Skywing 50cc

hugoifyouwantto

Hi, first post please dont kill me! I have checked and i cant find anyone who has asked. What is the opinion on Skywing 50cc mopeds (SW50f)
there is nothing on the internet and there going cheap also if anyone knows where to insure one thatd be great too as i cant find anywhere thats heard of them i think but am not sure they are from the phillipines ,
manythanks

The_Mighty_Gusset

Hahahahahahahahahahaha !

I really hope you didn't buy one !

One of these has just arrived in my back garden, and it's in a rather sorry state, basically the engine self-destructed.
As you say, information on the things is virtually non-existent.
Spares also don't seem to be available.

Here's what I've gathered so far :
A batch of them were imported by a 'fly by night' eBay trader back in 2002, registered, and then left in a shed for a few years.
Last year they finally appeared on eBay being flogged off for around £250.

The 'Skywing SW50F' was made by Jialing Industries, a large Chinese company, but the bike appears to be basically a 1980s Honda PA50 Camino.
I'm now investigating to see whether it's possible to fit Honda parts into the Chinese engine.
Wish me luck !

no_more_cards_for_me

Buy a decent pushbike instead - it will get you fit and be just as fast

Seriously what do you want it for ?

A 50cc will be lucky to top 30mph.

fivetide

The fact a 50cc bike won't do more than 30mph is immaterial really.

Anything like this, cheapo Chinese tat should not be touched with a long pole. You'll only have to buy another one when this goes pop (and it will in not long at all) so get a decent second hand Aprilia or something like that from a company that builds them properly.

Seriously, friend is a bike mechanic and has seen no end of these "got it because it was cheap" bikes coming in. One a few weeks old with a snapped frame the steel is so cheap!

5t.

no_more_cards_for_me

fivetide wrote: »

The fact a 50cc bike won't do more than 30mph is immaterial really.

Not really, 30mph on one of these deathtraps would be a life risking adventure.

If the OP is looking to commute then they might be better served by investing in a pushbike rather than a poor excuse for transport.

Having ridden 50cc years ago then I'd encourage the OP to avoid them, as the inferior brakes, suspension and chassis build is more likely to cause an accident than prevent one.

fivetide

no_more_cards_for_me wrote: »

Not really, 30mph on one of these deathtraps would be a life risking adventure.

Yes, that's entirely my point. However a decent scooter, properly made is fine for zipping around a city and might be much safer than a push bike.

sister had one for zooming to college on because it is all you are allowed as a 16 year old. 70mpg and no problems at all. Derestricted it so would actually get above 40 if needed.

5t.

rev_henry

fivetide wrote: »

Yes, that's entirely my point. However a decent scooter, properly made is fine for zipping around a city and might be much safer than a push bike.

sister had one for zooming to college on because it is all you are allowed as a 16 year old. 70mpg and no problems at all. Derestricted it so would actually get above 40 if needed.

5t.

If you do that though its no longer a moped and no longer legal at 16, technically. Nor is it insured unless you told them. Unless its ANCIENT and bought before restriction came in. My father bought one when he was 15, just before the restriction came in, so he could have a derestricted one when he turned 16.

SailorSam

Or get an electric bike, they'll do 15mph and there's no tax; insurance; or petrol to buy. A cheap charge-up of a night will get you 45mls.

no_more_cards_for_me

I wouldn't go down the route of an electric bike for the following reasons;

- Cost
- Weight
- What happens when it runs out of charge

Electric bikes are expensive compared against standard bikes. The additional weight of the battery and motor is more to cart around when the battery eventually give out. They have limited range and don't help with the human operator getting much fitter.

I can do 15 mph without too much trouble on the flat (31mph downhill this morning), no tax, insurance and i'm cheap to fuel

Electric bikes seem to be a solution to a problem that really doesn't exist. I used to think 11 miles to work was a huge distance to cycle, now its second nature.

SailorSam

I think for anyone who uses a bike for long distances running out of charge may be a problem, but with a range of perhaps 45 mls before needing to be recharged you need never run out of power, if you had a long commute you could have a charger in work and boost your charge during the day.
Yes i agree they may be more expensive but lets say £1000 for a decent one, perhaps £250 for a cheap, an ordinary pedal cycle may cost nearly as much.
For anyone that hasn't cycled in years the thought of a long journey even 5 or 6 miles can be off putting but with assisted power you're more likely to use it. The level of assistance can be adjusted so as you get fitter you use less power. The novice may find riding on the flat ok, but may soon decide to go back to his car or the bus if he needs to go up to many hills, this is where the assistance comes into it's own.

no_more_cards_for_me

SailorSam wrote: »

I think for anyone who uses a bike for long distances running out of charge may be a problem, but with a range of perhaps 45 mls before needing to be recharged you need never run out of power, if you had a long commute you could have a charger in work and boost your charge during the day.
Yes i agree they may be more expensive but lets say £1000 for a decent one, perhaps £250 for a cheap, an ordinary pedal cycle may cost nearly as much.
For anyone that hasn't cycled in years the thought of a long journey even 5 or 6 miles can be off putting but with assisted power you're more likely to use it. The level of assistance can be adjusted so as you get fitter you use less power. The novice may find riding on the flat ok, but may soon decide to go back to his car or the bus if he needs to go up to many hills, this is where the assistance comes into it's own.

Fair enough, but hills will sap the battery power. Most of the battery powered bikes are over £1,000 compared to an "ordinary" pushbike of £350 -£600 for a beginner. A proper road bike could be up to £1,000.

I don't disagree that 5 or 6 miles can seem like a long way and that hills are going to present a problem. When i started I got off and pushed up hills. Once the rider gets a bit fitter then things do become easier.

The main problem with electric bikes is the weight, when the novice has progressed and got a little fitter they will start to realise that carrying around a battery and motor is causing them more work. Some motors cut out with too much exertion, the rider effectively over-riding them. The new rider will then probably have to consider getting another bike as the £1,000 plus electric bike has outlived its usefulness. Personally I think starting off with an ordinary bike would serve the new rider far better.