What should I do?

[Dimerz]

So im 16, turning 17 27 December, ive got the opportunity to start saving up for a YZF R125 or should I just buy a 50cc moped for now and then move onto the bigger one? I've heard 50cc's are quite dangerous because of the speeds they go but this would allow me to get to work quicker.

- What 50cc mopeds are reliable and cheap?
- Should I wait till I'm 17 and just ride my YZF R125? because by then Ill probably have enough money for the Insurance and Bike.
- What sort of gear would you wear on 50cc mopeds as I've got full leathers but I think it'd be a bit overkill for it.
- To be honedt if Speed is a problem, id like one which is easily modifiable to get a bigger top speed.

[adriansk]

Wait till December, summer is nearly over anyway. 50cc scooters are boring.
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CBR600F4

[NJD]

[Rogerborg]

I'd tough it out and save every penny towards insurance + security for your racebike.
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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

[Commuter_Tim]

Someone in full leathers on a 50 would be amusing to see for sure.
Also if you're going to ride a 50 you need Adidas Trackies and a short sleeved T-shirt, sorry it's obligatory (so are the inevitable skin grafts)

I would definitely wait it out and get the 125.
Unless you want to ride at 30mph and encounter Wonnie 'fuckin' Pickewing.

In fairness, the couple of times I went down on the 125 Scootehy, my legs didn't touch the ground, I sure was grateful for the elbow armour though.
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The above post is most likely nonsensical.

I ride a Bandit 600... badly.

[Cronik]

What I gathered when I was looking to start:

Don't get a YZF. They're a style over substance case.

Wait until 17 and buy a 2nd hand bike, preferably Japanese, such as the renown CG125, YBR125 or even the CBF125 (apparent rust issues, note it).

When buying helmets, buy new- always (consult SHARP system for reference- price and safety do not scale equally).

Textile or leathers, maybe both as the weather may dictate depending on your future biker 'status' (fair, all-rounder).

Bike chain (Almax or Pragmasis), maybe an alarm (Cyclone V2).

125 punks like future you and present I will go, or is going through the strange, oft' perplexing biker-nod initiation. You may be the receiver of such a nod, but always remember you are an optional nod-ee and may not receive any at all until you transcend.
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*A Vacuous Vacancy*

[Snowdonia Rider]

[Andy_Pagin]

Accepting that five months is a very long time when you're sixteen, avoid the moped and save the money.
Must say I agree with Cronik, YZF is stupidly expensive for a 125, but if you're after the race bike look? Just don't expect performance much better than a YBR125.
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They're coming to take me away, ho-ho, hee-hee, ha-haaa, hey-hey,
the men in white coats are coming to take me away.
Yamaha Vity -> YBR125 -> FZS600 Fazer -> FZ1-S Fazer

[ninja_butler]

Mopeds are great! Twist & go, very small and light. Nothing wrong with a 50cc bike especially if it's only being used around town, but if you want to ride longer distances or ride up over the hills, a 125cc bike with gears and more power makes sense, and IMO they are safer than 50cc mopeds because you can keep up with the flow of traffic on a 125.

Two cheap and cheerful 125's:

Sinnis Max 2:
https://www.ngales.com/dbimages/MAX%20II%20125%20blue.jpg

Lexmoto ZSX:
https://www.lexmoto.co.uk/Lexmoto/ZS125-48E/535/large.png

[DylanMitchell]

In my opinion, waiting till you attain the age of 17 is a better idea.
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Texas Used Bikes

[Rogerborg]

[Ste]

Do we have a BCF discount with Sinnis yet?

[NJD]

[Commuter_Tim]

[Dimerz]

Having read all of the replies I've gathered to not buy a 50cc, which I was hesitant in the first place, eitherway. I will save up for my 125 and £1,300 insurance. Right now, I'm going to start buying Security Devices, just need some help on what's best, I want to get a GPS tracker, Disc Lock, A very thick chain with lock (preferably over 14mm), a cover and alarm system. I've heard so many bikes being stolen including friends of mine and don't want it to happen to me so I'm going for the wiser option of getting my security gear before getting my bike. Will await for some top 5 lists of each device if possible. I was searching around but most of them are sponsored reviews and so you can't really judge on that.

++ Just to add I would place this out of view from the public and it would be chained to a ground anchor.

[Ste]

You say you don't want your bike to be stolen, it being chained up with a 16mm or 19mm chain is the best way to prevent it being nicked.

You need a big chain, an Almax or Pragmasis ones are ideal, and use it chain to a ground anchor or something else suitably solid. The chains and locks aren't cheap but consider it an investment.

Don't expect any discount on your insurance for adding security devices to the policy. In some instances for some reason or another it can actually increase the price they quote and even if you do declare it and get a minimal discount, if you leave it not locked up (which realistically will happen from time to time) and it gets nicked then your insurance won't pay out.

You're not going to find any useful top 5 lists of devices, do some reading on here and you'll find lots of info.

Don't start buying anything yet, there's no need to rush into anything at this point.

[Rogerborg]

[M.C]

I second that ouch I'm hoping that's higher than TPO cover, if not you need an imaginary garage...

R125's are about looks rather than anything else, which at your age's important, so peal off the '25' fit a loud exhaust and you might fool a few people Note they apparently tear apart their engines in <30k (because race bike ), something to consider if you're buying second hand... at least I hope you're.

The CBR125's actually a better prospect. They're smaller, but I think the later models have the 250 bodywork so they at least look like a (slightly) bigger bike. When you get bored of your 4-stroke 125 (so within a few months) consider the 2-stroke NSR125, assuming there's any left in decent nick, and you're not beaten to it by a bunch of old blokes trying to relive their youth.

[ninja_butler]

[riejumike]

[M.C]

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

[Andy_Pagin]

Security - 1.5m 16mm Almax. Genuinely unbreakable, unless you use an Acetylene torch or mains powered angle grinder. Expensive but well worth the money. They do a 19mm chain as well, and longer versions but they're too big and heavy to carry around.
____________________
They're coming to take me away, ho-ho, hee-hee, ha-haaa, hey-hey,
the men in white coats are coming to take me away.
Yamaha Vity -> YBR125 -> FZS600 Fazer -> FZ1-S Fazer

[Ste]

How are they too heavy to carry around?

[Wonko The Sane]