New Biker - Lexmoto FMX?

[markmcc87]

Hey everyone, I have my CBT booked in a few weeks time and would like your thoughts on a first bike.
I plan on getting a 125cc Scooter and I like the look of the Lexmoto FMX, I will likely be covering approximately 10-20 mile round trips on a mixture of 30-40-50 roads, 3-4 times a week.
My reasoning is given this is going to be my first ever bike I don't want to buy second hand and the FMX is with in my budget for a new purcase.
I can't find many reviews online so would love and appreciate peoples thoughts/reviews on what the bike is like ect.

Thank BCF 😊

[NJD]

As I've said in another thread recently forget about looks when it comes to the 125cc category because despite wanting to own something you like the look of, naturally, all 125cc's are built to a budget and a set power limit. Buy whatever's in budget, can be insured and will see you through until you do tests and upgrade.

I'm not really clued up on the scooter side of things (I own a LM Arrow) but I'd suspect that the scooter's top speed of 52mph will take some red lining and constant wipe open throttle on a good day to maintain, using a 50mph road I'd want something that could keep up with that and more otherwise you're going to end up a snail in Lane 1 with cars overtaking you all the time, wont mean nothing at the minute but I'd rather save you the pain of knowing you want to go faster but there's nothing left in the thing your on.

Any reason why you want a scooter vs a geared bike? You could have a second hand Lexmoto Vixen for way less than the retail price of the scooter. Lexmoto ZSB's the only brand new model of geared I'd take a punt on out of their current offerings. I wouldn't recommend the Lexmoto Arrow, not even second hand, 10-13 miles of 30-40mph roads are painful enough on the longest of trips I've taken it on, wouldn't even attempt a 50mph on it.

On the other hand you could avoid Lexmoto all together and get yourself something like a second hand YBR/CBF for a similar price to that scootay. Keep in mind you'd have to pay a OTR fee on top of whatever the advertised price on Lexmoto's site is anyway so it's not £999 all in it's £999 + some more just to roll it out the showroom. Of which, by the way, the bike will loose quite some value the moment you do and when it comes to re-sale. I'd consider it disposable or be willing to take a huge hit on the sale price since they deprecate and are so cheap form new anyway.

Nothing against Lexmoto I'd just much rather save you the pain. If you want a scootay 125 I'm sure someone else can recommended some popular models that will hold their value and meet your criteria of roads / speeds.

First I'd get the CBT out the way and see how you get on.
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[andyscooter]

I test rode one when I was looking for a cheap bike last year

suspension was crap and felt every bump
the exhaust was already starting to rust and look crap(bike was three weeks old) seat felt very cheap to sit on
mirrors vibrated so much you couldn't tell what was behind you at standstill

its the bottom of the range budget scooter for a reason
I bought a cheap Suzuki gp100 for less then half the price and couldn't get it running
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gilera runner vxr200 (chavped)
if its spelt wrong its my fat fingers and daft auto correct on my tablet

[markmcc87]

Cheers guys, well my top budget would be around the 1200-1400 mark for OTR. The main reason I don't want a clutched bike as I've never ridden before and the thought of having to deal with a clutch right away makes me uneasy, although after experience I am sure I will upgrade.

I have a looked at a few semi automatic bikes such as the Keeway Target that look like they would cover my requirements, and are geared but with out the clutch. Does any one have any experience with one of these?

Cheers BCF

[andyscooter]

keeway are shit

lexmoto are one of the better Chinese brands but they are still not as good as a jap scooter


forget brand new with that budget look for a second hand scooter if you want a scooter

Honda Yamaha sym piaggio are normally ok (Honda sh125 is a great scooter)

vespa are also good but if you live in a city it will be stolen unless locked well

avoid keeway wk kymco

if you are determined to get Chinese go lexmoto or sinnis but not the cheaper ones they are built cheaply for a reason

presuming you have helmet gloves jacket and boots already and some insurance quotes otherwise most of that budget will have gone
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gilera runner vxr200 (chavped)
if its spelt wrong its my fat fingers and daft auto correct on my tablet

[markmcc87]

Yeah the budget is solely for the bike. so what about the Honda wave /Peugeot vox,they are similar to the Keeway target and both classed as scooters but semi automatic as well, and a second hand one with low mileage seems to come with in budget?
Thanks for the input guys and sorry for the newbie questions.

Cheers

[Rogerborg]

Are you planning to do your CBT on a twist-and-go? If you do it on a geared bike then you'll be ready to ride a geared bike.

If you must get a scooter, I'd go for a used Honda PCX or SH at that budget. Do the servicing yourself - getting a new Lexmoto dealer serviced in order to maintain the warranty will quickly devour any savings that you made, and you'll lose half its value in depreciation the moment you turn the key.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike