First bike options ..

Starting to look for a 50cc for my daughter next year. Is it me or are the
options nowadays rather crap?

No modern FSIE/AP50/SS50 equivilant? All I seem to see are scooters?

 

Rieju, "handmade in Spain".

http://www.riejupro.com/en/interface.html

Models -> Sport & Supermotard.

 

Let it go, fella. The 70s were 30-odd years ago.

Even when I was on a 'ped, 14 years ago, the likes of the AR50 were on
their last legs. It was all trailies - TS50 was the one to have, with
the DT50 and MT5 bringing up the rear.

Then the Aprilia RS50 came out, but by then I was on a Proper Bike.

What's wrong with scooters at 16, anyway? They've got as much cred now
as the Fizzie had back in the day, if not the performance.

 

In

Perhaps you missed "No modern FSIE/AP50/SS50 *equivilant* "

She just sneers at scooters, the only one that got a begrudging "maybe" was
the Gilera DNA 50.

Of course it could just be that if something was presented on her birthday
I'm fairly sure the sneer would be replaced by that first bike excitement.
The Aprilia is a possible if I can fine one at a reasonable price.

 

The modern FS1E/AP50/SS50 equivalent *is* a scooter.

I can't help but think there's something rather lame about a bike that
looks like it should do 150 but really only does 30. For that reason,
I'd avoid any 50cc race rep and lean toward an old TS50 or DT50, if you
can find one. But they're probably all fucked now so it's going to have
to be a scooter.

I racked up plenty of miles on a Honda Vision, iirc. I was paid to, and
it generally had pizzas in the back, but even so it was quite rideable
and very hooligan friendly - only bike I ever got both knees down on at
the same time without crashing.

 

I started on a TS50 - slower acceleration than the vision, but a higher
top speed by about 2 mph, making for interesting rideouts with mates
(interesting for values of 33-35mph, of course).

I'm not sure at the point of an Aprilia RS50, but the RS125 was a right
hoot.

 

What do you think of this one?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=120183621759

It's a bit Iron Curtain, but it's black and funky, and the top box should
come off easily enough.

 

.... you honestly think a 16 year old girls street cred would allow her to
ride a bike called a "Beaver" !

 

Oh I dunno ... "my beaver takes at least 50cc" would doubtless impress
some people.[/QUOTE]

Only stupid ones - 50cc is TINY

 

Only stupid ones - 50cc is TINY[/QUOTE]

Impressive enough if you shoot it across the room, mind.

 

Reminds me of the only funny joke I ever heard come from Chubby Brown.

 

christofire says...

How about because it can be cheaply tuned to do a genuine 70mph and stay
reasonably reliable.

--
Lozzo
Triumph Daytona 955i SE
Suzuki SV650 K3
Honda CBR600 F-W
Suzuki GSX-R750L
Yamaha SR250 SpazzTrakka

 

May I suggest a Piaggio Ape?

 

There are some decent DT50MXs to be found (the TS is much rarer).

When my son approached 16, I bought a fundamentally sound one that
needed work (shot swinging arm bushes, all lights needed putting back,
reg/rec missing altogether, new tyres, chain, etc etc. It cost about
£350 and I spent another £150 on it.

Good thing was it had a 65cc barrel and piston, with the original kit in
a box supplied separately So it did 50-55mph.

Anyway, he rode it for a year. Fell off it innumerable times because you
do, and because it's a dirt bike it never showed any evidence of that
beyond the odd cracked indicator lens which was quickly and cheaply
replaced.

As it was a dirt bike, and he's a lanky git, it looked better under him
than a tiddly race-rep might have.

Anyway, as he turned 17, it was tidied up, and fetched a staggering £600
on Ebay. Decent dirt 50s really, really hold their value. The real
problem is trying to stop some low-life nicking them. They tried twice,
but a FOAD chain defeated them.

 

Sounds like a good deal. Got any photos?

 

MadAss?

 

Is it talk like an Australian day?

--
Krusty
www.MuddyStuff.co.uk
Off-Road Classifieds

'02 MV Senna '03 Tiger 955i '96 Tiger '79 Fantic Hiro 250

 

I just had a peer at

http://www.50cc-motorcycles.com/

Not sure how many are in production mind you, but a nice list to peruse.

 

You are *so* right! I even want one now.

http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/sachs_madass_50_2007.php

 

I was about to post the same heh. My mate that had a tweaked one was the
envy of us all. It had a 'race' exhaust, derestriction and some other
fiddling that was above my head. Went like **** for a 50.