The lightest 50cc

[catbells]

Hi, another newbie. I'm a 30 something housewife who is housebound because I can't drive. I have finally taken the plunge to take the CBT as I have found a job and need some form of transportation to commute.

I have been shopping round for 50cc mopeds and trying to find the lightest and smallest one because I'm a petite person. Currently, I am looking at the Piaggio Zip 50cc. Does anyone have any recommendations or any verdict on this moped?


Just wondering if I'm in the right forum because I'm talking about mopeds here?

[G]

Mopeds are fine and plenty have experience with them on here.

Note that lightest weight may not be the easiest for you to use.

The weight's only a problem when pushing it around and a lot of that can be avoided by careful planning.

Often scooters seem to be higher and more cumbersome than 50cc bikes.

[TheShaggyDA]

You are on the right forum, there's a pile of young riders here who still have mopeds or have recently come from one, so you should get some reasonable advice (as long as they don't start spouting on about "bigbore" kits and "racing exhausts", that is).

In the meantime, have a read of some of these reviews, it should give you a feel for some owner's opinions.
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[truslack]

[kiers]

nope, same cbt you just have to be 17 for a 125, which you are. as G said the weight of scooters isnt really a problem unless you are pushing them around. but have a look at the gilera stalker, running weight is 80Kg. which is fairly light.
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[veeeffarr]

I'd personally go for a geared 125CC like the Honda CG125 (Biased, I had one, fantastic bike) as all the moped I see around with 04 or newer plates look like they're falling apart with rust.

The CG is well finished and will give you cheap and easy biking for a long time.

T

[nick606]

get your self a 125 as 50cc are a bit dangerous and have to be raged everywhere to keep up with traffic. I would suggest a biker over a scooter because there more fun and you will get more respect of over road users

depending on how much you have to spend i would suggest a honda cg or cbr 125 (there bikes)

try and stick with the Japaneses makes as they tend to have a better build quality but may be a little slower than others.

i am only 5,8 and 9 and a half stone and i have no problems with my bike which is 89 kg dry weight

[repiV]

I agree with nick. I found the 125 I rode for a short while to be quite dangerous outside of town for the same reason - just not enough power or acceleration.
I get a LOT more respect from other road users on the 600 than I did on the 125, despite being a much more aggressive rider now, so I can only imagine how much people try to push 'peds around.

[Benrly]

I'm coming up to 16 (23rd July), and so have not tested 50cc bikes/peds in road conditions, but have ridden around on a few of my friends' bikes.

I've recently bought a Peugeot Speedfight Iron-X (in red, ) because it is what suits me. It is a reliable bike, and extremely nippy - it's an often debated question as to which is the fastest 50cc ped, the Speedfight or the Yamaha Aerox.

If you were like me, I'd definitely say Speedfight, but overall I'd recommend the Peugeot Speedfight, the Aprilia SR50, the Peugeot Blaster R-Cup (yet to be released, but is regarded as a nice bike), or the Yamaha Aerox. Make sure you have a search around to see if anything else interests you, though, and bear in mind everyone above me's ideas on buying a 125cc.

G'luck choosing, and tell us what you get when you do!

[Catalyst]

The Yamaha Aerox and Peugeot speedfight are both good but are prone to being stolen so get a good lock if you go for one of these.

If you really don't want gears there are many 125cc scooters that will be alot quicker than a 50cc scooter and the same price. I havn't looked personally as i'm only 16 but the Piaggio Zip 50cc is meant to be quite good.

I got a geared 50cc and it's alot more fun than twist & go that my mates have, they are also slightly quicker.

Good luck with bike shopping

Jack
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[catbells]

Thanks for all the comments and advice. Unfortunately, I only have a budget of £1k, maybe stretching to £1.2k max so the piaggio is on my budget target. I know bikes are cool but mopeds allow me to wear female attire more comfortably. I'm hoping a less cool- looking machine would be less prone to theft. I'm about 45kg and just at 5ft so the weight of the machine would bother me. Some of your comments have given me a change of heart, so I'm looking at the piaggio zip 100cc instead or would a de-restricted 50cc do?

[Benrly]

[Pete.]

De-restricted 50cc means increased wear. How about an Honda Innova 125?
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[G]

A 100cc or 125cc will be easier to ride and probably have better fuel economy as it's less stressed.

For the record, I'd reccomend buying second hand.

[matthab]

Go for a 125cc moped as your 30 and the extra power will help. I also found a small 50cc moped you dont get much respect on the road, but maybe the bigger engine might help.

Heres the Honda PS125i looks small and leight and i suspect will be nippy enough to keep up with traffic. Theres also the Honda SES125 Dylan that looks very simular.

https://www.honda.co.uk/mcStatic/en/picture/product/PS125i/prd_bike_max_grey_metallic.gif
https://www.honda.co.uk/

Heres the Yamaha Cygus X, Heard lots about these and there meant to be very good.

https://www.yamaha-motor.co.uk/Images/2007_XC125N_Photo_01_prv_tcm46-141146.jpg
https://www.yamaha-motor.co.uk

I dont favour Peogoet as my 50cc just fell apart after 1800miles (probs being restricted at 30mph for 40mins to evesham killed it) when my yamaha has done 3000 and havnt had any issues yet.

Matt
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2005 - 2006:Peugeot jet force 50 TDSI (sold)
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[gixasix]

I would go for the 100cc or even better a 125cc scooter at least then you will have enough power to cope with town traffic.There's nothing more scary than being overtaken by idiots and forced into the side of the road because you are at your bikes limit and don't have any power left to get you out of trouble.

I know scooters will let you wear female attire more comfortably but please give some thought to the consequences if you were to come off the bike before deciding to ride in a skirt/thin trousers! Sorry but i've seen too many people end up with broken bones,severe gravel rash or requiring stitches even in low speed 10-20mph accidents where there were no other vehicles involved.

There's loads of companies offering female specific bike clothing so you can still look relatively smart but still have some protection.Buy a decent bag or a top box and change when you get to work that way your clothes aren't going to be covered in road muck and you'll have a lot more chance of walking away unhurt if you do come off.

Good luck with your CBT and whichever scooter you decide on

[repiV]

I carry a change of clothes in my tankbag. Works fine for me.

I maintain that my Fazer 600 is easier to ride and balance than the CG125 I did my CBT on. I can ride it in a perfectly straight line at speeds that don't even register on the speedo, can't say the same for the 125s I rode. Weight is irrelevant in a moving bike, it just disappears, and any 125cc scooter or motorbike isn't going to be anywhere near heavy enough to cause you problems. It's all about balance anyway - with heavier bikes you just have to be more careful with them at slow speeds or stopped. Keep them upright and it won't be a problem. My bike weighs twice what I weigh at about 186 kilos, I have dropped it on my leg a couple of times but that's because I didn't appreciate just how heavy it is and how little you have to lean it over at a standstill for it to come crashing down. That has less to do with the weight of the bike relative to yours than the fact that gravity is unkind to a lump of metal so heavy. If you had a similar incident on a 125 weighing 85 kilos, your foot down would stop it falling no problems.

Personally, I think you should do your CBT on a geared 125 - then you have the experience of riding one and the ability to ride both, enabling you to make a fully informed decision.

[yambabe]

[veeeffarr]

[stinkwheel]

[st3v3]

what about a gilera runner 125? it's automatic, not that big and has the capabilities of going 60MPH if it needs to. Plus it's not that big a theft magnet, as it's a bigger looking ped, so less chavs and the like think it's a lightweight drag away ped. also means you don't have to de-restrict it voiding your insurance. best advice, is to go round a few shops, sit on some and see what type you want, then buy one second/third hand.

I know it looks like a high seat, but it's not that high, I'm 5'8ish and can easily fit on one.
https://www.maxmoto.co.uk/images/gilera_runner_sp_50_1l.jpg
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[steveh]

Ive had 2 piaggio zip's and found that they were really good, even though mine were complete dogs body work wize, the engines seem to be bullet proof (mine got ragged and never ate anything)

fuel economy is very good from what i can remember, £5 would last me all week chaving it round with about 20 mates everyday.

only problem i had on one of them was the automatic choke sticking on, and dying when you gave it some beans.

if your a short arse there fine, i was 6 foot on mine, still did 50 clock speed, so probably about 45 real speed.
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[monty]

[truslack]