History
After a brief Sachs prototype, Raleigh licensed the French Mobylette line from Motobécane and sold rebadged bikes across the UK — Phillips and Norman included. The RM5 Supermatic (early 1960s) sits in that Runabout family: British assembly, Raleigh tanks and trim, Motobécane frame and AV-series two-stroke underneath.
That matters for parts. RM5 service logic follows Mobylette and Motobécane AV7/AV88 documentation, not Sachs or Puch charts. Raleigh-specific badges, seats, and tins are the hard-to-find bits; carb, belt, and engine internals usually trace back to French OEM numbers.
Raleigh moped production ended in 1971. US sightings are almost always UK imports. The later RM12 Super 50 used an AV89 variator on the RM6 Runabout rigid frame — same licensed Mobylette DNA, sportier trim.
RM5, RM6, and RM12 differ in frame trim and engine spec — photograph your serial plate and engine code before ordering from UK sellers. See our Motobécane 50V guide for variator and AV-family tuning context.
Quick specs
| Engine | Motobécane AV / Mobylette (licensed) |
| Final drive | Variator + belt (typical) |
| Market | UK — rare in US |
| Parts | Mobylette / EU sources |
Buying & ownership
When shopping a used Raleigh RM5, run a warm compression check against a known-good bike, confirm the engine turns freely, inspect frame rust (seat tube, down tube, dropouts), verify title and VIN match, and take a test ride for clutch grab and idle stability. Budget a carb clean, fresh plug, fuel lines, and final-drive service on any “runs good” listing.
Use the full buying guide checklist before you pay, and confirm legal class in your state via US moped laws.
Related on MopedMasters
- All 25 classic mopeds — compare platforms
- Manuals & PDFs — factory literature when available
- Guides hub — jetting, porting, maintenance
- Tuning calculators — port timing, intake, pipe, oil mix
- Maintenance hub — carb, oil, storage basics
FAQ
- Is this a moped or a scooter?
- MopedMasters focuses on pedal-capable / classic moped platforms with chain or geared drive — not modern CVT scooters. See moped vs scooter.
- Where do I start if I just bought one?
- Fresh fuel, plug, air filter, chain slack, and a careful first ride. Then work through the maintenance hub before performance parts.
- Can I use the online calculators on this bike?
- Yes for 2-stroke singles — port timing, intake length, pipe layout, and premix all apply. Start at the tools hub.