Teen turns family garage into a workshop for vintage mopeds

Jesse Pekonen, 16, has restored about 10 Tunturi mopeds since finding his great-grandmother’s 1974 model in a cabin shed, Yle reports. His family’s garage has become a workshop where he repairs mopeds for himself and helps others.

“It’s a peaceful place when I can work on the mopeds,” Pekonen says. “And when I can do something for other people at the same time, everyone wins.”

Pekonen studies automotive technology in Seinäjoki and says nobody in his family had previously been interested in mopeds. He has learned from friends, online forums and trial and error. His interest is specifically in Tunturi mopeds, and word of his repair skills has spread on social media.

He says the hobby has given him and his friends plenty to do together and brought him into contact with people who ask for help fixing their own mopeds. He also attends moped meet-ups a few times each summer, saying they are not automatically illegal. Police usually visit and leave if nothing wrong is happening, he says.

Timo Palmi, who has worked with young people for decades at the Seinäjoki motor club, says having practical activities such as repairing and building things can help young people move forward. The club lets them ride on a track and show their restored vehicles at a winter exhibition.

Pekonen has given his great-grandmother’s moped a full overhaul, including work on its engine. He says he wants to restore it so it will never be left to rot in a barn again, and believes his great-grandmother would be proud of how its story continues.

The community side of moped riding was due to feature at Yle’s live tour event at Rytmikorjaamo, an event venue in Seinäjoki, on Wednesday, November 11. The tour is part of Yle’s centenary celebrations and is aimed particularly at people aged 15 to 19.