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Mini(or now not so mini)F is wanting help to sort himself out with a Moped now that he's 16, to save him from using the dreaded bus. I know he's got to get his CBT done.
I've not the first clue about mopeds, any recommendations / things to look for when buying second hand (his budget is the cheap end as he's trying to fund as much as possible himself)
Also any idea on insurance / tax / servicing costs?
Thanks
We bought a new Pulse scooter when Son No. 2 was 16.
£1000 otr. Insurance is area specific, but £250-450 TP would be my guess based on prices paid and tax/servicing is bugger all.
I looked at s/h and as they really aren't looked after and are so cheap new (ie how good an MTB can you get for a grand?) it seemed better to go for piece of mind. Parts are cheap when you need them.
After 3 years it was pretty dead and we sold it on ebay for £200, but it enabled him to get to his apprentice job for 3 years until he could afford a car - so job-done.
Best thing is go to and look at somewhere local where they sell the standard Chinese-import scooters, and buy from them.
He'll need to do his CBT first.
This kind of thing:
http://www.pulsemoto.co.uk/WY50QT-58.php
I had my first moped 7 years ago, and knew people with an eclectic mix of them. If I were you, I'd hunt out a Yamaha Neos, Jog-R or BWS (also occasionally found as the MBK ovetto, Mach g or Booster respectively) .
All air-cooled so simple, can be found cheaply, two stroke which are more peppy, and use the minerelli engines which are second only to the Piaggio units for build. They are also the best built mopeds with strong frames and durable suspension, which isn't what I found with the Piaggio/Gilera brands. Easy to get parts for too, made in France by the MBK brand, and the French like their mopeds !
Cheers all, br - that's exactly why he's looking for one.
good advice, Ryan, I'll try and steer him down that route as he'd been recommended Piaggio/Gilera by his friends.
Think about where he'll be using it. If his trip to work or college involves a fast dual carriage way then a 30mph flat out moped is positively dangerous in my opinion.
He'll mostly be using it though town and possibly a couple of 40mph dual carriage ways that are usually running slow (need to find him an apprenticeship first....)
I'd say get something 2nd hand (you can spot anything that's been abused a mile away). Then when he's 17 get a 125 and take the motorbike test. A proper bike is a much better option IMO.
I have owned 5 scooters in my time and without a shadow of a doubt hands down Yamaha all the way. Never had a single issue with it!
My top choice if you choose to listen would be a Yamaha Jog or Jog R 🙂
If you get a 2nd hand 2 stroke, be prepared to have to do some spannering on it, as you pay for the 'peppier' engine with pistons and rings that are pretty much consumables, and most of them will have been owned by a gibbon with 10 thumbs on each hand at some point in their life.
They're straight forward to work on though, and good experience of how engines work too.