Looking to buy my first Bike

[junior]

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i am 15 nearly 16 and am saving up to buy a 50cc motorbike. i was hoping for any advice or tips on what to look for and how much i should be looking to spend?

[Rave]

At 16 you can ride a moped, which is a 50cc motorbike restricted to 33mph. You can get 50cc bikes that will do more than 33mph (or you can derestrict/tune a moped) but you can't ride those legally at 16.

As for what to buy, depends what you want really. Scooters are easy to ride and there's a huge choice available. If you want something that looks like a proper bike, then £200-600 will get you something older like a Yamaha DT50 (off road style) or a Kawasaki AR50 (on road). If you've got £1000+ to spend you can start looking at the funkier Aprilias, Riejus etc. these can cost £2500+ to buy new!

I personally would either get a cheap scooter or an AR50 (which is what I had at 16). At 17 you can get a decent 125, so to me it doen't make much sense to spend £1000+ on something you might only keep for a year. The more expensive bikes can tend to be fragile, and they're very very nickable.

Rich :¬)

[junior]

so are 50cc motor bikes classified as scooters?

[Rave]

No no no. Moped is the legal term for the type of bike you can ride when you're 16, which is a two wheeled vehicle powered by an engine of less than 50cc, and with a top speed of no more than 33mph. It doesn't matter whether it's a scooter, trail bike, race bike replica, or whatever; if it meets those criteria it's a moped. If you tune up your scooter to do, say, 50mph then it's still a scooter but legally it counts as a motorbike, not a moped and so you can't ride it at 16.

Generally, the difference between scooters and mopeds that look like 'proper' motorcycles is that scooters don't have gears and a clutch, whereas the other type does.

Rich :¬)

[junior]

are so what i want is a race bike replica which has a engine less than 50cc but looks like a real sports bike right.

[Rave]

Dunno mate- only you know what you want. In some ways I think you might look a bit stupid pootling along at 33mph on a bike that looks like it should be able to do 100mph. At least with a scooter people know what to expect....

This site has pictures of a lot of 50cc bikes (as opposed to scooters). It seems to be European so not all of the models are available here, but it'll give you some idea:

http://www.50cc-motorcycles.com/

Rich :¬)

[TeePee]

Better you should get an off-road style screemer. Scooters just look bad, IMO, so at least you'll have a real bike, which looks like it should be doing what it's doing.

[junior]

true but i think sport replica's look better don't u?

[Tumble]

nope... you'll find a sports replica wanting, being tied to the road an all that. If you want a little bike - get a sorted 50 or 125 trailie, and get out on that - go up the tracks and things - that's where you'll really learn to ride if nothing else. Plus you look way way cooler, and can wear bigger boots

[Dakaras]

Yep I had a Suziki 50cc (mind you it was one of those Rave was talking bout bored out it 60cc, mod exhaust, hi compression rings etc, did 50mph + with a fair wind, totally illeagle and if id punted it id have been uninsured. Was a Crosser style. Move to a 4 stroke 125 after that

[junior]

i would probably get a 125 when i'm 17. the reason i want a 50cc sports replica was to get used to changing gears and the riding position.

[Rave]

Get a Kawasaki AR50 then. The riding position is pretty similar to something like an Aprilia, it's about as fast, and you can get a decent one secondhand for £400-500.

Rich :¬)

[junior]

i was hoping to get my bike berfore christ mas and i was wondering where would be the best place to store it over those wet and cold moths??

[Angus]

The rule about gears is fairly general, but not that strict.

I have seen geared "motorbikes" that were legal for 16 year olds.

Wouldn't like to ride out of town on one though.

[Rave]

The rule about gears is fairly general, but not that strict.

I have seen geared "motorbikes" that were legal for 16 year olds.

Wouldn't like to ride out of town on one though.

It makes no difference whether the bike has gears on not, if it's 50cc and limited to 33mph it's a moped, if it's not limited it's not a moped and hence not legal for 16 year olds.

My old AR50 had gears, but it was still a moped.

Rich :¬)

[Zak33]

Hey..gonna sound like an OLD MAN, but as you are now one of the Hexus boihs MAKE SURE YOU GET GOOD BODY PROTECTION AND A GOOD HELMET. Dont care how much the BIKE costs, spend on clothing and helemt to last you a few years

Good investment in the "keeping skin on my arms and legs" department