Aged 16, Yes or No?

Author
Discussion

Zeemax_Mini

1,214 posts

251 months

Thursday 4th November 2010
quotequote all
I remember researching these when I was 16 (now 23), trying to find out where i could buy one and get insurance - I was desperate to get my independence and didn't care what I looked like! Wasn't attracted to mopeds for some reason though - I think an enclosed cabin and more than 2 wheels were required!

Dom

LuS1fer

41,135 posts

245 months

Thursday 4th November 2010
quotequote all
When I sold motorbikes, the company hack was a Honda 360 pickup which was a hoot and there followed a Daihatsu 550 pickup. Barely more than 40mph flat out but cathartically satisfying. Not sure about a 3 wheeler though given the way we used to punish sports mopeds - it's an accident waiting to happen.

Edited by LuS1fer on Thursday 4th November 19:57

Superhoop

4,677 posts

193 months

Thursday 4th November 2010
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Tell him that it's what Valentino Rossi used to ride around in. Mopeds etc can be driven at 14 in Italy, and he thought they were better than a ped

Agrilla

834 posts

183 months

Thursday 4th November 2010
quotequote all
How about a Madass?




Gadget Show review

Edited by Agrilla on Thursday 4th November 20:58

LuS1fer

41,135 posts

245 months

Thursday 4th November 2010
quotequote all
Agrilla said:
How about a Madass?

Now that's way cool.

staceyb

7,107 posts

224 months

Thursday 4th November 2010
quotequote all
Agrilla said:
How about a Madass?

Want one of them.

southpaw

5,999 posts

225 months

Thursday 4th November 2010
quotequote all
Please don't. Please.

If he wants wheels get him a 'scooter' that looks like a bike. You won't be a taxi service and he doesn't look like every other chav.

Examples:
Yamaha TZR 50


Gilera DNA 50:


Or actually this is preferable to the Ape thing:

slomax

6,656 posts

192 months

Thursday 4th November 2010
quotequote all
You would be better off building an MEV eco-exo kit car with a 50cc unit in. When he passes his driving test then whack in a 650cc suzuki bergman power plant.

Jasandjules

69,891 posts

229 months

Thursday 4th November 2010
quotequote all
Surely safer to wait until he's 17 and can have a car - that's a helluva lot safer than mopeds etc

spanna123

3,732 posts

176 months

Thursday 4th November 2010
quotequote all
+1 for the replica bikes
The only question then is how does he feel about riding with gears?

Or maybe a step-through 50cc monkey bike.. I nearly opted for one of these instead of a scooter when I was 16, only three years ago.




ETA: these are 4-stroke too, so doesn't sound like a hairdryer.

Edited by spanna123 on Thursday 4th November 21:25

OllieC

3,816 posts

214 months

Thursday 4th November 2010
quotequote all
chrisxr2 said:
Anyone else thought the thread was going to be whether the op should or should not knob a 16 year old?????
+1

(oh dear)

vonhosen

40,233 posts

217 months

Thursday 4th November 2010
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LuS1fer

41,135 posts

245 months

Thursday 4th November 2010
quotequote all
the 50cc race replicas are a terrible idea. Horrifically expensive, massive depreciation and hard to sell on. It's like having a Lamborghini Countach with a 1200cc Ford crossflow engine. Comical.

DamianBPhoto

1,935 posts

195 months

Thursday 4th November 2010
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I saw one of these the otherday when I was off to Winchester. It had a nice L plate on the front and from what I could make out, some solar pannels on the roof.

Garlick

40,601 posts

240 months

Thursday 4th November 2010
quotequote all
Balmoral Green said:
There's even one for Garlic biggrin

I'll take it!

Zeemax_Mini

1,214 posts

251 months

Thursday 4th November 2010
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That monkey bike is awesome...even quite like the Gilera DNA 50...but those 50cc "superbikes"...really?! I think they're the most embarassing of all, like a huge bodykit and rims on a 1.0 Corsa Merit - pretending to be something they're not!

Dom

MGB Boy

1,749 posts

174 months

Thursday 4th November 2010
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I've seen things similar to those that are a lot less 'commercial'.

Surely they are hideously under powered? (As I assume you are still restricted to 50cc even with 3 wheels)

littlebasher

3,780 posts

171 months

Thursday 4th November 2010
quotequote all
Since we're on the subject...

When i was 16, we were all riding AR50, MBX50, MTX50, DT50, FS1E, RD50, TS50's etc - slow yeah, but at least looked like a scaled down motorbike. With a smaller rear cog, rejetted carb and a 60 kit things could be made considerably more interesting.

Back then, if you rode a scooter (Honda Vision etc) and were male - you were considered 'ghay' (and rightly so!)

So, wft happened? All the kids these days are riding twist and go scooters - have all teenagers gone soft?


LuS1fer

41,135 posts

245 months

Thursday 4th November 2010
quotequote all
I used to sell 16 year olds those MB50s and MT50s and believe me, they were just as gay. Trust me. Essentially you'd get 16 year olds splurging major dosh on a bike they didn't want to know the second they turned 17 but too late, they'd spent their money looking a bit silly.
I'm a bit older and rode a "hugely powerful" (sic) SS50 and I know the point you're making but to consider we weren't looked down on by real bikers as something like vermin was merely to delude ourselves. The FS1/E almost passed muster with its 60mph top end but not much else. I wished I'd wauited when i got to 17 and couldn't buy my CB175.

littlebasher

3,780 posts

171 months

Thursday 4th November 2010
quotequote all
LuS1fer said:
I used to sell 16 year olds those MB50s and MT50s and believe me, they were just as gay. Trust me. Essentially you'd get 16 year olds splurging major dosh on a bike they didn't want to know the second they turned 17 but too late, they'd spent their money looking a bit silly.
I'm a bit older and rode a "hugely powerful" (sic) SS50 and I know the point you're making but to consider we weren't looked down on by real bikers as something like vermin was merely to delude ourselves. The FS1/E almost passed muster with its 60mph top end but not much else. I wished I'd wauited when i got to 17 and couldn't buy my CB175.
Agreed, but on your 16th Birthday the sports moped ruled!

I had one of these



Complete with 60 kit

As soon as i turned 17 it was sold and replaced with a DT175MX - with 125 panels to fool the 'fuzz'. I was then given a CB900 - bit more difficult to disguise as a 125, so i didn't bother to fit my L plates on it! (or get a full license, MOT, Tax, Insurance etc....)

Edited by littlebasher on Thursday 4th November 22:11