Contrary to what you might have believed, “Rieju” is NOT the name of a Chinese motorcycle brand.
They’re as Spanish as Motorhispania and Derbi – known for their good-quality off-road and dual-sport models.
In this blog post, you’ll discover:
- Where the name comes from and the company’s history
- 3 common models – from dual-sports to street motorcycles and even an electric scooter
Quicklinks:
History of Rieju
Rieju started out as a maker of bicycle accessories back in 1934.
In case you’re wondering about the name, it’s a combination of the middle names of the two founders, Luis Riera Carré and Jaime Juanola.
Original image by Rieju.es
Unfortunately, the duo’s plans were interrupted when the Spanish Civil War broke out in 1936, and General Franco’s forces confiscated their factory.
After the war ended, the rightful owners got their factory back. However, it wasn’t until 1945 before the company made its first”moped” (i.e., a motorized pedal bicycle).
Original image by Rieju.es
This model, the “No. 1,” had a 38cc four-stroke French Serwa engine and a 2-speed transmission.
And despite its small engine, the No.1 had an impressive top speed of 40km/h!
Then in 1949, the “No. 2” was produced. The No.2 was similar, except it had a slightly more powerful 50cc four-stroke engine and an in-house designed transmission.
Eventually, the company started making their own motorcycles beginning in 1953 with the 175cc RIEJU (pictured below):
Original image by Rieju.es
Today, the brand is mainly associated with high-quality dual-sport and dirt bikes, but they also make an electric step-through scooter.
Some Known Models
MRT
Offered in both the 50 and 125 cc range, The Rieju MRT is a two-stroke water-cooled enduro with a six-speed gearbox.
Century
The Century is a 125cc street bike that pays homage to the 175cc Rieju (albeit with a smaller engine).
E-City
In addition to their dual-sport range, Rieju also makes an electric step-through scooter known as the “E-City.”
Available in both the 1.2 and 3 kW range, what’s particularly impressive about the E-City is that it has regenerative braking.
In other words, you can charge the battery a little by harnessing the energy generated when the brakes are applied.
