16 soon and need advice on a few 50cc bikes

[JPx1994]

Hi,
i will be 16 in March and I am looking to get a 50cc bike.

First of all i wouldnt really want to spend over £1000 so i would be looking to buy used ( preferably no more than 3-4 years old)

The main bikes i am interested in are the aprilia rs50 or the aprilia sr50. I am also considering the sx50. Im just looking for anyones views on these bikes or any other alternatives.

I would prefer a geared bike because i think they would be more enjoyable to ride and am i right in thinking that they also have slightly better acceleration and top speed than twist and gos as this would be important as i will have to ride on NSL roads.

My favourite has to be the aprilia rs50 because of its amazing looks but will i look like a 'poser' and look stupid on a 50cc sportsbike and if so would i be better off buying an sr50? Also do police target these bikes to check if they are de-restricted more than scooters? Do police regularly do this and is it worth the risk derestricting any 50cc? Also are these bikes really as unreliable as some people say? Would i be able to get near to 60mph top speed with just a standard derestriction? Also would an sr50 be able to reach 50-55mph with just a standard derestriction?

Any feedback would be aprecciated. Thanks

[Rufus]

right. dont spend more than 500 on a 50cc, realistically no more than 3-400. to put it bluntly they're shit and you'll get bored of it before you even turn 17. keep the extra dosh for something more substantial like a 125 or even a car if you dont decide to continue the bike route.

at 16 you're best off just getting a generic scoot, aerox or speedfights seem to be popular?

geared 50's most likely do have increased acceleration but only if you upshift well.

more than likely people will think you're a poser on a sports 50 mate unfortunately.

as for police checks it's luck of the draw but remember you're restricted to 30mph only until you're 17.

from what i've read the majority of scoots will do around 45-50+ unrestricted with some noblets claiming 70 lmao.

hope this is helpful, i dont really know much about 50s sorry.
____________________
CG125 > ZX6r > GSX600F > CB250n + ZX7R+ Bandit 1200

[nick606]

I had a rs50 at 16. Bought it for 1150 sold it for 1000 a year later. taught me so much about bike control etc i think it was defiantly worth it. Its up to you pal but i say go for it Although its defiantly not the cheapest option and mine wasn't reliable at all. But if you can afford it why not ?

[Theoutsider]

I had a RS50 i think 2002 model,I have to say that they are good fun for a 16 yrs old but they are bloody unreliable.I had 69.8 mph maximum out of it(indicated on me GPS).But if you want to go for a bigger bike when you are 17 I would say that go for a 4 stroke for now(bloody slow) but reliable and get a NSR125 or something after.I spent more money on parts than the bikes price.

[JPx1994]

Thanks for the replies guys.
Yeah I think Il probably save a bit of money and go for an sr50 as they are more practical and still very nippy for a 50cc scooter and the looks are good for a scooter aswell. Also i just thought about some gear and a decent jacket,helmet and pair of gloves will set me back around £250.
You never know i do see an rs50 around for under £1000 i might be tempted
When im 17 im definitely going for a car but if i have any spare cash i might look around for an rs125
Thanks for all the advice. Still feel free to post any more advice on here as again it would be aprecciated. Thanks again great forum

[DanHam]

I had an RS50, it was de-restricted, I was never stopped but I was followed by police doing over 50 and they never did a thing. Mine was standard but I put a 13 tooth frpnt sprocket on rather than the 11t it came with, it allowed me to cruise at around 50-55mph 'clock speed'. Remember to try and get a low milage one, mine was a 54 plate with around 900 miles on it, I paid £1500 and sold it for £1200 a few months ago, I never had a spill or anything on it. However the lad I sold it to has since crashed and made a right mess of it. The only problem I had with mine was a blocked carb so I fitted a fuel filter, cleaned it out and it was fine. People call the RS unreliable but it isn't if you look after it and warm it up before riding it hard and use the best 2 stroke oil. A popular one is Castrol TTS at £12 a litre.

The RS is a fun little bike and fast for a 50cc, it made all the ped owners near me very jealous

Generally at around 16,000 kms the piston needs replacing, try and get a low miles RS, or one that may have already been rebuilt.

By the way there is a forum dedicated to the RS 50, the chances are we will be able to help you much more and give you advice.

https://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=21

not advertising the forum or anything, just want this kid to not make the wrong decision like many do when they buy their first bike. Anyway come over to the forum make a thread and other RS 50 owners will give you their views and experiences.

[JPx1994]

Thanks for the reply yeah ill have a look