MBK Ovetto: the conservative city scooter

The MBK Ovetto was the name under which MBK sold the Yamaha Neo’s in France and other European markets. A deliberately plain city scooter, it was introduced in 1997 and remained in production, through two petrol generations, until 2021.

MBK Ovetto at a glance

There is no English article on the Neo’s; this page is based on the German and Italian ones, which cover the MBK Ovetto as the same machine.

History of the MBK Ovetto

A scooter for older buyers (1997)

The Neo’s was introduced in 1997 and sold on many European markets as the MBK Ovetto, wherever MBK’s dealer network was stronger than Yamaha’s. Yamaha positioned it as a conservative city scooter aimed at older customers: the low twin headlights, the flat floor and the gently stepped seat made it popular from the start, and at 3,640 DM (about €1,860) in Germany it was relatively cheap. The 50 cm³ version was joined by a 100 cm³ model, easily told apart by its thicker and slightly longer exhaust and its number-plate light. All engines were built by Minarelli in Italy.

First generation (1997–2007)

The first generation was built at Yamaha’s European plant in Madrid. The 2006 50 cm³ engine, an air-cooled two-stroke with a catalyst, measured 40 × 39.2 mm, gave 2.09 kW (2.85 PS) at 6,750 rpm and 2.98 Nm at 6,500 rpm. Top speed was 50 km/h until December 2001 and 45 km/h afterwards in Germany, although unrestricted versions sold elsewhere reached about 60–65 km/h. The 101 cm³ model made 5 kW (6.8 PS) and 85 km/h, and was available in Germany with an 80 km/h restriction.

Second generation (2008–2021)

A second generation arrived at the end of 2007 with a modified frame, folding passenger footrests, a changed helmet compartment and a fully digital speedometer, now meeting Euro 3. For 2009 Yamaha added a four-stroke: a liquid-cooled 49.4 cm³ single with three valves and electronic fuel injection, giving 2.3 kW (3.13 PS) at 7,000 rpm and priced at €2,250 against €1,995 for the two-stroke. A Neo’s 4 with a Euro 4 engine followed late in 2017, and the petrol model was dropped in 2021 when Euro 5 came into force.

The electric Neo’s (2022)

The name then passed to an electric scooter, the first of Yamaha’s Switch On range: 13-inch wheels, a 200 mm front disc with a rear drum, a rear brushless motor of 3.4 hp and 136 Nm, a 1 kWh lithium-ion battery under the seat giving 37 km, or 68 km with a second battery, a 795 mm seat height and a top speed of 45 km/h, or 35 km/h in Eco mode.

In use

In everyday use the Ovetto and Neo’s earned a reputation for being robust and reliable, and touring riders could cover 250 km in the mountains on one. A few were raced, usually with the liquid-cooled engine of the sporty Aerox fitted for more tuning potential.

Design and features

• City-first design: low twin headlights, a flat floor and a stepped seat aimed at older riders.
• Minarelli engines: 50 and 101 cm³ two-strokes, later a fuel-injected 49.4 cm³ four-stroke.
• Low price: 3,640 DM at launch, and €1,995 for the 2009 two-stroke.
• Long life: twenty-four years on the market across two petrol generations.

MBK Ovetto versions

• Ovetto 50 (1997–2007): air-cooled two-stroke with a catalyst.
• Ovetto 100 (first generation): 101 cm³, 5 kW, 85 km/h.
• Ovetto 50, second generation (2008): modified frame, folding footrests, digital dash.
• Ovetto 4 (2009): liquid-cooled four-stroke with fuel injection.
• Neo’s 4 (2017): the Euro 4 four-stroke.
• Electric Neo’s (2022): 1 kWh battery, 37 km range.

The Ovetto shared its engines with the sportier MBK Nitro, and the big-wheel scooter of the range was the MBK Booster. More machines are in the MBK collection.

Video: MBK Ovetto with a 70 cc kit

Video on YouTube.

Sources

• Yamaha Neos, German Wikipedia: history, prices, technical data
• Yamaha Neo’s, Italian Wikipedia: generations, electric version