As you can probably tell by my post count, this is my first post, so I guess we should count this as my massive ‘Hello’ to LondonBikers!
Anyway, to business. I turn 16 in march next year, and I’m looking for a bike that I can (legally) ride once I’ve passed my CBT. As I have a… dislike for scooters, I’ve been looking for something a little more bike-based, essentially a 50cc engine in a bike chassis. I found something that fitted my needs, the Yamaha TZR 50 2008, but after doing a little digging and e-mailing a dealer I found it’s no longer on offer through the official dealers (even though it’s a 2008 model, strange, right?).
So I’m just wondering if anyone knew either:
1 - Were I could get myself (an ideally new, but second hand is OK) TZR 50
OR
2 - any other suggestions for similar bikes that I could get.
Thanks in advance!
UKWolf (By the way, really bad username, call me James if it makes you feel better :))
Get an early 70s unrestricted Yamaha FS1E…it’ll be slightly pokier than a modern 50, and isn’t restricted to 32mph…only problem is that they’re appreciating in value, so money might be a problem.
Are the rules that you can’t ride anything over a 50 until you’re 17?
If so, I’d think about getting a second hand 50, not caring too much what it looks like, and using it to learn to ride for a year before selling it.
I reckon you’ll soon find a 50 is quite low-powered and after a bit of getting used to riding, you’ll be keen to get, say, a 125 once you’re 17 (assuming that’s the biggest bike you can have at 17, although I’m almost bound to be wrong about that).
Changing bikes costs a lot of cash if you’re always buying and selling new ones. And the most common time to change bikes a lot is in your first few years of riding. But if you buy a well used one, you won’t lose much on the sale (which means more cash for lessons, tests, bike gear, etc).
i would opt for a used bike then get your self a 125 when you are 17 or do your test. there is loads off 50cc manual bikes out there. like aprilla rs50 Yamaha rd50 tzr50 etc etc its just a matter off sniffing about and getting one in your price range i am sure you will find some think. have a look on ebay etc and if you can take some one that nows about bikes with you if you look at any.
might be good to get a few insurance quotes as well before you buy.
Yeah, my plan is to do my 125 test when I turn 17 and get myself a 125cc/33bhp bike as my birthday present to myself
Been doing a little browsing and came up with a Rieju RS2 50 - anybody got any views on this? Seems like a nice bike, little bit more powerful than the TZR 50 and probably better suited to take my larger frame.
17 for a 125 mate. yer them rieju’s are ok all thou ive never road the 50 road the 125’s very simaler feels to the rs125. wot about a derbi gpr 50 there ok.
where abouts are you fella? just researched about every 50 and 125c bike on the market a few months back as both my lil bro’s have hit that age recently the reiju actually uses the yamaha engine so dont worry about reliability they are good stuff just manufactured on a cheaper frame but still suprisingly match most top notch brands on suspension, brakes etc. new 1’s look sweet aswell as said though dont spend too much on the 50 as you will be getting shot of it in a year. although it will be alot easier to sell on a 2008 scoot at a good price next year than an older 1.
Hello and welcome:)i made the mistake of getting my (then 16 year old) son an Aprilia rs50 Pedrosa Replica for his 16th birthday. It was the most unsuitable bike to ride as a restricted moped and in fact was deemed dangerous by his CBT instructors due to its lack of power.
Honestly, you could cycle faster than one of these in restricted mode.
The TZR IIRC shares the same power plant as the Priller and I’m guessing would be just as disappointing.
Have you thought of one of those Gilera DNA’s? Looks like a bike but had a twist and go engine.
I think they look quite funky, wish I’d bought my Dan one:cool:
dont restrict it if you go for a geared 50! ride it sensibly as it is your first bike and you wont have any problems. as chunky said they are dangerous restricted, they have little power as it is to get you out of a tight squeeze let alone restricted! just remember its a 50 so what ever you chose is going to be constant gear changing due to the extremley short gears on any small machine, make sure you are happy with that idea 1st
Hi there, i came accross this problem last year when i turned 16 at a similar time. I am assuming due to your dislike of scooters that you do know how to ride a bike with gears. I went for the Derbi senda pro50 sm. It has been the best bit of kit ever. Basically any Derbi in their 50cc range will do you. Only problems that i have had is a minivan crashing into me writing my first one off but thats a different story. These are easy to de restrict, working on my own i got it up to 45mph easy and with some proffesional hep and a lil cash would get it faster but i saw little need for inner surbubia riding. basically really great looking bike that also looks alot bigger then 50cc. If you have any problems finding one i would all ways say go with a supermoto.
Hope this has helped there is a picture below of it for you, now all to do is find something for my 17th under 33bhp looking to do a bobber any ideas!!!
Most of the 50cc geared bikes use minarelli AM6 engines anyway. If you have your own socket set and torque wrench, you can learn a thing or two about engine rebuilts - piston rings and pistons are easier to change on a stroker and it could be the start to your OCD with maintenance.
Rieju RS2 matrices (plural for matrix if you didn’t know that ;):P) look smart and can be had for pretty cheap. That said aprilia RS50’s make good first bikes as well as their MX50 counterparts. It’s fun to ride a geared bike even though it’s a 50. I know the law says it should be restricted, but hey, keep the bike looking stock, no silly spannies or silly loud exhausts and you can happily be doing 50mph. My NRG50 did 45-50 on most days and so did my mate’s gilly runners and DNA’s. But they again they’re scooters. I refuse to class a DNA as a motorbike or a hybrid… it’s just pure dogshit! If you want to get that, get an RS50 instead!
If i were 16 again, i’d probably ask daddy for a used RS50… and ask him for a halfords tool kit, torque wrench and maintenance manual
the reiju actually uses the yamaha engine so dont worry about reliability they are good stuff just manufactured on a cheaper frame but still suprisingly match most top notch brands on suspension, brakes etc. new 1’s look sweet aswell 
as said though dont spend too much on the 50 as you will be getting shot of it in a year. although it will be alot easier to sell on a 2008 scoot at a good price next year than an older 1.
