Reliable 50cc suggestions?

[TomLuxton]

Hi there,
I turn 16 next month and am looking forward to getting myself a 50cc bike, it's just that I have no idea which make/models I should be going for in terms of best reliability. I am hoping to get a geared bike preferably as apparently they teach you a lot more than twist n go's do. What models should I be looking for with a sub-£1k budget? I don't mind it being old as long as it is reliable,
thanks in advance,
Tom

[Rogerborg]

It's a sensible question, but your problem is that other 16 year olds aren't sensible. Any used moped that you buy is likely to have been neglected and meddled with. Any new one that you buy will be built down to the tightest possible budget.

Geared will teach you more, but twist-and-go will actually help to keep the engine in what passes for its power-band.

Honestly, with that remit and budget, if you're planning to keep it stock, I'd probably buy a new Lexmoto Scout. Forget getting it dealer serviced, that'll quickly make your cheap transport expensive, just DIY it and put the savings in a tin marked "moped repairs and 125 fund".

Sorry that's not the answer that you want.

And now over to the "Aprilia RS50" replies.
____________________
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

[Pjay]

Aprilia RS50

[chris-red]

Anything that hasn't been fucked with, as the borg said most 16 year olds love to 'tune' their 50's and inevitably they just ruin them.
____________________
Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[Cronik]

I deployed my body onto a bed whilst I journeyed the internet and between the hollowing waste of time, some harrowing noise swept (leisurely dashed) past my window... it was a motorbike. A sight, it was.

RS50.

Sounded like a sick piano, looking like it was pulling a train.
____________________
*A Vacuous Vacancy*

[joemc]

From my own personal experience id avoid a 2 stroke, they are nippy and fun to ride, but have a tendency to go tits up pretty easily. Like roger said, finding one that hasnt been pissed around with will be near on impossible. Most young lads want to meddle with carbs/jets etc to try get more speed and dont get it right. Had an rs50 and an nsr 125 when i was 16/17 and had the same problem, bits bodged here and there from previous owners, mine were bought for under 1k, (probably why they were bodged 😂). Try go 4stroke if possible, i would imagine youngsters are less inclined to meddle, i guess its just pot luck
____________________
Nsr 125 1990 - written off
Bandit 600 - Alive (for now)

[andyscooter]

Personally I would forget gears on a 50

As rog says a lexmoto scout or whatever the cheapest Chinese50 is now

Or a old Honda c50
____________________
gilera runner vxr200 (chavped)
if its spelt wrong its my fat fingers and daft auto correct on my tablet

[bigdom86]

gearing on a 50 must be crazy, 125 is bad enough

[Rogerborg]

Indeed. Last time I tried a (geared) 125 again, it was a game of constantly shifting up and down looking for the right gear to actually make it go. But they were all wrong. And with something like 3.5hp on tap (somewhere) I'd rather just let the variator go hunting for it.
____________________
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

[TomLuxton]

[Rogerborg]

I would be astonished if you could find a new 50cc moped today that's not made in China, regardless of the badge on it.

I vaguely suggested the Lexmoto Scout because it's their cheapest, and Lexmoto tend to support their vehicles with decent parts supply.

You may very well run into teething troubles though so the other option is to try and find a moped that's about a year old, is un-meddled with, has had its teething troubles sorted, and gone through its initial depreciation.

Judge entirely by condition, not on any story you get spun, and chisel every penny off the price, bearing in mind that a Scout is about £750 OTR. It's only got to last one more year before you can get shot of it. Oh, and factor in the cost and availability of insurance. www.thebikeinsurer.co.uk is a reasonable comparison site, although you may be able to do better.

Your CBT will cover a set of pre-ride checks - these are a good starting point for checking out a vehicle as a potential purchase.
____________________
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

[rhys99]

myself and friends have had Geared 50's . Aprilia SX, RX and Derbi senda 50.The RX was the most reliable. My derbi ( same engine as aprilia sx and RS )just constantly broke, it was more hastle than it was worth. Was decently 'quick' for a 50cc though. My vote would be probably for a cheap older RX 50 with the AM6 engine.

[JoeDaStudd]

Any legal 50cc scooter/bike you can use at 16 is limited to sub 30mph so I wouldn't bother with geared.
Make sure you budget for insurance, gear and a security as well as the initial CBT.