history
Derbi is a Spanish motorcycle manufacturer founded by Simeon Rabasa Singla. The company first started out as a bicycle repair shop in 1922, but it expanded rapidly. The first Derbi model, a moped called Derbi SRS (the initials coming from Simeon Rabasa Singla's name), came after World War II in 1949. But in 1957, Derbi came up with a two cylinder 350 cc model, which developed 16 horsepower. 4,200 units of this model were produced. That same year, the company had 280 employees.
Because in 1965 the Spanish legislation concerning mopeds changed, Derbi had to take attitude concerning their models, so they had to implement collapsible pedals and a maximum speed of 40 km/h. In that same year, the Antorcha 49 was released. During the course of the 1970s, several motorcycle companies like Abello, Montesa and Sanglas were taken over by Japanese companies, but this was not the case of Derbi, which managed to survive. In 1977, this sector of motorcycles faced a crisis but Derbi survived.
In 1982, Derbi comes out with a new scooter, dubbed simply Scoot and is presented at the Paris Exhibition Hall because the French legislation did not stipulate that mopeds needed to have pedals. Things cooled down until 1992, when a new scooter is released, entitled Vamos. 1997 saw the launch of the Hunter model.
The next Derbi bike doesn't come until 1999, when the Atlantis is introduced, a bike meant for the city. The Senda R and the new Supermotard are presented in 2000, a year before Derbi becomes a part of the Piaggio group. In 2002, Derbi launched the first scooter with a 125 and 150 cc engine, dubbed the Boulevard and one year later a new Sendra was released. Also, in 2003 Derbi releases a new Supermotard version and a limited range called New Black Edition.
After years of absence, in 1999, Derbi entered again the 125cc class of the MotoGP World Championship and within five years, managing to have 11 victories, thanks to Youichi Ui.
In 2003, Derbi decided to renew the corporate image and this started with the logotype, the synthesis between youth and idea of sport. The company returned to the red colour, linked to the well known "RED Bullets", which won almost 20 World titles. The Red Bullets were successful in the 50, 80, 125 and 250cc classes, "guilty" for these victories being Angel Nieto and Jorge Martinez Aspar.
Nowadays, Derbi produces almost 50,000 units a year, the young buyers being the targeted people of the company and impressed the quad market, having released 250cc models for children. Dino, DFW 50, DXR200 and DXR 250 were the most successful quads of the company. Due to their success, Spain manages to enjoy the second highest sale zone on this market.
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