50cc scooter/moped advice

shykins

my soon to be 16 son has been saving like crazy so he can get a scooter to get around. he wants a scooter type rather than dirtbike looking one

budget is approx £1000 and we are prob looking at a new one as they seem to get 2yrs warranty which seems better value than paying £7-800 second hand with little or no warranty.

there are so many names and so many prices, wondered if anyone had any suggestions as to what is good value, safe, reliable etc

many thanks in advance

Buellguy

Try on here, you'll want to look at everything 49cc and 30mph

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/bikereviews/searchresults/?N=60+189&Ns=P_Publication_Date%7c1&No=30

Make sure he wears the right kit (personally helmet (compulsary), good gloves, jacket - with armour, minimum jeans and stout shoes (not trainers) you can actually get some pretty trendy (I know what 16yos are like) bike boots, but they can be costly)

paddedjohn

For £1000 all you are going to get new is a rubbish Chinese made one that will last about 18 months before it falls to bits. Shop around for a used Peugot or Yamaha for around £400-£600 and save the rest for equipment and insurance.

shykins

sorry john i should of made it clear i meant £1000 on the scooter itself as other equipment is going to be birthday/xmas presents from grandma and us

we have seen Kymco, peugeot, piaggio, baotian, Sym, benelli and a few others new around the £1000-1200 mark and i wondered if people had suggestions as to which of these are any good

all the used peugeots etc seem to be £800ish and i felt for the other £300 we might be better off with new that comes with 2 yrs warranty

very confusing all this lol

paddedjohn

Steer clear from the cheap new ones unless you want a load of hassle and don't want anything back in 2 yrs time, a good secondhand Peugot,Piaggio, Yahama etc would be far better and have a resale value if looked after. Alternatively you could go for an old Vespa or Lambretta which can actualy increase in value as the years go by and being classics the insurance can be cheaper.

forgotmyname

Gilera Runner...

Whatever you buy, Make sure you get decent locks and always lock it up,
Never leave it unlocked.

pogofish

Tell him to wait a bit and get a real bike!

shykins

pogofish we live in the middle of nowhere with sporadic buses he wants to be able to get around and maybe get a job, its the only way and he doesnt want to wait another year

thanks everyone for advice

mkirkby

Indeed, stay away from Chinese. He will:-

1) Be left stranded in the middle of nowhere
2) Never be able to sell it on for decent money once the rot sets in 6 months after buying it. (I've seen the evidence; it's not pretty)