Thoughts on the Gilera DNA 50

[chris50cc]

I'm currently looking at 50cc bikes as I have just turned 16 and the DNA is quite appealing to me. However I seem to get very mixed opinions from different people, so if I could please have your opinions I would be truly grateful. Thanks
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[Bendy]

Just no.

Get a ped or get a bike. Don't get a ped that's trying to look like a bike.

[Ste]

I don't like them, as it is trying to be something it is not. If you want a scooter, get a scooter. If you want a bike, get a bike. You can quite easily get a 50cc geared bike which is a lot more bike like than the DNA.

If you're planning at the age of 17 to move up onto a 125cc bike and do your test at some point and then move up again, then it will be beneficial to you to get a 50cc bike which is geared as you will get used to riding a bike as opposed to riding a scooter.

You say it is quite appealing to you. In what ways does it appeal to you out of interest?

[tatters]

they are over priced and crap, and an one who buys a 125cc or a 180cc DNA needs help
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[chris50cc]

It appeals in the sense that it looks like a bike but its cheaper than a geared bike. I am thinking of moving up to a 125 when i'm 17 but instead of jumping straight into geared bikes now, i was wondering what the scooter 'twist and go' experience is like first.
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[Ste]

[chris50cc]

I'm buying second hand, i don't see the point of buying a 50cc bike new, besides i don't have that much cash!
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[Ste]

Its hard to see the point in buying new as there is no point in buying a new 50cc bike.

Have a look around on places like Ad Trader and you will be able to find lots of 50cc geared bikes like the TS50 and the DT50 starting from just a few hundred for one which had tax and MOT and seems to be generally okay condition so it's not going to have to break the bank.

[chris50cc]

Thanks but the only problem is my parents. With me being 16 they still have a lot of say in my life and for some reason they won't let me have a bike that looks like or is a dirt bike
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[Ste]

How do they say a bike which does not look like a dirt bike is safer for you to use?

You can get 50cc geared bikes which do not look like dirt bikes, but they look like sports bikes and cost a lot more to buy, and they have lots of fairings which will get damaged if or when you drop the bike but they do not do anything for you really.

A geared 50cc bike will make things safer for you in the long term, as when you reach the age of 17 and get yourself a 125cc bike, you'll be more used to how everything works and how to operate it so will be less of a danger. You're also safer on a geared 50cc bike which looks like a dirt bike than you are on a DNA50 or any other scooter as scooters are generally seen as being the lowest form of life on the roads and lots of cars treat them very badly so you'll be safer on a bike.

[The Tot]

Get an NRG, Runner, or Typhoon. Ask Sommerset Scratcher abt peds cos he has a Typhoon and I used to have an NRG. Both are quite adequate bikes and are made from the same parent company. The LC engine is fine for a 50 but what else do you want. NRGs and Typhoons are inevitably cheaper to insure. I got quoted 400 for TPFT for DNA in london compared to only 300 for my NRG. Plus, they can be had cheaper. If you're looking to progress to geared, then i'd say get a cheap Yam SR or summat at 17 to use as a runabout then chop for a 400... NC29-NC35 Honda 400's are fine pieces of kit. But if u really do need a second hand ped, NRG's and Typhoons are gr8 and cheap; usually 400 private for a 2000 W plate with around 5000-8000miles. Trust me, some friends were disappointed with their DNA's. Either get a scoot or a geared bike, not a "genetic mutant hybrid"! I hope you make the right decision, but that's just my 2 cents!
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[chris50cc]

lol ok... well your a great help anyway, i'll just keep looking for now
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[JonB]

The Typhoon is a great little ped. It has "chunky" tyres.

It is a good handling "bike" and it does everything I need from it. The pick up is quick and so far the engine has taken me 13000 miles, well not me personally, but that is how many engine miles it has been done.

Looks sporty in a sense, but it's a ped, it's nout special. Quite a reliable bike and parts are easily found on Ebay, I have just bought a dashboard off there to replace my battered one.
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[Frost]

Well according to my mate the 125 DNA does 90mph no problem, so the 50 must also be hugely fast

Seriously though, they are tidy little bikes. try and get a second hand fixer upper so as you can make a bit of proffit off its sale.

[stinkwheel]

Right Chris, and you can quote me on this to your parents. Without fear of contradiction, the safest 50cc bike you could get has gears and is in an off road style. They have big wheels which means they are a lot more stable on the road, they have proper, fully damped suspension and big wide handlebars which gives you proper control. You sit astride the bike with your feet on proper footpegs which enhances your level of control even further. They are designed to be rideable on loose dirt and gravel, this makes them supremely stable on tarmac and should you run into a problem which makes you run wide onto the verge, they give you the best chance of staying on.

What would be a 'scary moment' on an off road styled bike would be a crash on a twist and go. Trail bikes are also a lot bigger, they give you road presence, allow yuo to see further in order to anticipate hazards and make other drivers a lot more likley to respect your space.

I have been riding bikes since I was allowed to, do a minimum 10,000 miles a year and have 10 years no claims record on my insurance. I currently ride a 660cc supermoto. Just in case they are wondering if I am one of your mates from school, see my website.
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[Davo]

Chris,

What kind of guy are you, forgive me for being so blunt, but if your after a runaround until you can drive a car go and get yourself a ped, however if you want to get some experience riding till you can get yourself a bigger bike (e.g. a 125cc).

If your the latter it may be better to go and get yourself a geared bike (e.g. gpr50, tr50 etc...) , this will help you get used to a bike gearbox.

I once knew someone who reckoned he was a rossi on ped's, except he couldn't get my bike to move.

Regardless what you do get, safe riding & happy posting

[G]

If they don't want a mx style bike, what about something like an ar50 or fs1e etc?

They can be picked up for peanuts; you could probably get two ar50s for the price of a dna.
The ar can have a 80cc engine stuck in or a bore kit added for very little cost to give you the power of a 125 4 stroke... when you're 17 of course.

If you're worried about the gears; they come very naturally, after a few days using gears you will do it instinctivly.
It will also stand you in good stead if you want to get a bigger bike or a car later.

[spankydean]

[Lee_367]

Race rep. 50's aren't bad, but there just not too good for a complete learner.

To begin with they cost more to buy and insure than other 50cc's and because your learning you are likely to crash them and fairings are not cheap to replace.

I've got a debi senda, which i regret buying new due to the amount i'm going to lose on it when i come to sell it. The good things about it are that i have droppped mine twice and it has not sustained any damage, Its almost as quick as a race rep, and the insurance isn't too bad.

https://img19.imageshack.us/img19/8186/Derbisenda-28.jpg
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[chris50cc]

You guys are great!! I'm getting more into biking the more I look at them so I think I'll probably move up to a 125 after a 50 instead of a car, but we'll see what the future holds, since my parents still hate the idea of bikes! By the way Stinkywheely I'll definately show my parents what you have to say, cheers! The overall opinion I seem to be getting is, either a geared bike or a scooter, not a mix like the DNA, so cheers again!!
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[chris50cc]

Spankydean that peugeot looks like a beast of a 50cc but they're pretty expensive, but if you have the cash to spend then why not!!?
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[spankydean]

[TheBoyChris]

I've got to ask here, why is this thread rated so badly in karma? It shows up as a red blob in the main forums yet I can't see a single bad post?

Or is it just my machine being weird?
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[carnislick]

I have an option that may be good for you.

When i passed my CBT (august 2003) i had a scooter (gilera SKP, very similar to somerset scratchers Typhoon) i had the scooter until about april this year, sold it and bought a Derbi GPR 50.

I lose out on my years no claims (due to changing my policy before it ran out) but as im on a provisional liscence i would recieve no discount anyway.

The gilera DNA is a good "scooter" although it doesn't quite have the street cred of a geared 50

But if it is all you can find for your budget go for the DNA because the handling is the closest you will get to a geared bike while still keeping the simplicity of riding a "scooter".
A derestricted DNA 50 will reach about 45mph (iv'e ridden with two) and scrape 50 mph with an aftermarket exhaust.

The geared 50's will hit *around* the 60mph mark although the speedo will tell you you are going slightly faster.

If you were getting a geared 50 i would recommend you have at least 2/3 months experience on a cheaper to repair scooter just so that you can make any silly learner mistakes fairly cheaply.

I'd say if you were getting a geared 50 go for the aprilia RS50 or the Derbi GPR (around the 2001/02 mark) anything after that have all these stupid catalytic converters to reduce emissions (and speed )

The RS is very similar performance wise to the GPR although my gpr seems to be faster than the two rs50's iv'e ridden with (only by 1 or 2 mph)

Let us know what u will be doing.

Cheers

Paul
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Paul

[chris50cc]

Firstly, I think its in bad karma because the majority of posts seem to be more negative.

Secondly, as for getting a cheap scooter then moving on to a more expensive 50, I don't think that would be an option for me since i can't afford to do so, plus its extra hassle. Thats why i like the idea of the DNA, a cross between both so i can look slightly better than on a normal scooter but it won't cost me as much as a geared race replica. Then again, some people say that a cross isn't as good as one or the other, so i'm still thinking about my options.

As for my parents being rich.... No they're not, but they've offered to pay for my CBT, helmet and gloves.
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