Derbi logo
| Information about the company Derbi | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1922 |
| Headquarters | Barcelona, Spain |
| Official website | www.derbi.com |
The home of the Derbi brand was originally a small spanish town Mollet. The history of Derbi has begun in 1922, by the will of Simón Rabasa i Singla. The basic direction of the company’s activity was repair and hire of bicycles. The former spheres of activity receded into the background when in 1944 the owner began manufacturing bicycles by forming Bicicletas Rabasa.
Singla has witnessed a real success in this new direction, and already in 1946 he took on developing a motorised version of Derbi bikes.
Derbi pioneered in manufacturing bikes with the 48cc SRS model. This vehicle was akin to a moped in its appearance, also it had plunger rear suspension, gas tank of a motorcycle type and exhaust system.
The success of the SRS made Singla reconsider the main focus of the company. And, ultimately, after the first real motorcycle Derbi 250 was unveiled in 1950, the company rebranded to Nacional Motor SA.
Still, the name of the bikes was already considered a brand and it remained the same.
Derbi also competed in Grand Prix motorcycle racing, where it had won 50cc world championship titles in 1969, 1970 and 1972 consequently. Also Derbi reached success in 125cc Grand Prix racing in 1971, 1972, 1988, 2008 and 2010.
After the death of Singla in 1988, the company remained independent until 2001. In 2001 the Piaggio group has become its respective owner.
Nowadays Derbi is considered as a huge manufacturer of scooters, motorcycles, and all-terrain vehicles and also as a European leader in the 50cc market.