Cheap 50cc Mopeds – Read These FACTS and Make Up Your OWN Mind..

If you’re 16 and you’re thinking of buying one of these cheap 50cc mopeds to get you started, please read this first so you know exactly what you’re getting into, OK?

One of the 50cc mopeds we're talking about. This links to the UK company selling them.

When I saw these advertised, the first thing I thought about was – how can they be this cheap? I mean, what sounds too good to be true usually is, so is there a catch? Well, you need to read this..

There are one or two catches, and not everyone’s going to be happy with them, but first of all, I have to admit that these really are about the lowest priced of all new 50cc mopeds for sale today, there’s no denying it. But before you buy, take a look at some of the facts I found out when I went digging around..

Now, the first thing you need to know with these is that these 50cc mopeds are made in China and India. Some people don’t like that and would rather pay a lot more to get a popular brand from Japan, and if you’re one of them, these are not for you.

I don’t know, it’s personal choice, but if you’re starting on your first moped it’s probably going to get a few knocks, or you might even not take to life on 50cc scooters at all (happens all the time). Or maybe it’s just to fill that time until you’re old enough to move up to a car or motorbike. Whatever – if you don’t want to risk too much cash on your first bike, a cheap 50cc moped might be OK for you – depends what you want. And I have to admit, these are cool looking machines!

By the way, although these 50cc mopeds, motorcycles and scooters are imported direct from the manufacturer, you deal with a UK company and it’s this company that handles the sale, and arranges delivery.

Talking about delivery, the next thing I found was that these 50cc bikes come in a crate to protect them during shipping, and it means you have to fix on the battery, wing mirrors and top box yourself. I mean, it’s no big deal for most, but some people are going to be fazed by it not being all ready to ride. It’s the small price you pay for, well, paying a low price.

Another thing you need to know with these 50cc mopeds is that you get the paperwork to register the bike in the post a few days after the bike comes, and you need to register with the DVLA before you can get your number plates. This is actually to your benefit, even though it takes a few days, because you will be registered as the first owner, not like when you buy a pre-registered moped from the bike shop.

Of course, as with all mopeds, motorbikes and scooters, there’s always some admin to do. Don’t forget you need to have a provisional licence, do your training day to get your CBT licence, get moped insurance and get your road tax before razzing off down the road, OK!

The next thing I wanted to know about these 50cc mopeds you buy direct is how to get parts and what about repairs. Well, the bikes come with a one year parts warranty and you can buy another year if you want. To get a repair done, you phone them up and they give you the details of the nearest of the 150 authorised dealers in the UK. The bad news is that you have to pay for labour if you need repairs done, so it’s not as good as warranties with labour included, but the good thing is they keep a stock of all parts here in the UK so you can get them by just phoning the help line or sending a message.

OK, onto the best bit, the price. Is there any catch with these cheap prices? Well, no there isn’t – they really are great value, these bikes. One thing – when you’re looking at the different models of 50cc moped and see the price of £549 or £649 or whatever next to the photo of the bike, there’s a delivery charge on top (when I wrote this, £85).

VERDICT

Right, this is what I reckon: These are cheap bikes, OK. You’re not getting a £1500 Aprilia, but then you’re not paying £1500. (More like £650-£850 all in.) If you don’t want a bike from China or India, it’s not going to be for you. If you don’t want to go it alone without the help of your local bike salesman, it’s not going to be for you.

But if you’re OK with all that, or maybe if you just have to have a bike and don’t want to splash out more than you need to, then this is undeniably just about the cheapest way of getting your hands on a brand new 50cc moped in the UK.

So there you have it, just my opinion on your cheap 50cc mopeds, but an honest one.

If you want some more information on the models available and to buy online if you fancy one of these, here’s the link: 50cc Mopeds

(and if you use that link you’re doing me a BIG favour because I get a little commission and that means I can grow this site and add loads more useful stuff!)

I arrived at the car park where it was to take place, on a very dark and cloudy day, and I thought, yeah, I’m going to get soaked. There were four of us “students” on the course, three lads and a girl. One of the lads arrived on a 50cc moped – how did that work then, I thought?

Anyway, the first thing we did was go into a big container, the sort that you see on lorries, and had our “theory” lessons. This was OK and pretty basic, you know, some stuff about what to do on a bike on the road and some Highway Code questions. Some of us got some of the questions wrong, but the instructor seemed OK with that.

After a while it was time to get on the training bikes. There were nice new 50cc mopeds – the standard automatic twist and go bikes – and there were 125cc motorbikes. The girl was only interested in riding a 50cc bike so she chose a nippy little twist and go to do her off-road stuff. One of the lads was 20, and he wanted to go on the 125cc bikes as I did, which was allowed, and the other lad was 16 so he was restricted to a 50cc moped.

We then spent the rest of the morning practising riding at ever-increasing speeds and ever-decreasing circles it seemed to me, but it was a laugh. We were all OK after a while and the instructor seemed pleased. As far as I could tell anyway!

Then there was a massive shock for the girl. Before we all went on the road, two of us on our 125cc scooters and two on 50cc mopeds, we had to do that vision test, like on the driving test, when you read a car number plate. Well, the girl couldn’t read it could she! In tears she was, because they said there was no way she could go out on the road in the afternoon. They said she would have to come back and do the afternoon session again wearing her glasses, which was fuinny in a way because she never even had glasses and never knew there was anything wrong with her eyes!

So, boys and girls, if you are booking a CBT, just check that you can read a number plate from 20 metres (say 25 paces away to be safe). You can wear glasses to do it, but if you do, you need to wear them for riding your bike too.

Watch out for part two of this which describes what happened when I was out on the road for the first time!

If I were you I’d skip to part 6 onwards of this series of scooter safety tips because there’s some cracking information especially suited to you if you’re new to mopeds and want some information that’s been put together so it makes a really good read.

OK folks – here’s the video – don’t forget to take a look at the articles on the site mentioned in the vid, OK?

So, instead of making a massive list of them all and expecting you to read through it, what we decided to do was make a podcast – a sort of 50cc mopeds FAQ podcast – to save you reading.

If you have any questions about these bikes or about buying them online etc., you’ll probably find the answers in the podcast.  But, if you don’t, or if you can’t or don’t want to listen to Michael’s voice, you can ask your question by clicking the contact link at the top of the page.  Usually we’ll get an answer to  you within a few hours.

Anyway, on with the podcast – here’s the link:

** The podcast link has been removed due to bandwidth use. Please contact me via the contact form and I will email the podcast to you ASAP.

50cc Mopeds - Looking cool in silver

Now, the reality is that you’re not going to do these every time, because life’s not like that, I know, but you have to understand that every time you get on your bike without doing these checks, you are taking an extra risk. So, here’s how you do them. Please do them regularly and stay safe:

• Tyres – the tyres on 50cc mopeds are going to take a lot of punishment, so check them frequently. When you brake it’s the tread that helps you stop, so keep an eye on it and change the tyre long before it’s illegal. Also look for any bald patches and for nails stuck in the tyre. If anything is wrong with your tyres, get them fixed or replaced – motorbikes and scooters with dodgy tyres are lethal.
• Chain – you need to check that it’s not dry. It should be oily at all times. See if you can spot any links that are not like the others, say they are out of place or somehow different. The tension should also be checked regularly – how much slack there needs to be is stated in the scooter’s manual.
• Lights and horn – should be working, duh! You could get caught out if it goes dark and you are away from home with no headlight so don’t risk it. Besides, you’re advised by those who know about these things to have your headlight on, dipped, even in the daytime.
• Damage – you need to check the forks and chassis, especially if your poor bike has taken a knock. If anything is bent or cracked, you’re going to risk a serious accident if you go out on that bike.
• Mirrors – make sure they’re not too loose. You don’t want them flapping around when you ride. Also keep them clean – mirrors are a real lifeline on 50cc mopeds. On all motorbikes in fact.
• Brakes – the levers need to move smoothly without any weird catching. Take the bike off the stand and roll it a little, then apply one brake, then the other. Did they WORK?
• Cables and hoses – watch out for frayed cables and worn hoses. Get them replaced or your bike could let you down.
• Steering – sit on the bike with it off the stand and check that the handlebars can move nice and smoothly all the way from one lock to the other, and without catching on any cables.
• Oil – check the engine’s oil level regularly because if there’s not enough, you can grind to a halt and to serious and expensive damage to the engine.

These checks apply to any motorbikes and scooters, whether Aprilia, Vespa, Honda or whatever – not just 50cc mopeds.

If you’ve yet to buy a bike, and you’re short of cash, you may want to consider one of these: 50cc Mopeds

Look I know safety is b-o-r-i-n-g. But so is HOSPITAL FOOD, you know. So read these basic tips for staying safe on 50cc mopeds, OK?

Clothing

You really do need to wear some or you’re going to get COLD and WET. Oh, and it’s also a very good idea to think about protecting your head and body against fast-moving tarmac and vehicles, because they can sting a little if you collide with them. The best thing is to wear a helmet (the law say so too) and as for clothes, bike gear is the best. These days it need not make you look huge and ugly (unless you are before you put it on of course). At the very LEAST, wear thick trousers like jeans. Boots that protect your ankles are also a very good idea.

Riding

Riders of 50cc mopeds tend to be younger and newer to riding, it’s just a fact, and experience does count for something. So, if you are less experienced on the road, like so many 50cc moped riders, you need to take extra care when you decide how fast you can go and how to ride based on the current road conditions. Accept that as a newer rider, you are going to make mistakes, and leave yourself a safety margin in case you do. One of the best ways of doing this is to go a little bit slower than you think you are capable of allowing for the local road conditions like rain, darkness, traffic and people. It gives you time to find a way out of danger. Another good idea is to leave an extra bit of stopping distance – more than you think you need.

Rules

Know the road rules that apply to you. Don’t be riding along the pavement, don’t go razzing around frightening the old folk, and be careful not to go down that unfamiliar slip road and find yourself on the big scary motorway. It may come as a surprise to some to learn that traffic lights & one-way streets do indeed apply to ALL 50cc mopeds, scooters and even big motorbikes. It’s also not a good idea to flaunt the rules about carrying your mates home – knowing your luck, you will be caught. All of these rules are about SAFETY, other people’s as well as yours. It’s safer to play by the rules.

There is a LOT MORE to safety and 50cc mopeds than I can explain here – this is just for starters.

Check out these other websites for more detailed official advice:

• Department for Transport, Mopeds Info (pdf)
• Safetravel Safety Tips
• Transport for London Moped Safety

Oh, and if you’ve yet to buy a bike, and you’re short of cash, you may want to consider one of these: 50cc Mopeds

]]> http://50cc-mopeds.org.uk/50cc-mopeds/50cc-mopeds-top-tips-to-stay-safe/feed 0 http://50cc-mopeds.org.uk/cheap-moped-insurance/cheap-moped-insurance-quick-guide-for-beginners http://50cc-mopeds.org.uk/cheap-moped-insurance/cheap-moped-insurance-quick-guide-for-beginners#comments Sun, 14 Feb 2010 09:50:50 +0000 admin http://50cc-mopeds.org.uk/?p=30 If you are 16 and looking for cheap moped insurance, it’s going to be a bit hair-raising, so here are some basics:

Look, the first thing I have to say is that cheap moped insurance, even for 50cc mopeds, is not really cheap, especially if you are under 21. For riders of bigger scooter and motorcycle models, it’s even worse, so at least you can console yourself that with 50cc mopeds, you are at the cheaper end of the scale.

Types of Insurance

• Third Party – this is the most basic insurance that traffic laws demand. You are covered for any damage that you do to anyone or their property, but anyone does not include YOU and property does not include YOUR property. If your bike is stolen, you get nothing. If your bike is damaged in an accident that’s your fault, you get nothing.
• Third Party Fire & Theft – this is the same as third party except you are covered if the bike is stolen or if it somehow catches fire!
• Fully Comprehensive – this is the most expensive and covers you for damage to your bike in an accident, even if it was your fault. These policies differ a great deal in what they offer, and you need to check the small print when you sign up and not when you come to make a claim!

Getting a Moped Insurance Quote

The best place these days to get a quote and to buy is online. All the best brokers and insurance companies do business online and often give better deals online than by phone.

When you are comparing quotes, you really have to check the policy details very carefully to make sure you know what you are getting – the cheapest quote may not give you theft cover, for example, and some of the more expensive ones may give you extras that are cheaper than buying them separately, like breakdown insurance.

How to Reduce the Cost and Get Truly Cheap Moped Insurance

There are several ways you can get a cheap moped insurance quote:

• State that only you are to be covered
• Choose one of the lower insurance group 50cc mopeds (see www.abi.co.uk for groups)
• Add security features to your moped
• Lock the moped in a garage
• Add an excess to the policy (so you pay the first £100 of any claim, say)

Finally, if even your cheap moped insurance quote is a painful cost, you may be tempted to do without insurance altogether. Please don’t. It’s illegal, immoral and something that only very stupid people do. And I know you’re smart, because you’re reading this, so be brave, get your quotes, and get that cheap moped insurance sorted!

OK here’s a bit more detail if you need it:

To get your provisional licence, you need to apply to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). You can get a form from the post office to apply by post, or you can apply online at the DVLA web site.

Once you have received your provisional moped licence, you cannot just go out on the road on 50cc mopeds. There is an exception if you passed a car driving test before 1 Feb 2001 – these lucky folk can go straight out on the road – but it’s not recommended. They’re getting on a bit after all.. Seriously, if this exception does not apply to you then you need to pass your CBT training.

The CBT course involves five elements that have to be completed in order:

A. introduction
B. practical on-site training
C. practical on-site riding
D. practical on-road training
E. practical on-road riding

The last part includes at least two hours of road riding. You can only go onto a part if you have completed the previous part successfully. The CBT takes the best part of a day. Most people have no problem with it.

Once you have completed the CBT, you can ride 50cc mopeds on the road on your own, with L-plates, but you need to know and stick to the rules – for example, you can’t go on motorways or carry passengers.

You also need insurance and road tax. Road tax is £15 per year but insurance is going to cost a lot more than that! Insurance for 50cc mopeds for a 16 year old is likely to be over £200 per year.

That’s not the end of the story.

Your CBT certificate lasts for two years, to give you chance to pass the theory and practical motorcycle tests. Get these under your belt, and you will get a full motorcycle licence. Then you can ride 125cc motorbikes, scooters and more..

You can get more information on cheap mopeds and even buy online here: 50cc mopeds.