Benelli) xxxx  250cc 4-S 4 x.xhp
———— 1966 to 1967 ——————————————————————————————————-–—————
FFA-61-14001B  1966-67 Riverside 250-D xxxxxx (Benelli) xxxx    50cc 2-S a 1.5hp red/wht, long seat,   2.25-18
FFA-61-14002B  1966-67 Riverside 350-S xxxx (Benelli scooter)    50cc 2-S ? x.xhp
FFA-61-14003B  1966-67 Riverside 450-SS xxxxx (Benelli) xxxx    50cc 2-S 4 4.5hp  “Fireball”         tires 2.25-18
FFA-61-14016B  1966-67 Riverside Lightweight 125(Benelli) xX   125cc 2-S 4 x.xhp
FFA-61-14018B  1966-67 Riverside 150-D xxxxxx  (Benelli) xxxx   50cc 2-S a 1.5hp red/wht, solo seat,   2.25-18
FFA-61-14019B  1966-67 Riverside Scrambler 125 (Benelli) xx    125cc 2-S 4 x.xhp
FFA-61-14021B  1967-67 Riverside Lightweight 175(Benelli)  xx  175cc 2-S 4 x.xhp
FFA-61-14022B  1967-67 Riverside Scrambler 175 (Benelli) xx    175cc 2-S 4 x.xhp
FFA-61-14023B  1966-67 Riverside Mojave 250 xx (Benelli) xxx  250cc 4-S 4 x.xhp
———— 1967 to 1968 ———————————————————————————————————————–
FF-61C-14016R  1967-68 Riverside Lightweight 125(Benelli) xx  125cc 2-S 4
FF-61C-14082R  1967-68 Riverside Li125 (Lambretta scooter)    125cc 2-S 4-speed, standard version
FF-61C-14083R  1967-68 Riverside Li125 (Lambretta scooter)    125cc 2-S 4-speed, deluxe version
FFA-61-14017C  1967-68 Riverside Mojave 250 xx (Benelli) xx   250cc 4-S 4 
FFA-61-14020C  1967-68 Riverside Mojave 350 xx (Benelli) xx   350cc 4-S 4
FFA-61-14023C  1967-68 Riverside Mojave 250 xx (Benelli) xx   250cc 4-S 4
———— 1968 to 1969 ———————————————————————————————————————–
FFA-61-14016D  1968-69 Riverside Lightweight 125(Benelli) xx  125cc 2-S 4
FFA-61-14017D  1968-69 Riverside Mojave 250 xx (Benelli) xx   250cc 4-S 4
FFA-61-14040D  1968-69 Riverside Mojave 360 xx (Benelli) xx   360cc 4-S 4
FFA-61-14041D  1968-69 Riverside Mojave 360 xx (Benelli) xx   360cc 4-S 4
FFA-61-14043D  1968-69 Riverside Mojave 260 xx (Benelli) xx   260cc 4-S 4
FFA-61-14047D  1968-69 Riverside Mojave 260 xx (Benelli) xx   260cc 4-S 4

 

 

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3. 1957-64 Motobecane-made Wards Riverside mopeds

These US models were made in Patin France by Motobecane, for Montgomery Wards 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       and        Wards Riverside Motobecane Mopeds
from Dating Your Motobecane – Ets Mauger      xx    some models have links to bike photos with ID

year      engine #’s made xx   solo seat equal  tire  solo seat  equal  tire solo seat  equal  tir   long seat
year       Jan 1   to  Dec 31      model equals  tires   model equals  tires   model equals  tires   model equals  tires

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1957  1361742 – 1630378   14007A ’56 AV78 19″
1958  1630379 – 1961291   14007A ’56 AV78 19″
1959  1961292 – 2342140   14007A ’56 AV78 19  14010A ‘59 AV88 19″
1960  2342141 – 2745136   14007A ’56 AV78 19  14010A ‘59 AV88 19″
1960  2342141 – 2745136   14007A ’56 AV78 19  14010B ’59 AV88 18″
1960  2342141 – 2745136   14007A ’56 AV78 19  14010C ’60 AV88 18  14030 ’60 AV43 19  14011A ’60 AV88 18″
1961  2745137 – 3219674   14007A 5’6 AV78 19  14010A ‘60 AV88 18  14030 ‘60 AV43 19  14011A ’60 AV88 19″
1962  3219675 – 3783994   14007A ’56 AV78 19  14010A ‘60 AV88 18  14030 ’60 AV43 19  14011A ’60 AV88 19″
1963  3783995 – 4305912   14007A ’56 AV78 19  14010   ’61 AV68 18  14030 ’60 AV43 19  14011A ’64 AV88 18″
1964  4305913 – 4850919   14007A ’56 AV78 19  14010   ’61 AV68 18  14030′ 60 AV43 19  14011A ’64 AV88 18″

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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.

 

Wards Riverside Motobecane Engines 

AV7 V  The first variator “hinged” motor Motobecane ever made was on the early 1957-59 Riverside mopeds, #50165. The AV7 V motor had a Gurtner AR10-429 carburetor (not BA10-549 like Mobylette AV78 had). This motor was on Mobylette AV or AU 68 to 79, including 1957-59 AV 78, 1957-59 Riverside 14007A (because it is equivalent to AV 78). With a 10 mm carb these late 1950’s models went about 27 mph with 1.5 horsepower.

AV7 V2 (restricted intake)  This variator “hinged” motor #50294 had 1.5 hp, and was on 1960-61 Riverside 14010A and 14010B. The 50294 motor had a Gurtner AR10-429 carburetor. The Riverside parts book says on page 1 that engine #50294 is on 14010A, and it replaces engine #50165, because #50165 is discontinued. With a smaller intake pipe #16673 and 10 mm carb these early 60’s mopeds went 27 mph with 1.5 horsepower.

AV7 V2  This variator “hinged” motor #50298 had 2.0 hp, and was on most 1960-64 Riversides. The 50298 motor had a Gurtner AR13-488 carburetor (like Mobylette AV88 had). This motor was on 1960-65 Mobylette AV or AU 88, including 1960-64 Riverside 14010C, 14011A, 14010, 14011 (because they are equivalent to AV 88, and the Riverside parts book says that on page 5). With a bigger intake pipe #16619 and 13 mm carb these early 1960’s models went about 35 mph with 2.0 horsepower. The rest of the 2.0 hp engine was the same as the 1.5 hp version. See the engine parts listed side by side below.

AV7 Dbe (restricted intake)  The non-variator (Dimoby) “fixed” motor was a lower power version only on the rear-gas-tank model Riverside 1961-62. The AV7 Dbe motor had a Gurtner BA10-540 carburetor (like Mobylette AV43 had). This was on 1960-61 Motobecane AV43 and AV44, including the Riverside 14030 (because it is equivalent to AV43). With a small intake and a 10 mm carb this early 1960’s model went about 27 mph with 1.5 hp.

 

Wards Riverside Engine Parts

This is a side-by-side comparison of the main engine parts. The first four columns of part numbers are for 1957-1964 Riverside engines AV7 V, A7V Dbe and AV7 V2. The last three columns are for 1974-1977 Motobecane USA engines type AV7 Vb and AV7 Vc. Most of the parts for 1970’s Motobecane USA models Myrons has in stock, some used and some new. Some of those also fit 1960’s Motobecane or aliases like Riverside or Raleigh. This chart lists the main engine part numbers, to see what’s the same (across time and space).

——- Wards Riverside ——–    Motobecane USA  
AV7 V  AV7Dbe  —-AV7 V2—-  AV7 Vb  —-AV7 Vc—- < engine model
1.5 hp  1.5 hp  1.5 hp  2.0 hp  2.0 hp 1.5 hp 2.0 hp < horsepower
’57-59  ’61-62   1960   ‘60-64  ‘74-75 ’76-77 ’76-77 < year range
14007A 14030 14010A 14010C  50V    50V    50V    < bike model     part name            notes

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50165  ??????  50294  50298   53745 52341 53745  engine complete
14791  14791  14791  16625   19885 19885 19885  cylinder head
14854  14854  14854  14854   14854 14854 14854  head gasket
14816  16618  16618  16618   19478 23460 23460  cylinder with piston (23460 replaces 19478)
14407  16673  16673  16619   16619 16673 16619  intake pipe 16673,14407 = Ø16   16619 = Ø17
14815  16620  16620  16620   17073 17073 17073  intake gasket
14819  14819  14819  14819   21240 22275 22275  piston A for 38.97 cylinder, to-76 FG rings
14819  14819  14819  14819   21242 22276 22276  piston C for 38.98 cylinder, to-76 FG rings
14819  14819  14819  14819   21244 22277 22277  piston E for 38.99 cylinder, to-76 FG rings
14819  14819  14819  14819   21246 22278 22278  piston G for 39.00 cylinder, to-76 FG rings
14819  14819  14819  14819   21248 22279 22279  piston J for 39.01 cylinder, to-76 FG rings
14819  14819  14819  14819   21250 22280 22280  piston L for 39.02 cylinder, to-76 FG rings
14819  14819  14819  14819   21252 22281 22281  piston N for 39.03 cylinder, to-76 FG rings
14819  14819  14819  14819   21254 22435 22435  piston P for 39.04 cylinder, to-76 FG rings
14819  14819  14819  14819   21240 22275 22275  piston A for 38.97 cylinder, 76-on GI rings
14819  14819  14819  14819   21242 22276 22276  piston C for 38.98 cylinder, 76-on GI rings
14819  14819  14819  14819   21244 22277 22277  piston E for 38.99 cylinder, 76-on GI rings
14819  14819  14819  14819   21246 22278 22278  piston G for 39.00 cylinder, 76-on GI rings
14819  14819  14819  14819   21248 22279 22279  piston J for 39.01 cylinder, 76-on GI rings
14819  14819  14819  14819   21250 22280 22280  piston L for 39.02 cylinder, 76-on GI rings
14819  14819  14819  14819   21252 22281 22281  piston N for 39.03 cylinder, 76-on GI rings
14819  14819  14819  14819   21254 22435 22435  piston P for 39.04 cylinder, 76-on GI rings
14821  14821  14821  14821   14821 14821 14821  piston ring pre-6/1976 Ø39 x 2.0 FG side-pin gap style
14821  00000   1482   14821   22148 22148 22148  piston ring post-6/1976 Ø39 x 2.0 GI center-pin gap
14895  14895  14895  14895   14895 14895 14895  base gasket
14716  14716  14716  14716   14716 14716 14716  cylinder stud M7 x 100 x 10
14721  14721  14721  14721   14721 14721 14721  decomp valve assembly
15094  15094  15094  15094   15094 15094 15094  piston pin Ø13
15855  15855  15855  15855   15855 15855 15855  piston needle bearing Ø13 x Ø16 x 14
50230  16903  16903  16903   19609 19609 19609  crankshaft Ø16 at bearing, Ø15 after bearing
00518  16906  16906  16906   16906 16906 16906  crank bearing Ø16 x Ø42 x 13 special ID w/round edge
00060  00060  00060  00060   19089 19089 19089  crank seal Ø15 x Ø21 x 4
14814  14814  14814  14814   19608 19608 19608  crankcase
14896  14896  14896  16910   16910 16910 16910  case gasket

——- Wards Riverside ——–    Motobecane USA       carburetor, exhaust, magneto, clutch
AV7 V  AV7Dbe  —-AV7 V2—-  AV7 Vb  —-AV7 Vc—-
1.5 hp  1.5 hp  1.5 hp  2.0 hp  2.0 hp 1.5 hp 2.0 hp
’57-59  ’61-62   1960   ‘60-64  ’74-75 ’76-77 ’76-77
14007A 14030 14010A 14010C  50V    50V    50V                    part name            notes

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16627  ??????  16627  15035   20026 52175 20026  carburetor  xxxxx   52175 = AR210-737  20026 = AR212-575
16627  ??????  16627  15035   20026 52175 22222  ??????=BA10-540   16627 = AR10-429    15035 = AR13-488
14100  14100  14100  16630   16630 14100 16630  intake sleeve (reducer) 16630=Ø17-19  14100=Ø16-19
14123  ??????  14123  14123   14101 14101 14101  float (Gurtner sec. 4) 5186=14123, 6685=??????, 4901=14101
15589  15589  15589  15589   19869 22872 22872  blunderbuss exhaust complete
50234  50292  50292  50292   53455 53445 53445  magneto complete (gray means doubtful)
15951  16729  16729  16729   17429 17429 17429  flywheel nut 17429 = M10-1.00 Left, 16729 = ?
14873  14873  14873  14873   14873 14873 14873  points cam flywheel hub
50236  50236  50236  50236   53507 53507 53507  light and horn source coil pink lower
14873  14873  14873  16634   53508 53508 53508  ignition source (exciter) coil red upper
16510  16510  16510  14873   53508 53508 53508  inner transformer coil
16510  16745  16745  16745   20266 23849 23849  outer transformer coil

 

 

 

 

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3a. Identification 1957-64 (Motobecane)

“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.

 

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1957-59 Riverside Mo-Ped
FZP-14007 A (same as 1956-58 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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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1959-60 Riverside Mo-Ped
FZP-14010 A (same as 1959-60 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.

 

 

1960 Riverside 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 Riverside Mo-Ped
FZP-14010 C (same as 10 B but copper)
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 Riverside 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.

 

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1961-62 Riverside Mo-Ped
FZP-14010  (same as 1959-60 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.

 

 

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1961-63 Riverside Mo-Ped Standard
FZP-14030 (same as 1960-61 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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1961-63 Riverside Mo-Ped Deluxe
FZP-14011 (same as 1959-60 AV88)
AV7 V2 engine (2-auto-clutch + variator)
2.0 hp, 35 mph
long seat, 2.25-19 tires (23½ 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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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1963-64 Riverside Mo-Ped Deluxe
FZP-14011  (same as 1964-65 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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the wall: Myrons Mopeds showroom has a Wards Riverside Mo-Ped hanging on the wall, incomplete, but still cool. Everybody likes to see it and many people want to buy it. It’s exhaust interchanges with the 1970’s kind, even though it’s more rounded. 

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. 

 

 

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3b. Parts Manual

Here is a pdf download  1961 Riverside Parts Manual

This is for 1957-61 14007A, 14010A,B,C, 14011A, not 1961-63 14010, 14011, 14030.

page                       
01-00  cover                for 1957-61 14007A, 14010A,B,C and 14011A 
02-00  14010A parts different from 14007A, all other parts use 14007A
03-04  14010A frame, shocks, fork
05-00  14010B parts different from 14010A, 14007A, all others use 14007A
05-07  14010C, 14011A engine
08-00  14010C, 14011A clutch
09-00  14010C, 14011A carburetor and 14010, 14011
10-00  14010C , 14011A magneto
11-15  14010C, 14011A frame, shocks, fork
16-18  14007A engine
19-07  14007A clutch
20-07  14007A, 14010A, 14010B carburetor
21-07  14007A magneto
22-25  14007A frame
26-00  14007A drivetrain
27-28  14007A wheels
29-07  14007A controls
30-07  14007A electrical
31-25  14007A bodywork

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14010C engine parts type AV7 V2 These parts were also for 14011A, 14010, 14011 models.

Many AV7 V2 (early 1960’s) items look the same as AV7 V (late 1950’s), but have different part numbers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wards Riverside Motobecane Carburetors Gurtner AR10-429, AR13-488 and BA10-540

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This took many hours learning and searching, to find the two pairs of matching illustrations. Wards gives no specs, apps or sizes of anything in the parts lists. They don’t say who makes their products and parts. All that makes it more difficult to find possible substitute parts.

All of the parts on the AR13-488 carb (bigger venturi) are the same as the AR10-429, except for: 16630 wider intake sleeve, 16628 wider main body, 16881 different diffuser (spray nozzle with both main and idle holes), 16629 wider throttle slide, 16708 top screw, and 190 unknown item.

 

14007A engine parts type AV7 V These parts were also for 14010A, 14010B models.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14007A non-engine parts  These were the same for all models, with some exceptions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

 

Wards Riverside Motobecane parts that are the same as on 1970’s mopeds

Speedo cable 15574 and 15575 interchanges with 1970’s Peugeot 103 (Veglia).
Brake levers 50032 and 15515 interchange with 1970’s Motobecane.
Belt 14756 interchanges with 1970’s Motobecane.
many more …