Confusion

[Monkfish]

i've read a lot about people saying not to waste your money on an expensive 50cc because you will want to move onto to a 125 when you turn 17 (which is what i plan to do). But i'm confused recently i went to my local dealership and i was informed that if i bought a second hand 50 i would end up paying a similar total to a band new 50cc with subsidized insurance as the insurance on the second hand bike would be somewhere around £500 as well as paying any cost to replace or repair damaged parts. if anyone has any help to put put me on the right choice it would be greatly appreciated.

MK

[Claud 14.7 to 1]

They say that to make you buy a new one.

Dont go there again.

Go and buy a cheap 50, if you must, or buy a ped, second hand. Make sure you buy a decent, looked after example and you will have a cheap bike that you can learn on. Or you could wait untill you are 17 and buy a 125 and learn on that.

E.G.

We bought my bro's ped (1-2 years ago) for £450, it was a 01 Suzuki ap50. Cheap bike to learn on. 100% Reliable.

[Monkfish]

my plan was to buy a second hand 50cc ped but being slightly clueless in the second hand realiability area i dont know what to look for to find out wether its been look after properly

[dainesefreak]

Something to bear in mind is that the dealer gets a bonus from the manufacturer for selling a decent amount of new bikes.

[Monkfish]

so where would i start to look for a good quality secondhand bike

[The Tot]

Monkfish, just out of curiousity, was that "Dealer" Rex-Judd by the way? They overcharge people on imports with dodgy history and sell cat C write off bikes. I'd be very careful if you're buying used there. I only thought so cos you're location on the map is very close to mine. Try e-bay for instance and ask to view the bike and make a sensible offer when you're there. If you wrote this 3 months ago, my NRG was on sale for 400 quid - well maintained and annually serviced regardless of mileage. I should say that you take a look at www.biketrader.co.uk and loot as well. Good luck with your bike
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[JonB]

I got a Typhoon second hand for £490 with a free race exhaust, which I haven't had time to install yet.

Honestly don't buy a brand new 50 save it up for a bigger bike.
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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[Monkfish]

Titot i haven't been to Rex Judd yet but i have gone to scooterplanet and thats where i got if from. and yea im from Enfield

[Monkfish]

also if you dont mind wasting your time, what should i look for when getting a second hand bike like an Nrg

[The Tot]

all is answered in this thread, but i'll give you a lowdown:


1) Lights - Check that both headlights are working. My electrics were quite shot in the end and only one headlight worked - MOT failure. - It's best to carry a spare 7.5 Amp fuse on you just in case. Since 2001, the light switch has been cancelled out so that the lights remain permanently on. The Italians are notorious for dodgy electrics and will cost in the region of 20 quid to get sorted, i can recommend SouthernCross motorcycles in Kilburn to rectify this.

2) Worn out bearings. Turn the wheel from lock to lock and if you feel any hesitance in the play, the bearings will be worn out due to too many a bad wheelie.

3) worn out fork seals. Since the NRG has USD forks (inverted forks), any leaking seals can easily be found by oil running down the fork leg.

4) Rear shockbreaker - the primary excuse for me selling my old NRG, a 60 quid job to rectify. A knackered one will make you run dreadfully wide on corners

5) Dodgy vin numbers or non-conforming numbers. Make sure that you check the V5 against the engine number - on the back of the engine casing near the rear wheel when you face the tyre in a front-on direction and the vin number under the chassis (on the lefthand or righthand side under the footwell of the scoot). Please make sure that you DO check these as these bikes are notorious for being nicked.

6) MOT certificates for dubious mileages - the speedo cable often gets shorted, so my dad ran the bike for 1 1/2 years without the speedo and consequently went 2000 miles without being registered on the ODOMETER - MOT certificates will indicate this by having the same mileage for consecutive years!

7) Try to get a standard bike without any tuned parts, derestricted is OK if you're legally entitled to ride it, but i guess you're just turning 16 anyway. My bike wasn't technically derestricted in the sense ( i don't have any receipts for having it done), but it pulled 45mph on a good day - 50 down hill.

The bike DOES have a kickstart if things go wrong. But the 6 bulletpoints highlight the common ailings of this bike.

Budget 400 quid for a GOOD condtion NRG (like mine was - W reg, 9000 miles). Do not pay over 750 for one as you need to take into consideration riding gear and insurance.

Happy hunting and happy riding

Titot
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[Monkfish]

thanks a lot ill keep what you said in mind hopefully ill be out an about in a number of weeks (fingers crossed)

[8316]

new scooters come with free insuarance sometimes. if you get a second hand one, you don't have that, so getting it yourself will be costly. another negative is that you don't know the history of the bike. they might have whacked on an exhaust and knackered the engine.
i advise to buy a 4-stroke 125. hassle free and cheap. and relatively good fun
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Now own a Fireblade!! Speed Limits? Bah!

[8316]

if you do buy a scooter, i've got a scorpion race exhaust availabel for 40 quid. in good nick
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Now own a Fireblade!! Speed Limits? Bah!