Going to look at a 50cc moped, anything to look out for?

phil675 · 20 Jul 2009 at 12:16

Hello there, I'm going to look at a moped today which will be used by my sister to get to work. I don't know a lot about them, so is there any big things I'd need to watch out for? I guess they're pretty simple and anything wrong with it would be obvious, but someone else might be able to give me a few tips

Tesla · 20 Jul 2009 at 12:16

Best piece of advice would be to take someone with you who does know about them?

Fireskull · 20 Jul 2009 at 12:17

Private or dealer? Just make sure it starts and the brakes kinda work

phil675 · 20 Jul 2009 at 12:26

Tesla said:
Best piece of advice would be to take someone with you who does know about them?

I wouldn't be asking on a forum if I knew someone

Private or dealer? Just make sure it starts and the brakes kinda work

Private, we've been looking at some spanking new ones from online retailers, but they don't have stock for a few weeks and my sister could do with it now really.

Locky · 20 Jul 2009 at 12:31

Make sure all the lights etc work,

The bike doesn't have trouble starting

Make sure the breaks work spot on

Check the tyres

Check the bike over all nick for abuse

Check the fork seals are ok by making sure they are dry and lot leaking.

Glaucus · 20 Jul 2009 at 12:32

yeah apart from taking someone who knows what to look for. Get a motorcross style and don't pay more than about 500 You're goign to get rid off it in 12mionths time.

whats the point on buying something new/near new when you going to wreck it and change it after 12months.

Make sure it starts fine from cold(important it's cold)

Captain_Slick · 20 Jul 2009 at 12:38

phil675 said:
any big things I'd need to watch out for?

A better form of transport... ?

phil675 · 20 Jul 2009 at 12:39

AcidHell2 said:
yeah apart from taking someone who knows what to look for. Get a motorcross style and don't pay more than about 500 You're goign to get rid off it in 12mionths time.

whats the point on buying something new/near new when you going to wreck it and change it after 12months.

Make sure it starts fine from cold(important it's cold)

Its for my younger sister to do 2 mile trips to work, I'm sure she'll look after it

The advert in the paper says its 08 plate and they want £775 for it, should be able to get them down to 600ish I guess. I doubt they bought it for much more new.

Glaucus · 20 Jul 2009 at 12:42

phil675 said:
Its for my younger sister to do 2 mile trips to work, I'm sure she'll look after it

The advert in the paper says its 08 plate and they want £775 for it, should be able to get them down to 600ish I guess. I doubt they bought it for much more new.

what is it for that cheap?

Make sure she wears protective gearing. People might not think they need it only doing 30. But a crash and a slide along the ground will still mess you up.

Fireskull · 20 Jul 2009 at 12:46

Skin to bone in under a second still at 30 is it not?

Definatelly at least a jacket gloves helmet.

phil675 · 20 Jul 2009 at 12:47

AcidHell2 said:
what is it for that cheap?

Make sure she wears protective gearing. people might not need it only doing 30. But a crash and a slide along the ground will still mess up.

Some eastern make, njoda or something. Yeah safety is pretty important, going to get her some gloves, boots, helmet, jacket as well.

Going to have a look now, will report back later.

loltim · 20 Jul 2009 at 12:57

Not sure I'd want my little sis (I say little, she's 22 :eek:

) to be riding about on a moped

How old is she? Not old enough for a small cheap car?

edit: I guess 2 miles each way isn't so bad.

Deleted User 234324 · 20 Jul 2009 at 13:13

Don't think i could ever trust a bike over a car after seeing the mess it made of my younger brother 10 years ago, and that wasnt even a crash on a road, he was just messing about in a field!

Spuderoony · 20 Jul 2009 at 13:23

Potholes.

Sin_Chase · 20 Jul 2009 at 13:39

Open up the biscuit tin and make sure the bee is still flying around.

phil675 · 20 Jul 2009 at 13:49

Tim said:
Not sure I'd want my little sis (I say little, she's 22) to be riding about on a moped How old is she? Not old enough for a small cheap car?

edit: I guess 2 miles each way isn't so bad.

Shes 17, we do have my old Matiz but it has no MOT or tax, the brakes need doing, needs 4 new tyres and it doesn't like starting. The main point of getting the moped is its cheap and does the job. Teaching me to drive and having my own car cost me a huge amount of money. Shes going to keep having driving lessons, this is kind of a stopgap. Personally I think a push-bike would do her fine but she just won't have it

We went to look at it, it seemed in good nick and everything worked fine, most importantly it looked nice ("ooh its black"

) They wanted £775 for it but we got them down to £675. Apparently its exactly the same as a puegeot scooter but a different brand so parts are easy to get hold of. I actually forgot to kick the tyres but oh well.

bakes0310 · 20 Jul 2009 at 14:47

2 mile trip and she needs a moped, it would be just as quick to cycle.

GreenMint · 20 Jul 2009 at 15:10

Is it a Chinese replica of a Peugeot Speedfighter? If so can't you normally get the brand new chinese imports for about £550? I know my gf's brother did.

phil675 · 20 Jul 2009 at 17:35

TimBrad said:
Is it a Chinese replica of a Peugeot Speedfighter? If so can't you normally get the brand new chinese imports for about £550? I know my gf's brother did.

Yeah I think thats the one. We were looking at them and it was just less hassle to buy one out the paper as nowhere we looked had them in stock until august.

djbenjo · 20 Jul 2009 at 19:15

Dont buy a cheap chinese import as parts are difficult to get hold of and everything on the ones that I have seen is VERY flimsy.