First Bike

[vixxe1]

No, not for me, but for my neice.

She is really into biking and wants to get her 1st 50cc machine when she is old enough (October). Being well trained by me, she doesn't want a twist & go, but a proper geared bike.

I've had a good look around, but there just isn't much choice of decent geared bike out there. They are either race rep types or trailies, neither of which she likes. The only standard street bike looking machines seem to be older ones on evilbay.

Any ideas?? Don't want to let her down when she's so keen.

[Tattoo addict]

Ive seen some cruiser/chopper looking things on ebay they dont look to bad :)

[vixxe1]

Thanks for that. I've seen them too, but was a little worried about how they would handle, especially for a 16 year old that has never ridden/controlled a vehicle on the road before. I just thought a straight forward road bike would be best.

Maybe i'm just being an overprotective Aunty..... :confused:

[Dougie]

I'd be very wary of some of the things on ebay.I've read some total horror stories about folk buying cheap Korean bikes from fly-by-night sellers and getting a total deathtrap.

[hermann]

How about something like this regal raptor dd50 (http://www.ajsmotorcycles.co.uk/docs/Raptor/Docs/Frame%20set1.htm)

[vixxe1]

How about something like this regal raptor dd50 (http://www.ajsmotorcycles.co.uk/docs/Raptor/Docs/Frame%20set1.htm)

I've seen them in some of the bike press, they've been around a while now. Nice looking little machine, we'll have to see how her savings go. I think her parents are trying to put her off biking by saying she has to foot 50% of the cost herself from her p/t job.

[Friar Tuck]

I know they are old now but you can't beat a Yamaha FS1-E or a Suzuki AP50. To find a good one will cost, but if you are funding for a nearly new bike the price will not be that much different.

The goo thing about the Fizzie and the AP they were mainly pre restricted. i.e they were good for 50 mph (allegedly!) but they were thrashed to death by 16 year olds like yours truly! Find a good one look after it and it will only appreciate in value! It's worth getting a ratty one, and doing it up.

Beware though, pre 1977 ones are the ones to go for (no restrictions). They are easily spotted by having pedals believe it or not, (impossible to use though, I've tried on more than a number of occassions when I were a lad! Eee, they were the days!) After this date they became restricted and got foot pegs instead. I have been told that de-restricting them is possible but fiddly. I think the same applies to the AP50 but I never had one of those.

Honda bought out the SS50 as a rival. They were four stroke and SLOOOW! 40-50mph if you were lucky, but you didn't have to worry about siezed engines and holed pistons! There are other more exotice mopeds out there:- Puch Grand Prix-S, Malaguti Olympique (Fast as fuk, and with a cool one into two exhaust, but FRAGILE everthing!) and then there was the joke - the Fantic Chopper! hahahahaha! Came in various engine sizes but 125 and 50cc I seem to remember!

I think all these mopeds are now aquiring classic status and are fetching fetching silly money now, but keep looking and a decent will yurn up somewhere. They are worth buying believe me.

[John Hopkins]

I'd be very wary of some of the things on ebay.I've read some total horror stories about folk buying cheap Korean bikes from fly-by-night sellers and getting a total deathtrap.

It's true that if you buy a new Sukida bike off ebay you have to assemble it yourself, without instructions, and you could miss out on tightening some inportant bolt, or put the wheel axel in the wrong way and have it unscrew. But we used to say the Jap crap Honda's would only last once round the track There is a lot of rubbish on ebay, but you can buy the same stuff from some bike shops! I think the thing that falls off my bike most is me! :D John

[Shaun the Fatman]

Most mopeds (in the legal sense that is) these days are scooterish type jobs, but there are a few scooters that try to at least look and handle like street bikes.
How about one of these Gilera DNAs: got one of the 125ccs chopper Gileras as a learner bike for the ex and it was a decent small bike. This one (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250016920834#ebayphotohosting)is on Ebay and the current bid as I type is £390

http://i10.ebayimg.com/04/i/07/fe/61/68_1.JPG

PS if she insists on gears and has the legs for it they do a couple of 50cc trailies but they don't have electric start... which is a useful feature for a learner! http://www.kentscooters.co.uk/rcr.htm
http://i24.ebayimg.com/04/i/08/01/cc/bf_1.JPG

[vixxe1]

Thanks to all for your input. I think we may shop around for her and find an older AP50 or similar in decent condition. She is insisting on gears (good for her!), but doesn't like trailies, so we have our work cut out for us, but I have seen on I like the look of on Ebay, but it's still a bit early yet.

Wish us luck!

[Juke]

FS1-E!............. :eek:
AP50...........AE50..........AR50..........

I had all of these in my younger days. What fun they were when you were 16 and thought you owned the roads eh?
Back then the law stood that you could ride up to a 250cc on 'L' plates, so I quickly jumped to an RD250LC, then risked it on an RD350LC. Them bikes were quick when I was a lass, and so much fun.
The front ends always came up far too easily tho......... :rolleyes:

[Creature]

the little yamaha custom handles pretty good, but you are resticted to 30mph - altho with a little bit of work and help from friendly mechanic u can get them to do 45mph.

to be honest tho shes only gonna be on it for 12 months so probally better to get something cheep.

[devon-tony]

the regal raptor custom things are pretty cool and good value really

know its 100cc, but as an example, I know of a brand new one, registered 03 or 04 but never used, for about 950

real low seat height, leccy start, decent build quality for the price, and it also looks half decent

[slob]

my sister in law bought a chinese bike based around a CG125 , not a bad bit of kit... well for £800 new, can't really grumble

http://i11.ebayimg.com/05/i/08/03/20/4f_1.JPG


this sort of idea

[slob]

full warranty with this one:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Brand-new-HLD501-50cc-Moped-Chopper-Cruiser-Motorbike_W0QQitemZ160016681063QQihZ006QQcategoryZ 424QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting

[trikerdrew]

Poss to get v cheap lil bikes out of local rags.Good thing is lots are sold off as field bikes need lights and go.I got DT400 like that :D

BSH this month has got a 50cc chop.16 year old owner /builder-how cool is that :cool:

[Tom-madbiker]

my mate had an fs1e and on a damp day it would do 65 mph bloody good little bike great fun

[Mitch]

It's true that if you buy a new Sukida bike off ebay you have to assemble it yourself, without instructions, and you could miss out on tightening some inportant bolt, or put the wheel axel in the wrong way and have it unscrew.
Hey, doesn't that make it a kit bike? :D :D :D